The paperwork
that protects it.
Two documents decide what happens if something goes wrong: the condition report signed at both ends, and the carrier's cargo insurance certificate. Ask for both before the truck arrives.
The condition report
Also called the bill of lading, the condition report is the record of the car as it was handed over. At pickup the Brandt specialist photographs the vehicle all round, with close-ups of the wheels, the splitter, the diffuser and any existing marks, and records the mileage and the fuel level with a timestamp. You both sign it. At delivery the same document is checked against the car before you sign again.
It matters because it is the baseline. A mark that is on the pickup report was there before the trailer; a mark that is not, and is noted at delivery, is the carrier's to answer for. Your own photographs from the day of pickup back it up.
Cargo insurance
Cargo insurance is the carrier's policy for vehicles in its care. Brandt carries $1M+ and sends the certificate before pickup on every transport. The certificate names the insurer, the insured carrier, the cargo limit and the policy dates. It should name the company that is actually moving your car; if the truck belongs to someone else, ask for theirs.
What it does not cover
- Personal items left in the vehicle, which are not cargo
- Damage recorded on the pickup report, because it happened before the trailer
- Mechanical faults that were not caused by the transport
- Anything not noted at delivery before the report was signed
If something is wrong at delivery
- Do not sign yet. Photograph what you see, in the same spots as your pickup photographs.
- Write it on the condition report, then sign.
- Call your specialist. The claim runs on the two documents, and Brandt handles it with its insurer.
Reading a certificate
Check that the insured name matches the carrier on your quote, that the cargo limit covers the value of your car, that the dates cover your transport, and that it is a cargo policy rather than only liability. You can ask to be listed as the certificate holder, which means the insurer notifies you if the policy changes.
Questions on this
What is a bill of lading for car transport?
The bill of lading is the transport contract and the condition report in one document. It records the vehicle as handed over at pickup, with photographs and notes, and is signed again at delivery after an inspection. It is the document a claim is decided on, so what is written on it at both ends matters.
Is my own auto insurance enough?
Your own policy is not designed to cover a car in a carrier's custody, and some policies exclude it. The carrier's cargo insurance is the cover that applies in transit. Ask for the certificate, check the limit against the car's value, and keep a copy with the condition report.
Does the $1M+ cover every car on a shared trailer?
The limit is per load, and Brandt keeps loads small on purpose. For a car whose value comes close to the limit on its own, the specialist will say so at quote and usually recommend a private trailer, where the whole limit stands behind one vehicle.
