Table of contents
Quick answer
You generally don't need to show a title to have a car transported: the carrier's receipt identifies the shipper, the receiver, the route and the vehicle, not proof of ownership. You do need the title to register the car at its destination, and a financed car may need a lienholder letter. Missing keys are a practical problem rather than a paperwork one: without a key the car can't be driven onto the truck, so it goes as an inoperable vehicle on a carrier with a winch, and someone has to be able to steer and brake it.
Shipping and registering are two different problems
Keep these apart in your head and most of the confusion goes away. Transport is a contract to move an object. Registration is a state deciding whether you own it.
Proof of ownership isn't on that list, which is why cars bought at auction, inherited cars and cars whose titles are sitting in a lender's filing cabinet get shipped every day. Your own company may still ask for documents as a matter of policy, so ask when you book.
If the title isn't in your hands
There are four common versions of this, and they end differently.
| Situation | What to do |
|---|---|
| The lender holds it because the car is financed | Ask the lender for a letter permitting the move, and check whether the destination state changes anything. |
| You bought at auction and the title is in the post | Ship on the sale paperwork; wait for the title before registering. |
| The car was inherited | The estate's paperwork proves the chain; the destination state tells you what it needs to issue a new title. |
| The title is lost | Apply for a duplicate through the state that issued it, which is usually possible while the car is in transit. |
The lender holds it because the car is financed
- What to do
- Ask the lender for a letter permitting the move, and check whether the destination state changes anything.
You bought at auction and the title is in the post
- What to do
- Ship on the sale paperwork; wait for the title before registering.
The car was inherited
- What to do
- The estate's paperwork proves the chain; the destination state tells you what it needs to issue a new title.
The title is lost
- What to do
- Apply for a duplicate through the state that issued it, which is usually possible while the car is in transit.
If there are no keys
A driver needs to move the car a few feet, steer it and stop it. Without a key, that's a winch job, and it has to be booked that way.
- Say so when you bookBooking a running car and presenting a keyless one is the classic cause of a refused pickup and a fee.
- Book inoperable transportThe carrier brings a winch and allows longer for loading.
- Check it rolls, steers and brakesWinch loading needs all three. A seized car or a flat tire needs extra equipment.
- Arrange a key at the far endA locksmith or dealer can cut and program one; for a keyless car, expect programming, not just cutting.
- Agree accessSomeone must be present at both ends with the ability to release handbrakes and steering locks where possible.
If a key exists but you only have one, send it with the car and keep a photograph of it. Drivers hand keys over at delivery along with the paperwork.
Booking it without surprises
- Describe the car honestly: runs, rolls, steers, brakes, keys, and any missing panels.
- Say who will hand the car over and who will receive it, with phone numbers.
- Agree in writing what happens if the car can't be loaded as described.
- Keep the title, sale paperwork or lienholder letter somewhere other than the car.
- Ask what the company needs before pickup, not on the day.
Frequently asked questions
Can I ship a car without the title?
Usually yes. Federal rules say the carrier's receipt must identify the shipper, the receiver, the origin, the destination and the vehicle; proof of ownership isn't part of it. Individual companies can still ask for documents, and you'll need the title to register the car at the other end.
What about a financed car whose title the lender holds?
Ask the lender for written permission to move the car, especially across state lines or offshore. Many lenders have a standard letter for this, and some shipping companies ask to see it.
Can a car be shipped without keys?
Yes, as an inoperable vehicle. The carrier uses a winch instead of driving it on, which needs a truck with the right equipment and a longer loading slot, so book it as non-running from the start.
Does shipping without keys cost more?
Expect to pay more than for a running car, because winch loading takes equipment, time and a carrier willing to carry it. Get the quote for inoperable transport specifically rather than hoping the driver will manage.
I bought at auction and the title hasn't arrived. Can I ship now?
Generally yes: ship on the sale paperwork and register once the title arrives. Check the destination state's deadline for registering after you bring a car in, so a late title doesn't cost you a penalty.
Will the shipping company help me with the title?
No. Carriers and brokers move vehicles; titles and registration are between you and the state agencies. Your state's motor vehicle agency lists what it needs for a car arriving from elsewhere.
Should I send both keys?
Send one and keep the spare. If the key goes missing in transit you still have a way into the car, and you'll want a photograph of what you handed over.
Sources
Written and reviewed by the Haulwide editorial team. Editorial policy
