How to Properly and Safely Package Items when Transporting a Car with Personal Items

Although it is not recommended, car transport businesses may allow you to transport personal items with your car whilst it is in transit. If you choose to transport personal items with your car, we have collated some tips and to-do’s to make sure you have packaged all of your items appropriately according to the guidelines.

Items must be under the windows

There are two main reasons why the personal items you pack need to be under the height of the car windows.

1. The transporter’s safety: the driver who is transporting your items needs to be able to see clearly out of all windows so they can drive your vehicle on and off the truck. 
2. To prevent theft: Car shipping truckers don’t just go straight through from one destination to another, they make frequent stops at rest areas. If your vehicle is full to the brim with items, it produces a huge risk of theft. There may be some opportunistic thieves that see your car is full, and whether the items are of value or not, may try and take anything they can if they get into your vehicle. Packing the items below the window line drastically reduces the visibility, therefore lessening the chance of theft.

If your transporter shows up and your vehicle is packed to the brim with personal items that are beyond the window line, they may refuse to take your vehicle for liability and safety reasons. They most likely will charge you additional fees if this is a breach of any contracts you signed regarding the transport of personal items within your vehicle. 

Think about any potential damages

A car sitting potentially upon another car on a transport truck isn’t the most smooth ride and there will be lots of vibrations and shifting, so you need to make sure that all of the items that are in your car are packed securely and safely. If items are not secure, there is a high risk of them shifting around and causing internal damage to your vehicle. Additionally, any damage that is caused by your items or the extra weight they add is not insured. Packing these items in your car is at your own risk, not the transport provider.

When shipping personal items in your vehicle, use common sense and pack non-valuable items. If the items in the car are easily replaced, then go for it. If they are highly valuable or sentimental and will not be easily replaced if damaged or stolen, it is HIGHLY recommended that you do not ship them with your vehicle.

A recommended way of making sure all personal items are secure and not going to cause internal damage to your car is by packing all of the items in suitcases, duffle bags, or boxes.

Limitations

• No heavy machinery or heavy car parts
• No perishable food items or plants
• No dangerous goods including, but not limited to: weapons, firearms, ammunition, flammable liquids, gases, or illegal items
• No goods to be stored in ute trays or the front passenger seat (if the vehicle is a cab chassis, then you cannot store any personal items within the car at any time)
• No items in the front passenger seat or the footwell behind the driver’s seat
• No windows can be obstructed in any way
• Due to strict quarantine rules in Western Australia, you cannot transport personal items in vehicles for movements inbound to Western Australia

While it is understood that sometimes there is no choice but to ship personal items with your vehicle, it is important to know why it is discouraged by many companies, and the risks involved.