Handing the keys of a Lamborghini, Ferrari, or McLaren to a stranger with a trailer is a genuinely tense moment. Get the clearance or the insurance wrong and a tense moment becomes a five-figure repair. Knowing how to ship a supercar takes the fear out of it. We move exotics every week, so here is the process that keeps yours flawless.
The short answer: To ship a supercar, share your exact ground clearance and vet the insurance first, then ship enclosed on a liftgate with soft wheel straps and non-stacking placement. Keep fuel low, document every panel with timestamps, vet the driver's exotic experience, and inspect against your photos at both ends. The transport is ordinary; the discipline around loading and coverage is what protects the car.
Shipping a supercar comes down to five moves: nail the clearance, vet the insurance, ship enclosed with soft straps, document the condition, and inspect at both ends. The transport is routine. The discipline is what protects a six-figure car.
This is the process guide. For the full service and the tier framing, see our exotic car shipping service page. Let us start with the thing owners underestimate most.
A Huracán, an 488, or a 720S can sit three to four inches off the ground. That single number decides the trailer and the loading method, so it comes first.
Measure the lowest point — usually the front splitter — and tell us before pickup. A car under about four inches loads on a hydraulic liftgate, never a standard ramp. Our guide on loading a low-clearance car covers the methods. The downside of staying quiet about a low lip: a cracked splitter at the ramp, on you.
For a six-figure car, coverage matters more than the quote. Every carrier carries cargo insurance, but limits and terms vary widely. Confirm the coverage applies per vehicle at your car's value, not a per-trailer cap split across the load.
Ask for the certificate of insurance and read it. We handle transport, not policies, so check your own coverage for any transit gap too. The cheapest quote means nothing if your McLaren is underinsured the moment it rolls onto the trailer.
For a supercar, enclosed is non-negotiable — it blocks debris and UV and keeps a recognizable car out of sight. Inside, insist on soft tie-down straps over the wheels, never chains on the frame or panels.
Ask for wheel nets and a non-stacking, single-car or top spot so nothing rides above your car. The securing is where exotics get marked, so this is not a detail to leave to chance. Curious whether the cost is worth it? Our take on whether enclosed transport is worth it makes the case by proportion.
Prep is mostly documentation. Keep fuel under a quarter tank for a lighter load, fold the mirrors, disable the alarm, and raise the nose lift if equipped. Then photograph every panel, the wheels, the splitter, and the interior with timestamps.
This is your protection. A new scuff versus a pre-existing one is the hardest claim to win without before-and-after photos. Ten minutes here can protect a six-figure car, and skipping it is the most expensive shortcut in the move.
The bill of lading records the car's condition, and both you and the driver sign it. Note every existing mark before signing at pickup. You or a knowledgeable backup should be there — someone who knows the car.
At delivery, walk the car against your pickup photos before signing anything, checking the splitter and lower panels first. Note any change on the spot. For the full cost picture, see our exotic car shipping cost guide, then price your route on the calculator and verify the carrier with our FMCSA lookup.
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Measure and share your ground clearance, then vet the carrier's insurance. Those two facts shape everything else — the trailer, the loading method, and your protection. We tell owners to confirm both before comparing prices. The cheapest quote is worthless if the car cannot load safely or is underinsured in transit.
Keep fuel under a quarter tank for a lighter, safer load, fold the mirrors, disable the alarm, and raise the nose lift if the car has one. Note any aftermarket splitter or low lip. Photograph every panel with timestamps before loading. A clean, documented car is your protection if a claim ever comes up.
For a true supercar, yes, and we will say so plainly. Enclosed blocks weather, road debris, and UV, and keeps a recognizable car out of sight. Open saves money, but one chip on a six-figure car erases that saving many times over. The only honest downside of enclosed is cost, and here it is worth it.
On a hydraulic liftgate that raises the car at a near-flat angle, or with low-angle ramps for cars with a bit more clearance. A standard ramp is too steep and scrapes the splitter. We confirm your ride height first so the right trailer arrives. Our low-clearance guide covers the loading methods in detail.
With soft tie-down straps over the wheels, never chains or hooks on the frame, sills, or body panels. Good carriers add wheel nets and do not stack a high-value car under another. We confirm soft-strap, non-stacking handling on every move, because the securing is where exotic cars usually get marked.
Look past price to experience and equipment. Ask how many exotics they move, whether they run liftgates, and whether the cargo coverage is per vehicle. Ask for references. We tell owners to verify the carrier's license and insurance with the FMCSA lookup. An experienced exotic hauler beats a cheap quote every time.
If it is removable and very low, it can make loading easier and safer, but it is not always necessary with a proper liftgate. The better move is to tell the driver it exists so they plan the loading angle. We talk this through before pickup, because a surprise splitter at the ramp is how parts crack.
You or a knowledgeable person should be, to inspect the car and sign the bill of lading. A supercar needs someone who knows its existing marks and quirks. We tell owners to name a backup who can spot a new scuff on a car they understand, not just any available adult.
Early. Liftgate-equipped enclosed carriers with exotic experience are fewer, and the right driver takes lining up, especially around show season and auction weeks. A last-minute booking gets whoever is free, not the best fit. Lead time lets us match your car to an experienced exotic hauler.
Walk the car against your pickup photos before signing anything. Check the splitter, the lower panels, the wheels, and that it starts and runs. Note any change on the bill of lading on the spot. Signing a clean delivery form ends the conversation, so inspect carefully first, then sign.
Tell us where you're shipping — we'll handle the rest. No obligation, no hidden fees.