A car-shipping handoff involves more than leaving a vehicle at an address. Someone must provide access, confirm the vehicle details, transfer the keys, and communicate relevant changes.
Use this checklist to coordinate pickup and delivery in Canada.
Assign a contact at each end
Choose a responsible person for pickup and another for delivery. Confirm their names and contact information before submitting the request.
If you will not attend a handoff yourself, make sure the person attending understands:
- Where the vehicle is located
- Which vehicle is being moved
- Which keys must be provided or received
- What condition information has been recorded
- Whom to contact if a detail changes
Confirm the locations
Provide the complete pickup and delivery locations, not only the city or province.
Include relevant building, dealership, storage, unit, or access information. A condominium handoff may require different coordination from one at a private residence, dealership, or workplace.
If you are comparing handoff structures, review door-to-door car shipping and terminal-to-terminal car shipping. Availability and suitability still need to be reviewed for the route.
Share accurate vehicle information
Prepare the vehicle’s year, make, model, body style, and operating condition.
Disclose modifications, unusual dimensions, low clearance, existing damage, or other conditions that could affect handling. If the vehicle does not start, roll, or steer normally, say so before the handoff.
Organize the keys
Prepare the keys required to access and operate the vehicle. Keep them together and identify their functions if they are not obvious.
Remove unrelated personal keys and belongings. Do not rely on keys being available inside a residence, dealership office, or other building unless that arrangement has been confirmed with the appropriate contact.
Photograph the vehicle
Take photographs before pickup. Include the exterior, wheels, glass, lights, bumpers, and existing marks.
Keep the photographs with your records. If another person will receive the vehicle, explain where the records are stored and how to contact you if a question arises.
Communicate changes
Contact names, access instructions, vehicle locations, and preferred dates can change. Communicate updates promptly rather than assuming old information will be carried forward.
If the vehicle moves to a different address, treat that as a route change and provide the new details.
Keep the records together
- Pickup and delivery locations
- Contact names and details
- Vehicle description and condition
- Condition photographs
- Key information
- Written communications
- Any changes to the original request
Keeping one consistent record reduces the risk of different people working from conflicting information.
For local context at either end of a route, you can also review the Toronto car shipping or Vancouver car shipping page.
Have your handoff details ready? Submit the route and vehicle information through the Car Shipping Cost Calculator.