Can I Ship a Vehicle without Brakes?
Shipping a vehicle isn’t something that magically happens; it takes a lot of hard work, time and effort to get it moved, and with so many different vehicles in all sorts of conditions on the road today, carriers have to prepare to haul just about anything.
But when it comes to shipping a vehicle with no brakes, things are going to get a bit more complicated. Shipping a vehicle with no brakes is a lot more difficult because car shippers have to physically drive the vehicles onto and off their truck when they load and unload them, and a vehicle that cannot stop itself presents challenges that not every driver can simply overcome.
A vehicle with no brakes runs the risk of not stopping when it is supposed to, particularly when a carrier is driving it onto or off the truck. If a vehicle has no brakes, there’s not much to stop it from rolling into another vehicle on the truck, which is bad for everyone. This usually means that most carriers aren’t going to ship a vehicle that cannot brake, but there are of course exceptions to every rule out there.
Auto shippers need to be able to stop any vehicle that they load onto their carrier, and if they can’t they’re going to have to use the emergency brake and their driving skills to maneuver it onto the truck. Once it’s on the truck they can set the emergency brake and secure the car via specialized straps and chains.
You’ll find you’ll have a harder time finding a company that will actually ship a vehicle that cannot stop on its own. Few actually want to deal with the hassle, and those that are willing are going to charge you more for the inconvenience. If you can, try to get the brakes fixed before you ship your vehicle; while it may cost more up front, it’s going to likely save you time and money in the long run.
Shipping a car is a time-consuming process, but it’s worth it if the vehicle is. And if the vehicle is worth it, don’t you think it’s worth it to get something as vital as its braking system checked and fixed?
If you’re interested in shipping a vehicle, regardless of its condition, you can and should fill out our free online auto transport quote request form. When you do, you’ll get a free, customized quote built for your shipment right away. We work hard to maintain our reputation, so we work with only top-rated carriers. If you have questions about our services, want a quote over the phone, or are ready to ship, give us a call any time at 800-930-7417 to speak to one of our live agents and find out what American Auto Shipping can do for you.
Since 2007 Dave has written all the content and blogs for American Auto Shipping and during this time added the duties of customer support and transport logistics.
He currently resides in Washington with his three kids and their mom and cat. A fan of Marvel movies and good stories, when not shipping cars Dave can be found working on his novel, enjoying a good book or playing some tournament HALO.
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