Question about shipping a car with a dead battery

I was always told auto transport companies won't take a car that doesn't run, but last month I shipped a dead 2012 Honda Civic from Austin to Dallas for $350 with a broker. They just had me note it was non-running and they loaded it with a winch. Has anyone else shipped a car that wouldn't start and had it go smoothly?

2 comments

2 Comments

murray.cole17d ago

Wait, you're telling me they didn't ask you to push the car onto the flatbed while filming it for TikTok? In all seriousness, I shipped a dead Ford Focus from Houston to San Antonio last year and the driver just gave me this look like "this again?" before winching it up. No issues, no extra fees, just a guy who clearly had better things to do than argue about a battery. The trick is probably that $350 covers their "ugh, fine" tax.

patkelly17d ago

Yeah, did you tip the guy extra for that look? Sounds like you got the veteran driver who's seen it all. I remember shipping a dead Chevy Malibu once, and the driver showed up with a jump pack but didn't even use it, @murray.cole. He just shook his head, hooked it up, and said "another one for the graveyard." That $350 seems about right for the privilege of not having to explain why your car won't start to a guy who's probably hauled worse. The last guy I used even told me he once winched a car that was literally on fire, so a dead battery is just a Tuesday for them.