In most cases, car shipping companies arrange to have your car picked up at your home or where you work (whichever is more convenient for you). This is called door-to-door shipping and it is the most common way of shipping a car that is owned by an individual.
However, there are two instances where scheduling an at-home pickup does not work:
Your street does not permit car carriers on it. This can happen when the street is too narrow or an HOA does not permit vehicles over a certain weight. To deal with this situation, the driver of the car carrier can contact you as he or she nears your location and you can meet at a nearby spot, such as a parking lot, where a car carrier can park.
On the pickup date, you will not be available to meet the car carrier. If you are unable schedule a pick-up for your car while you are still in town, or if you need to use your car until the last minute you are in town, then it can be challenging to get the timing right for a car shipping pick-up. Car Shipping Companies usually need a 3-day window to schedule your pick-up. A good solution in this case is to use terminal-to-terminal shipping.
A terminal is facility where vehicles can be dropped off and stored. To prepare for pickup, you drop your car off before your scheduled pickup on a date that is convenient for you. For delivery, your car can be delivered to a terminal facility or it can be delivered to your home or where you work. Please ask your car shipping company about any additional costs that may be associated with using a terminal.
Work with your car shipping company to help you figure out what works best for you. Most car shipping companies try to accommodate all of your requirements as best they can.