At a Glance
An electric vehicle ships on the same carriers as any other car. What changes is weight, how the vehicle is rolled onto the trailer, and what state of charge you leave it at.
Battery packs make EVs substantially heavier than comparable combustion cars, and weight determines how many vehicles a carrier can legally load. That is why declaring the exact model matters more for an EV than for a sedan.
What you will learn:
- Why EV weight changes the load plan
- What state of charge to leave and why
- How tow and transport modes differ by manufacturer
Written by Daniela Quinchia —
Reviewed by
Last updated: 20 September 2026. This guide follows our editorial policy: every figure is either sourced to a named authority or flagged for verification.
Does shipping an electric vehicle work differently?
Broadly, no. An EV loads onto the same open or enclosed carrier as any other car and is secured the same way. The differences are operational rather than structural, and they cluster around three things: weight, charge and mode.
That is worth saying plainly, because a lot of uncertainty around EV transport is unwarranted. Carriers move electric vehicles routinely, including new inventory to dealerships.
What genuinely requires attention is declaring the vehicle accurately and setting it up correctly before the driver arrives. Both are on you, and both are easy.
Weight and why the exact model matters
A battery pack adds substantial weight, and weight is what limits how many vehicles a carrier can legally load.
A car hauler works within a legal gross weight limit. Heavier vehicles mean fewer units on the trailer, which changes the economics of the load. This is why “it’s a mid-size sedan” is not an adequate description for an EV — two vehicles of the same footprint can differ meaningfully in mass.
Give the year, make, model and trim at booking. Dispatch uses it to plan the load, and an accurate figure prevents a driver arriving with no room for your vehicle.
Our guide on what determines car shipping cost covers how weight and footprint feed the rate.
State of charge: aim for the middle
Leave a partial charge. Not full, not empty.
The reasoning is practical at both ends:
- You need enough to move under power. The vehicle is driven onto the trailer at pickup and off it at delivery. A dead pack turns a routine load into a winch job.
- You do not want it sitting at maximum. Leaving a pack at full charge for days is not what manufacturers generally recommend for battery longevity.
- Passive loss is normal. Any parked vehicle loses some charge over several days. Do not plan to arrive and immediately drive a long distance.
A middle state of charge handles all three. Check your owner’s manual for the manufacturer’s specific storage guidance.
Transport mode, tow mode and rolling the vehicle
Most EVs need to be placed in a specific mode before they can be safely rolled, winched or secured, and the procedure differs by manufacturer.
This matters because many electric vehicles engage a parking mechanism or regenerative braking behaviour that prevents free rolling when powered down. A driver who cannot roll the vehicle cannot position it on the trailer.
Before the driver arrives:
- Find the transport or tow mode procedure in your owner’s manual and write it down.
- Test that you can engage it. Do not discover a problem when the truck is waiting.
- Give the driver the written steps and leave them with the vehicle.
- Note any time limit. Some vehicles exit transport mode automatically after a period.
Open or enclosed for an EV?
Open transport is fine for the large majority of electric vehicles. An EV is no more vulnerable to weather or road debris than a combustion car.
| Situation | Recommended |
|---|---|
| Daily-driver EV, standard trim | Open transport |
| New or near-new delivery | Open transport is how dealers receive them |
| Performance or limited-edition EV | Enclosed |
| Low ground clearance | Enclosed, for loading angles |
| Vehicle that will not power on | Declare as non-running; equipment matters more than cover |
Our enclosed auto transport page covers when the premium is justified.
Preparing an EV for pickup
Fifteen minutes of preparation prevents the two problems that actually occur: a vehicle that will not roll, and a condition dispute.
- Set a partial state of charge in line with your manual.
- Write down the transport mode procedure and leave it with the vehicle.
- Remove the charging cable and adapters unless the carrier asks otherwise. They are loose items.
- Disable sentry, guard or always-on camera modes where possible. They drain the pack over days.
- Turn off scheduled charging and climate preconditioning.
- Photograph every panel, wheel and the underside if accessible, timestamped.
- Empty the vehicle. Carriers generally do not accept liability for personal items.
Our full preparation checklist applies to the rest.
Explore the full vehicle transport toolkit
- Enclosed auto transport — Covered transport for vehicles that need it.
- Classic car shipping mistakes — Protecting a collector vehicle in transit.
- Shipping electric vehicles — What changes with a battery pack.
- Motorcycle shipping — Two-wheel freight done properly.
- RV relocation — Oversized vehicle transport.
- How much does car shipping cost — Every factor that moves the number.
- How to prepare a car for transport — Pre-pickup checklist.
- Spotting transport scams — Verify a broker before you pay anything.
Frequently asked questions
Can electric vehicles be shipped on normal car carriers?
Yes. EVs move on the same open and enclosed carriers as combustion vehicles. The differences are operational – weight, state of charge and how the vehicle is put into a mode that allows it to roll and be secured.
What state of charge should I leave my EV at?
A partial charge rather than full or empty. You need enough to move the vehicle under its own power for loading and unloading, without leaving the pack sitting at maximum charge for the duration of transit.
Does an EV cost more to ship?
It can, because battery packs make EVs heavier than comparable combustion cars and weight limits how many vehicles a carrier can load. The rate reflects the space and weight your vehicle occupies.
Will my EV lose charge during transport?
Some passive loss is normal over several days, as with any parked vehicle. Disable features that keep systems awake where your manufacturer allows it, and do not rely on arriving with the charge you left.
Do I need to tell the carrier it is electric?
Yes, and give the exact model. Weight, tow mode procedure and whether the vehicle can be moved without power all differ between manufacturers, and the driver needs to know before arrival.
Can you ship an EV that will not power on?
Yes, but it becomes a non-running load. A vehicle that cannot be rolled or steered needs specific equipment, so declare it at booking rather than at pickup.
Key takeaways
- Declare the exact model. EV weight affects how many vehicles the carrier can legally load.
- Leave a partial charge, not full or empty. Enough to move under power, not so much that it sits at maximum for days.
- Know your vehicle’s transport or tow mode before the driver arrives – the procedure differs by manufacturer.
Get your EV shipping quote — or see our enclosed auto transport service details.
References
- Broker Registration. Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration.
- 49 CFR 387.307 – Property broker surety bond or trust fund. Electronic Code of Federal Regulations.
Featured image: Giant Asparagus on Pexels.