Battery Charge Level: What Carriers Typically Ask For
Most carriers ask that an EV be charged to roughly 40–60% before pickup, rather than fully charged or nearly empty. A charge in that middle range provides enough power to load, maneuver, and unload the vehicle without the added weight and slower charge-time considerations of a full battery, and without the risk of running too low during transit-related repositioning at a terminal or on a multi-stop route.
Why Weight Matters More for an EV
EVs are typically heavier than comparable gas vehicles due to battery weight, which affects a carrier’s total load calculations, especially on a multi-car open trailer already carrying other heavy vehicles. This is rarely a problem for a single EV shipment, but it’s worth confirming with the carrier upfront, particularly for a full-size electric truck or SUV near the top of common weight ranges.
Neutral and Tow Mode: Confirm Before Pickup
Loading and unloading a vehicle onto a carrier requires putting it in neutral and rolling it under its own low-speed momentum or a winch. Some EVs require a specific procedure—often through the vehicle’s settings menu—to release the parking mechanism and allow this, rather than a traditional gear shift. Knowing this procedure and confirming it with the driver at pickup avoids delay or confusion loading the vehicle.
Not Every Carrier Regularly Handles EVs
Most carriers handle EVs without issue today, but experience varies, particularly with the neutral/tow procedure and awareness of model-specific handling notes. Asking directly whether the assigned carrier has shipped this vehicle type before is a reasonable question, the same way it’s reasonable to ask about experience with a classic or exotic vehicle.
Insurance Coverage Is the Same, With One Consideration
An EV is covered by a carrier’s cargo insurance the same as any other vehicle. The one added consideration is repair cost: battery pack damage, even cosmetic-adjacent damage near battery housing, can be significantly more expensive to assess and repair than equivalent damage on a conventional vehicle. This makes the pickup and delivery inspection documentation covered in filing a damage claim especially worth doing thoroughly for an EV.
Texas Heat and Battery Considerations
Texas summer heat doesn’t meaningfully affect a battery sitting at a moderate charge level during a standard multi-day transport window the way it might during continuous fast-charging or heavy use. It’s a reasonable question to ask a carrier about extended dwell time in extreme heat for a multi-stop route, but it’s not a reason to over- or under-charge the vehicle beyond the standard recommended range.
Prepping an EV for Pickup
Charge to the carrier’s requested range, typically 40–60%. Know and be ready to demonstrate the neutral/tow release procedure if asked. Disable any aftermarket alarm system that could be triggered by loading movement. Remove portable charging cables and store them inside the vehicle rather than leaving them attached or loose. Note the charge level and any existing condition details on the Bill of Lading at pickup, same as any other vehicle.
Delivery Considerations for an EV
Confirm the delivery charge level is reasonable given the transit time, and ask the driver if the vehicle needs to be immediately connected to a charger versus having some buffer. For a delivery to a rural or less-connected area, confirming charging access at the delivery point is worth doing ahead of time, separate from the shipment itself.
Does EV Transport Cost More
Pricing is driven primarily by route, timing, and carrier capacity, the same as any vehicle—EV status alone doesn’t automatically add a premium, though vehicle weight can factor into standard pricing calculations the same way it would for a heavy gas-powered truck or SUV.
Ready to Ship Your EV in Texas?
An EV ships safely on standard equipment with a few extra questions confirmed upfront.