If you're wondering, "Can you ship a leased car?” the practical answer is usually yes. That is for moves within the continental United States, provided your lease allows it. Hawaii, U.S. territories, and international destinations may involve additional restrictions and paperwork.
If you need to move your leased car hundreds or thousands of miles, you don't necessarily have to drive it. You can usually arrange professional auto transport, but there is one important difference compared with shipping a car you own outright: the leasing company still owns the vehicle.
That means the first call should not be to a transport company. It should be to the company holding your lease.
Start With Your Lease Agreement
Before arranging transport, read the section of your lease covering vehicle location, relocation, registration, and use outside the United States. If the language isn't clear, contact the leasing company directly.
For a routine move within the continental U.S., you may simply need to keep your registration and insurance current and notify the leasing company of your new address. Other lessors may require advance approval, particularly if the car will be registered in another state.
This should be handled before booking transportation. A carrier can move the vehicle, but it cannot give you permission to take a leased vehicle somewhere your lease prohibits.
If you're already moving from state to state, also find out when you must update the vehicle's registration and insurance before shipping leased car. Those requirements are determined by the state where you'll live, not by the auto transport company.
Get Written Authorization When You Need It
For many domestic shipments, the leasing company may not require a special authorization letter. Don't assume that applies to every destination, though.
A trip involving an ocean port, U.S. territory, or another country is different because the vehicle's owner becomes important. The lessor or lienholder may have to provide written permission before the vehicle can be accepted for shipment.
Ask whether the authorization must include the vehicle identification number, destination and dates of travel. You should also find out whether the document needs to be notarized or must be an original rather than a photocopy.
For example, some international ports require lienholder authorization in certain Hawaii, Guam and Micronesia vehicle shipments when a lienholder appears on the title or registration. Requirements vary by route and direction of travel, so use the instructions for the specific port and shipment rather than paperwork from an earlier move.
Gather the Paperwork Before Pickup
The documents needed to ship a leased car depend on where it's going. A normal interstate truck shipment is much simpler than an overseas move.
Keep these items available:
- Current vehicle registration: Shows the vehicle's identifying information and registered party.
- Proof of insurance: Your insurance should remain active throughout the move.
- Lienholder or lessor authorization: May be required when the leasing company must approve the destination or method of transport.
- Bill of lading: The carrier prepares this at pickup. It records the vehicle's condition and serves as an important transport document.
- Power of attorney: May be required when another party is handling customs or port paperwork for you.
- Government-issued identification: Commonly required at ports and for certain document-processing steps.
The bill of lading deserves particular attention. Walk around the vehicle with the driver at pickup and make sure existing scratches, dents or other damage are recorded before you sign it. Keep your copy until the shipment is complete.
Choose Open or Enclosed Transport
Most leased vehicles don't require special transportation simply because they're leased. The choice between open and enclosed shipping should be based primarily on the car itself.
Open auto transport is the standard choice for most everyday cars, crossovers and SUVs. Because an open trailer carries several vehicles, the operating cost is spread across more shipments. That generally makes it the lower-cost option.
If you're leasing a high-value performance or luxury vehicle, enclosed auto transport may make more sense. The vehicle travels inside a covered trailer that limits exposure to weather and road debris. Enclosed carriers generally transport fewer vehicles per load, which is one reason the service costs more.
Neither method changes your obligations under the lease.
How Much Does Shipping a Leased Car Cost?
There isn't a separate transportation rate simply because the car is leased. The same basic pricing factors apply as they would to a vehicle you own.
Distance is important, but it isn't the only factor. Vehicle size, pickup and delivery locations, season, current availability of trucks and your choice of open or enclosed transport all affect the price.
Long routes also don't scale at a fixed price per mile. A carrier has to consider where the vehicle fits into the rest of the load and whether the route works with other pickups and deliveries.
For a coast-to-coast move, cross-country car shipping can save thousands of miles of lease mileage. That can be particularly useful if your lease has a tight annual mileage allowance.
Use a current quote rather than relying on an old article or a generic national average. Market conditions change too frequently for a static price to tell you what your particular shipment will cost.
Check the Transport Company Before Booking
For an interstate shipment, understand whether you're dealing with the company actually hauling the vehicle or a broker arranging transportation with an independent carrier.
The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) says interstate auto transport brokers and carriers must be registered with the agency. Its consumer advisory about automobile transporters also explains how consumers can check registration information and distinguish between brokers and carriers.
Nexus Auto Transport operates as a broker, coordinating shipments with third-party motor carriers. For a leased vehicle, provide any special instructions or documentation requirements before a carrier is assigned so they can be addressed before pickup.
Prepare the Car for Shipping
Once the paperwork is settled, preparing a leased vehicle is much like preparing any other car.
Remove personal belongings, take out toll transponders and secure or remove loose accessories. Leave roughly a quarter tank of fuel so the driver can load and unload the vehicle without carrying unnecessary weight.
Clean the exterior well enough to make scratches and dents easy to see, then photograph the vehicle from several angles before the driver arrives. Include close-ups of any existing damage.
At pickup, compare the driver's inspection with your own photos. Do the same thing again at delivery before signing the final condition report.
Shipping a Leased Car to Hawaii, Alaska or Overseas
The farther the vehicle moves from a routine interstate truck route, the more important advance authorization becomes.
Destination |
Lienholder Authorization Required |
Primary Document Needed |
Recommended Carrier Option |
|---|---|---|---|
Out of State |
Depends on lease terms |
Registration and lease/lessor approval if required |
Open transport for most vehicles |
Hawaii and Alaska |
Often required for ocean transport or when specified by the lessor |
Lienholder authorization plus carrier-required ownership/registration documents |
Truck transport combined with ocean service where necessary |
U.S. Territories |
Commonly required |
Lienholder authorization and port/shipping documents |
Domestic transport to port plus ocean carrier |
International Destinations |
Generally, expect written lessor approval |
Lienholder authorization, ownership/export documents and any required Power of Attorney |
Domestic transport to port plus international vehicle shipper |
For an international move, do not book the ocean shipment until the leasing company has specifically approved taking the vehicle out of the country. U.S. Customs and Border Protection may require proof that the person moving a vehicle they don't own is authorized to do so, and permanent vehicle exports have additional documentation requirements.
U.S. Customs and Border Protection guidance explains the need for authorization when taking a vehicle belonging to someone else across an international border.
Nexus handles domestic vehicle transportation. For an overseas move, that can include arranging the U.S. portion of the trip to the appropriate port or handoff point, while the international leg is handled by an international vehicle shipping provider.
FAQs
What happens if I ship my leased car out of state without notifying the leasing company?
It depends on your lease. Some leasing companies allow interstate moves without special permission, while others require notification or approval when the vehicle's address or registration changes. Review the lease first. Shipping the car doesn't override the terms of the contract.
Can I ship a leased vehicle if I have an outstanding balance or past-due payments?
The transport company does not decide whether a past-due lease can be moved. If the account is delinquent, contact the leasing company before scheduling transportation. Delinquency may affect what the lessor allows you to do with its vehicle, particularly if you need written authorization for a port or international shipment.
Does my personal auto insurance cover a leased vehicle while it is on a transport carrier?
Don't assume that it does. Your personal policy and the carrier's cargo coverage are separate forms of protection, and the details vary by policy. Ask your insurer how your coverage applies while the leased vehicle is being transported and review the carrier's insurance information before pickup.
Ship Your Leased Car With the Paperwork Settled First
Leased car transportation is usually straightforward once you've established what the leasing company allows. Handle permission and destination-specific documents first, then choose the transport option that fits the vehicle and route.
When you're ready to price the domestic portion of the move, get an Instant Quote from Nexus Auto Transport.
