Your Vehicle Picked Up and Delivered Right to Your Location
Door-to-door auto transport is exactly what it sounds like: our carrier comes directly to your specified pickup location, loads your vehicle, and delivers it as close to your destination address as possible. There's no need for you to drive your car to a distant terminal or arrange additional transportation — we bring the service to you.
This is by far the most popular shipping method, and it's the standard service at Lepke Auto Transport. When you book with us, door-to-door is included at no extra charge. We believe vehicle shipping should be convenient from start to finish, and that starts with meeting you where you are.
Unlike terminal-to-terminal shipping — where you drop off and pick up your vehicle at fixed depot locations — door-to-door service eliminates extra trips, saves you time, and removes the stress of coordinating around someone else's schedule. For the vast majority of customers, it's the clear winner.
Once your vehicle is assigned to a carrier, the driver will contact you to coordinate a pickup window. On pickup day, the carrier arrives at your address, performs a thorough vehicle inspection with you (documenting the condition on a Bill of Lading), loads your car onto the trailer, and heads to the destination.
At delivery, the same process happens in reverse. The driver meets you (or your designated contact) at the delivery address, unloads your vehicle, and you both inspect the car together to confirm it arrived in the same condition.
Here's something most companies don't tell you upfront: auto transport carriers are typically 75–80 feet long and weigh up to 80,000 pounds. That's as long as a semi-truck hauling 8–10 vehicles. These rigs can't always navigate narrow residential streets, tight cul-de-sacs, low-hanging tree branches, or roads with sharp turns.
When that happens, the driver will work with you to find the nearest accessible meeting point — usually a wide parking lot, shopping center, or main road nearby. It's still considered door-to-door service because the driver gets as close to your location as safely possible. This is standard industry practice and applies to every auto transport company, not just us.
| Feature | Door-to-Door | Terminal-to-Terminal |
|---|---|---|
| Convenience | High — driver comes to you | Low — you drive to a depot |
| Availability | Widely available, standard service | Limited terminals, fewer options |
| Time Savings | No extra driving or coordination | Requires 2 extra trips (drop-off + pickup) |
| Cost | Standard pricing | Sometimes slightly cheaper, but rarely worth it |
| Vehicle Exposure | Loaded once, unloaded once | May sit at terminal exposed to elements |
| Best For | Most customers | Those near a major terminal hub |
Terminal-to-terminal shipping can save a small amount in some cases, but the inconvenience typically outweighs the savings. Unless you're located right next to a transport hub, door-to-door is the better value for your time and money.
Honestly? Almost everyone. Door-to-door is the default and most practical choice for the vast majority of vehicle shipments. It's ideal for:
At Lepke Auto Transport, we've been coordinating door-to-door pickups and deliveries since 1991. With over 30,000 vetted carriers in our network, we can arrange service to virtually any address in the contiguous 48 states. Our price guarantee means no surprises, and our $0 upfront policy means you don't pay until your vehicle is dispatched.
Enter your details and get a guaranteed price in minutes.
Our vetted carriers handle your vehicle with professional care.
Your vehicle arrives safely at your destination on schedule.
"Best experience shipping my Tesla. Lepke was transparent and fast."
"Saved $400 compared to Montway. The driver was professional."
"First time shipping a car. They made the process so easy."
If the carrier can't safely navigate your street due to size restrictions, the driver will arrange to meet you at the nearest accessible location — usually within a few blocks. This is standard practice for all auto transport companies, and your representative will communicate this ahead of time.
In most cases, door-to-door is our standard service and is included in your quote. Terminal-to-terminal may occasionally save $50-$100, but the added inconvenience of driving to a depot usually isn't worth it. Most customers choose door-to-door.
Someone over 18 must be present to sign the Bill of Lading and inspect the vehicle at both pickup and delivery. If you can't be there, you can designate a trusted person to act on your behalf — just let us know in advance.
We recommend booking 1-2 weeks in advance for the best carrier availability and pricing. However, we can often arrange expedited pickups within a few days for time-sensitive moves.