Car Carrier Rental for Bringing a Car Home

The words get used loosely. A multi-car carrier is the big commercial truck you see on the freeway, and that is not something you rent here. For a single car, the rental trailer you want is a full car trailer, called an auto transport. It carries the whole car with all four wheels off the road.

A tow dolly is different. It only lifts the front wheels. For the jobs on this page, a full car trailer is usually the better fit, because the car may not run, may have rear-wheel drive, or may be too valuable to have its wheels rolling behind you.

Plan the haul and the inspection together. A used car that looks fine in photos can hide problems that make the drive home a bad idea. Hauling it on a trailer takes the drive risk off the table, but you still want to know what you are buying.

Before you commit:

• Get an inspection: a pre-purchase inspection finds leaks, worn brakes, bad tires and warning codes. Read about our pre-purchase inspections. An inspection is not a warranty or a promise that nothing will fail later.
• Check title and paperwork: make sure the sale can be completed before you tow it away. The California DMV (opens in a new tab) explains title transfers.
• Ask how it rolls: flat tires, locked brakes or a car that will not steer change the loading plan.
• Measure the ramp approach: very low cars can scrape.

Then call us with the car's details and your tow vehicle.

Sometimes, but plan carefully. A car that will not start has to be pushed or winched up the ramps, and that is harder and riskier than driving it on. Tell us the car does not run when you call, and we talk through whether it can be loaded safely with the equipment available.

Things that make a non-running car harder to load:

• Flat tires or wheels that will not turn
• No working brakes to stop it once on the trailer
• Steering that is locked or will not turn
• A missing key

Have enough strong helpers, never stand in front of or behind a rolling car on a slope, and keep the trailer hitched the whole time.

Low front bumpers, long overhangs and lowered suspensions can scrape on the ramps. Classic car owners often prefer a trailer so the car avoids road chips, extra miles and a long drive with old brakes.

• Measure the height of the lowest point of the front bumper.
• Approach the ramps slowly and straight.
• Use a spotter watching the front bumper.
• Protect paint where straps or chains come near the body.

Tell us the car's make, model and any modifications when you call, so we can confirm it suits the trailer.

A capable tow vehicle, the right hitch and working lights. A loaded car trailer is heavy, so it typically needs a pickup or larger SUV. U-Haul sets requirements based on both vehicles, and we check them when you call.

At pickup, we connect the trailer and check the hitch, coupler, chains and lights. If you want, we also check your tow vehicle's tires and brakes. See the hitch and tow package page for what your vehicle needs.

Get it looked at before you drive it much, especially if you skipped an inspection. A car that sat for a while often needs fluids, tires and brakes checked before regular driving.

Since we are a tire and repair shop, you can bring it in. We photograph what we find, write the estimate before work, and split it into need and want. Tires on a car that sat for years may look fine but be too old to trust, which our tire date code guide explains.

Buying a car and trailering it home is a long day. A small kit and a short list keep it from turning into a longer one.

Bring along

• The bill of sale, title paperwork and the seller's contact details
• Both keys, if the seller has two
• A tire pressure gauge and a flashlight
• Work gloves and a rag for the tire straps
• A floor jack or a portable air pump if the car has a slow leak
• A helper to act as your spotter

Before you leave the seller

1. Photograph the car on all sides before loading.
2. Confirm the car's tires hold air long enough to load.
3. Strap the tires and set the car's parking brake once it is on the trailer.
4. Walk around the whole rig and test the trailer lights.

A car you have not driven much can surprise you. Keep the plan simple: load, secure, drive, and save the test drive for later.

Route planning matters more when the rig is long and heavy. Tight gas stations, steep grades and dark roads all get harder.

• Leave early: aim to arrive in daylight, especially if you are new to towing.
• Pick roomy fuel stops: truck-friendly stations with pull-through lanes save a lot of backing.
• Know the grades: the I-15 through Cajon Pass and other long climbs call for a lower gear on the way down.
• Keep the speed down: California limits vehicles towing to 55 mph.
• Plan the unload spot: you need level ground and room behind the trailer to back the car off.
• Stop early: check the tire straps within the first few miles and at each fuel stop.

When the car is home and unloaded, return the trailer during business hours if you can so we can do the return walkaround with you. Our 24-hour return page covers what to photograph if you need to drop it after hours.