The car is one shipment. Its spare parts may be another.
Inventory detached parts, confirm acceptance and coverage, and arrange separate shipping when the vehicle service does not fit.
A set of spare wheels, a detached bumper and a box of suspension parts can become the awkward part of an otherwise simple vehicle move. They add handling questions that are not answered by the car’s year, make and model.
Ask about these items before booking and describe them individually. Do not assume that a provider’s allowance for personal belongings includes heavy wheels, fragile bodywork, leaking components or loose parts on a trailer. Acceptance, placement and coverage are separate questions.
Keep these in mind
- Disclose detached parts individually before booking.
- Permission to carry an item does not establish coverage for it.
- Use a separate shipment when the vehicle service cannot accept the parts.
Make an inventory before deciding where anything goes
List the items, approximate dimensions, weight, condition and packaging. Photograph valuable or easily damaged pieces and note whether they are attached to the vehicle or being transported separately. A carrier can give a more useful answer to “four boxed wheels” than to “a few extras.”
Keep the list distinct from the vehicle description. If a detached part was included in a sale, agree with the seller which person packs it, where it will be handed over and who is responsible for arranging its movement. The driver should not be asked to settle an accessory dispute at collection.
Get acceptance and coverage answers separately
Intercity Lines’ FAQ allows a limited amount of items inside a vehicle under its own conditions, but says those belongings are not covered by its vehicle insurance. Sherpa’s FAQ also describes an allowance and excludes responsibility for personal items, with different requirements for port or ocean shipments. Neither policy grants permission for your particular parts package.
Ask your selected provider to confirm each item in writing, including where it may travel and whether any charge applies. Ask what loss or damage protection, if any, covers the detached items. “You can put it in the trunk” is a placement answer, not an insurance answer.
Keep the driving and inspection areas clear
The person loading the car needs access to its controls and visibility. Items must not obstruct the driver, move into the footwell or conceal the condition of surfaces that need inspection. Have a suitable packer or the parts carrier advise on protecting sharp edges, heavy components and fragile finishes.
- Do not load loose parts into the vehicle as a last-minute surprise.
- Identify fluids, batteries, fuel containers or other items requiring a separate suitability check.
- Ask whether packaging and restraint are acceptable for the service being booked.
- Avoid placing heavy or abrasive items directly against interior trim or painted panels.
- Keep an inventory accessible to the person receiving the parts.
Choose a separate shipment when the fit is wrong
If the vehicle carrier cannot accept the parts on suitable terms, plan another shipment. Compare packaging, declared contents, collection, delivery access and the applicable protection with that separate provider. Do not label an awkward or hazardous component as ordinary household luggage to make it fit an allowance.
Your next step is a parts decision sheet: item, size, weight, agreed carrier, packaging, coverage answer and receiving contact. Remove any item without an approved plan before the car’s pickup. At delivery, reconcile the parts inventory separately from the vehicle inspection so a missing box does not get lost inside a general handover conversation.
Sources & further reading
Reviewed November 3, 2026. Provider-specific instructions can differ; confirm your actual shipment requirements with the provider handling it.
