How to Ship a Chevrolet Equinox
An Equinox ships on a standard open carrier at ordinary compact SUV rates, and two questions decide everything unusual about it: is yours front wheel drive or all wheel drive, and is it the electric one. For a running gasoline Equinox the answer is that nothing is unusual at all. It is one of the most common vehicles on American roads, every carrier has moved hundreds, and it slots into a load without comment. The two variants are where the handling changes.
Front Wheel Drive or All Wheel Drive
Unlike some compact SUVs, the Equinox is sold in both, and it matters only if the car will not start.
A front wheel drive Equinox that does not run can be loaded with the rear wheels rolling, which gives a carrier more options. An all wheel drive Equinox cannot be towed with any wheels turning on the road, because that drives the driveline with no engine to match it and risks the transfer case and rear differential. It has to be winched fully onto the deck.
Check the badge or the window sticker before you book rather than guessing. It is a thirty second check that determines what equipment turns up, and a driver arriving expecting one and finding the other loses the day.
If Yours Is the Equinox EV
The electric Equinox ships on the same carriers as any other, with three differences worth flagging at booking.
It is heavier than the gasoline version because of the battery pack, which affects how a load is balanced. Leave the charge at roughly 30 to 50 percent rather than full or empty, which is what most carriers ask for and is comfortable for a vehicle sitting several days. And if it will not power up, say so immediately, because an EV that cannot be shifted into neutral electronically is a genuinely different loading job rather than a simple winch.
Take the charging cable out and leave it at home. Loose equipment is not covered by cargo insurance and a cable is easy to mislay.
What It Costs
Open transport ranges for an Equinox, which as a compact SUV runs roughly 10 percent above a compact sedan on the same lane.
Enclosed transport adds 20 to 30 percent, and a vehicle that will not start or roll adds roughly $100 to $250 for winching.
Open Is the Right Choice Here
The Equinox is a mainstream vehicle and open transport is exactly what it is built to travel on. It is the same service that delivers new Equinoxes to Chevrolet dealerships every week.
Enclosed makes sense only in narrow cases: fresh paint after bodywork, or a winter move through the salt belt where you would rather keep road salt off the underbody. For an everyday Equinox it is money spent on a risk you do not really carry.
Preparing It
Standard preparation applies and the pre-pickup checklist covers it. Wash it so existing marks are visible, photograph every panel in daylight including the roof, empty it out, and leave about a quarter tank of fuel or 30 to 50 percent charge on the EV.
Two Equinox specific notes. If yours has roof rails with a crossbar set or a cargo box fitted, take them off, because they change the height a carrier planned for and they are easily damaged. And disable the alarm or tell the driver how, since a keyless vehicle sitting on a trailer for a week can drain its battery if something keeps waking it.
At delivery, inspect before signing. Compare against your photographs and the pickup condition report, check the roof and lower panels, start the engine, and note anything unexpected on the bill of lading while the driver is present.
Timing
Book one to two weeks ahead on most lanes and three to four in summer, when moving season peaks nationally. Transit counts from pickup rather than from booking. Someone has to be present at both ends to walk the vehicle with the driver and sign the condition report, though it does not have to be you as long as the carrier knows in advance who it will be.
Common Questions
Does an Equinox need special equipment? No. It is a standard compact SUV and fits any open or enclosed carrier.
Why does it cost more than a sedan? Size and weight, roughly 10 percent on the same route.
Does front wheel drive versus all wheel drive matter? Only if the car will not start. All wheel drive must be winched fully onto the deck rather than towed.
What about the Equinox EV? Same carriers, but leave it at 30 to 50 percent charge, mention the extra weight, and take the cable out.
Should I remove the roof rack? Yes if crossbars or a box are fitted. They change the height and are easily lost.
Get a Quote
Call Ship A Car, Inc. at (866) 821-4555 with the model year, whether it is front or all wheel drive, and both zip codes, or price the move with the instant calculator.
