How to Ship a Subaru Crosstrek
The Crosstrek is a straightforward vehicle to ship, and the only thing worth thinking about is what is bolted to it. These are cars that attract roof boxes, bike carriers, lift kits and all-terrain tires more than almost anything else in their class, and each of those changes a number the carrier is working from. Stock, it prices in the ordinary range for a compact crossover.
The Baseline Numbers
A Crosstrek runs roughly 3,100 to 3,500 pounds depending on generation and whether it is the hybrid, and is around 14 feet 6 inches long and a little over 5 feet 3 inches tall with the standard roof rails.
Nothing there is a constraint. It fits any deck position on a standard open trailer and every carrier has loaded one.
All wheel drive is standard on the Crosstrek and it is entirely routine for transport. The vehicle is carried rather than towed, so the drivetrain is not doing anything and nothing needs disconnecting.
What Owners Actually Bolt On
This is the Crosstrek-specific part and it matters.
Roof boxes and bike carriers. Extremely common on this car, and they add height at exactly the point where deck clearance is tightest on a two level trailer. A roof box also catches wind and is easy to damage. Take it off and ship it separately or leave it behind. Factory crossbars can stay.
Lift kits. Modest lifts of an inch or two are popular and rarely cause a problem, but combined with larger all-terrain tires they add up. Measure the actual height at the tallest point with the tires you are shipping on.
All-terrain tires. These run at different pressures than road tires and behave differently under strap tension. Tell the driver what they are set to.
Hitch-mounted carriers. Bike racks and cargo trays on the hitch add length behind the rear bumper and are a snag hazard when a vehicle is being positioned on a deck. Remove them.
The rule is simple: anything that is not part of the car as it left the factory should either come off or be declared with a measurement.
What Changes the Price
The lane. How busy your route is matters more than the mileage. A corridor between metropolitan areas prices well; two small towns off the interstate system do not.
Timing. A range of pickup days is the most valuable thing you can offer, and summer is the busiest season.
Access at both ends. A loaded hauler is around 75 feet long and 13 feet 6 inches tall. Narrow streets and low branches mean a meeting point at a large lot near a highway.
Open or enclosed. Enclosed costs 20 to 30 percent more and is unnecessary for an ordinary Crosstrek. It makes sense on a nearly new example or fresh paintwork.
Whether it runs. An inoperable vehicle needs a winch and a carrier equipped for it. Declare it when you book.
Preparing It
Wash it, including the underside if it has seen trail use. Caked mud hides existing damage and falls off on the highway.
Photograph every panel in daylight, plus the wheels, the lower bodywork, the plastic cladding along the sills and arches, and the roof rails. The cladding is worth its own photographs, because it is the first thing to get scuffed and the easiest to argue about. Photograph the odometer.
Leave about a quarter tank of fuel. Empty the cabin and the trunk completely, since personal items are not covered by cargo insurance and they add weight. On a Crosstrek that usually means recovery gear, camping equipment and whatever is under the load cover.
Fold the mirrors, disable a motion sensitive alarm, and remove a toll transponder. Note tire pressures and any fluid leaks.
At Pickup and Delivery
Walk around the car with the driver at pickup rather than handing over the keys. The condition report on the bill of lading is written then and it is the document that settles a dispute. Make sure any accessory still fitted is described on it.
At delivery, inspect before signing, in daylight if at all possible, and compare against your photographs. Check the sill cladding, the wheels, the lower bumpers and the areas around the tie-down points first.
Note anything unexpected on the paperwork while the driver is present. If it arrives after dark or in heavy rain, write that a full inspection was not possible before you sign. Our guide to what car shipping insurance actually covers explains the cargo policy.
Buying One Remotely
A good share of Crosstrek shipments are remote purchases rather than owner moves, because the specification people want, a particular trim with a particular color and a manual gearbox on the older ones, is frequently several states away.
That creates a specific gap. Nobody has an independent record of the car’s condition before collection: the driver writes the report at pickup with no idea what it looked like beforehand, and the buyer sees it for the first time at delivery.
Ask the seller to photograph it properly before release, close up and in daylight, including each wheel, the sill cladding and the lower bumpers, and to send those rather than the listing photographs. On a used Crosstrek in particular, ask specifically for shots of the underside and the rear wheel arches, because these cars are frequently driven on gravel and in salt, and that is where it shows.
Then make sure whoever receives it understands they can decline to sign a clean bill of lading if something is wrong. A buyer who signs on trust and inspects afterward has given away the argument before it starts.
Transit Times
Once collected, plan on one to two days regionally, three to five across half the country, and five to seven coast to coast, plus a few days for a carrier to be assigned beforehand.
Treat a delivery date as a range rather than an appointment. Drivers work under federal hours of service limits and a hauler making several stops does not travel in a straight line.
Common Questions
Is a Crosstrek expensive to ship? No. It is an ordinary compact crossover and prices in the normal range for its lane.
Do I need to remove the roof box? Yes, along with bike carriers and hitch-mounted trays. Factory crossbars can stay.
Does all wheel drive need anything special? No. The car is carried rather than towed, so the drivetrain is not engaged.
What if it is lifted? Give the measured height at the tallest point with the tires fitted. Modest lifts are rarely a problem.
What gets damaged most often? The plastic cladding along the sills and arches, and the wheels. Photograph both closely before pickup.
Get a Quote
Call Ship A Car, Inc. at (866) 821-4555 with both zip codes, the model year and any accessories fitted, or price the move with the instant calculator.
