How to Ship a Tesla Model X
The Model X needs three things a gasoline SUV does not: the falcon wing doors kept shut, the right state of charge, and Transport Mode enabled so the car does not fight the tie downs. None is difficult, and all three are things a driver cannot do for you once the car is on the deck. Handle them before collection and a Model X ships like any other large SUV.
Transport Mode Matters
This is the one people skip and it is the one that causes damage.
A Tesla’s air suspension self levels, and its parking brake engages automatically. On a moving trailer that means the car actively works against the straps holding it down, which stresses the suspension and can loosen the tie downs over a long journey.
Transport Mode, found in the service menu, releases the parking brake and stops the self leveling for exactly this reason. Enable it before the car is loaded and show the driver where it is, because it needs re engaging if the car is moved during the trip.
Falcon Wing Doors
The rear doors are the Model X’s signature and they are the thing to be careful about.
They open upward and outward on a sensor driven mechanism, and on a car hauler there is very little clearance above and beside a vehicle. A door opening accidentally against the deck above it is expensive.
Lock the car, disable any walk up or proximity unlock in the app so a driver’s phone or a key fob nearby cannot trigger anything, and mention the doors specifically at collection. Any interior demonstration should happen before the car goes up the ramp.
State of Charge
Leave it around 50 percent, and there is a reason for that specific figure.
You need enough to drive on and off the trailer and to reach a charger at the destination, but a battery does not benefit from sitting at a very high state of charge for days, and a car cannot be charged in transit. Fifty percent covers both concerns comfortably.
Turn off Sentry Mode and Cabin Overheat Protection. Both run continuously and both draw from the battery, and over several days on a trailer they can take a meaningful bite out of the range you left. Sentry Mode will also record constantly, which is not useful to anyone.
Disable Smart Summon and any scheduled charging or departure timer, so the car does not attempt anything while it is strapped down.
Size and Weight
The Model X is heavier than it looks, which affects where it rides.
Curb weight runs around 5,400 to 5,500 pounds depending on the variant, well above a comparable size SUV, because of the battery pack. That weight is also low and centrally placed, which is good for stability but means it counts more against a trailer’s limits than the exterior dimensions suggest.
Height is roughly 5 feet 6 inches, so it fits either deck. Give the carrier the variant, since a Plaid and a Long Range differ, and mention any aftermarket wheels or a tow hitch.
Open or Enclosed
Open transport is right for most Model X shipments and it is what the great majority use, including the ones delivered new from the factory.
Enclosed is worth it for a low mileage or recently repainted car, or where the paint is a premium finish. The falcon wing doors are not in themselves a reason for enclosed transport, provided they are locked and declared.
Preparing It
Wash it so existing marks are visible, then photograph every panel in daylight including the wheels, the lower bumpers and the door seals.
Empty the cabin, the frunk and the trunk. Personal items are not covered by cargo insurance. Fold the mirrors, hand over a key card as well as showing the driver how to wake the car, and leave a phone key active only if you have disabled proximity unlock.
At delivery, inspect before signing. Check the lower bumpers, the wheels and the falcon wing door edges specifically, compare against your photographs, and note anything unexpected on the bill of lading while the driver is still there.
Common Questions
What is Transport Mode? A service menu setting that releases the parking brake and stops the suspension self leveling so the car does not fight the straps.
What charge should I leave? Around 50 percent. Enough to load, unload and reach a charger, without sitting at a high state of charge for days.
Do the falcon wing doors need anything special? Lock the car and disable proximity unlock so nothing can trigger them against the deck above.
Should I turn off Sentry Mode? Yes, and Cabin Overheat Protection. Both draw from the battery over several days on a trailer.
Is a Model X heavier than a normal SUV? Yes, around 5,400 to 5,500 pounds because of the battery pack.
Get a Quote
Call Ship A Car, Inc. at (866) 821-4555 with both zip codes and the variant, or price the move with the instant calculator.
