Yes—take photos, get copies of the paperwork, and inspect the car with the driver at both ends. **The pickup report should accurately record existing damage, and the delivery report should record any new damage.**

1. **Take photos before loading.** Wash the car beforehand so scratches and dents are visible. Take clear photos of every panel, the roof, glass, wheels, and interior, plus the odometer. Keep the original files. Walk around the car with the driver and compare your observations with the condition report before signing.

2. **Get a copy of the bill of lading at pickup and delivery.** Include any separate inspection report and damage diagram. For electronic paperwork, ask for the completed document by email before the driver leaves. Read the terms in advance, particularly liability limits and claim procedures. These inspection and copy requests are standard steps in [Montway’s transport terms](https://www.montway.com/terms-and-conditions).

3. **Existing damage should be noted accurately.** If your car already has a scratch, it belongs on the pickup report. Challenge incorrect marks or vague descriptions and have them corrected before signing. At delivery, compare the car against that report and your photos; describe new damage precisely.

4. **If dirt prevents inspection, document that immediately.** Ask for enough cleaning to inspect the affected areas safely—dry rubbing can scratch paint. Photograph the dirty condition and record which areas you cannot inspect. For example: “Heavy dirt obscures paint on both doors; paint condition there could not be fully inspected.” This records a limitation; **it does not guarantee that a later claim will succeed.** Some transport contracts treat an unqualified delivery signature as confirmation of satisfactory condition, so arrange good lighting and time for inspection. [Example contract language](https://www.montway.com/terms-and-conditions).

   If damage appears after washing, photograph it immediately, retain the wash receipt, and notify the carrier in writing that day, copying the broker. Preserve your pickup and delivery photos, obtain a repair estimate, and give the carrier a reasonable opportunity to inspect before repairs. A later discovery can still support a claim, but proving when the damage occurred becomes harder.

5. **If you see damage at delivery, generally take possession with written exceptions.** Describe the damage on the delivery document before signing, photograph it, and ask the driver to sign the same report. This is the procedure recommended by [uShip’s damage guidance](https://www.uship.com/vehicles/do-i-need-insurance-to-ship-a-car/).

   If the driver disagrees, record “Driver disputes damage” or “Driver declined to acknowledge damage,” as applicable, and contact the carrier’s office and broker while the driver is present. If the electronic form prevents comments, request a corrected document and immediately email your observations and photos. **Do not sign an inaccurate statement that the car arrived undamaged or a release you disagree with.**

   Refusing the car altogether can create storage, redelivery, and payment disputes; your contract affects those consequences. Refusal also does not itself resolve the damage claim. If the car appears unsafe, arrange towing and avoid driving it.

Before pickup, ask your broker for the assigned carrier’s legal name, USDOT/MC numbers, cargo-insurance details, and written claim instructions. Confirm coverage limits and exclusions with the insurer.

Finally, **a damage notation is not a complete claim.** File a written claim with the carrier identifying the shipment, asserting its responsibility, and requesting a specified or determinable amount, supported by photos and an estimate. [49 CFR §370.3](https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-49/subtitle-B/chapter-III/subchapter-B/part-370/section-370.3) sets those requirements. The broker can help, but filing with the carrier is essential. [FMCSA guidance](https://www.fmcsa.dot.gov/faq/does-broker-process-loss-and-damage-claims).