Total vehicle loss is covered free of charge
Basic protection applies automatically.
VEHICLE PROTECTION
Protection for your vehicle during transportation
Basic protection for total vehicle loss is included at no additional cost. Partial damage is compensated only with paid protection activated in advance, with a minimum charge of $70 per vehicle. These terms do not apply to vehicles picked up at auction before October 10, 2026.
Effective October 10, 2026KEY RULES
Three things to know before shipping
Partial damage requires paid protection
Protection must be active before the covered stage begins.
No paid protection means no partial-damage compensation
From October 10, 2026.
PROTECTION OPTIONS
Choose the coverage period you need
BASIC
Total Vehicle Loss
Freeincluded automatically
- Vehicle disappears during transportation
- Vehicle is destroyed
- Damage makes repair economically unreasonable
Repairable damage is not covered.
STANDARD
Port → Port
0.5%of confirmed vehicle value · minimum $70 per vehicle
- Loading at the origin port
- Ocean transportation
- Unloading at the destination port
Not covered: auction, inland transport and the U.S. warehouse.
Basic protection remains included.
EXTENDED
Auction → Port
1%of confirmed vehicle value · minimum $70 per vehicle
- Auction pickup
- Inland transport and U.S. warehouse
- Port loading and ocean transportation
- Unloading at the destination port
Basic protection remains included.
COVERAGE JOURNEY
See where paid protection applies
| Protection option | 1Auction | 2Inland Pickup | 3U.S. Warehouse | 4Port Loading | 5Ocean | 6Unloading | 7After Unloading |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Port → Port · 0.5% | Not covered | Not covered | Not covered | Covered | Covered | Covered | Not covered |
| Auction → Port · 1% | Covered | Covered | Covered | Covered | Covered | Covered | Not covered |
Port → Port · 0.5%
- AuctionNot covered
- Inland PickupNot covered
- U.S. WarehouseNot covered
- Port LoadingCovered
- OceanCovered
- UnloadingCovered
- After UnloadingNot covered
Auction → Port · 1%
- AuctionCovered
- Inland PickupCovered
- U.S. WarehouseCovered
- Port LoadingCovered
- OceanCovered
- UnloadingCovered
- After UnloadingNot covered
Basic protection for total vehicle loss starts when vehicle loading begins at the origin port (stage 4) and ends when unloading is completed at the destination port (stage 6).
Transportation after unloading at the destination port is not covered by either paid option.
SECTION 01
How protection works
Basic protection: total vehicle loss at no additional cost
For vehicles picked up at auction on or after October 10, 2026, basic protection against total vehicle loss starts when vehicle loading begins at the origin port. No activation or payment is required.
Total vehicle loss means the vehicle:
- disappears during transportation;
- is destroyed;
- is damaged so severely that repair is economically unreasonable.
Serious damage is not necessarily total vehicle loss. If the vehicle can be repaired, this is damage and basic protection does not cover it.
Partial damage requires paid protection
From October 10, 2026, USA TRANS compensates vehicle damage only when Port → Port or Auction → Port paid protection has been arranged and paid for in advance.
Without paid protection, damage is not compensated, whether a scratch or severe body deformation. Basic protection against total vehicle loss remains in effect.
These Vehicle Protection terms do not apply to vehicles picked up at auction before October 10, 2026.
SECTION 02
Protection cost
Protection cost is calculated from the confirmed vehicle value including the auction fee: auction purchase price + auction fee. Shipping, customs payments and additional services are excluded. This value is also the maximum compensation for the vehicle.
Port → Port: the greater of confirmed vehicle value × 0.5% or $70.
Auction → Port: the greater of confirmed vehicle value × 1% or $70.
The minimum charge for either paid option is $70 per vehicle.
| Condition | Basic | Port → Port | Auction → Port |
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | 0.5% · minimum $70 per vehicle | 1% · minimum $70 per vehicle |
| Total vehicle loss | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Partial damage | No | Yes | Yes |
| Protection start | Loading begins at the origin port | Loading begins at the origin port | Driver accepts the vehicle at auction |
| Protection end | Unloading is completed at the destination port | Unloading is completed at the destination port | Unloading is completed at the destination port |
| Baseline condition photos | — | Origin port, before loading | Auction; supplemented by driver, warehouse and loading photos |
Basic
- Price
- Free
- Total vehicle loss
- Yes
- Partial damage
- No
- Protection start
- Loading begins at the origin port
- Protection end
- Unloading is completed at the destination port
- Baseline condition photos
- —
Port → Port
- Price
- 0.5% · minimum $70 per vehicle
- Total vehicle loss
- Yes
- Partial damage
- Yes
- Protection start
- Loading begins at the origin port
- Protection end
- Unloading is completed at the destination port
- Baseline condition photos
- Origin port, before loading
Auction → Port
- Price
- 1% · minimum $70 per vehicle
- Total vehicle loss
- Yes
- Partial damage
- Yes
- Protection start
- Driver accepts the vehicle at auction
- Protection end
- Unloading is completed at the destination port
- Baseline condition photos
- Auction; supplemented by driver, warehouse and loading photos
The vehicle value and protection price are fixed at activation. The exclusions in section 5 are the same for both paid options.
SECTION 03
What paid protection covers
New damage arising during the active protection period:
- Exterior body panels
- Bumpers, fenders, doors, hood, trunk lid and roof.
- Headlights and taillights
- Exterior lighting units.
- Exterior mirror housings
- The exterior housing of the mirror.
- Windshield
- Only damage that occurred inside the container, supported by the nature of the damage and photos taken when the container is opened at the destination port.
- Primary key
- If lost, provided its presence was recorded in photographs and acceptance documents at the start of the protection period. Spare keys are not covered.
The damaged component must be clearly visible in the baseline photos. Discovering damage after arrival is not, by itself, grounds for compensation.
SECTION 04
What counts as new damage
All three conditions must be met:
- The damaged component is clearly visible in the baseline photos: auction photos for Auction → Port, or origin-port photos for Port → Port.
- The damage is absent from those photos.
- The damage appeared during the active protection period.
If the component is not visible or its condition cannot be determined in the baseline photos, damage to it is not compensated.
All available material may be used: auction, pickup, warehouse, loading, container-opening and unloading photos. Total vehicle loss and missing-key claims also use reports, carrier documents and acceptance documents.
Auction photos show only the exterior condition. They do not establish that the engine, transmission, electronics or other components are working.
SECTION 05
Exclusions
The same exclusions apply to Port → Port and Auction → Port.
| Category | Not covered |
|---|---|
| Undercarriage and lower vehicle areas | Undercarriage, oil pan, sills and everything underneath the vehicle, even if photographs are available. |
| Wheels and suspension | Tires, rims, suspension and other running-gear components. |
| Hidden components | Anything that cannot be assessed from photographs: concealed and internal components, areas outside the frame or indistinguishable in the images. |
| Mechanical, electrical and interior | Engine, transmission, electrical systems, electronics, batteries, hidden mechanical faults, dashboard errors, failure to start, and damage to the interior or internal equipment. |
| Pre-existing damage | Components that were damaged, broken, removed or poorly secured before transportation, and the consequences of that condition. |
| Minor cosmetic defects | Defects removable by polishing, normal wear, corrosion, old damage and dirt. |
| Keys and loose items | Spare keys; keys whose presence was not confirmed; loose belongings and spare parts; floor mats and rubber items; accessories not declared when protection was activated. |
The program does not compensate lost profits, downtime, reduced profit from selling the vehicle or other indirect losses.
SECTION 06
Activate paid protection
- Select the protection option for the specific vehicle by VIN.
- Agree the vehicle value.
- Pay for protection.
- Wait for confirmation in the Dealer Portal.
Protection becomes active only after payment is received and USA TRANS confirms activation. An invoice, receipt or message to a manager does not activate protection.
Activation deadlines
- Port → Port: before loading begins at the origin port.
- Auction → Port: before the driver picks up the vehicle at auction.
Protection cannot be activated retroactively and does not cover existing damage.
The confirmation identifies the option, VIN, vehicle value, protection period and company responsible under the program.
SECTION 07
If you find damage
2calendar days
The reporting deadline starts when you are notified that the photo report is available. Report damage at the first stage where it is visible; do not wait for arrival at the destination port.
For example, with Auction → Port protection, report damage visible in U.S. warehouse photos immediately.
At port handover: inspect the vehicle before leaving the premises. Photograph any damage and record it in the acceptance report when one is prepared.
Where to report: the Dealer Portal. If that is not possible, use a channel agreed with USA TRANS in advance.
What to include
- VIN
- Damage description
- Date and place discovered
- General vehicle photos
- Close-up damage photos
- Container number and documents, if available
Do not repair, disassemble or dispose of damaged parts until USA TRANS inspects the vehicle or gives written approval. If urgent action is needed to prevent further damage, take photos first.
SECTION 08
Claim review
USA TRANS compares photos and documents and checks the active protection period, circumstances and exclusions. Additional photos, video, vehicle-value documents, an acceptance report, repair estimate or specialist opinion may be required.
Claim review takes up to 10 business days.
A partial-damage claim will be declined if
- paid protection was not active;
- the damage is excluded under section 5;
- photos and documents cannot establish that the damage occurred during the covered period;
- late reporting or repairs before inspection prevent verification of the circumstances and amount of damage.
The dealer receives the decision and its reasons. If you disagree, submit additional evidence.
Total vehicle loss claims are reviewed under basic protection, whether or not paid protection was activated.
SECTION 09
Compensation
Partial damage
Compensation covers the reasonable repair cost of new covered damage. Pre-existing damage and vehicle upgrades are not paid for.
$100 deductible per confirmed partial-damage claim. This is subtracted from compensation.
Repair assessed at $450Compensation: $350
Repair assessed at $80No payment
Total vehicle loss
The $100 deductible does not apply to total vehicle loss and is not deducted from compensation.
Limits
- No more than the vehicle value fixed at activation.
- No more than the confirmed damage.
- No duplicate compensation for the same damage.
SECTION 10
Payment timeline
Payment is made within 15 business days after the compensation amount is agreed and all required documents are received. Claim review and collection of missing documents are not included in these 15 business days.
SECTION 11
Transportation agreement
These terms govern only the USA TRANS protection program. They do not restrict rights granted by applicable law independently of the contract.
Written individual terms previously agreed with USA TRANS for a specific vehicle remain applicable to that vehicle.
SECTION 12
Other insurers
You are not required to purchase paid protection from USA TRANS. You may insure your vehicle with another insurance company. That company’s contract determines the price, coverage period, risks, exclusions and claim-payment process, and you contact that insurer directly for compensation.