Terms and conditions

Empire Auto Transportation Group INC · Updated August 2026

Quotes and booking

Every quote is based on the route, vehicle, and dates you give us. The price can change if those details change, or if a pickup or delivery spot is hard for a truck to reach. Your booking is set once you accept your quote online and we schedule it. About a week before pickup, we reach out to reconfirm the day and the details with you.

Email updates

When you request a quote or create an account, you agree to receive emails from Empire Auto Transportation Group about your quote and shipment - things like scheduling, pickup, and delivery updates. You can unsubscribe from any of them, and we will still reach you by phone about your car.

Payment

You can pay online in your customer portal with a credit or debit card, or pay the driver at pickup or delivery with cash, check, Venmo (3% fee), or Zelle. Drop your car off at one of our terminals in East Syracuse or Ontario and you save $50.

Cancellations and changes

You can cancel or reschedule at no charge - there are no cancellation or rescheduling fees. We only ask that you give us as much notice as you can, so we can adjust the run.

Pickup and delivery times

We run between the Northeast and Florida every week. Heading to Florida, we pick up Thursday and Friday and usually deliver the following Tuesday. Coming back to the Northeast, we pick up Tuesday and Wednesday and usually deliver that Friday or the following Monday. These dates are estimates, not guarantees - weather, traffic, and road rules can move them by a day or two. Most trips take three to five days.

Vehicle condition and inspection

The driver checks your vehicle at pickup and again at delivery, and you both sign a report called the Bill of Lading. Please be there, or send someone you trust, for both. Look the report over before you sign it, and report any damage to us right away.

Personal items

By law we can only carry vehicles, so please empty your car before pickup. If you do leave a few things: nothing in the driver or front passenger seat or under the seats; keep back-seat items below the window line and out of sight; no plants (they are illegal to carry across state lines); and nothing time-sensitive like medication in case of a delay. A car packed beyond this may add a $100 fee. Please also keep your fuel at a quarter tank or lower. We do not take inventory of items inside and are not responsible for them.

Modifications, loose parts, and tolls

Aftermarket modifications, tire covers, and other loose or non-factory parts can shift or come off during transport and are not covered - please remove them first. Take any toll device, such as an E-ZPass, off the car before pickup. If it scans on the road your account could be charged, and we are not responsible for that charge.

Insurance and liability

Your vehicle is covered by carrier insurance while it is in transport. Any damage must be noted on the delivery report and reported to us right away. We are not responsible for normal wear, existing mechanical issues, items left inside, or damage from things outside our control such as weather, fire, flooding, or objects coming off the road or sky. We do not provide compensation for minor damage under $250.

Governing law

These terms follow the laws of the State of New York.

This is a plain summary of our standard terms. The full terms are in the transport agreement you sign before shipping. Questions? Call (315) 488-2523 or email dispatch@empirets.com.