Vehicle Damage Claims
When you hand us your vehicle, you are trusting us to deliver it in the condition it left. We encourage you to take your own photographs at pickup, close up and from a few feet back. On the rare occasion that transport damage occurs, we acknowledge it, document it, and resolve it — with a clear process and an honest investigation at both ends.
Report damage within 24 hours of delivery · A documented inspection on every shipment · Real people answer the phone.
A transport damage claim with Snowbirds Auto Connection is settled with one company — the one that owns the truck, employs the driver and completed the inspection report. Every vehicle is documented in photographs across all accessible panels and surfaces at pickup, and inspected again with you at delivery; note any concern on the delivery form, in writing, before signing. Questions before or after a shipment: 416-638-0001.
Updated September 2026
In over three decades of cross-border and Canadian transport, the overwhelming majority of vehicles arrive exactly as they were loaded — confirmed by documented inspections at both ends. When genuine transport damage does occur, SAC acknowledges it, documents it, and resolves it. A claim must reach us within 24 hours of delivery, with the damage noted on the delivery inspection report at the time of signing. This page explains exactly how the claims process works, what qualifies, and what to do the moment your vehicle is delivered.
What to Do at Delivery
- Inspect your vehicle before the driver leaves — take your time and look at every panel.
- Note any specific concerns directly on the delivery form, in writing, before signing. Signing confirms receipt of the vehicle — it does not waive your right to file a claim. A note on the delivery documentation at the time of signing is far stronger than a claim raised hours or days later.
- Photograph any damage — multiple angles, close-up and wide shots of the affected area.
- Call us immediately at 416-638-0001.
Please don’t delay the driver or hold up delivery — note your concerns on the form, sign, and call us right away. We begin the investigation immediately.
Our Inspection Record — and What It Captures
At pickup, our team conducts a thorough inspection of your vehicle’s condition — documented in photographs across all accessible panels and surfaces. This same inspection is repeated at delivery. Together, these two records are the foundation of every claim assessment.
This is a professional assessment conducted under real-world conditions. We document your vehicle’s condition as thoroughly as those conditions allow — but no field inspection is equivalent to a panel-by-panel body shop assessment. Vehicles that arrive dirty, are inspected in low light, or are covered in road dust may not be captured with the same photographic clarity as a vehicle inspected in ideal conditions. Glare, shade and the angle a photograph is taken from all change how a panel looks in a picture — a mark that is obvious in person can disappear in a photograph, and a reflection can look like a scratch. Pre-existing marks are not always visible at the time of inspection.
Discovery of damage at delivery is not the same as damage occurring during transport. Our investigation always distinguishes between the two based on the documentation — not on a belief about the condition of the vehicle before shipping. We encourage every customer to inspect their own vehicle carefully before pickup and take their own photographs for an independent record.
What Happens If My Car Is Damaged in Transport?
Note the damage and call us
Note it on the delivery inspection report before signing and call us at 416-638-0001 within 24 hours of delivery. The note on the delivery record is what makes a claim provable, and the 24-hour window is firm. We’re available Monday to Friday, 9 AM–5 PM EST.
Email your documentation
Send photos (multiple angles, close-up and wide), a written description (which panel, what type, approximate size), and your booking reference to info@snowbirdsautoconnection.com. The more specific the submission, the faster we investigate.
We investigate the inspection record
We review the Inspection Report and Photo Survey from pickup, the delivery inspection and photos, and the driver and route records. If the record doesn’t support the claim, we show you the documentation and walk you through our reasoning — we don’t simply decline, we show our work.
Obtain two repair quotes
For legitimate claims, get two quotes from licensed mechanics or body shops for the documented damage only. We may ask for a third.
Submit your quotes for review
Send the two quotes to info@snowbirdsautoconnection.com. We cross-reference each against the inspection record to confirm it addresses the specific documented damage and nothing beyond it.
SAC resolves the claim
Once confirmed, SAC pays the repair facility directly — you don’t pay out of pocket and wait for reimbursement. We confirm the approved repair with you in writing before any work starts.
What Counts as a Transport Damage Claim?
What IS a legitimate claim
- Physical damage to your vehicle’s body, paint, or glass that was not present or documentable at pickup.
- Confirmed by comparing the pickup and delivery inspection records.
- Reasonably attributed to the loading, transport, or unloading process.
- When this is the case, and it was reported within 24 hours of delivery, SAC acknowledges, documents, and resolves it.
What is NOT a claim
- Stone chips to paint or glass — a known characteristic of open carrier highway transport.
- Mechanical issues of any kind — engine, transmission, electrical, tires, brakes, suspension, and in particular the emergency brake and the clutch. These are wear items whose condition cannot be established by a visual inspection, and they are not caused by transport.
- Personal items left in the vehicle — not covered under cargo insurance; remove them before pickup.
- Pre-existing damage, or marks inconsistent with what transport could cause.
- Marks too small to appear in the inspection photographs — if it cannot be seen in the record, it cannot be established as transport damage.
Three Decades of Handling This the Right Way
Damage claims are rare at SAC — and false claims rarer still among customers who understand the process. In over thirty years of operation, the vast majority of our customers have had their vehicles delivered in the condition they left, as confirmed by the inspection documentation at both ends.
When genuine damage occurs during transport, we acknowledge it, document it, and resolve it quickly — we don’t delay, dispute, or hand it to someone else. When a claim is for damage that is pre-existing, inconsistent with transport, or unsupported by the inspection record, we decline it — with documentation and a clear explanation. Claims are settled by us, directly — most are small, and we pay them ourselves rather than sending you somewhere else to wait. A fair process protects everyone.
Damage Claims — Your Questions, Answered
Contact for Claims
[Order Number] - [Last Name] - Damage Claim - [Pickup Date] - [Delivery Date]
In Our Customers’ Own Words
Real Google reviews, as posted, from people who shipped with us — lightly trimmed for length.
“We had an excellent experience with Snowbirds Auto Connection when shipping our car from Toronto to Florida! The car arrived at our door in Florida, damage-free and on schedule… respectful, professional, responsive, and kept us informed. We have already booked our return to Toronto with them!”
“Not a chance there is a better service to move vehicles. These people are professionals, honest and 1000% trustworthy. Can’t recommend them enough.”
“Got my car to me way quicker than I expected, car arrived as if it was sealed in a box from factory, zero scratch, always on touch for updates, above and beyond, super professional.”
Every review here is published on our Google Business Profile, in the customer’s own words.
Why We Handle It This Way
The two-quote requirement, the thorough investigation, the documented inspection record at both ends — none of this exists to make claiming difficult. It exists because a fair process protects everyone. Customers with legitimate claims get paid quickly and completely. Customers who submit claims for pre-existing damage, stone chips, mechanical issues, or personal belongings receive an honest, documented explanation.
We’ve been doing this for over thirty years. When damage happens on our watch, we make it right. When it didn’t, we explain why — clearly and with documentation. That is the standard we hold ourselves to, and it hasn’t changed since day one.
A Concern With Your Delivery? Call Us First.
Note it on the delivery form, photograph it, and call — we begin the investigation immediately.
Monday to Friday, 9 AM–5 PM EST · info@snowbirdsautoconnection.com · Report damage within 24 hours of delivery