7 Things To Do Before Shipping A Car

Driving you car across states is not just tedious work, it is also impractical. Getting an auto transportation company to handle your vehicles can be a sound investment — if you have done your research thoroughly. Here are a few things you should do before you hire the services of a car shipping company to transport your very pricey vehicles.

Pricing:

Not all car movers charge you the same shipping fee. As in all industries, you get what you pay for. A car shipping service that offers unexpectedly low shipping quotes may not provide good care of your vehicle during transit. Before you commit to a single company, compare the pricing of different carriers. At HaulMatch, you can find instant shipping quotes by just adding your Vehicle Identification Number and the locations you want your car transported to.

Know The Plan:

Handing over the keys to your extremely expensive vehicle shouldn’t be done carelessly. Once you have selected a shipping company, find out what practices they follow. Some questions to ask are:

• When will the company pick my car?
• Does it provide door-to-door or terminal transportation?
• Is the arrival destination accessible to large, heavy car carriers?
• How long is the transit time expected to be?
• Will my car be transported in an open or enclosed vehicle?
• What type of payment method do you accept?

Asking all of these questions in advance will prevent unnecessary hassle and stress in the future.

Inspect Your Car:

Check your car thoroughly for any visible or mechanical issues. Cars that have not been driven for weeks may have some small problems with its cosmetic works, battery or wiring. It is better to find them before handing your car to a mover. You don’t want to get your car delivered and notice a broken light or a dent in the back and be left wondering if it was there already or if the car movers bungled the shipment. A good idea is to take well-lit photographs of your car from various angles to have proof of your car’s condition prior to delivery.

Take All Belongings Out of the Car:

Before your vehicle is loaded onto an auto shipping carrier, you need to take out all your valuable and belongings from the car. There are several reasons for that. The industry standard sets a 400-pound limit for anything inside the cabin or truck. If the weight exceeds this, the auto transportation company can refuse to deliver your car. Another reason is related to safety. Cars, which contain items, particularly heavy ones, not just increase the shipment’s weight, they can bounce around during transit and cause damage to themselves and the interior of the car. They might even be stolen, especially if your vehicle is parked at a lot or terminal — which are not particularly safe — for several days.

Protect Your Vehicle From Harsh Elements:

Even if you own a beat-up old sedan, it is still your car and cost you a pretty penny. If you want to make sure it doesn’t get harmed due to debris, thunderstorms or hail, you might want to request an enclosed trailer to transport it in. It may cost you more than an open one, but the safety of your vehicle should be paramount. Another option you can consider is getting your vehicle “top loaded.” This means your vehicle will be transported on the upper deck of a carrier and will have less contact with road debris or leaked car fluids.

Drain Out Your Tank:

One of your biggest safety concerns should be that your vehicle does not accidentally catch fire, or worse, be responsible for an explosion. An SUV with a full tank of fuel is not just heavier and can result in higher cost, it is also liable to catch fire and bring your vehicle — and other cars traveling in the same carrier — to the destination in pieces. You need not deplete your fuel tank completely dry because it may have to be driven to your home on arrival; you can leave a fourth or one-eighth in the gas tank, so that any accidents can be prevented.

Flexible Deadline: 

To ensure your vehicle arrives to you in time, you need to have it transported week beforehand, you should also factor in the time your vehicle will be loaded and delivered to your doorstep. You also need to be patient because your vehicle may also be delayed because of unexpected events, like natural disasters, bad driving conditions or road blockage.

Your ultimate goal when getting a car shipped should be that it arrives safely and on time. By following these simple precautions, you can prevent avoidable disasters and get your car delivered to you safe and sound.