Tips for Flawless Car Shipping

Finding affordable car shipping is only the first step in moving your vehicle from location A to location B. Of course, you’ll also want to hire a reputable company with a history of dependable service, so your vehicle arrives safely and without damage. Once you’ve connected with a transport carrier, you also need to do your part and follow a few guidelines for preparing your vehicle for transport. Whether or not the distance your vehicle is going to travel is short or long, taking a few precautions can really make the difference between flawless car shipping and an imperfect delivery.

It’s always a good idea to wash your car before shipping it from one destination to another. Ideally, you’ll want to complete this task the day before having it shipped. Cleaning the vehicle’s exterior minimizes the risk associated with the sun beating down on surface dirt and grime. It also makes it easier to document existing damage, so you have a clear record of it.

Essentially, your vehicle should be as empty as possible when shipping it any distance. Take out all removable items, particularly things of value. You might even want to remove custom GPS systems, DVD players, and stereos to reduce the risk of having your items stolen while the transport carrier is parked overnight. Don’t forget to take out your toll tag if you have one to avoid having unnecessary charges picked up by it.

Before arranging for car shipping, you should run the gas in your tank down to avoid adding unnecessary weight fees to your cost. As long as you aren’t sending your car to a remote location, you shouldn’t need more than a quarter tank once your car reaches its destination.

A quick maintenance check on your vehicle should detect any evidence of leaks that could prove to be problematic during the journey. Have any leaks that are discovered fixed prior to your scheduled shipping date to eliminate the risk of damaging other cars on the transport carrier.

Although every precaution is taken to avoid accidental damage during car shipping, it can occur. Therefore, it’s in your best interest to identify any scratches, dents, or other types of damage prior to having your vehicle loaded for transport. Not only should you take note of existing damage on your vehicle, but you should take pictures of the entire vehicle to document its full condition.

If you’ve installed a custom alarm system in your vehicle, you should disable it for the journey. Otherwise, you risk having the driver needing to do so in the event that the alarm goes off, something that might lead to a delay in the transportation of your vehicle.

  

Preparing your car, truck, van, or motorcycle for shipping is an essential part of any arrangement to move your vehicle. Just use common sense and the guidelines provided by your transport company before car shipping takes place.