No matter if you’re prepping to move or purchasing that classic car from across the country, shipping your vehicle doesn’t need to be an arduous journey. Thanks to a comprehensive ship car guide, the process can go as smoothly as your favorite Sunday drive!
Finding an auto transport company requires thorough research. Begin your search on trusted review sites like Trustpilot or Better Business Bureau (BBB). Look for a company with good reviews to help ensure a positive experience.
Cost
Cost of shipping a car varies significantly, making it important to know which factors influence its price.
Key costs to consider include type of transport used, pickup/delivery dates, fees associated with shipment and urgency of shipment (same-day is typically more costly than next business day shipping), distance traveled along route (cross-country routes are typically more costly); and congestion issues or poor road conditions on said route will increase prices further.
Many companies offer online tools to help you comparison shop for this service. You can visit sites like https://www.roadrunnerautotransport.com/how-to-ship-a-car to find shipping quotes. Be sure to enter information this is as accurate as possible in order to access the best possible quotes.
Insurance
Car transport companies must offer adequate insurance protection to protect your car during shipment. Policies may differ depending on the company, but most offer liability and cargo coverage as standard, with additional supplemental options often available at an extra cost.
Be sure to review any relevant policies before booking your shipment, and keep in mind that these only cover vehicles themselves, not any personal belongings inside them; for this reason it’s essential that any personal items be removed beforehand.
It is also a good idea to take pictures of your vehicle before transport. Having these can come in handy in the unlikely event you need to make an insurance claim.
Your vehicle and insurance needs depend on both cost and type, with full coverage only required if its worth exceeds $10K; otherwise only minimal protection should be purchased.
Some companies provide more expensive yet comprehensive car shipping insurance policies, which offer better protection. They have experience shipping cars overseas via containerized and roll-on/roll-off options – the latter of which protects against potential damages while speeding delivery times.
Pickup
Be it for a big move, new car purchase or winter weather retreating down south, auto shipping must always be planned ahead.
Car shipping companies usually need several weeks or months to arrange pick-up dates so getting quotes early and choosing a reputable company with excellent reviews is essential in order to obtain the best pricing and service.
Pickup dates depend on weather, road, and carrier availability. On pickup day, a driver will meet you either at your home (door-to-door transport) or the designated site (terminal-to-terminal shipping), where together you and the driver will inspect your vehicle for existing damage before signing a bill of lading document.
Many transport companies offer different pickup options. You can choose to have your vehicle picked up from your front door; you can also choose to ship from a nearby convenient terminal.
Some car shipping companies offer GPS tracking to monitor your vehicle during its journey, enabling you to communicate directly with its driver if any questions arise regarding its condition or status. You can visit this site to learn more about GPS technology. Some will even text or email updates as to its progress during transportation – be sure to ask your agent about these services prior to making a decision to transport your car!
Preparing Your Car for Shipping
When transporting your vehicle for relocation or purchase abroad, choosing an ideal car shipping company and prepping it properly are critical components to ensuring safe, hassle-free auto transport.
To reduce potential issues during its trip to its new destination, any personal items should be removed or secured to protect from being broken off during loading and unloading processes and potentially leading to more extensive damage to your vehicle.
To do this, remove or secure all after-market parts or accessories attached to your car so as not to risk their being broken off during transport and further damaging it during loading or unloading processes.
Before washing the exterior of your vehicle, it’s crucial to conduct a comprehensive assessment and note any existing scratches or dings. A clean car allows for easier detection of such damages than its counterpart, so taking this extra step prior to shipping your car could save both you and the shipper time and hassle later on. You can click the link: https://www.reddit.com/r/cars/comments/ia1z6b/best_way_to_wash_your_car/ for step-by-step instructions on how to clean your vehicle.
An effective strategy is to fill only 1/4 or less of your fuel tank, as this will minimize its weight, making loading and unloading safer, as well as decreasing any risk that it will be stolen during transport.
