40 million Americans make a move each year, but many times, it doesn’t make sense for them to transport their vehicles on their own. Sometimes it’s best to hire a car shipping company instead.
When hiring a car shipping company, you need to make sure that you’ve prepared your vehicle for long-distance transport. There’s more to do than you might expect when hiring a car transport company to ship your vehicle.
Here’s what you need to do when preparing for long distance car transport.
Wash Your Car
Before shipping a car, make sure that you wash it. This will allow you to get a clear look at your car and can help you understand exactly what condition it’s before transport. You need to make note of any scratches, dents, or paint chips that are on your vehicle before shipping it.
Keep in mind that in rare cases your vehicle good could get damaged during transit. You’ll want to be sure that you hold the shipping company accountable if this happens.
Take Pictures
After washing your vehicle, you should then take photos of your car to document the damage that it has before shipping. Using these photos, you can then double-check that no damage has occurred during transit.
Remember that once the vehicle arrives you’ll need to sign a bill of lading to approve the delivery. However, you should be sure that you have checked for damage first. Compare the pictures that you took before shipping your vehicle to your car once it has arrived.
Remove Valuables
Before you ship your car using a car transportation company, you need to make sure that you remove all valuables from the inside. Removing valuables before you ship your car will make it less likely that you’ll need to worry about theft occurring during transit or any damage happening to your items.
Especially make sure to get the most valuable items out of your vehicle including GPS units and other electronics.
Maintain Your Car
If necessary, perform some maintenance on your vehicle before shipping it. You should be sure to check for mechanical issues and leaks before shipping your car.
You should also empty your gas tank to only a quarter full. You’ll need to pay for the weight of your vehicle, so leaving the tank closer to empty will lower the shipping cost as well. Different things can affect car shipping rates, so be sure that you understand what to expect.
Remember that your vehicle needs to be operable so that it can be driven on and off of the truck. If you’re shipping an inoperable vehicle, talk to the car shipping company about this beforehand.
Following These Tips When Hiring a Car Shipping Company
If you’re hiring a car shipping company, be sure that you know how to prepare your vehicle correctly. Clean your car, remove valuables, and maintain your vehicle before having it shipped to a new location.
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