Car shipping is like bringing fantasy to reality. You want a car that is in a faraway city and you seek the service of a hauler to bring it to your location. It is very easy.
But have you done it before?
If you have done it before, certainly, you will have things you won’t repeat. If you are a pro at car shipping, you will have a nugget of advice or two you want to share with beginners. If you haven’t done it before, you want to hear this.
Things You Should Do And Need To Know Before You Start
1. Ask Questions
Ask your friends and colleagues for recommendations. Their piece of advice is based on firsthand experience and you can usually rely on it when it comes to shipping cars.
Devote some time to know about the company you are hiring. Do not limit your choice to one. You will want to know other companies, read about their offer and the cost of shipping with them.
You should move further and ask questions from the company too. You will want to know the cost of car shipping and the duration for the car to reach your location.
Request for the breakdown of the cost they are giving you. What other services are included as part of the overall cost? What is not included?
Your questions should include reputation. Can you trust the company? If you have asked a friend for recommendations, you can use such feedback as the tool for measuring their reputation.
2. Know About The Company Insurance
Your hauler should have insurance so that you two will not run into any trouble. THe majority of professional shipping companies will show this on their website. So check their website. If not, you should ask the hauler for their insurance.
If possible, ask them about what the insurance covers and what it doesn’t. This will give you an idea of what the insurance covers in case of incidence. If it seems insufficient, you can ask the hauler if it is possible to increase the insurance coverage.
3. Always Ask For Their Service Early
Many people want the same service, especially during the peak season. So to ensure you get the service quickly, you should request for the service early. Also, you will know when the car is bound to arrive.
4. Prepare The Vehicle
The first thing to do is to ensure the vehicle is in good shape mechanically. You should watch out for leaks especially as it is dangerous to put a leaking vehicle on a transport truck.
Leave about one-quarter of fuel in the gas tank. Leaving about one-quarter of the tank is the safest option because it will reduce weight. Also, add necessary fluids to the parts.
Cleaning is also essential so that the car would be in good condition when it finally arrives at your destination. Cleaning will also allow you to see the condition of the car. You will see where there is a dent and where there is a scratch. You should make a document, written about the scratches and dents if there is any.
Now take pictures of the car. You should add a date. If anything goes wrong with car shipping, you will use the pictures to verify existing damages.
In your preparation, ensure your hauler acknowledges the notes and pictures you take so that there will be no argument at the delivery.
5. Remove Your Properties And Any Implicating Items From The Car
When shipping your car, the vehicle will be inspected. In fact, during the process, the car will be loaded and unloaded many times before it reaches its destination. You should remove some items like custom stereos, TVs, DVD players and after-market video, radio faceplates and GPS Systems. These items can be shipped separately.
You should also remove your personal items from the vehicle. During car shipping, there could be penalties for keeping items in a car. Moreover, some haulers will not ship the vehicle if you keep your property inside.
Another issue with keeping items in your vehicle is that it could lead to extra cost. The vehicle weight will increase and your hauler might charge you more for car shipping. To avoid this, you should remove additional items that could lead to extra cost.
In addition, your items can cause damage to your vehicle. During the shipping, it is likely for the items to move, shift, and break, causing damage to either to your car or the vehicle of the hauler. You will be responsible for damages that are caused by keeping items in the car.