One thing many people don’t think about when moving cross-country is how they’ll get their car to the new place. Rather, many individuals believe there is nothing other to do than go on long-distance road trips. So, they usually put some belongings inside their rides and start the treks. Of course, there are other ways to deal with a vehicle when moving too.
For instance, vehicle owners can also hire car shipping companies to move their cars from one place to another. The process is straightforward and convenient. You’ll let the company take care of your machine while traveling as you see fit. Then, you will pick up the car from a pre-determined point of origin, or it will be waiting for you at your new house.
If shipping your car elsewhere sounds like the way to go, there are some things you’ll need to do before the big day arrives. Firstly, it is important to research so that you land with a trustworthy and reputable car shipping company. After all, you and your vehicle deserve only the best.
Once you’ve done your due diligence and you’ve found the perfect shipper, you’re not quite done yet. You will also need to prepare your car for the trip. Use the following steps to make this part of the ordeal a cinch.
1. Wash Your Car’s Exterior
It doesn’t matter whether you go to a car wash or clean the exterior of your ride yourself; you just have to make sure your car is spotless as far as its paint job is concerned. Cleaning your car ensures that you remove items that can damage the paint and keep the vehicle looking its best. However, that isn’t the only reason why washing your car is necessary. Once you’ve finished this step, move on to the next one.
2. Visually Inspect Your Car and Document Its Appearance
Washing will remove dirt, debris, bird droppings, and more so that you can visually inspect the exterior of the car. Be on the lookout for dings, chips, scratches, and other types of damage., and document each blemish, even the minor ones. Take pictures with your cell phone or a digital camera. It is also a good idea to take notes on a piece of paper or type memos up on your phone.
Just take your time and be thorough. You could need these items later if issues occur during the transport. For instance, documentation is crucial if you need to make an insurance claim because your vehicle got damaged during transit.
3. Complete Maintenance Tasks
It is vital for owners to take this step before their cars are shipped. They should complete various maintenance tasks ahead of the transport to ensure their vehicles are ready to be driven after the delivery. The requirements that should be met include:
- Checking and topping off fluids
- Reviewing tire pressure to ensure tires aren’t improperly inflated
- Charging the battery to make sure it is fully charged
- Emptying the gas until the tank is only a quarter to an eighth of the way full
It can be easy to overlook this step. After all, people have plenty to deal with during moves. However, you should make it a point to tackle maintenance projects before your ride is shipped. Failing in this regard could lead to a breakdown immediately after you pick the vehicle up.
You get in, drive away from the delivery location, and then it happens. A tire blows, the engine begins to overheat because of low coolant, or the motor starts knocking because it doesn’t have any oil in it. These are all things that could leave you stranded on the side of the road. So, if that doesn’t sound very pleasant, give your car the tender loving care that it needs to run like a well-oiled machine.
4. Remove Personal Items and Valuables
Personal items also need to be removed from a car before its shipped. Therefore, hopefully, you’re ready to do some cleaning up inside the cab and trunk. Go through your vehicle and extract everything except car essentials like the jack, spare tire, and lug wrench. Don’t forget to grab things such as phone chargers and cables, GPS systems, and radar detectors too. Removing personal belongings can reduce the chances of theft, damage, and loss.
In addition, make it a point to remove valuables from the car. Most transporters only allow people to keep a single box inside their vehicles, and the total of its contents usually cannot be over $100. Discuss the matter with your chosen auto shipper to learn about their policy. Then, take whatever it is you need to out of the vehicle because not doing it could lead to a shipping delay.
5. Keep The Car Shipping Company Informed
This step doesn’t have much to do with getting your car ready for shipping, but it is crucial all the same. If the vehicle has little quirks that affect the way it performs on the road, make sure the car shipping company knows about them. This could be beneficial information for loading and unloading the car from the carrier.
Some Final Thoughts Preparing a car to be shipped can be a pretty daunting task if you aren’t careful and especially if you have never had to do it before. Don’t get stressed out and overwhelmed by the situation, though. Instead, follow these steps and your vehicle will be ready for auto transport in the blink of an eye.