No matter what are you planning to do: move to another region of your country, move to another country, order a new car and sell an old one, or even plan to spend a winter in a warmer place – the one thing stays the same. You will need to ship your car. If it is your first time, you probably may get a little nervous. Keep calm – car shipping services will help you to ship your vehicle safely. There are some tips you need to follow in order to prepare right before the shipping.
1) Book reputable auto transport company
First, you need to get acquainted of a range of transport companies, which provide services in your region. Pay attention on these factors, when choosing and booking a suitable company:
· Car shipping reviews – find reviews about professionalism, cost, timeliness, customer service team, and so on. It will be easier for you to figure out, which company will you deal with;
· Logistical team – shipping for the first time will definitely be calmer, if you will cooperate with prospective car shipping company;
· Reputation is important – avoid cooperating with no name services.
2) Look at the car shipping cost
The total price of shipping your car depends on various factors: distance, expedited\standard shipping, need of door-to-door shipping and open-air\enclosed transport. Sum up your requests, and you will have approximate cost of shipping your vehicle.
The cost of shipping car oversea can be quite different because it’s included shipping over a great distance. Be patient while waiting for your car, which ships over a sea or an ocean. You need to get the right documents as well.
3) Prepare your vehicle for shipping
· Clean your vehicle and take photographs
It may sound a bit weird, but you need to clean and wash your car outside and inside before the shipping. Why? That’s the best way to ensure that any damages incurred during the trip are properly documented. However, such cases don’t happen very often. You always can show your photos of a car as a proof.
· Document pre-existing damages
No less important is to document any visible damages of your vehicle. That’s just a precautionary measure, that save you from different unpleasant situations, such as cracks in the windshield or getting scratches that haven’t been before the shipping.
· Remove valuables from your vehicle
It’s another precautionary measure, that helps you to be sure your valuable items will be in safety. Remove all the valuables from your car, especially when you hand over the keys to the driver.
· Fill your gas tank
It’s no need to have a full tank of gas – about a quarter full will be enough. It is necessary for the inevitable shuffling around of cars of each stop. Remember that the full tank of gas may cause truck overload, especially if every car will have a full tank.
Of course, moving to a new destination and shipping car for the first time may be quite stressful. It’s important to prepare your vehicle right before the shipping. Good luck!