How Does Car Shipping Work – a Quick Auto Transport Guide

Understandably, you have a lot of questions at this point ahead of your moving day.  You know your reasons to move, you’ve picked the best time of the year to move, but you’re probably wondering How much does it cost to ship a car? How big should my moving budget be and where to donate unwanted items? Will that be the cheapest way to move out of state? Can you put things in your car when you ship it? How long does it take to ship a car? And you should be asking yourself all those questions, but firstly, the most important one to answer is probably What do I need to know before transporting a car across the country? So, let’s begin with this one and explain why it is so critical to have dependable shippers by your side.

How Does Car Shipping Work – The Most Important Steps to Take to Be Prepared for Auto Transport

Auto transport can, in fact, be a rather straightforward process. The first thing to do is to make sure you document all existing damage (if there are any), whether by writing it down or taking a picture.

Furthermore, clean your car thoroughly and get it checked by a professional. Make sure they check the engine, look for leaks, and make sure all the hydraulic parts are in order.

Keep in mind that no personal items are allowed in cars during transportation, especially not some important documents. Remove these for your own peace of mind, too.

Schedule your pick-up and delivery time with a professional company to fit this into your schedule. Finally, wait for your four-wheeled companion at your new address.

Questions to Answer

• Will the shipping crew come to pick up your vehicle?

This one depends on what kind of deal you want. If door-to-door delivery is what you need, you can arrange that they pick up your four-wheeler and deliver it straight to your new address. There’s also the possibility of choosing terminal-to-terminal delivery if you don’t mind picking up your car yourself.

• Are multiple machines shipped together?

Again, it depends on what you find more suitable. It is common practice to ship several vehicles at once, all together, but it doesn’t have to be that way. For those who are worried about cars damaging each other, there’s an option of separate containers for one vehicle only. Of course, you have to pay some extra cash for this service.

• Do you need insurance?

Here’s an important one – always make sure your car is insured just for your peace of mind, this is not something you should waive to reduce the costs of moving. With a professional, reliable, and highly recommended car moving company, you won’t have to worry about the safety of your car, but it’s still advisable to have insurance just in case.

What to Watch out for When Looking for a Reliable Company

Car shipping is not something you can handle all by yourself, even if you’re moving alone to another state. You might be tempted to deal with packing tips and tricks, house-hunting, creating a photo inventory, and other aspects of relocating without expert moving services, but it’s not that easy when it comes to car transport. Even if you’re moving into a smaller home nearby, you can hire professional packing services to take some of the tedious work off your shoulders like packing clothes and boxing up furniture, but moving your car often requires expertise and specialized equipment to avoid some common moving mistakes.

Thus, you’ll need a dependable, fully-registered company to handle this for you. Be sure that you’ve found someone with whom you can leave your precious four-wheeler and not worry about its safety on the way to your new place. Look through reviews left by previous customers on the companies’ websites, check their USDOT number, and compare prices. However, beware of the conspicuously low prices, as they can sometimes indicate scammers. Of course, you can always get insurance, too, just to be on the safe side.

Learn the Difference Between Open and Enclosed Auto Transport Method Before Asking for a Quote

To schedule the service, you need to know what kind of auto transport you want. The final choice will depend on the type of car you own, as different cars require different treatments. So, you should know about the main difference between the two types of carriers in which vehicles may be shipped before you contact experts and request an auto transport price estimate.

Open Car Shipping

An uncovered carrier is the more commonly chosen one. This option is probably preferable because it is more affordable than its counterpart. That is important, but we should also warn you about some disadvantages of this kind of carrier. Did you know that, in this case, your car will be in the open during the entire process? This means that it won’t be fully protected from rain, snow, dust, etc.

Enclosed Auto Transport

Enclosed carriers are the right choice if you’re not ready to take any risks, and you want your car completely protected every step of the way. Compared to open trailers, this option is somewhat more expensive, but it’s also worth the price. By choosing enclosed carriers, you choose a higher level of security for your four-wheeler. A covered carrier keeps cars far away from the influence of elements, so it doesn’t matter what the weather is like. This is especially convenient if you have a new or classic car, or you are moving during winter.

Time to Ship Your Machine

As you can see, car transportation can be smooth sailing when handled properly and it is a very convenient service, especially for those relocating to the suburbs. So, keep in mind everything we’ve mentioned here regarding vehicles, car shipping companies, insurance, as well as the type of carriers used. Also, if you want to reduce moving expenses, carefully pick your relocation date, and save some money. Having your four-wheeler by your side can help you avoid relocation depression so choose whatever you find the most convenient option and enjoy the ride.