In this guide you will learn how to ship your car, how to choose an auto transport company, the car shipping price, and also how to calculate the cost of shipping a car with the help of a cost calculator.
Research Auto Transport Companies
The process of shipping your car begins with locating an auto transport company you would wish to work with. This is important because it will affect the level of service you will receive and where your car ends up in one piece. Factors to consider while doing your research are given below.
Reputation: Look out for the rating and review of the previous clients. Check with Google, Yelp, and other review sites about the company’s credibility.
Licensing and Insurance: It is essential to confirm that the company has secured both a license and an insurance cover. The license and paperwork of an auto transport company must include a U.S. Department of Transportation number, and the insurance must clear any liabilities incurred while the car is on transit.
Services Offered: There are those who focus their operation on one range of services such as open or concealed transport of vehicles. Ensure the company is able to satisfy your particular requirements.
Experience: Seek for companies which have been in the business for a good number of years, as such companies are more likely to take care of your car in a professional manner.
Get a Quote Using a Car Shipping Cost Calculator
After making a list of the most promising companies, it’s time to see a price tag next to each of them. The majority of the car shipping firms provide the calculator for car shipping on their websites. This machine will provide an approximation based on several factors, such as:
Distance: The cost to ship a car becomes higher as the distance to which one is taking the vehicle increases.
Vehicle size and weight: The price to ship a vehicle becomes comparatively high for larger and heavier vehicles, because of the additional space and weight occupied on the carrier.
Transport Type: Open transport is by far the most common and cheaper transport. However, enclosed transport, which costs more, offers extra protection.
Season: The transportation of a vehicle is likely to be costly when done during busy seasons e.g. summer because of high demand.
Pick Up and Drop-Off Locations: Terminal-to-terminal service is cost effective compared to door-to-door service but may be cumbersome.
You must understand that different companies have different processes and prices depending on your needs, and most importantly always measure several of them.
Book Your Auto Transport Service
The last step in most people’s steps to ship a car is to order the car shipping services offered by the auto transport company of their choice. In fact, at most of these companies - especially those that deal with luggage transfer, you will be asked to complete a form that includes the following information:
- The make, model and year of your vehicle
- The pick-up and drop-off address
- The estimated transport dates
Tighten all the belts to make sure that all the information is correct in order to avoid delays or some extra payments. A few businesses will ask for a portion of the payment beforehand, while others will expect full payment only at the time of delivery.
Prepare Your Vehicle for Shipping
Preparing your car for shipment is an important requirement, followed to make sure the car reaches the destination without any problems. Below is a guideline showing how such preparation should be done:
Wash the Car: A clean vehicle helps in identifying any surfaced parts that were cracked or scratched before. Take pictures of the car from all sides and different angles and note down the scratches, dents as well as any other restorations done on the car.
Remove Personal Effects: Auto transport services will not enable customers to keep items in the automobile during shipping mainly for security and insurance issues.
Inspect for Spills or Other Repairs: Check that your car is working properly. If your vehicle has spills to be detected or repairs that need to be done, let the transport company know of such well in advance.
Reduce the Fuel Quantity: Make sure the fuel level is between 1 full tank to 1/4 … no less. This helps to reduce the weight of the vehicle which is ample during the loading and offloading operation.
Deactivate the Alarms: If there is an emergency system installed, do not operate it during car transportation as there will be no imperil and nore excess hindrances in the process.
Pick Up and Shipping
On the stuff lift-up day, you or an appointee is obliged to come and meet the driver. The driver can examine your car and ask to sign the Bill of Lading, which legally fixes the condition of your car before it is shipped. If any damages have been caused while transporting car and a claim is to be lodged, this document will come in handy.
A moment comes when your car is placed onboard the carrier hence the shipping of the car begins. You should receive a tracking number or updates from the shipping company on a regular basis to enable you follow up on the movement of your car in transit.
Delivery And First Look
You or someone else will have to come to pick up the vehicle from the driver of the carrier when it reaches the ordered place. At this point, it is always wise to scrutinize the condition of the vehicle and verify it against the observations and photos taken prior to shipping. If all is well, accept the delivery by signing the Bill of Lading.
If you note some loss or damages, please contact the auto shipping company at once and make complain. Most reputable companies will usually deal such claims in a professional manner as long as proper documenting of the problem is done.
Conclusion
Shipping a vehicle with an auto transport company can be stress-free if you follow the right steps. Researching companies, using a car shipping cost calculator, preparing your vehicle, and inspecting it after delivery can make car shipping satisfactory.
Knowing car shipping costs and contacting car transport companies will also help. This helps you save money and resources. The following steps will ensure that your car arrives safely and efficiently, whether you're shipping it across the state or nearby.