A Step By Step Checklist For Transporting Your Car Across Country
Cross-country road trips sound great until you consider the driving time, expense, and wear and tear to your vehicle. You might be moving across the country, going to college, receiving a PCS order, or buying a car from an overseas seller. Transporting a car across the country can be more expensive and take longer than you expected. You have the option of shipping your car across the country using an open carrier, where it will travel in style from one state to another without adding miles to the odometer.
After you have decided to transport your vehicle across the country using a carrier, and budgeted for it, it is time to begin to check off the tasks involved in shipping a car. It's the best way to make the whole process easy and smooth.
Our easy steps to getting your car ready for shipping have been shared before. But when should you complete each step? Keep reading to learn more about each step and how to incorporate them into your schedule as you plan for your ship date.
Step 1: Research shipping companies
You want an auto transport company that is reliable, can service your current location as well as your destination, and has a budget. Ask your family and friends to recommend a company. Read reviews and remember that experience counts. Move Car Auto Transport moves more than 200 vehicles per day, while still providing individual attention to each customer so that they can have complete peace of mind during shipping, after shipping, and before pickup.
This step should be completed as soon as possible
Step 2: Request quotes from shippers
Many companies that move cars across the country will give you a free estimate. They'll also answer any questions about shipping a car. Some companies will request your preferred shipping dates, while others will give you an estimate based on the most likely dates. There are many shipping calculators online to help you get an estimate of shipping costs.
This step should be completed as soon as possible.
Step 3: Select an auto transport company.
You probably know when your vehicle will be delivered so you can plan ahead to pick a shipping date. You will have better chances of finding carriers on the best dates if you book your transport in advance. Although some auto transport companies can ship within a few days, others are more flexible. However, it is a good idea to book at least a week in advance of your ship date.
This step is completed: A month prior to your ship date is ideal, but a week or more may be sufficient.
Step 4: Get in touch with your insurance company
Many carriers offer a lot of coverage, so you don’t need extra insurance to transport your vehicle across the country. Your broker can help you arrange supplemental insurance if you have the ship dates. Another reason to contact your insurance company is that moving to another state could mean you need to update your policy. Find out what you will need to do these updates now.
This step must be completed one month prior to your ship date.
Step 5: Inspect the tires
Double-check that your tires are properly inflated for the destination. To ensure that your car is safe and driveable, you might need new tires if you are moving from a large city to a small rural area.
This step should be completed at least a month before the ship date. In case you have to buy new tires, this step can be done at least a week before.
Step 6: Check your battery
Your car's battery must be fully charged and secured in its brackets. If the battery is not secured in its brackets, it can cause damage to other parts of your car's engine.
This step should be completed a few weeks prior to your ship date in order to be safe.
Step 7: Ensure that the emergency brake is working
Before you ship, your e-brake should be functioning properly. Check with your mechanic to confirm.
This step should be completed a few weeks prior to your ship date in order to be safe.
Step 8: Wash your car
There are many reasons to clean your car's exterior before you ship it. But the most important reason is to be able to easily identify and photograph any scratches, dings, and other imperfections if you have a spotless vehicle.
This step must be completed at least a few days prior to your ship date.
Step 9: Conduct a visual inspection of your vehicle
You must register any damage to your vehicle so that you can compare it at delivery and pickup. You should look for chips, scratches, dents, and any other cosmetic defects. Before taking photos, make sure you have turned on the date imprint function on your camera or phone. This will ensure that there is no doubt as to when they were taken.
This step must be completed at least a few days prior to your ship date.
Step 10: Look at the engine and underside.
Is there any evidence of leakage under the car or in your engine compartment? It's a smart idea to have these checked before you move your car across the country.
This step must be completed at least a few days prior to your ship date.
Step 11: Fill up your tank
You should drive your car around the city until your vehicle's shipping date approaches. This will reduce the vehicle's weight, making shipping much easier. Also, it will leave less gas in transit, which means less stress for your car.
This step must be completed at least a few days prior to your ship date.
Step 12: Remove any exterior items from your vehicle.
These include antennas, ski racks, and bike racks as well as cargo boxes.
This step must be completed at least a few days prior to your ship date.
Step 13: Attach fixed components to your vehicle's exterior
Protect any add-ons that cannot be removed with tape, bubble wrap, special covers, or other protection methods. Ask your auto transport company for their recommendations if you are unsure how to protect any aftermarket accessories to your vehicle, such as a spoiler.
This step must be completed at least a few days prior to your ship date.
Step 14: Get rid of all personal items.
While most people don't want to leave jewelry or iPads in their cars, you should not leave personal items inside your vehicle when you transport them across the country. You should make it a habit to remove everything, from spare change to automatic parking passes to toll tags to your emergency kits. Insurance rarely covers any items left in the vehicle.
This step must be completed at least a few days prior to your ship date.
Step 15: Secure your convertible's top
Convertible cars should be secured properly. This is particularly important if your car will be transported on an open carrier, as it may encounter a few rainstorms along the way.
This step must be completed at least a few days prior to your ship date.
Step 16: Turn off or disable the alarm
While your car's alarm system can give you some peace of mind while you are parking it, it will cause headaches for your hauler if it suddenly starts to sound randomly on the roads. Drivers will do anything to stop an alarm from going off, so it is best to avoid the alarm accidentally going off.
This step must be completed at least a few days prior to your ship date.
Step 17: Locate your extra key or fob
It is not a good idea for your trucker to have the keys to your car. You should keep a spare set of keys and a fob and bring them with you to your vehicle's delivery.
This step must be completed at least a few days prior to your ship date.
Step 18: Record the digits of your odometer
This takes only a second and can be helpful in the case that your car feels a little off at its destination.
This step must be completed on the day or day prior to your ship date.
Step 19: Kiss your car goodbye
You must be present at the time your ship date arrives so that you can sign your bill of lading. It is a great time to let your driver know about any minor issues, such as. Use a sticky shifter to ensure that there are no problems during loading or unloading.
This step is complete: Enter the date of your ship date.
Step 20: Make sure you check your vehicle
Move Car provides real-time updates to customers upon request. It is natural to wonder where your car is when you are transporting it across the country. To find out how far your car has traveled across the country, you can either call or email Move Car.
This step can be completed at any time during the shipping process.
Step 21: Perform another inspection after delivery
To confirm that your vehicle was delivered in its original condition, you will need to sign the bill. You should bring the notes from your pre-pick-up inspection so you can verify that there are no scratches or dings.
This step must be completed upon delivery.
Step 22: Update your auto insurance
Your car insurance will cover you in all 50 states. However, you will eventually need coverage from an insurer in your home state. Before you proceed to the next step, do this.
This step is completed: Delivery date (some insurance policies allow you to update prior).
Step 23: Visit the Department of Motor Vehicles.
If your car was transported as part of a move you should fill up your tank and then head to the nearest DMV to get your license and update your registration. Most states allow drivers to update their paperwork between 10-30 days. They also require proof of insurance and a title. Notice: The results of your previous vehicle inspection might not be valid in the new state.
This step should be completed within the next day or a few days of delivery.
That's all! It can be overwhelming to think about the logistics of shipping your car across the country. But once you understand that it is a one-step process, everything else will follow. This checklist should help you feel more confident in shipping your car so that you can concentrate on other responsibilities such as buying a car or moving. You will have one less thing to worry about when you choose a reliable shipper.
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