If you plan to buy a car, move, or go on a long vacation where you’ll need your four-wheeler, car shipping can save you a lot of money and nerves. Instead of going on a long road trip that can be uncertain and even risky, you can opt for car transportation companies to safely haul your vehicle to the desired location in pristine condition.
On the following web page, you can learn more about the benefits of car shipping:
https://www.motorbiscuit.com/5-reasons-its-better-to-ship-a-vehicle-than-drive-it/
It will take a while to find a shipping company whose conditions and rates suit you. After that, it’s time to get your car ready for the road. You might think that’s easy because it’s all about loading and unloading, but things are a bit more complicated. The price and safety of shipping services depend on the condition and weight of your vehicle, so it’s good to pay attention to its preparation for transport.
Table of Contents
Make Your Vehicle Safe and Functional
Your vehicle should be in good condition for the transport to go smoothly. Also, that’s necessary so that the shipping company can give you an accurate quote because the transport of defective or damaged vehicles has a different tariff for the hauling service. If your four-wheeler is in roadworthy condition, you only need a few small things to prepare it for transport.
First, check the level of all fluids. You can empty the fuel tank and leave only as much fuel as you need to get to the pick-up location and from the delivery point to your new address. It’ll also make your car much lighter. In the case of an auxiliary propane tank, it should be completely empty. As for e-vehicles, the battery should be at least half charged.
Also, when checking car fluids, look for leaks, as explained here. If possible, fix them before car transportation. Get the fire extinguishers out and make sure to check tire pressure to prevent their damage during loading and unloading. And last but not least, the car battery should be fully charged to avoid problems and additional costs if your vehicle won’t start before or after shipping.
Get All Personal Stuff Out
For many, the car is a second home because they spend a lot of time in it. So if you have a lot of personal stuff in there, all those have to go out before your four-wheeler gets onto a truck or hauling trailer. It’ll make your vehicle lighter and easier to clean though.
Start with documents and possibly valuables that you keep in the glove box or other compartments. Then put all ornaments away, air fresheners, navigation, CD player, equalizers and amplifiers, phone accessories, and all the other electronics you have. None of this is included in shipping insurance, so if anything happens to it along the way, you won’t be covered for this damage.
It’s also advisable to remove all non-factory accessories on your vehicle, such as spoilers, tails, bumpers, and even additional lights and roof or bike racks. In the case of alarms and anti-theft devices, you can move them out, but many companies allow you to leave these gadgets in; just disable them for now.
Give It a Good Wash
This step may seem unnecessary, but washing the vehicle is necessary before shipping. For example, if you have sold your vehicle and are now shipping it to a buyer, it’s clear to you that it must be in the presentable condition that you probably advertised it to be.
Besides, dirt on the car can cause damage, such as scratches, dents, and even broken windows. They can cause you considerable damage just because you didn’t set aside half an hour for the external washing of your four-wheeler. Plus, many shipping companies will require your vehicle to be clean upon picking it up so they can inspect it.
In addition to washing the outside, it’s very important to clean your car from the inside as well. Keep in mind that the best car transportation company will always carry out strict inspections to prevent the transport of invasive matters. So make sure the vehicle’s interior and exterior are free of dirt, grass, seeds, and any organic debris.
Inspect Your Vehicle Before Hauling
Although this is a job that the transportation company will do, it’s not out of the question to double-check your vehicle before loading into a trailer and locking it. Don’t leave spare keys inside. Instead, take them with you, as the original set will go with the transporters so they can take your four-wheeler on and off the trailer.
Before you ship your car, you have to prepare it for transportation. It’s nothing unusual, but it can take a while, especially if you have some repairs to do. Do everything on time and send your four-wheeler on a trip with peace of mind.
