There are over 270 million registered vehicles in the United States. Given that number and the fact that nearly 40 million people move every year, it stands to reason that a large number of people find themselves needing to transport their cars from point A to point B. It might seem like common sense to just drive a car when you’re moving but not all cars are suited for long, cross-country journeys. And even if they are, many owners do not want to subject their cars to that kind of wear and tear.
The solution to this issue is hiring a car shipping company to move your car on your behalf.
Below, our team will walk you through key steps to take to make sure that you find a quality shipper, get a good price and get your car to its destination safely.
1. Find a Great Shipper
Not all car shipping companies are created equally. To make sure that you end up working with the best auto transport company, it’s important to rely on word of mouth.
Word of mouth can come from family and friends who have dealt with a car shipping company that they like. It can also come from online review sites like Yelp where strangers who have used a company’s services in the past go to share their experience with people like you.
2. Check Insurance Coverage
If something happens to your car in transit, will you be covered? You’ll want to ask your insurance company that question to see what they have to say.
You’ll also want to make sure that your car shipping service has an insurance policy of their own.
3. Take Pictures
Before your car shipping company picks up your vehicle, take detailed pictures of your car. While photographing every inch of your car can be cumbersome, it will help you prove damages committed by your shipper should they occur during your vehicle’s road trip.
Video of your car can also be helpful to have as a backup form of evidence.
4. Know Your Pickup Location
You may think that the best course of action is to ask your auto shipper to drop your car off at your new house, but that may not be the case.
Auto shipping trucks are very large. Consequently, they need a lot of space to unload your vehicle.
If you live on a narrow street, you’ll want to set a drop off location that’s close by your house and has adequate space for unloading.
5. Do a Final Inspection
Once your car has arrived safely at its final destination, do a final inspection of your vehicle with the shipping company’s representative. If you notice anything that seems out of place, ask what happened and be prepared to show the pictures that you took of your car prior to shipping to prove any claims that you make.
Wrapping up Car Shipping 101
Car shipping ultimately comes down to picking a reputable shipper, planning carefully and having evidence regarding your vehicle’s condition to prevent any mishaps.
We wish you the best in your shipping endeavors and invite you to check out more car content on Muscle Cars Zone today!