Looking to Safely Transport Your New Ride? Check Out These Car Shipping Tips!

If you’re preparing for a move, finding the best way to transport your car is essential. Some people choose to drive, but if you’re relocating across the country, hiring an auto shipping company is usually more prudent, especially if it’s your brand new ride.

Having a vehicle shipping company move your car is the only solution if you have to transport more than one vehicle or have certain medical conditions. Either way, safely transporting your ride is essential, and you might need a few car shipping tips before booking the transport.

While vehicle shipping is a straightforward concept, you might still have some relevant car shipping questions that we can answer. By getting familiar with the car transport tips, you lower the risk of choosing the wrong shipper for the job and damaging the vehicle during transport.

Car Shipping Process Explained

Perhaps you’d love to drive your car to its destination, even if it’s several states away, but you don’t have the time or energy to do so.

Many people choose to hire car shipping companies because they can’t take enough time off work to drive their cars themselves. Also, if you need to transport your new ride, choosing not to drive long-distance could be safer.

Whatever the reason, there’s no denying that having a professional shipper relocate your vehicle is convenient. However, if you have never had to go through this process, you might not be aware of what it entails.

It’s a pretty straightforward sequence of events:

1. You choose a car shipping provider.
2. Schedule the shipping.
3. Prepare your vehicle for shipping.
4. Wait for the pickup.
5. Wait for the delivery at the destination.

Naturally, there are many details in between, but that’s the gist. The most challenging part is choosing a reliable vehicle shipping company, but even that can be a little easier with auto transport tips we’ll discuss.

The Cost of Transporting a Car

Safety is your first priority when shipping, particularly if you want to ensure your new car stays in perfect condition.

But for many people, getting the best price is also incredibly important. Car shipping costs may vary depending on several factors, and the price ranges between $0.40 to $2 per mile. Still, it’s a good idea to be aware of all the variables that are calculated into the final cost.

Provider

The prices from car shipping providers can vary drastically, especially if there isn’t too much competition in your area. Also, specific routes, like those from California to New York, are typically less expensive because they are frequent.

Distance

Unsurprisingly, the farther the destination is, the more the shipping will cost. However, the shipping rate per mile decreases as the transport distance increases.

Time of Year

Specific times of the year, like Labor Day or the entire month of May, are typically quite busy, and car shipping companies may raise their prices during these periods.

Type of Transport

Another factor that can significantly impact how much you’ll pay for the shipping is the type of transport. Open trailers are the norm, and they hold up to 10 cars.

On the other hand, the enclosed trailers are safer and pricier. They’re usually the go-to option for people who want to move exotic or luxury vehicles, but some want to protect their brand new ride from scratches or dents.

Gas Prices

Car shipping providers adjust their prices according to the current fuel price. This can make a staggering difference if the fuel prices are different in states where they’ll need to refuel the haulers.

Add-Ons

If you request special services like expedited delivery, supplemental insurance, or single-car transport, the final price tag for the car shipping will increase.

The Best Tips for Shipping Car Across Country

Learning about the steps the car shipping process includes and what affects its price is vital. But once you have that covered, you can start planning how to move your new ride to its destination.

Some of the car shipping tips we’ll mention are pretty intuitive, but others car delivery tips might surprise you.

Prepare Documentation

When it comes to car transport tips, this one is often overlooked. But even before choosing the car shipping provider, you should prepare all the necessary paperwork to help the process go smoothly.

The last thing you need is to scramble last minute to find all the documents and potentially miss the chance of transporting your vehicle on the desired date. Here’s what you would prepare.

• Car title
• Proof of ownership
• Copy of driver’s license or ID
• Registration

Research, Research, Research

Nearly anyone you ask for auto transport tips will tell you that finding the best car shipper is essential. It’s difficult to overstate how important it is to do proper research when choosing your provider.

There are many options out there, especially in some states, and not all vehicle shippers engage in best practices. There’s even a lot of potential for fraud and subpar services that can leave you with a damaged vehicle and a lack of auto transport insurance.

So, how can you protect yourself from this and drastically increase your chances of finding a reliable car shipping company?

The first step should be to check the legitimacy of the car shipping company. You can check their website for the U.S. Department of Transportation (USDOT) and Motor Carrier (MC) numbers. It won’t be difficult to find if they are running a licensed business.

Another critical part of the research is looking for reviews and complaints online for specific car shipping companies. If you are researching an established company, you’ll probably find a plethora of reviews and, if you’re lucky, particular details about their service.

Some people might have asked specific car shipping questions that a customer or provider has already answered. You might be able to notice patterns and spot red flags that indicate a company isn’t a good choice.

For example, extremely low prices might indicate that the provider isn’t maintaining their fleet properly or that they don’t have insurance.

Learn About Shipping Options

When discussing car shipping providers, we’re referring to carriers, companies with haulers, shipping containers, hydraulic lift ramps, and comprehensive customer service.

But you can also have a broker company handle your car shipping needs. Brokers act as the middlemen between a specific carrier and the customer. They often maintain a network of carriers to provide better all-around service depending on the customer’s location. This choice isn’t for everyone, and many people prefer to work with carriers as it’s a more hands-on approach and may offer more flexibility.

Still, knowing about all the options is empowering when it comes to car delivery tips. A broker can expedite the shipping process, which works for those who need urgent services and don’t have the time for thorough research.

Open vs. Closed Trailer: Your Choice

The open trailer is the standard option but not the only one available. Many carriers have the option of an enclosed trailer, which offers more extensive protection.

Vehicle owners with new rides and luxury and vintage vehicles might consider asking their provider for enclosed transport, though that will cost more.

Discuss Payment Options With the Provider

Most car shipping companies have specific payment requirements, and not all of them will work for you. Most providers will accept payment upon delivery, but others request a deposit as an assurance. Some companies will require total payment upfront, but that’s typically not a good sign.

Before making a commitment, inquire about payment details, including whether you can pay with credit cards, cash, and cashier’s checks.

One of the best car shipping tips also includes asking about discounts. They may offer senior, military, or first responder discounts; if any of those apply to you, it could lead to 10-15% off the total price.

Talk About Your Schedule

It’s crucial to understand that most car shipping companies can’t always commit to a specific date for car delivery. There are too many variables to consider, including weather, traffic, and the time of year.

That’s why it’s advisable to be very forthcoming about how important it is for your car to arrive by a specific date and whether there’s any room for flexibility.

Specifying the delivery location is also essential, especially if there’s a great chance there won’t be any parking space at the desired destination. Coming up with a plan where the shipper can deliver the vehicle safely will save you a lot of trouble.

Request Proof of Insurance

It’s impossible to talk about tips for shipping across the country without addressing insurance. There are a few crucial elements to keep in mind regarding car shipping insurance.

First and foremost, you should be aware that car shipping companies are legally required to include liability insurance into the shipping price. You don’t pay for the insurance separately, but it’s included and non-negotiable.

The coverage varies depending on the company, your vehicle’s value, and several other factors. Many shippers sell additional insurance that covers anything their standard policy doesn’t.

Furthermore, your auto insurance policy might also cover auto transport. You can easily find out if that’s the case by calling the auto insurer and asking them about it.

Finally, if you’re using the services of a broker, they also might be able to sell supplemental insurance that covers any potential damage to your vehicle.

However, to be sure your vehicle is fully covered, you can request proof of insurance from the company. They shouldn’t have any issues showing you the insurance policy in writing and answering any questions you might have regarding the coverage.

Prepare Your Vehicle for Shipping

After you’ve communicated, researched, and booked the car transportation, it’s time to prepare your vehicle for shipping. It’s not a good idea to skip this step as it can prevent several potential issues.

First, clean your car inside and out. You might wonder–do they search your cat when you ship it? The person in charge of picking up your vehicle will perform a detailed inspection of the exterior, making a note of any existing damage.

However, it’s unlikely they’ll check the interior unless the car is shipped overseas, in which case it’s a safety precaution.

But even if they don’t search the interior, you should clean out the glovebox, pick up loose change, sunglasses, and anything else you might find. If any dashboard accessories could accidentally damage the windshield in transport, it’s best to remove them too.

Other car shipping tips include checking the car for leaks, taking detailed photos of the vehicle, documenting the mileage, and locking the door. Also, the rule of thumb regarding the gas tank is leaving it 1/4 full.

Budget-Friendly Tips

Are you on a limited budget but need to get your vehicle across the country? There are a few options worth considering. If you’re not in a big hurry, you can choose to transport your car in the offseason, like in the fall or winter.

Another money-saving tip is to have your car delivered to a major city closest to your destination. This can prove to be much more affordable than delivering the vehicle to your new home address. Most car shippers have storages in big cities where they can keep your vehicle until you’re ready to pick it up.

Inquire About GPS Tracking

If you’re worried about the safety of your car as it’s transported thousands of miles, a GPS tracking service might give you peace of mind.

Nowadays, asking for a GPS tracking code from a car shipping company is not unreasonable. You get to know exactly where your ride is every step of the way, and you’ll be aware of any hiccups, traffic jams, or delays.

In many instances, vehicle owners can stay in touch with the drivers to get the latest status on their location and whether there are any problems.

All Your Car Shipping Questions Answered

Probably the best way you’ll know you’re working with a reliable car shipping company is that their responsive customer service can give you all the answers to your questions.

But the car transport tips listed above will help you prepare better for the upcoming relocation of your new ride. Establishing a good line of communication is essential, and great reviews, easy-to-find MC and USDOT numbers, reasonable prices, and excellent insurance are relevant too.

Preparing your vehicle well for transport can spare headaches, and being open about your schedule will likely lead to a better service.

If you’re looking for reliable, licensed, and affordable car shipping services, contact Ship Vehicles and get a free quote in no time.