I). Consider your options
A car can
be transported in several ways to get
your car from one side of the country to the other. Before choosing a company
make sure you have explored all your options and criteria.
1. Drive your car
Many people ship their cars because they don’t want to drive them—but that’s still an option you can consider. The costs for driving your car are gas, food, and lodging.
2. Tow your car behind a rental truck
You’ve probably seen a U-Haul truck on the freeway towing a car behind it. Most cars can be transported on either a car trailer or a tow dolly (a mini-trailer with only two wheels). Both options are cheaper than professional cross-country vehicle shipping.
3. Sell your car
You can sell your car if you don’t have the time or money to drive or
tow it. There isn’t much work involved in selling your car these days (thanks,
internet), and you can put the cash toward moving expenses—or a replacement
vehicle.
Selling
your car is a drastic step, so we recommend it mainly if you don’t
have the money to transport it, or if you’re already thinking about getting a
new car.
II). Compare car shipping quotes
III). Choose a company
After you
get several quotes, pick the car shipping company that best fits your needs.
Price is important, of course, but you also want to consider things like
customer service and delivery time.
- Low prices
It’s
essential to get several quotes so you can find the lowest price. Make a list
of all your specific transport needs and compare rates to determine the lowest
price.
- Fast delivery
Some car
shipping companies are faster than others. If you ask about shipping timelines,
you can compare estimates just like you do for pricing.
- Excellent customer service
You should have a good sense of a company’s customer service after
calling for quotes, but make sure to take a few minutes to check online reviews
too. You don’t want to get stuck with long hold times, rude customer service
reps, or unprofessional drivers.
4. Prepare your car for pickup
The auto transport service will pick up your car when it’s ready for
shipment. The driver will load your car onto the truck and then hit the road.
Before you wave goodbye, knock out some important items on your car shipping checklist:
- Ensure your car is driveable. Your car needs to be driveable. Be sure to check your tires and battery. And top off your oil and fluids.
- Test your emergency brake. Car shipping companies won’t take your car if it doesn’t work.
- Make sure your gas tank is less than one-quarter full. The more gas your car has, the more it weighs (the more it costs to transport it).
- Remove attachments. Get rid of bike racks, antennas, and anything else that could fall off or break during shipment.
- Wash your car. It’s easier to identify damage if your car is clean, which is why this is a critical step in getting your car ready to ship.
- Disable your alarm. It can annoy your driver if it goes off.
- Deactivate your electronic toll pass. You still get charged for tolls if your device is on.
5. Select the insurance coverage
Shipping companies have impressive safety records, but
accidents happen. You want to have adequate insurance coverage just in case.
All
transport companies are required to carry basic insurance. However, some offer
extra free coverage.
Car
Direct’s gap coverage means the company pays $500 toward your deductible if
your insurance company denies your claim.
6. Check for damage upon
delivery
Your car isn’t likely to get damaged but you
need to look and make sure. The car shipping companies want you to sign the
document at pickup so you can’t claim pre-existing damage as their fault.
If you don’t document the damage (take pictures and write a
description), then the car shipping company can say it’s not their fault. And
that makes it nearly impossible to file an insurance claim.
We’ve put
together an auto transport insurance guide to walk you through
the process—and break down the big words insurance companies use.
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