Unless you are part of the vehicle industry, the protocol for car shipping or auto transport services would be unfamiliar to you. Knowing how or where to start can be confusing, but with sufficient research and becoming informed, you’ll be better prepared to hire a reputable, qualified, reliable company.
A quality car shipping provider will help guide you through the steps from the initial quote to booking the transport, selecting a transport method, and preparing the vehicle for transport. This guide will walk you through what auto transport is and how it all works. Let’s learn.
What Are Car Shipping Services
Car shipping or auto transport services are used when car owners need to move their vehicle to another state, across the country, or even overseas. The company can either be a car shipping carrier or an auto transport broker.
The broker will help the owner find a suitable carrier to provide the car shipping services. Learn tips on choosing the best car shipping company at https://www.theintelligentdriver.com/2023/06/20/7-tips-for-choosing-the-best-car-shipping-company/.
The primary difference is the company with the fleet will have the drivers to move the autos directly. In either situation, as the car owner, you will benefit from someone hauling the car instead of driving it a far distance or selling it if you need to move overseas.
As a car shipping service, the priority is knowing that all car owners’ needs are unique, and the aim is to offer the optimum efficiency, convenience, and greatest peace of mind. It’s understood that the process can be confusing for car owners transporting a car for the first time.
Not to mention the idea of handing responsibility of a valuable asset to someone you don’t know. That can be overwhelming and cause anxiety. If you become informed on some of the processes, it can ease this uncertainty. Here is a review.
• The price quotes
Many car shipping services have quote forms you can complete on the company website. The form asks for general details, including the vehicle specifics. Each quote calculator for the different auto transport companies varies, but no personal information is usually requested.
After receiving the pick-up and delivery information combined with the vehicle details, it will then be redirected to a pricing page. The car owner will see that variables can affect the final price point, including things like auto condition and transport method.
You can then contact the carrier to speak with an associate about booking. Go here for ideas to receive a better car shipping experience.
• The transport method
With car shipping services, there are two primary methods for transport, either open or closed. Usually, when considering auto transport, an open trailer is what most people think of. The carrier is usually one or two levels with the capacity to haul as many as ten cars.
The mode is an affordable and favored choice for shipping with greater access compared to closed trailers. The difference with these is the open transport method is exposed to threats posed by the outdoors. The occurrences, however, have been rare.
The enclosed carrier offers an added layer of protection since the trailer is not exposed to any threats from the outside.
This transport method is usually reserved for expensive, luxury, or vintage vehicles and is often much more costly than open trailers. As the owner, you must consider the car’s typical driving routine, personal preference for your car type, and budgetary restrictions.
• Preparing the car for transport
Once you find the most suitable car shipping service for shipping your car, you’ll need to prepare the vehicle for transit. The driver will arrive to load the car if you choose door-to-door pick-up. But you’ll need to ensure you’ve handled the protocol outlined by the provider.
1. The exterior and interior of the car should be detail cleaned to ensure the visual inspection can be completed thoroughly, with each imperfection being fully visible. These include paint chips, dents, scratches, and on. Pictures should be taken of the damage to have documentation to go with the car shipping service reports.
2. A reputable, credentialed mechanic should assess the vehicle to ensure it’s current on all maintenance and servicing requirements. The professional can do a more involved inspection, including looking for leaks. Your auto mustn’t leak on other vehicles during transit and vice versa. Tire pressure and battery charge should be evaluated since the driver will load and unload the car.
Final Thought
The stress and worry can subside once your vehicle arrives at the new location. It’s difficult to give another person the responsibility of a valuable asset. Still, once it’s back in your possession, you can rest easy if the inspection shows everything is clear.
You’ll still have some responsibilities in a new state as far as registering the car with the DMV- Department of Motor Vehicles. You want to avoid procrastinating since some states have a limited timeframe for handling these details before you accrue penalties and fines.