One of the first dilemmas during the relocation process is what you are going to do with your vehicle. You’ll want to know the answers to frequently asked questions about car shipping before you make your final decision, and that’s why we are here. In the further text, we will provide you with everything you’ll need to know about auto transport services in order to determine if it is the right option for you.
More than a million cars are being transported daily – only that fact could attest to the numerous benefits of car shipment. However, if you want to know some specifics about transporting cars from state to state or get some valuable car shipment advice, don’t miss reading the following lines and get the best long-distance relocation tips.
Suppose you opt for shipping your car cross-country – what is the next step? First, you must contact a reliable USA auto transport company in which hands you will put your beloved vehicle and get in touch with their representatives to determine all of the conditions and get a quote. Be prepared to choose from various options – your preferable dates, open vs. enclosed car transport, place of delivery, and so on. After agreeing on logistics, a relocation trailer will be assigned to your truck, and you’ll have to wait for your driver’s call in order to set a more precise pickup time. You don’t have to worry – a driver should give you a call for a minimum of twelve hours before his arrival so that you could be prepared.
A careful inspection of your vehicle’s condition is standard procedure for drivers before loading them on a trailer, after which you will be asked to sign a car bill of lading. It is a type of contract with all necessary information about the existing state of your car on the pickup day. It also contains information that is important for all of the contracting parties involved (telephone numbers, the place where a car should be delivered, shipper’s name, and alike.)
Usually, you are able to track your vehicle’s status, but in most cases, you will be contacted about scheduling the timeframe in which your vehicle should be delivered. It is imperative to inspect your car when the carrier gets to the agreed destination – all new damages must be reported immediately, not after your driver is gone.
In most cases, you will be presented with two options – terminal-to-terminal car shipping and door-to-door auto transport. When relocating a car to another state, people usually opt for the second option, even if it’s the more expensive one, because it could help them move efficiently. The first type of service, however, is often used if the place of pickup or delivery is located in remote areas (in regard to metropoles).
A door-to-door option is what its name suggests – it means that your vehicle will be picked up right outside of your home. However, that could be physically impossible in some cases because of the narrow streets and turns or low treetops and electric wires. Occasionally, even the local laws may prohibit carriers from passing through your new street. When something like that occurs, know that your car will be delivered at the closest possible location, such as shopping mall parking and alike.
After contacting company representatives, you will be given an estimated time of the carrier’s arrival – a window of time that can go up for five days. The exact time cannot be guaranteed due to the change of weather, traffic condition, eventual troubles with carriers, or any other unexpected occurrence. However, as we mentioned before, the driver will contact you and inform you about more precise pick-up information in a timely manner. Note that the same procedure is expected for the delivery, too.
It is not imperative for you to be present for a start and the end of the shipment. If you are relocating to another state alone, for example, some of your family members could hand over your car to the driver. In any case, you must assign this task to someone else if you are not able to be physically present – they will need to inspect your car for possible damage and sign the bill of lading.
Open carrier car transport is the type of car shipment service in which an open trailer is used. If you want to choose the cheapest way of car shipment, this would be the right option for you. Note that more than 90% of all car shipment is done by using this type of trailer.
There wouldn’t be so many transportations in which this type of trailer is used if it wasn’t safe for vehicles. Furthermore, car dealerships, for example, often use an open trailer for transportation of new cars – that fact could be encouraging enough. However, the open concept means that your car couldn’t be protected from bad weather and road conditions that could cause slight damage to it.
In contrast with the previous type, enclosed auto transport means that your car will be protected from the external elements by being nicely tucked in the closed trailer. However, note that this option is, in most cases, costly, so be prepared to determine what is the primary factor for making a decision – price or safety.
If you own some of the most expensive cars in the world, some precious classics, or if you are very attached to your car, it would be best to choose this kind of shipment service. That way, you will undertake all safety precautions possible to assure the well-being of your beloved car when relocating to a new state.
As you can conclude by yourself from the previous lines, these types of trailers differ regarding affordability and the level of safety. One of the most important relocation tips that we could give you considering car shipment is to rationally estimate the price of your car and be sure not to overpay its transportation.
The answer to this question depends utterly on your perspective, but if you are indecisive, we could give you a push in the right direction. One of the most common relocation mistakes is automatically assuming the much higher cost of vehicle shipment services in regard to transporting vehicles all by yourself. There are a few factors people often don’t consider – the price o gas, the cost of hotel rooms, the knowledge a driver must possess about how to change a flat tire, or, for example, how to tell if a car thermostat is bad. Most of all, if you opt for a DIY option, you are bound to experience driving stress or some form of driving anxiety while confronted with road rage on some of the most famous routes in the USA. You could find other ways to boost your relocation budget – spare your mental health during the relocation and choose a professional auto transport service.
If you are an ecologically originated person, think about the amount of fossil fuels and air pollution all those vehicles on a carrier produce together. If you don’t own some of the best eclectic cars, it is not a fact that should be lightly neglected.
There are many reasons why people ship their cars, but the one thing that they all have in common is wanting to choose the first-class security this service provides. Your vehicle will be handled by an experienced driver, so the chances of something going wrong are very slim.
We will not be biased if we say that the benefits of car shipment services outweigh any shortcomings when relocating to a new home across the country. It is your safest option by far, but also the one that will save you from many driving hours. According to that, paying a few extra bucks will be annulled – you just need to remember the saying that time is money.
Long-distance car shipment could take up to two weeks for coast-to-coast transportation. It is important to realize that the company could only give you estimated dates because many factors could prolong shipment. If you want an immediate shipment (within one day or less), be prepared to pay extra.
Vehicle transportation companies are obliged by law to provide you with insurance. Note that it is usually related only to external damages and that the closed trailer often provides much bigger insurance in the case of damage. However, in order to fail a claim, the damage must be noted in the bill of lading upon delivery and confirmed with the driver’s signature.
From figuring out how much to tip movers and what is the best size of the moving truck you need, there’s also a question about driverless cars. Those in non-running condition could be transported as long as their wheels, steering wheel, and brakes function properly. Make sure that your car is worth the additional fees.
There are quite a few things that need to be done before the trailer arrives at your destination:
If you could use guidance on how to deep clean your car’s interior, take a look at the video below:
The USA Department of Transportation does not allow shipment of belongings in the car, but many companies that you’ll contact would let you pack your items if they together don’t weigh more than 100pounds. That’s how if you’re relocating for the first time, avoid some of the most common relocation mistakes, such as packing furniture and other bulky items in your four-wheeler. Instead, you can pack your clothes and load smaller electronics. However, if you choose that option, you’ll do it at your own risk – you will be paying fines if a carrier gets any.
In order to move safely, you must pick a reliable and trustworthy car shipment company. Check all the auto transport reviews you could get, and ensure to ask for the company’s license and DOT number when you contact it so that you could avoid relocation scams. Remember to look for companies that give you a variety of relocation service options to choose from (open trailer and enclosed carrier, for example), but also for ones that will give you a quote without the possibility of additional costs. Only by following these tips will you be able to release your head from worries and enjoy all the benefits the car shipment could provide you with.
