Moving house, changing jobs or simply planning an extended travel break are all stressful enough experiences without worrying about hiring and buying a new car when you reach your destination. That’s why in most circumstances, it’s better to simply transport your vehicle.
To move your car, you’ll have to contact an auto transport company. Find the cheapest car shipping service online, and let them know the make, model and year of your vehicle, as well as where and when you want it moved to see how much it will cost. Companies like A1 Auto Transport will give you a free quote if you fill out their online form.
But every transport company will ask you to prepare your car before they can transport it. Here are all the things you will need to do before you can transport your vehicle to its new home.
Clean the car, inside and out
If your car is covered in dust and dirt from the road, you may not have noticed a few minor dents and scratches. No transport company wants to be blamed for damage that was already there under the muck, so give your car a thorough wash before you hand it over, so you know what condition it’s in, and are able to see if it is in any way damaged by the moving process.
Your car will be jostled around while in transit, and you don’t want the interior damaged by small, unsecured objects. Remove anything that is not secured to the inside of your vehicle, such as air freshener, spare change and electronics.
Disable the alarm
It’s an obvious thing, but easy enough to forget. To ensure you’re not met by an irate truck driver when you arrive at your destination, make sure the car alarm is disabled.
Remove any custom accessories
If you’ve spent money on custom accessories for the exterior or interior of your car, you don’t want them to get damaged, which they can easily be due to their often unusual shape. Remove them before you hand over the keys, so you can reattach them when you and your car are reunited.
Don’t fill up the tank
Your car will most likely be transported on the back of an open-air carrier or – if it’s a vintage, luxury or uncommonly expensive vehicle – in a closed container. Either way, it’s not being driven, so there’s no need to fill up the tank before you hand it over.
In fact, a full petrol tank may add extra weight to the car, incurring extra costs, so it’s in your best interest to make sure the tank is as empty as possible.
Check for leaks
If you arrive on the day of the transport with a car that is leaking water or oil all over the place, the company you’ve hired may refuse to take it, leaving you in quite the pickle.
This is because your car will likely be carried with as many as twelve others on the back of a carrier, and they don’t want your vehicle dripping all over someone else’s car.
Check the tire pressure
If your tires are over or under-inflated they are more likely to be damaged as the car is being loaded and unloaded on the carrier, so check the tire pressure beforehand.
Lock the car
The transport company will do their very best to look after your car while it’s in their care, but they can’t watch it 24/7. Once they have your car, there is no reason for it to be opened before it arrives at its destination, so make sure the doors are securely locked to avoid theft.
Find the cheapest car shipping service online with A1 Auto Transport.
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