Everything You Need To Know
Ship car cross country feels overwhelming. With the right approach and reliable help, it can be done safely and hassle-free.
There is a lot to keep in mind when shipping a car across the country. Chances are that if you’re making a move that requires shipping a car across the country, you have lots of other logistics on your plate. To help reduce the stress of getting your car to your new location, here’s a simple guide on how to ship a car across the country.
How to ship Car cross country
Step 1: Explore Your Options
If you’re not sure how to ship a car to another state, you’re in luck. There are a variety of options when it comes to getting your vehicle across the country.
Bring it Yourself
There are several ways you can manage your move. The first is to simply drive the car yourself. The second is to tow the vehicle behind a U-Haul or other rental truck. Both of these options put you in complete control of the move. Of course, that also means you are responsible for the time, cost, and energy involved.
Hire a Shipping Service
With just a few phone calls, you can contact an auto transportation broker who will give you a quote for shipping your car. This process involves someone picking up your vehicle and placing it on a large trailer. The plus side is that someone else is in charge of the move. The downside is that this move can be quite costly, and you have almost no control over when the car arrives.
Hire a Personal Driver
One of the most prudent options to ship your car across country is to hire a personal driver. These individuals drive your car for you. You have complete control over when it arrives, you can load the car up with property or pets, and you pay much less than using a shipping service. The only downside is if you’re watching the miles on your car, like if you have a lease.
Step 2: Prep Your Car
Once you decide how you’re going to ship your car and which company you’ll use, it’s time to prepare your car for the trip. Give yourself some time to get everything ready, including all of the necessary documents, which vary depending on your vehicle type and situation.
Here’s a quick checklist you can use:
- Make sure your car is in driving shape. Top off fluids, check your tire pressure, etc. This step is proper regardless of how you’re shipping your car.
- Test your emergency brake. This needs to work in order to be shipped or driven.
- Check your gas. If a shipping company is taking it, keep your tank below a quarter tank. If someone is driving it, fill it up.
- Remove accessory attachments: Bike racks or anything else that could fall off during transport.
- Wash your car and take pictures. It’s much easier to identify damages on a clean car. Get it looking great and take plenty of pictures so you can compare after the car is delivered. The company you use will also check for pre-existing damages and have you sign a bill of lading before they accept your vehicle.
- Disable your car alarm. An alarm will only cause problems if it goes off during transport. If someone is driving it, make sure they know how the alarm works.
- Load it up. If your transportation service allows it, load your car with anything else that is being moved, like personal items or even pets (if someone is driving your car only).
Step 3: Receive Your Car And Check For Damages
When your car is delivered, make sure everything is still in working order. You can use your previous pictures to compare the vehicle from before it was shipped to after it arrived. Follow the company’s procedure for filing a claim if there are any new damages or concerns. You can also compare your new notes to the original bill of lading.
Companies will want you to sign right away, but take a moment to inspect the car. Once you sign that everything is OK, it’s challenging to make a claim.
Assuming your car makes it in perfect shape, you’re now ready to enjoy cruising the road in your new town without worrying about how to ship your car across the country anymore.