Are you thinking of shipping your car across the country?
If you’re moving across the country, that’s a long drive. In most long-distance cases it’s easier to ship your car to your new home instead. But if you’ve never done that before, you might not know what’s entailed.
Don’t worry, we’re here to help! Keep reading for our guide on everything you need to know before shipping a car across the country.
Shipping Options
Open trailers are the cheapest of the options. There are some risks here though. They’re exposed to the weather and road debris so there might be some chance of damage.
Enclosed car shipping is the more expensive method with two types available:
- hard-sided
- soft-sided
Hard-sided offers the most protection on the road, and it’s recommended for luxury or special cars. Soft-sided still protects from severe weather and debris.
Both options are smaller than open trailers, reducing the shipping time. How much to ship a car will depend on which method you pick. Click to find out more on the cost to ship a car.
Customer Service
The shipping process can be a stressful time. You might hear stories of someone loading their car, then not knowing where it was for the week it took to arrive.
Look for a company that offers 24/7 customer support. When shopping around, ask how often you’ll get updates on your vehicle. Can you call up and ask for its current location?
Not all companies offer the same customer service. So, you want to find one that will work with you, and give you the information you need, when you need it.
Delivery Time
Shipping a car won’t be like mailing
a package. They’re much larger, and the vehicles they travel on are slower.
For US deliveries, it could take 4 weeks. If it’s going out of the country, it
could take as much as 8 weeks.
Give yourself enough time to find a carrier and get time estimates. It’s common for unexpected delays to crop up, so you’ll need a lot of patience for this process.
Insurance
Damage is rare, but it can happen. Check the car transportation service has up-to-date, correct insurance, and the right shipping documents. Ask to see a copy, and have them explain what it covers in detail.
Check with your own auto insurance company that you’re still covered for the journey. Shipping a car across the country isn’t covered in all policies. But you can get a temporary addition to cover your journey once you’ve booked it.
Inspect Your Vehicle at Pickup and Delivery
Your driver will inspect your vehicle when they pick it up. They’re making note of things like:
- scratches
- dents
- marks
- damage
You should do the same yourself, making notes and taking pictures with date stamps. Do the same when it’s delivered, and your driver will also inspect it. If any damage occurred and you need to pursue this, your own evidence will come in handy. Especially if you’re disputing the findings of the transport company’s inspections.
Shipping a Car Across the Country: Do It Right
So, there you have it! When shipping a car across the country, make sure you choose the right method of transport.
You should shop around for quotes, but pick a service that has great customer support. Communication is vital, especially given the timescale involved. You want someone you can trust and who will keep you updated.
If you found this article helpful, check out our other blog posts for more!
