Vehicle Transportation Tips
When you are planning a move, sometimes it is necessary to have your car
transported for you as well. The following is a list of tips that you should
follow when looking for an auto transportation company to ship your vehicle.
- Be aware of scheduling issues. Scheduling is the most important
point to consider when shipping your car. The pick up and delivery of your
car are estimated dates. There can be unforeseen problems such as traffic,
weather, and breakdowns, that can delay your car shipment. You need to have
a realistic expectation of when your vehicle will be picked up and dropped
off. The car transportation company wants to deliver the vehicle to you as
soon as you are ready to receive it.
- Decide on the type of transport service. You need to decide what
vehicle transportation service you would like. You can have door-to-door car
transportation service, door-to-terminal service, or terminal-to-terminal
car transportation service. Terminal-to-terminal is the cheapest way to ship
your vehicle, but it is not the most hassle free. If you are not close to
the drop off or pick up terminal, you may have to drive hours to drop off
and pick up your car. You will spend more money on gas driving to and from
these locations, and may end up spending the same amount of money you would
have for the more convenient door-to-door service.
- Decide whether you want open or closed shipping of your car.
Some moving companies offer only open trailers. Open trailers are either
partially or fully exposed to the outside. There are also a range of sizes
of open carriers from 3 car carriers to 11 car carriers. Closed car carriers
are protected from the outside weather, and are carried in basically a
moving garage. It is more expensive to ship your car in a closed trailer.
Most cars can be shipped either way.
- If you choose door-to-door car delivery, make sure you can accept it.
Sometimes the driver can not deliver the car straight to your driveway. He
will however get the car as close as possible to the pick up location.
Remember auto shipping trucks can be very long, and the drivers of these
trucks need plenty of room to maneuver. If you have limited access to your
new home, you may have to pick up your car in another location as close as
possible to your home.
- Make sure that you have proper insurance coverage for your vehicle.
The car should be insured by the shipping company for damage and theft.
You should request a copy of their insurance coverage to see if there
is a deductible that you have to pay if there is any damage. Your car
insurance policy may provide you with coverage for your vehicle while in
transit, so it is beneficial to contact your insurance company to see if
this type of coverage is included.
- Remove personal items from your vehicle. Make sure that you have
your car ready for pick up, which means to have all valuables or personal
items removed from the car. These items will not be covered by the shipping
company, and may or may not be covered by your personal insurance company.
- Lastly, make sure you understand the payment schedule for the shipping company. Some moving companies require full payment in advance, while other moving companies require a percentage for deposit, and the balance due upon delivery. Make sure you have cash or money order on the day of the car delivery. Some shipping companies will take a personal check or credit card for payment, but not all. Be informed about the company's policies in advance.
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