What Should You Know About Car Shipping

From the outside, shipping a vehicle looks like a lot, especially during your first encounter. Surrounding moving, purchasing cars from other states, or sending a vehicle to someone, it is always good to know what is in store for you in relation to the vehicle shipping process to alleviate your concerns. Never worry, as this guide will show you how to book a shipment and what to do from there until the shipment is delivered to your doorstep.

Step 1: Car Shipping Company Selection and Research

Finding the right shipment provider requires careful consideration of various factors. Consider these when selecting which car shipping companies best suit your needs:

Licensing and Insurance: Always check if the shipping providers are registered with the Department of Transport (DOT) and have vehicle insurance that would protect your vehicle.
Customer Reviews: Reputation is important, so ensure to check Google, BBB, and even TransportReviews for real comments.
Pricing: Refining your remarks for cost efficiency, do not take the ones with no transparency in additional charges, like hidden fees.
Service Options: Depending on the category of vehicle and your funds, classify yourself on whether you would prefer open or enclosed transport.

Once you have settled with a trustworthy provider, you can focus on booking your shipment.

Step 2: Obtaining a Quote and Booking Your Shipment

In order to book, you will have to supply:

The make, model, and year of your vehicle
Place of pickup and delivery
Preferred dates of shipping
Open or enclosed carrier selection

As of now, various companies have instant quotes online, which makes comparing prices a walk in the park. Once you’ve accepted an offer, a booking confirmation will be sent alongside a transport agreement with the terms and conditions.

Step 3: Ready Your Car for Shipping

To ensure a smooth process, the vehicle must be prepared appropriately. Follow the checklist:

A thorough wash also allows for spotting existing damages during inspection, making them easier to spot.
Remove All Personal Items: Shipping companies don’t insure any personal effects left behind, nor do they take responsibility for lost items.
Disable Alarms: Reduce the potential of interruptions during vehicle transport.
Under and Check the tire pressure and battery levels: They should be working properly.
Existing Damage Should be Documented: Take dated photos of the damage from multiple angles.

Step 4: Inspection and Vehicle Pickup

On the day of vehicle pickup, the driver will carry out a Bill of Lading (BOL) inspection – this records the condition of the vehicle. You and the driver will both sign the document acknowledging receipt and the condition report.

Professional Tip: Hold onto the BOL copy until the vehicle has been delivered and inspected.

Step 5: Transit — How Long Does It Take to Ship a Car?

How Long Does It Take to Ship a Car? That’s a common question, along with other variations of the same issue. The answer comes down to a few different factors:

Distance: For cross-country shipments, expect them to take about 7-10 days. Shorter hauls, however, will be much faster (around 2-5 days).

Route Popularity: Pickup and deliveries to remote areas will take longer.

Seasonal Demand: Summer and winter holidays usually have a spike in demand, which can stall processes.

Transport Type: Enclosed carriers tend to have a more difficult time being scheduled compared to open carriers.

Enclosed carriers may take longer to schedule than open ones, too.

When booking, the company should give you a time frame estimate for delivery.

Step 6: Vehicle Delivery and Final Inspection

Now, it’s time for the fun part. When your car comes, you will do a last check alongside the driver. During this process, you will check against the BOL you received, looking at the car and the condition it arrived in, and the BOL. If damage was incurred, make a note of it on the document, actively taking photos in the process.

When it comes down to it and all checks have been done, you can check off the delivery as complete and pay any outstanding payment.

Your experience being smooth and hassle-free shouldn’t be impossible.

Stay in contact with your shipping company and driver, actively communicating and providing updates. That makes for a clear, streamlined process.

Flexibility will also make for a smoother experience. Build in a buffer for 1-3 days for pickup and delivery windows.

At the same time, you won’t want builders on documents. An ID will do just fine as a booking, along with a confirmation and BOL.

Why Select Professionals to Move My Car?

If you’re asking yourself, Why do I need to hire professionals to move my car when I can drive it myself?, consider these points:

Time-Efficient: Save on lengthy and tiresome road trips.
Lower Mileage: Help maintain the wear and tear on your car.
Insurance and Training: Professional carriers have specific training and are insured.
No Stress: Makes your experience seamless.

Conclusion

The good news is that the car shipping process can be smooth and easy if carefully planned with a reputable provider. Informed decisions, like picking among car shipping companies and knowing how long it takes to ship a car, will empower and guide you toward better choices.

Are you looking to ship your car? Are you ready to get quotes from reliable industry professionals who move my car safely and efficiently wherever it needs to go?

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

How much does it cost to ship a car?

The estimate varies based on distance, vehicle size, transport type (open or enclosed), and time of the year. Usually, the price is within a 500 to 1,500 range.