When you need to ship your car, you’ll have to work with an auto transport company. In order for your vehicle to arrive safely as expected, it’s important to prepare it for the shipping process.
Shipping your vehicle across long distances can be stressful. What should you do? Where should you start? To help answer these questions we put together this simple guide to ensure you and your car are ready for the transportation process.
Tip #1 - Wash your car & clean the inside
Before you have the auto transport company pick up your vehicle, you should wash it thoroughly. With a clean car, you’ll be better able to notice any possible damage caused by the shipping process once your car arrives at its destination.
You should also clean the interior and remove anything that is not secured. This includes air fresheners and your spare change. Also be sure to remove all of your electronics and their supporting cables/chargers.
Tip #2 - Don't gas up
Since your vehicle is being transported and not driven, there’s no need to fill up your gas tank prior to loading. Having a full tank of gasoline makes your car heavier. By law carriers must be under a certain weight limit and any additional weight can add risk to the shipment.
Leave as little fuel in the tank as possible when preparing your vehicle for transport. There should be no more than 1/4th tank of gas during transport.
Tip #3 - Check the tire pressure & for leaks
Before your car or truck gets loaded onto the truck, check for any noticeable leaks. If your vehicle has any leaks, the car shipping company may refuse to transport your vehicle so it is important make sure to get it repaired prior to moving day.
You should also check the tire pressure for under-inflated or over-inflated tires. By not having your tires properly inflated, you could increase the risk of damage to the tires. Tire damage is most likely to occur during loading and unloading, but if your tires are properly inflated, there will not be any issues.
Tip #4 - Remove any custom accessories
In order to prevent the risk of special accessories breaking during transit you should make sure to remove any custom parts or exterior accessories before the vehicle is loaded onto the truck.
Custom accessories such as spoilers may be stylish, but they are vulnerable to loss or damage if left on the vehicle during shipping. To avoid this, simply remove them prior to shipment.
Tip # 5 - Disable the alarm & lock your car
When your car is on the carrier, you want the driver to be able to focus on the road. Having to stop and disable an alarm can cause unnecessary distractions. It may slow down the auto transportation process for all the clients on the shipment, and it can expose the truck to unnecessary dangers, such as hijacking and accidents.
Additionally, if your car alarm goes off while the vehicle is in transit, it could cause your battery to drain. It’s quite possible that the driver may not hear the alarm or be unable to pull off the road in order to turn it off. The last thing you want when picking up your car from its destination is a dead battery, so be sure to disable any alarm systems your vehicle may have.
Once your vehicle is loaded onto the auto transport truck, there’s no reason for it to be opened up until it is delivered. Feel free to lock everything up to reduce the risk of theft while it is being transported.
Now that you know what to do, the car shipping process will go smoothly!
If you or anyone you know is in need of vehicle transport services fill out a quote request on our main webpage or contact us directly at (916) 744-2228. Our transport agents will be happy to assist you!
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