Prepare Your Car

How To Prepare Your Car Before Shipping It Across the Country

You can ship furniture, construction equipment, or even a mobile home. But did you know that you can ship your car as well?

Shipping your car makes for easier moving and can save you from costly back-and-forth journeys. Car shipping entrusts your vehicles to professionals that will make sure it suffers no damage. But how do you prepare your car for shipping?

While this is an excellent service, there are a few things you should do before the handoff. Protecting your car in advance will help to prevent some potential issues that could crop up.

In this guide, we’ll discuss everything you need to do to prepare your car.

1. Step One to Prepare Your Car: Give it a Good Wash

This one might seem counterintuitive. If you’re doing open vehicle transport, then your car will be subjected to the elements. You’re likely going to wash it anyway when it arrives.

However, a good wash is an important first step for your benefit, and we’ll see why in the following steps. So make sure you do a thorough wash that removes every speck of grime.

2. Perform a Walk-Around Inspection

You may know your car well, but this is still an essential step when preparing your car for shipping. Check the car for any visible damage. Take note of anything no matter how small.

This includes but is not limited too:

  • Dents
  • Scratches
  • Scuffs
  • Missing paint
  • Broken exterior components

Photograph Your Vehicle

In addition to this, you want to photograph your car from all angles. Try to do this in the best lighting possible so no detail goes missing. Take up-close shots of any damages noted in the previous step.

This is why you want a clean car! A dirty car may appear to have damages that it does not or may cover up existing damages. A clean vehicle means that you can be fully aware of its current condition.

Make sure the pictures are high-resolution and get good angles of the vehicle. Back up these pictures and keep them for your records. It’s unlikely that your car will suffer damage in transit, but you want to protect yourself if it does.

3. Do a Deeper Inspection

Now check your car for things that are less superficial, such as oil leaks. Take note of the odometer to ensure no one drives your car more than they need to. 

In general, you should make sure your vehicle is in working condition before transport. Do the following:

  • Top up all your fluids
  • Ensure the battery has a full charge
  • Keep your gas around the 1/4 mark
  • Fill your tires to their manufacturer-recommended levels

Take note of all these things. Importantly, take note of the overall state of the car and get documentation if possible. If a problem springs up upon delivery, you want whatever evidence you can get.

4. Remove Anything That Might Fall Off in Transit

Your car may have a bike rack installed on the back, custom spoilers, or even a roof rack. When it comes to protecting your car, everything that does not come built-in needs to go. These things can make it difficult to secure your vehicle, and even if they don’t, they may fall off in transit.

Further, you should reduce potential damage from the outside of your vehicle, too. Retract your side-view mirrors and telescope down your antenna. Anything else that sticks out or isn’t secure should likely go.

5. Make Sure the Inside of Your Vehicle Is Prepared

Now that the outside of your vehicle is all ready to go, check the inside. While you can certainly trust the company that transports your car, it’s in your best interest to remove any valuables. This is good practice and reduces the likelihood of theft–and any messy accusations were it to happen.

This includes little things that you normally leave in your vehicle. The cellphone mount, charging cable, and even a spare power bank. Check under the seats for any potential valuables.

However, don’t take everything out! There are some items that should remain in your vehicle just in case. These include but aren’t limited to the following:

  • Car jack
  • Spare tire
  • Necessary hand tools
  • Emergency kit

It’s highly unlikely that these will become necessary for the transportation. But it never hurts to have them ready just in case. If you remove these things, then that may lead to unnecessary delays in your vehicle’s delivery schedule.

6. Take Note of Anything You Think the Delivery Person Should Know

Every car owner knows the idiosyncracies of their own vehicle. Whether it’s a used car that’s full of noises or one that handles differently, this is useful information. Write anything down that might be helpful and send it on to whoever is responsible for delivery.

Once you take the vehicle to the delivery drop off–or if they pick it up–keep any signed documents. Do a once-over and make sure you haven’t missed anything. You won’t have access to your vehicle until it arrives, so this is your last chance to do that.

Find a Car Delivery Company You Can Trust

Shipping your car is a boon for those who need to move across states. However, you do need to do a few things to prepare your car for transport when that time comes. Keep the above in mind when preparing your car for shipping, and you’ll be more than ready.

Luxy Transport is the leader in car shipping, bringing your vehicle to places all over the country. They offer the best rates and top-notch customer service. Request a quote today before you get your vehicle shipped.

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