Cooperation with a transport company should be as pleasant and stress-free as possible. You want to have an easy auto ship: to convey the car and pick it up in another city. What could be easier? The procedure will be comfortable if you use a reliable, responsible carrier. But what to do in situations where the company is not as professional as you thought? Insure yourself and your property by accurately preparing the car for transportation. Let's talk about that. If you have a question “how to ship my car”, you will be interested in this information.
It is an important shipping step. Don't underestimate it. Go to the car wash, thoroughly clean the exterior, and remove all dirt from the surfaces. You can also do dry cleaning inside the cabin, but this is not necessary. Extra cleaning definitely will not harm the car, but it will help you avoid certain troubles, which we will talk about later.
Check out the look of the car. You must inspect it carefully to identify all defects and damage:
- scratches;
- dents;
- chips;
- bleached areas.
Take pictures of the car from different angles to document any damage. Separately, take a photo of scratches and dents. Why should you do it? If new defects appear during transportation, photos will help you to prove that they were not there originally. It means that the carrier must compensate for the damage. Warning! Customers of some transport companies complain that the car was damaged during transportation. At the same time, the carrier did not admit his mistake and insisted that the defects had already been.
Your car must come to the destination in the same condition as it left the starting point. Inspect the running gear. If you find any breakdowns, fix them immediately. Record the odometer reading so you can check it later. No one should drive your vehicle while it is being transported.
Even if your vehicle is in excellent condition, still have it serviced before shipping. Here is a list of required procedures:
- checking the level of liquids;
- charging the battery;
- emptying the fuel tank by a quarter;
- tire pressure checking.
You must prepare not only the car itself but also all its components. You understand that additional items may be damaged or lost during transportation. Remove the roof rack and removable skids, and fold down the side mirrors and antennas. By the way, if you are transporting a convertible, close its top to protect the interior from moisture and dirt.
You do not want your things to get lost during transportation. I would like to believe that nothing like this will happen, but you cannot be 100% confident. Be sure to take all documents, GPS tracker, smartphone charger, and personal items from the glove compartment.
Activated road tags and parking tickets may incur additional costs. You don't want to be charged money every time a car passes.
Now we will talk about additional elements necessary to restore the performance of your car. Yes, anything can happen on the road. Here is a list of things you should leave in the car:
- an emergency kit;
- a set of hand tools;
- spare wheel;
- jack-screw.
Transport companies don't just transport fully repaired vehicles. They are also engaged in the transportation of not running automobiles. Most often, they have to do the delivery of ordinary cars that are in operation. Accordingly, such machines may have technical problems. It will be better; if you tell the driver about all the vehicle's features. Make a written list of notes. Warning! Collaborate with companies that work on a contract basis. The quote, the service terms, the responsibility, and additional conditions must be specified in the document.
Trouble can happen at any shipping process steps. Now you know how to protect yourself and how to prepare your car for transportation. It is pretty important if you are working with a carrier for the first time. The company will not have a chance to deceive you if you record the appearance and technical condition of the car in the photo and in writing. I want you never to face unpleasant situations. Choose reputable carriers to avoid problems. Read reviews about the company. Check the information about the carrier you plan to cooperate with.
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