Are you relocating to a new city or town across the country and planning to send your car there? If you want the transportation to be as smooth as possible, you should make sure that you are working with an experienced cross-country car shipping company. You would want to find a company that knows how to deliver your truck, SUV, or car from one point to another. Follow this Step by Step Guide to Planning a Stress-free Car Shipping.
It is not the only thing you have to do to reduce the stress that you will probably experience when you ship your vehicle across the country. Let’s take a look at some of the other ways that you can reduce stress when getting your car transported.
Deciding On A Budget And Timeline
Delivery of your car may take from three days to three weeks, depending on the distance your car must travel. As a safety measure, add a day or two to the scheduled time due to other changing factors, such as weather or traffic.
Different carriers have different delivery times, so keep this in mind. To make sure everything goes smoothly, book delivery at least two weeks before the day of delivery. For example, delivery from the Midwest to the East Coast can take 3 to 8 days. On the other hand, shipping from the East Coast to the West Coast can take a week to two weeks. Take note that these are only estimates and may change. The shipping process can take up to several weeks, so make sure you prepare in advance.
In terms of costs, setting up a budget, and following it is crucial. Many factors can affect the price, such as distance, model, and size of the vehicle, and the chosen delivery method.
Most carriers have a base price that is calculated by distance and mileage. In general, any distance less than 500 miles will cost you $1 per mile. Any distance between 500 and 1000 miles will cost $75 per mile.
You can expect to pay anywhere from $100 to $1,500 when sending your car. For best results, ask the carrier of your choice to give you a quote before you book them.
Picking A Method Of Shipping Your Car
Different delivery options have different costs. Therefore, it is essential to find the one that suits you best. First, start with deciding if you want to send your car Opened or Closed. Here are the differences:
Uncovered
This is a cheaper option of two and usually more suitable for short distances. This method can also be faster as most carriers have more open trailers. However, your vehicle will be exposed to external elements. You may be liable for any damage to the vehicle, as these are more common in uncovered transport, depending on your insurance coverage.
Closed – Safer, But More Expensive
If you transport the car across rough terrain, this is an option for you. Closed delivery is great if you risk transporting your car through rough terrain or snowstorms. Shipping in a closed container can cost up to 50% more than shipping uncovered, but it is much safer than shipping uncovered.
After choosing a trailer type, you should think about the delivery method. Here are the most common ones:
Terminal-To-Terminal
It is more economical but can be risky. The problem with this type of delivery is that you have to take your car to a designated delivery terminal. The company will deliver your car to a similar delivery terminal after delivery. These terminals can be miles away from your location and may not be monitored at all times.
Door-To-Door
It is safer and faster. Initially, the cost of door-to-door delivery can be higher. A vehicle collects and delivers your car to a specific location. This way, it is much safer and eliminates the risk of theft or damage. However, if you live in a narrow street, accessibility may become a potential problem.
Inquire About Your Car Shipping Company’s Insurance
In case of an accident with your vehicle, will the insurance policy of the company transporting cars across the border cover it?
It is one of the first questions you should ask because you will not have any control over your car after it is shipped. You want to make sure that your car is safe and that the shipper’s insurance covers it in case something goes wrong.
Most reputable car delivery companies have liability insurance that covers at least $50,000. Some of them have insurance that covers up to $250,000.
Ask how much insurance your company will cover. Coverage will depend on the make and model of your car and its current condition. You do not want to discover later that your car will not be fully insured under the shipper’s liability insurance policy.
Remove Anything Valuable From Your Car
There are certain steps you should make to prepare your car from moving it away. Most all-terrain vehicle transportation companies tell you to remove everything from your vehicle before shipping it. The companies do not want to be responsible for the items that you leave in your car, and they do not want to send a car that weighs more than it should.
You must remove any valuables from your car. For example, you may want to take out:
- Your car stereo or speakers
- Your navigation system
- Your rims
Removing some of these items from the car can be a hassle, but just in case, you may want to take the time to do so.
If something happens to your vehicle during transport, you will be glad that you did.
Take Photos Of Your Car Before Handing Over The Keys
Before allowing a transportation company to take possession of your car temporarily, it is a great idea to take numerous pictures of your car and everything that is in it.
It would help if you tried to take pictures of every part of the car outside and as much inside as possible.
Try using either a smartphone or a digital camera so that everything in the photos is clear. After you take the pictures, save them on a flash drive or transfer them to your computer.
If your car reaches its final destination with any new damages, you can prove that the damage was not the result of any misconduct on your part.
It would be a good idea to take a picture of everything you are transporting. You have to be especially careful when you send something as expensive as a vehicle.
Find Out When To Expect Your Car To Arrive
Many companies that transport cars will not be able to tell you exactly when your car, truck, or SUV will arrive at the other end of the country. However, they must be able to give you an approximate time and day when you can expect it.
It will calm you down because if nothing else, you will have an idea of when it will arrive. If it does not arrive by a certain time, then you may have every reason to worry.
Otherwise, all you could do is wait until it shows up and put your trust in your shipping company to take care.
Ask Any Other Questions You Have About Shipping Your Car
Most people have no experience when it comes to delivering a car across the country. They have never had to do this, so they have no idea about the delivery process.
If you are in this boat, do not be afraid to ask as many questions as you want! A good all-terrain vehicle delivery company will take time to answer every question you have about your car.
If you do not ask any questions, you are likely to be a nervous wreck waiting for your car to arrive. You have many other things going on during your move, so why add more stress?
By getting answers to your questions, you can sleep better at night. You will also get a better idea of how qualified a particular company is to transport your car.
If, at some point, they are unable to answer the question, or worse, if they refuse to answer the question for you, they may not be the right company for you.
You should never feel uncomfortable asking questions regarding your property. It helps to have someone who will reduce your stress, not make your problems worse.
To Sum Up
Transporting your car should not be a stressful process. Many people have both good and bad experiences in shipping companies. However, most of the experience of a person can be attributed to training.
Many companies offer transportation services, and it can be challenging to choose the company that will be the best for you.
However, through proper research and careful preparation, you will be able to choose the right company that will make the transportation process of your car easy and stress-free.
Finding Help with Moving Professionals
We hope you found this blog on Step by Step Guide to Planning a Stress-free Car Shipping useful. For more Moving Tips, Check out this next post on: International Shipping Info
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