Your vehicle has a monetary value, but the role it plays in your life and getting your family where they need to go is invaluable. You can’t risk having just anyone ship your car. And if your vehicle is a luxury or classic one, it could be irreplaceable, making finding the right car transport company vital.
That’s probably what led you to search for “ship car cross country.” Fortunately, if you’re a bit worried about the process, this guide can help calm your nerves and allow you to prepare adequately.
Understand the Benefits
Hauling your car rather than driving it cross country can benefit you if you’re nervous because you’ve never driven that far. Or, maybe you already know that’s a lot on you.
Having someone take your car also frees up your time, which is beneficial if you’re transporting the vehicle because you’re moving.
On the other hand, it could be advantageous to you to have your car shipped across the country to prevent the wear and tear from the drive. It’ll also stop you from adding miles onto your vehicle.
If this is an exotic or antique you don’t drive, you could use a car hauling service. It’s also beneficial if you have a non-running car you need to take a long distance.
The price you pay to drive the car yourself may be higher than the cost to have a car transporting service take it.
You also reduce the risk of theft and damage when the car is on a hauler, especially a closed one.
Choose the Company Carefully
When it comes to something that’s worth thousands to well over $100,000, depending on the vehicle, you can’t take choosing a car hauling company lightly, especially for a cross-country journey.
Find Listings
Once you perform a search for companies that ship cross-country in your area, read each website carefully. Look beyond the homepage and discover all the services each one provides. Take a look at their “About us” page and discover what makes the company stand out. Make sure the business you choose has some time in the industry. Though it’s worthwhile to help an up-and-coming company, this might be one time when it’s too risky. After comparing several options, narrow the results to a few that stood out.
Insurance, Bonding, and Registration
Now, you want to call the ones you chose and ask a few questions. For instance, make sure the company you select has insurance. Since the policies aren’t all the same, you’ll want to see exactly what each one covers before deciding.
Request someone either send you an email or fax you a copy. Read it carefully to see what level of insurance coverage each has to help you in the decision process.
Besides insurance, determine if the company is bonded, which is another way to protect you as the customer. Check that the company has Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) and U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) registration.
Reviews
Look at reviews. Customers may share the positives and negatives online, giving you a look at what others think about the company. Aim for one that has mainly positive reviews and few-to-no negative ones.
Ask for Referrals
If you’re unsure which company you should choose, ask someone from the company for referrals. You’ll be able to talk to previous customers and see what they say about their experience.
Price
Price shouldn’t be a leading factor when it comes to your choice. Yes, an inexpensive company can help you save money in the long run, but it could ultimately be more costly, both time and budget-wise, especially if something should happen.
The lowest price doesn’t necessarily mean the worst service, but you could regret your decision. On the other hand, the highest price doesn’t mean it’s the best service.
Ultimately, you want to compare your options using other criteria and then factor in cost.
Know How to Prepare Your Car
As you searched for “ship car cross country,” the first concern you probably had was choosing a reputable company. Now that you’ve scheduled, the next phase of the process is getting your car ready for the haul.
Wash Your Car
For one, you need to wash the outside of your vehicle prior to the inspection — an evaluation of the car by someone from the car transporting company. During this assessment, the person will look for any physical damage to the vehicle. This evaluation protects the company from false claims. On the plus side, it can also help you if any damage should occur to your car. You’ll be able to tell more easily if any new damage occurred.
Clean Out the Inside
Your vehicle is about to journey across the country via the highway. It’s very possible that the movement will toss items around in your car. You don’t want anything to get broken or that mochaccino you forgot about spilling. Though car hauling companies screen employees thoroughly and will terminate if any theft occurs, you can protect yourself further by removing anything of value.
Disable Your Alarm
That alarm may work well to alert people to stay away from your car, but it doesn’t do much when it’s on the hauler. If it goes off, it’ll most certainly annoy the car hauler driver and other drivers. The auto transporter driver could get out to turn it off, but it’ll be difficult if your vehicle is on the inside or on top of the hauler. So, turn it off before you hand over your vehicle.
Get Everything You Need Before the Transport
No matter which selection you made from your search for “ship car cross country,” you’ll need to show certain information to prove you’re the vehicle’s owner and agreeing to this transaction. For instance, have your vehicle registration information and proof of insurance ready to show. You should also have some form of unexpired identification and the original title for the vehicle.
Shipping your car from one side of the U.S. to the other seems like quite a feat and may even have you a bit on edge, but when you find a company you can trust, the process will go smoothly. You can then put your mind at ease. Want to see if AutoStar Transport is the right company for you? Learn more about the process here.