7 Steps To Preparing Your Car For Transport

Are you in the process of transporting your car across the country? Chances are, you've discovered that there are additional considerations involved. Even if you've already located a dependable car delivery service Florida company, it's crucial to understand how to properly prepare your car for shipping. While you could simply send your car as is, it's important to remember that it's a valuable possession. You'll want to take every precaution to guarantee secure and damage-free transport and delivery.

So, what should you do? Here's a compilation of 7 steps to assist you in better preparing for the transportation of your car across the country.

1. Remove All Items

In order to reduce the risk of theft during the cross-country shipment of your car and to safeguard your valuable belongings, it's advisable to uninstall all custom accessories or vehicle additions such as personalized sound systems, DVD players, GPS units, and so forth. Additionally, you should take out any parking permits or toll tags. If you have a customized alarm system, it's important to either remove it or deactivate it.

2. Wash It Off

The next step to take before entrusting your car to the best luxury car shipping company for cross-country shipping is to ensure it receives a thorough cleaning. Schedule your car for a wash by the date of your "First Available Shipping Date." Once the vehicle's exterior is clean, dedicate some time to conducting a meticulous examination for any pre-existing scratches, dents, or paint chips and discoloration. A clean car makes it significantly easier to identify these imperfections.

3. Take Clear Photos

After you've documented all the pre-existing damages, capture photographs of each scratch, dent, paint chip, and so forth with date stamps. These photographs are for your personal records, so make certain they are clear and detailed. You can supplement your written documentation with these images, making it challenging for your car delivery service Florida company to dispute any potential new scratches or dents that may occur during the transport process.

4. Check Your Car’s Tire Pressure

Insufficiently or excessively inflated tires pose the same risks during transportation as they do on the road. Incorrect tire pressure could elevate the likelihood of tire damage when loading or unloading. Ensuring the tires are properly inflated is imperative during the shifting process. If your vehicle is not functioning, it should have been reported during the booking process. In the case of operational vehicles, it's essential to be informed about any mechanical problems or leaks. Notify the transporter during pickup so that they can take the required precautions.

5. Transport Loose Parts Separately

For vehicles equipped with movable components like sunroofs, convertible tops, roof rack crossbars, or exterior antennas, it is essential to ensure their proper fixation before delivery. By "secured," we mean either detaching and transporting them separately or firmly affixing them to the vehicle. If any part becomes dislodged during transit, it has the potential to inflict damage to your car or, more alarmingly, pose a hazard to your driver or other motorists on the road.

6. Empty the Gas Tank

Your car is being transported on a car carrier, not driven, so it's unnecessary to top off your fuel tank before shipping. Moreover, excess fuel adds weight to both your vehicle and the car carrier, potentially increasing your shipping expenses. Instead, it's advisable to leave your gas tank at approximately a quarter full before entrusting your car to the best luxury car shipping company for cross-country shipping. This amount of fuel is sufficient for safely driving your vehicle onto and off the transport truck without concerns of running out of gas.

7. Perform Official Assessment

Following the process of clearing out, tidying up, and subjecting your car to a technical examination, it is now prepared for its official evaluation. Collaborate with the assessor from your chosen carrier company to conduct a comprehensive inspection of your vehicle, both its interior and exterior. Document any scratches, dents, or scuffs with meticulous detail. If there are any discrepancies, share your notes with the assessor and pinpoint the corresponding damage on the vehicle. Capture photographic evidence, and ensure you have at least one set of these images. Additionally, remember to record the odometer reading. Safeguard all notes and records from the vehicle examination in a secure location, as they may be necessary at a later point.

Final Words

While these procedures for shipping a car across the country may appear to be meticulous, they are all essential to guarantee the secure transportation and delivery of your vehicle. Adhering to each of these steps is vital and substantially diminishes the likelihood of any harm befalling your car

If you are planning to transport your car across the country, consider enlisting the services of a credible car delivery service Florida company like Exotic Car Transport!