For homeowners moving to a new city, shipping their car is often easier than driving it. Shipping your car saves time and money. Instead of taking several days to drive across the country—paying for gas, hotels, and restaurants along the way—you head straight to your home and have your car delivered to your door.
It’s also the preferred option for classic and luxury car owners. Enclosed auto transport services protect your vehicle during its long journey, ensuring it arrives without any of the knicks, dents, or scratches that can occur out on the open road.
A team of professionals cares for your car while it’s in transit, however, before shipping, there are still several important steps you need to follow to protect your car and avoid unnecessary delays and fees. To ensure everything runs smoothly on pickup day, here is how to prepare your car for shipping.
Auto Transport Services
Auto transport services are provided by dedicated national carriers, as well as household moving companies like Allied Van Lines. If you’re shipping your car through your mover, you should book your pickup date when you’re scheduling the rest of your moving services. If you’re shipping your car with a third party, contact them at least 2-3 weeks in advance. Most companies can accommodate last-minute, expedited pickups, but there is often a heavy fee involved.
Like moving companies, national carriers are required to register with the Department of Transportation (DOT). You can either request your company’s DOT number or look it up online when evaluating options. They’re also required to provide insurance coverage. Ask about their coverage limits when you book, as it’s important to make sure it's enough to pay for the cost of repairing or replacing your vehicle.
Preparing Your Car Before Shipping
Carriers won’t accept vehicles that aren’t ready for pickup. Most companies and moving services transport several cars at a time, so a delay can have a cascading effect, inconveniencing the rest of their customers. By contrast, prepping your car:
- Speeds the loading and unloading process
- Reduces risk of damage
- Creates a clear record for insurance
Prepping your car doesn’t require any special tools or knowledge. Start 1-2 days before your pickup date to make sure you have enough time to get everything done. This includes:
Washing Your Car
Cleaning your car doesn’t just make it look nice. Dust and dirt can hide pre-existing damage, which can lead to disputes later on. Cleaning both the exterior and interior makes it easy to identify dents, chips, scratches, scrapes, and other types of routine wear.
Taking Photos
Documenting your car’s condition is important for insurance purposes. To make the record as clear and thorough as possible, take pictures of:
- All four sides of the vehicle
- Front and rear bumper
- Roof and wheels
- Interior, including seats, floor, and steering wheel
Photograph any existing damage you find and make a note describing it—for example, "6-inch scratch, three inches above the passenger-side door handle." Be as detailed as possible in case you need to file a claim later on.
Removing Personal Items
Carriers have strict weight limits and don’t insure personal belongings, so everything you own needs to be taken out of the car. This includes dashcams, sunglasses, umbrellas, grocery bags, charging cables, emergency kits, and your insurance and registration documents—everything except the jack, spare tire, and floor mats.
Adjusting Your Fuel Level
Movers and auto transport companies require the cars they handle to have no more than a quarter tank of gas—enough for loading, unloading, and short movement. A full tank adds almost 100 pounds of unnecessary weight, which raises transport costs and increases fire risks.
Securing All Exterior Accessories
Unsecured accessories are vulnerable during transport. They also make the loading and unloading process more complicated and should be detached if possible. This includes:
- Roof Racks
- Cargo Racks
- Custom Grills
- Hood Deflectors
- Spoilers and Wings
- Custom Mirrors and Trim
If you can’t remove items attached to your car, make sure they’re fixed firmly in place. Keep in mind that any modifications that affect the vehicle’s height or dimensions can complicate loading and unloading procedures, so notify your mover or auto transport service about them when you book your date.
Disabling Your Car Alarm
The movement and vibration of a car carrier can easily activate your car alarm. This isn’t only a major headache for the driver. The alarm can drain the battery in your vehicle, creating problems when the driver delivers it. In addition to turning off your alarm, auto transport companies also recommend disabling any other electronic systems in your vehicle, such as GPS trackers and remote start systems.
Checking Your Car’s Mechanical Components
Before your car is picked up, take it to a garage for some basic maintenance and make sure everything’s working properly. Specifically, ask your mechanic to check:
- Tire Pressure
- Battery Charge
- Brakes and Brake Pads
- Fluid Leaks
Fluid leaks are a serious safety hazard. They not only increase fire risk, but make decks and ramps slippery as well, turning them into a potential fall hazard. Fluids that drip onto other cars can also cause serious damage—staining finishes, eroding paint, and possibly seeping into the passenger compartment.
Getting Your Keys and Identification Ready
When your driver arrives, you’ll need to present them with a set of working keys or a fob, if your car starts electronically. Drivers need to be able to start, operate, and steer the car safely in order to accept it.
You’ll also have to present the driver with a valid, government-issued ID. If someone else is presenting or receiving the car for you, they’ll need an authorization form with:
- Your name, address, phone number, and driver’s license
- Their name, address, phone number, and driver’s license
- The year, make, model, license plate and VIN (Vehicle Identification Number) of your car
- Your car’s pickup and delivery address, as well as the transport dates
The form should also include a clear statement permitting your representative to sign the bill of lading and accept or release the car on your behalf. Contact your mover or auto transport company for the necessary paperwork.
How to Prepare an Electric Car for Shipping
Prepping an electric vehicle isn’t too different from a standard, gas-powered automobile. You still need to clean the car, document its condition, and remove all your personal items. Once that’s complete:
- Disable all remote features, including alarms
- Enable transport mode, to minimize electrical drain
- Charge the battery to 40-60 percent, to reduce stress on battery cells
Because electric vehicles are heavier than standard cars, they require trailers rated for higher weight to ensure stable transport. Companies with experience handling electric cars also plan their routes carefully to minimize battery strain, especially when traveling between regions with different climates.
What To Expect on Your Pickup and Delivery Days
When the driver arrives to pick up your car, they’ll inspect your vehicle and present you with a bill of lading that lists any damage he observed. Once you sign, they’ll take the keys and drive your car onto the trailer before securing it with ratchet straps, frame straps, and wheel nets.
According to the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration's hours-of-service rules, drivers cannot travel more than 500 miles a day before stopping for the night. This is the primary factor when calculating your delivery window. Most regional deliveries take 1-3 days while some cross-country trips can take up to 10.
Though most customers prefer to have their cars delivered to their home, having it delivered to an auto terminal can help you save money. Either way, once the car arrives, the driver will unload your vehicle and perform a final inspection to make sure no damage occurred during transit. Then you’ll sign the final report and take custody of the vehicle. In the event of damage, take a photo of the affected area and file a claim with the company’s insurance provider.
North American Auto Transport Services
North American offers door-to-door auto shipping throughout the United States. Whether you need help moving a car, speedboat, or motorcycle, our professional and courteous team helps you save time and money without adding excessive miles to your odometer. Our personalized service and white-glove handling provide the safety and care you need when relocating cross country. Contact us today for a free quote!