When Shipping Your Car to Another State
Whether you’ve sold your car online and are looking to get it to its new out-of-state owner, have moved across the country and need to get your vehicle there or just want to have a car on hand at your winter home in the south, the convenience of auto shipping has made it a popular option for vehicle transportation for a variety of reasons. While the basics of auto shipping may seem pretty cut-and-dry on the surface, there’s actually a lot that you should be considered before choosing this route. Here’s a closer look at some of the top things you should know:
Auto Shipping 101: What You Need to Know
Select the Auto Transportation company
Not all auto shipping companies are created equal, and we certainly encourage everyone to do their homework on the companies that they’re considering working with. Select a reputable, respected company that’s known for its superior customer service. With something that has the potential to be as cumbersome as auto shipping, the last thing you want is a company that’s difficult to work with. Make sure you’re working with a company where a representative is easy to get ahold of before, throughout and after the shipment has been made. It’s also important to select a company that’s licensed and insured.
Select the car shipment method
Next, you’ll need to select a shipment method. This is another step that a good auto shipping company can assist you with based on your vehicle and your situation. Some popular shipping methods include open shipment, enclosed shipment, and flatbed shipment. All have their share of respective advantages over the other, and the shipment type that is selected will also help dictate the price. On a similar note, you should also decide where the vehicle is going to be picked up from and dropped off at.
Prepping your car for transportation
Preparing the vehicle for shipment is another important step in the process. We recommend removing personal belongings and valuables from the car itself prior to shipment. Most insurance plans not cover interior or items inside of the vehicle. Noting this, it’s not even a good idea to pack a vehicle with boxes for the purpose of shipping it cross country if you’re moving. A cheap pair of sunglasses, some loose change or an air freshener are fine to leave in the vehicle – but don’t leave valuables like your GPS, iPod or music collection. It’s better to be safe than sorry.
Document the vehicle
Finally, you’ll want to inspect the vehicle and make note of any dents, scratches or other pre-existing vehicle conditions prior to shipment, and compare your notes with the condition of the vehicle after it has been shipped. This way, any issues or problems that the vehicle was subject to while en route to its final destination can be immediately documented and a resolution can be determined sooner rather than later. The Bill of Lading is another document that you should be aware of at the time of shipping your vehicle. The Bill of lading is produced at the time of pick-up and will be signed by yourself and the auto carrier. It is also signed by both parties when theĀ carĀ is delivered.
For more information on the basics of auto shipping and what things you need to know, contact Beacon Shipping Logistics today.
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