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5 Things You Should Know Before Shipping a Car

There are a number of common reasons why you might be considering having a vehicle shipped to another location instead of just driving it there yourself.

It may be you’re moving cross-country and would rather skip a long road trip over unfamiliar territory, and just fly in and pick up your car upon arrival. Or, you may have bought a vehicle online and need it shipped to your present location.

You can save money, time, and hassle (while minimizing risks) in many situations by opting for auto shipping. Check out the auto shipping benefits provided by Executive Auto Shippers to learn more about why you should choose professional auto transport services.

But here are 5 basic facts everyone should be aware of before having a vehicle shipped:

Shipping a Car
Image by Caribb

1. Shipped Cars Are Meticulously Secured

There are strict FMCSA cargo securement rules that auto shippers have to follow when shipping your car. Vehicles have to be restrained by chocks, wedges, cradles, and/or other means that prevent rolling or coming loose mid-transport. Plus, automatic transmission cars will have their emergency/parking brakes set, while manual transmission vehicles will be put in a safe drive gear during transport.

2. Insurance Is a Two-way Street

You want to make sure you choose an auto shipper that provides good liability coverage, normally from $50,000 to $100,000, for the journey. But also double check your own insurance company to see how they would handle any damage that might occur during shipment. Be sure you’re adequately covered and you know how any claims would be filed.

3. Don’t Worry About Uncovered Transports

You can pay extra for a covered versus an uncovered auto transport vehicle to be used to ship your car, but in most cases, uncovered transports are the norm. For very expensive vehicles, a cover might be worthwhile, but a loose cover can scratch the paint (so be sure your shipping company uses well secured covers). But just giving your car a fresh washing and wax job before it ships is normally plenty of protection against dirt, bugs, and road salt.

4. Get Your Gas Tank Low

For safety reasons, it’s best (and your shipper might even require it) that you empty or nearly empty your gas tank before your car ships. Just drive it till it has only a gallon or so left (enough to get to a gas station upon arrival) in it before you leave. That will take either advance gas-management planning or a long drive just before shipping day.

5. Work Out the Details With Your Carrier

Car shipping will differ from person to person and from carrier to carrier. Sometimes, you may need to wait several weeks between pickup and arrival, or even up to 8 weeks if shipping internationally. Sometimes you wait for a slot to open up, while an exact date given well in advance may cost extra.

Also realize it can cost more to ship larger, heavier vehicles than smaller ones. And shipping during the winter off-season is normally cheaper than during the busier summer months.

It might cost less to ship between big cities than between smaller towns or suburbs. Also, you may or may not need to drive the car to a shipping point and pick it up from one. This can vary and you have to discuss all these important details with your chosen auto shipper ahead of time to avoid any possible confusion.

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Suhail is a tech geek who loves everything about technology. He is a professional tech blogger on multiple tech blogs and share top notch tech product reviews, press releases and news as they break. Follow Suhail at Google+

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