5 Tips to Prepare Your Car for Shipping
Whether you are shipping your car across the country or overseas, an automobile shipping service can make the procedure simpler. Proper preparation of the vehicle for shipping is also important. The following tips can help.
1. Clean Thoroughly
Clean your vehicle inside and out. There are a couple of reasons for this. A clean vehicle exterior means it is easy to document any dings or scratches before shipping. Failure to do so means that you can not file a claim if the car is damaged during transport. Interior cleaning reduces the chances of pests getting into the vehicle while it sits empty and awaiting transport.
2. Remove Personal Belongings
Remove all personal belongings from the vehicle prior to shipping it. This includes everything from a duffel bag of gym clothes to the paperwork and spare change in the glove compartment. The shipping company is not responsible for lost or stolen personal items inside the vehicle. You also don't want anything in the vehicle to lead to your car being targeted by thieves while it is awaiting pickup by the auto transport company.
3. Run Down the Gas
Your vehicle will be transported on a freight truck or ship, depending on where you are shipping it to. It will not be moving under its own power, so there is no need to fill it up beforehand. The shipping company may even have regulations about how much fuel is allowed to be in the tank, due to safety concerns during transport. Go ahead and run the tank low, leaving no more than a couple of gallons in the tank prior to shipping.
4. Disable Alarm Systems
An alarm system can be triggered during shipping, and the transport driver may not have the ability to shut it off. All alarms on the vehicle need to be disabled prior to dropping off the car with the shipping company. This includes main car alarms as well as component alarms, such as those attached to car stereos. Security devices that lock steering or wheels should also be removed.
5. Schedule a Basic Service
You don't want the car leaking fluids during transport nor do you want to pick up a car with a flat tire or dead battery. Take the vehicle in for a basic service and maintenance check before you ship it. This way you can minimize issues on the road and ensure the vehicle is ready to drive once you pick it up.
Contact an auto transport service if you have further questions.