How to Get Your Car Ready for Transport

When it comes to transporting your vehicle, it can be a nerve-wracking process. After all, your car is likely one of your most valuable possessions.

However, by taking some simple steps before handing it over to the transportation company, you can ensure that your vehicle arrives at its destination in the same condition as when it left. In this guide, we’ll cover the five essential steps you need to take before transporting your car. 

These steps include emptying the car of all valuables, cleaning it inside and out, having a mechanic double-check for leaks and doing a routine check-up, securing your car properly, and finally, double-checking the transportation company’s inspection process before handing over your vehicle to a company like A-1 car transport service.

By following these steps, you can have peace of mind knowing that your car will arrive safely and soundly at its destination.

1. Empty the Car

The first step before you transport your vehicle is emptying out the car. You may have left items like a GPS, gym equipment, alarm systems or toll passes. These items may get stolen, but the real problem is that they will bounce around in your car during shipment and may damage the car.

It’s also a good time to double check your glove department and the trunk to ensure that you aren’t leaving any valuables behind. While your vehicle will likely not be pillaged on its journey, there is always the possibility that it gets destroyed or stolen during transit, so it’s better not to leave anything inside of the vehicle. 

2. Clean up the Car (inside and out!)

Cleaning the outside of the car may seem silly, but the reason is because you want to take pictures of the outside of the car before you hand it over. With a clean car, there won’t be any way that the transport company will be able to claim that the scratch was there before and it was covered up by an unclean surface. 

It’s also a good time to just clean the car from the inside. A thorough cleaning will let you do one last double check before handing the car over, you never know if you left some jewelry or cash behind that may be picked up.

3. Check with a Mechanic

It’s important that your vehicle is double checked for leaks, because it will lead into issues down the road if your vehicle starts leaking halfway through transport. Your transportation company may also require you to have the fuel tank at either ¼ or ½ capacity, and the mechanic can help you with that.

It’s also not a bad time to do a routine check up, so when your vehicle arrives at the destination, you’ll be to hand it off to whomever is buying it, or just enjoy your vehicle at its top performance level.

4. Secure Your Car

Ensure the sunroof has been closed, the convertible top is locked and any antennas that are on the exterior are removed. If you’re going with an open trailer transportation method, then it may rain and you don’t want to get your vehicle back taht’s been poured on.

It’s also a risk that if you have any roof racks that it may come loose during transport, so you should remove it and keep it with you and not in the car itself as it may move around a lot during transportation. 

5. Drop off Your Car

Before you drop off your car and say goodbye to your vehicle, it’s going to be a good time to double check that your transportation company’s inspection assessor is doing his job. A simple mistake can cost you a fortune down the line if the inspection isn’t done properly. 

Let them know of any pre-existing issues your car may have if it has it. Also, don’t forget to write down the odometer reading. You don’t want the shipping company to have taken your car for a joyride (especially if its a luxury vehicle), and this is the best way to keep them in check.

Once the inspection is done, double check their assessment and sign off on what they have written down. Keep a copy of their assessment so that you don’t have any discrepancies when you go and pick the vehicle back up.

If there is damage to the car during transportation, then it will be covered by the shipping company (as long as it’s a certain amount, double check with your transportation service provider as to how high of an insurance policy they have).

Conclusion

In conclusion, transporting a car requires a certain level of preparation to ensure that it arrives at its destination in the same condition it was in before transportation.

It is crucial to empty the car, clean it both inside and out, check for leaks and other issues with a mechanic, secure it, and double-check the inspection assessment before dropping it off for transportation. 

These simple steps can save you from costly damages and ensure a smooth and worry-free transportation experience. By taking the necessary precautions, you can rest assured that your vehicle will arrive at its destination safe and sound.