Shipping your car across the country requires careful preparation. Whether you’re relocating for work, buying a car from a distant seller, or sending a vehicle to your child at college, properly preparing is key to a successful auto transport experience.
Following these helpful steps protects both you and your vehicle throughout the shipping process.
Wash Your Vehicle
Before your car begins its journey, give it a thorough wash. A clean vehicle isn’t just more aesthetically pleasing; it allows you to clearly identify any existing damage like paint chips, scratches, or dents that may be present before transport. Both you and the auto transport company can accurately document the vehicle’s condition, which protects you in the unlikely event that damage occurs during shipping.
Transport drivers perform a detailed walkthrough of your vehicle, noting any pre-existing damage on their inspection report. Dirt, grime, or road salt can obscure small imperfections, potentially leading to disputes later about when damage occurred. Taking the time to wash your car thoroughly ensures this process goes quickly and accurately.
Clean the Interior
Just as important as washing the exterior is cleaning the interior of your vehicle. Remove any trash, crumbs, and debris from the seats, floor mats, and storage compartments. When your car is clean inside and out, you’ll have peace of mind knowing that any damage noted during pickup wasn’t obscured by dirt or clutter.
Remove Personal Belongings
One of the most critical steps to prepare your car for transport is removing all personal belongings from the vehicle. According to Auto Shipping Group’s policy, customers are not permitted to ship any personal items inside their vehicle during transport. This rule exists for several important safety and liability reasons that protect you:
Personal items can shift and move around during transport, potentially damaging your car’s interior surfaces, windows, or electronic components. Items left in cup holders, door pockets, or loose on seats can become projectiles during loading, unloading, or transit, leading to scratches, dents, or broken components that wouldn’t be covered under insurance.
Additionally, valuable items left visible in your car could make it a target for theft during the transport process. Before the driver arrives for pickup, check all storage areas including the glove compartment, center console, door pockets, trunk, and any hidden storage spaces.
Take Pictures of Your Vehicle
Inspect your vehicle for any existing damage, and snap a few photos for reference. You may see a few dings or dents you hadn’t noticed before! These photos serve as evidence of your vehicle’s condition before transport begins, giving you peace of mind and legal protection should any issues arise during the shipping process.
Exterior/Interior
Start by photographing your vehicle’s exterior from multiple angles, capturing the front, back, both sides, and the roof if possible. Take close-up shots of any existing damage like scratches, dents, paint chips, or worn areas, ensuring these imperfections are clearly visible and well-lit. Don’t forget to capture less obvious areas like the bumpers, mirrors, door handles, and wheel wells, where damage can sometimes occur during loading and unloading.
For the interior, document the condition of your seats, dashboard, steering wheel, and any visible surfaces. Take photos of the floor mats, center console, and any existing wear to upholstery.
Odometer
Taking a clear photograph of your odometer reading is a good idea. This documentation proves the exact mileage on your vehicle before transport begins, protecting you from any disputes about unauthorized use of your car during the shipping process. Keep in mind that truckers do need to drive customer vehicles for loading, unloading, and rearranging as needed.
Check and Address Maintenance Issues
Before your vehicle is loaded onto the transport carrier, it’s essential to address any maintenance issues that could cause problems during shipping or prevent your car from being safely loaded and unloaded. Transport drivers need your vehicle to be in good working condition to move it on and off the carrier, and certain mechanical issues could result in additional fees or even refusal.
Start by checking your battery to ensure it holds a charge and can start your vehicle reliably. A dead or weak battery is one of the most common issues that can complicate the transport process. If your battery is old or has been giving you trouble, consider having it tested or replaced before your pickup date. The driver will need to start your car multiple times during loading and unloading, so a dependable battery is essential.
Inspect your tire pressure and make sure all tires are properly inflated according to your vehicle manufacturer’s specifications. Under-inflated tires can make loading difficult and potentially unsafe, while over-inflated tires are more susceptible to damage. Check for excessive wear or low tread depth that could cause problems during transport. If any tires are severely worn or appear unsafe, address these issues before your pickup date.
Look for any fluid leaks under your vehicle, including:
- Oil
- Coolant
- Brake fluid
- Transmission fluid
Even minor leaks can become more problematic during transport and may drip onto other vehicles on the carrier. These should be repaired before shipping to protect both your car and other vehicles being hauled alongside yours.
Secure or Remove Accessories
External accessories and aftermarket additions to your vehicle may require special attention before transport to prevent damage during shipping. If possible, remove bike racks, luggage racks, and ski racks and pack them separately.
Pay special attention to custom accessories like spoilers, ground effects, or aftermarket body modifications. While these typically can’t be removed, make sure they’re securely attached and document their condition thoroughly in your pre-transport photos. Inform your transport company about any low-hanging or protruding accessories, as these may require special handling or affect the type of carrier used for your vehicle.
Other items to consider removing or securing include:
- Removable hardtops or soft tops on convertibles
- Custom wheels or hubcaps (if valuable)
- External spare tire covers
- Loose trim pieces or badges that could come off during transport
When in doubt, if an accessory can be easily removed and is valuable or fragile, it’s better to take it off and transport it separately rather than risk damage during shipping.
Leave Gas About ¼ Full
Managing your fuel level is a critical safety consideration for auto shipping.
Having too little fuel can cause problems when the transport driver needs to drive your car onto and off the carrier. Running out of fuel during loading and unloading can cause delays and potentially result in additional fees for the inconvenience.
However, having a full tank increases the overall weight of the carrier and can affect costs for the transport company. More importantly, excess fuel poses safety risks. Gasoline expands and contracts with temperature changes, and a full tank doesn’t allow room for this expansion, potentially causing fuel to leak or overflow.
The ideal amount of gas for transport is approximately one-quarter of a tank. For electric vehicles, be sure your battery charge is between 45 and 65% and include the charging cables.
Additional Considerations
Beyond these major preparation steps, there are a few details to address before shipping your car to ensure you have a smooth transport experience.
- Disable alarms: Turn off your car alarm system before pickup to prevent it from being triggered during transport. Alarms can activate from vibrations during loading, unloading, or while traveling on the carrier, creating noise disturbances and potentially draining your battery.
- Deactivate or remove toll tags: Remove electronic toll tags like E-ZPass, SunPass, or FasTrak from your vehicle before transport. These devices can be accidentally triggered when passing through toll areas, resulting in charges to your account for routes you didn’t drive. If your toll tag is permanently mounted, contact your toll authority to temporarily suspend the device during your transport dates.
- Have keys ready: Prepare a set of keys for your vehicle. The transport driver will need keys during pickup, and you don’t want to give away your only set. Make sure all keys work properly and that any electronic key fobs have functioning batteries.
Have Vehicle Insurance
Auto transport companies have their own coverage specifically for vehicle shipping. This transportation insurance typically covers damage that occurs during the loading, transport, and unloading process. Auto Shipping Group fully insures your vehicle when it’s on the truck, with additional insurance available on a per shipment basis. While personal insurance is not required during transport, you may want to have an active policy as secondary protection, or ask your auto transport provider if additional insurance is available.
Ensuring a Smooth Auto Transport Experience
Properly preparing your car for transport may seem like a lengthy process, but each step plays a vital role in protecting your vehicle and ensuring a smooth shipping experience. From washing and documenting your car’s condition to addressing maintenance issues and removing personal belongings, these preparation steps help avoid potential complications, delays, or disputes.
When combined with choosing a trusted and experienced auto transport company like Auto Shipping Group, proper vehicle preparation sets the stage for a successful car shipping experience from pickup to delivery. See what satisfied customers have to say about working with us.