7 FAQs About Long Distance Car Shipping in US

Moving your vehicle to a new location has a lot of hassles. You need to ensure that the vehicle is transported in a safe and secure manner to avoid causing any damage. There is a sense of vagueness when a person starts researching an ideal vehicle transporter in the US as they may experience a difference in facts. Before you hire an auto transportation company you need to ensure that the company is reliable and experienced. Getting a basic idea about car shipping may also be of great help for first-time shippers. The blog post discusses a few FAQs that may help you during long distance car shipping in the US.

1. What is the ideal advance period to contact a vehicle transportation company?
A vehicle transportation company uses truck trailers to ship multiple vehicles. Although most of the vehicle transportation companies are flexible about the dates, it’s always better to contact them a week or even a month in advance. Auto shipping takes time and may involve considerable delays as the shipping company waits for a full quota to maximize profits.

2. How the Shipper takes care of luxury and classic cars?
Transporting a classic or luxury car needs extra care and attention to avoid any type of damage. Many auto shipping companies provide enclosed trailers to provide extra protection to luxury vehicles. While an enclosed carrier can cost more upfront, it provides safety from bumpy rides and also protects your prized possession from damage caused by harsh weather conditions.

3. Can you ship a car which is not in a running condition?
Shipping a dead car can be a discretionary element for vehicle transportation companies. A working car can be loaded on and off the truck trailer without any hassles, thereby saving time and cost. Towing a dead car, on the contrary, needs specialized equipment that requires additional expenses for both the shipper and customer. If you need to ship an inoperable car, ensure that you disclose the condition beforehand to avoid any problems on the day of shipping the vehicle. By doing this, even the shipping company can get a buffer time to arrange necessary equipment and avoid inconvenience for both the parties.

4. Does the Shipping Cost Include Insurance Coverage?
Most auto shippers include insurance coverage in the quote; however, you need to assess the exact elements covered under the insurance. The insurance, for instance, may be sufficient to cover weather and hail damage, but may exclude the accessories or personal belongings that may be left in the car before shipping. If unsure, you may even ask for the exact bifurcation of the insurance from the vehicle transportation company.

5. Is it possible to ship motorcycles and multiple vehicles at a time?
Most of the auto shippers transport motorcycles barring a few exceptions. You can choose to ship multiple vehicles at a time, however, you need to convey the auto shipper in advance and also prepare for a slight delay if the shipper doesn’t have the bandwidth to transport the cars on a particular date.

6. Does Size of Vehicle Matter?
Yes. The size and type of vehicle makes a great difference to the shipping costs. Shipping a hatchback or sedan, for instance, may cost less as compared to a luxury or muscle car.

7. What are the documents required for shipping a vehicle?
While a domestic move can be easy, international shipping may require you to furnish a number of documents. A few of them include the passport, driver’s license, proof of insurance, ownership, bill of lading and original bill of sale.

The Way Forward
Any fallacy while shipping a vehicle may spoil the equation for both the parties. Ensure that you make a checklist before you go ahead with car shipping and take your time to consider every known aspect of vehicle transportation. While the vehicle transportation company remains accountable for the safety and sanity of the car during transit, your involvement can help in streamlining the process and result in a positive experience during vehicle shipping.

3 Reason Why Shouldn’t Keep Things Inside Vehicle during Shipping

When preparing to relocate, individuals often have a tough time packing all the stuff and transporting it to the new place. Many people prefer the idea of stuffing a few things in the car that auto transportation company will be shipping to make their work easy. Stuffing your car is not the right thing to do as far as the safety of the goods and rules are concerned. We give you three good reasons to avoid keeping things in the vehicle you are shipping.

Weight is an important factor in transportation

Auto transportation companies provide price quotes based on the weight of the vehicle they are shipping. Cars, SUVs, cargo vans – all fit in their respective weight categories and larger the vehicle, more expensive is the shipping cost. Auto transporters need to follow certain weight restrictions levied by the government, and this is the reason why there are so many weigh stations en route. If the weight of the vehicle exceeds the maximum limit, they are checked for the problem, and it is usually the things stuffed in the car that increases the weight. If the weight of the car increases the limit, there’s a probability that the transporter or inspector might dump all the stuff at the weigh station.

Transporting things is illegal

Auto transportation companies are licensed to carry vehicles and nothing else, and this is the reason why your shipper would request you not to put anything inside the car. If you want to put things in the trunk, since it is out of sight, do not put anything other than pillows, clothes, or any other linen, which is light in weight. Though many transporters don’t bother to check the trunk, keeping things inside the vehicle while shipping it is against the law.

No insurance for goods-in-transit

Auto transportation companies are not allowed to carry household goods and also don’t provide insurance coverage for these items. If you keep any household item in the back or trunk, and the shipper transports it, the company won’t be responsible for any damage happened to the TV during transportation. The vehicle shipped is insured, but the shipping company won’t take responsibility for damage occurred to things kept inside the car or theft.

Last Few Words

Auto shipping companies mostly inform their clients about transportation rules, and it is an individual’s responsibility to follow them. Keeping or hiding things inside the vehicle increases the risk of damage and may invite penalties, adding to expenses. If you don’t want to invite trouble, it is always better to discuss shipping related questions with the transportation company.