Auto Transport Tips: Preparing Your Car
People ship cars from one city and state to another every single day, but you’d be surprised at how many of those people don’t properly prepare their vehicles for the rigors of overland auto transportation. Whether you’re shipping the minivan you drive every day or your two-seater sports car that you only drive on the weekends, you always need to prepare your vehicle properly before it’s loaded onto the transport truck. By following a few simple steps before the carrier arrives to pick your vehicle up, you’ll ensure that the pickup of your vehicle goes quickly and smoothly, and that the transport driver doesn’t encounter any delays or problems when he’s picking your vehicle up. Whether it’s a minivan, pickup truck, SUV or just a standard sedan – or anything in between – this helpful article will give you the tools you need to make your next vehicle pickup that much easier.
For starters, clear your schedule. You’ll likely be waiting 24-48 hours for the carrier to arrive to pick your vehicle up when they arrive in your pickup city, so make sure that you have the time necessary to meet your carrier. Weekend pickup is generally recommended for those of you that work all day; conversely, if you can, the carrier could meet you at your work, or on your lunch break. Make sure that you only have a quarter-tank of gas in your car, as additional fuel is heavy and can cause problems for carriers in terms of fuel economy, fuel costs and weight. Washing your car is typically a bad idea, as the thin film of grime and the like will prevent smaller dings, dents and scratches from pitting the exterior of your car. Lastly, make sure to take all removable antennae off the vehicle prior to loading it. Tall antennas, particularly those that come with high-power CB radios and the like, can whip around and cause damage to your car or others on the truck during transport.
You can get a free quote to ship your vehicle any time. Just fill out our free online quote request form! We work with only the best auto transporters on the road today and we make sure every carrier we work with is fully licensed and insured. Our quotes are competitive and we price our vehicles to move when they need to move. You can also contact us over the phone at 800-930-7417. One of our helpful representatives can answer questions, give you a quote over the phone, book your shipment, and more. So no matter what you need, let American Auto Shipping help you get it done.
Since 2007 Dave has written all the content and blogs for American Auto Shipping and during this time added the duties of customer support and transport logistics.
He currently resides in Washington with his three kids and their mom and cat. A fan of Marvel movies and good stories, when not shipping cars Dave can be found working on his novel, enjoying a good book or playing some tournament HALO.
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