Auto Transport Tips: Preparing a Convertible for Transport
If you own a classic convertible or a new sports convertible or even just a plain-old looking sedan convertible (we’re looking at you, Chrysler), you want to make sure that it’s taken care of. Convertibles are susceptible to a lot more damage than a standard hard top configuration, particularly during transportation of the vehicle.
Convertibles are those vehicles that people love to drive but don’t think about really taking care of and protecting, particularly soft top convertibles. Hard top convertibles are less susceptible to damage, as their tops are not cloth but metal or whatever else the vehicle’s body is made of. When transporting a convertible, however, you want to make sure that you follow a few guidelines so it’s not in any danger.
For starters, never ship a convertible with the top down, unless it has no top. This is auto transport 101 – don’t ever let a truck driver load your vehicle onto their truck unless the top is up, whether it’s cloth or otherwise.
It doesn’t matter if you’re shipping through Texas or some other dry place, the interior of the vehicle is prone to damage during transport if it’s exposed to the elements, and a convertible kind of does that in spades. Some vehicles with a cloth top may need an external cover, which the shipper could provide (not all carry them so you’ll want to discuss this with your auto transport representative before you book your order), and in some cases open transport may not be a good choice so enclosed shipping may be preferred in some instances.
On the whole, though, shipping a convertible should be handled with delicate hands. If the convertible has a really nice interior or has been recently restored, you’ll want to take extra precautions – perhaps covering the interior of the vehicle with cloth or plastic and keep the windows and top up would help. If worse comes to worse, ship enclosed and spare yourself the worry of your vehicle’s interior getting damaged.
If you’re interested in getting a quote to transport your convertible, fill out our free online quote request form. You’ll get a quote to ship your vehicle right away. If you have questions or concerns regarding preparing your convertible for transport, give us a call at our toll-free telephone number to speak to one of our live agents. They can help answer your questions, give you advice on the best way to transport your convertible, and also help you get your free quote.
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.
