If you’re moving across the country, it can sometimes be more convenient to ship your car (instead of driving it).
You might want to keep the miles off your car, you might have multiple cars, or you might just want to fly instead. Driving your car across the country, on top of all of the other admin associated with moving house, can be a real pain. But how do you ship your car across the country?
We’ve heard this question countless times, so we thought we’d answer it. Here’s how to ship your car across the country.
Work out the cost
Before you decide whether to ship or drive your car across the country, you need to know how much it’s going to cost. Some companies will give you an instant quote, so you can make a quick decision. But you should always try to get multiple quotes, so you can get the best deal. The cost of shipping your car depends on the distance traveled, the size of the vehicle, and the value of the vehicle. You can expect to pay somewhere between $0.40 and $1.00 per mile.
Choose a car shipping company
The next step is choosing a shipping company to transport your vehicle across the country. There are many reasons you might choose one shipping company over another. For example, one might be slightly cheaper than another. Alternatively, you might prefer the level of service that one company offers. The main thing you should look for is that you can trust the car shipping company you choose. Read as many customer reviews as you can and make sure you take out an appropriate insurance policy.
Choose between an open carrier or enclosed truck
One of the biggest considerations when shipping your car across the country is whether to go for an open carrier or an enclosed truck. In most circumstances, it’s more expensive to ship your car in an enclosed truck because it provides better protection for your vehicle, making it suits to supercars. However, it might not be worth the extra money if you don’t own a high-end vehicle. On an open carrier, your car should still be protected by an insurance policy.
Check your vehicle’s condition
Now that you’ve selected a company and booked your car to be shipped, you need to check the condition of the car. Most companies will do this for you, but it’s always a good idea to do your own check. Walk around the car, identify any areas with damage, and take pictures of the damage. This will help you claim any damage back.
Ask for a shipping report
All reputable car shipping companies will provide you with a shipping report. This documents the condition of your car before and after it has been shipped. The idea is that you can check if any damage has occurred during transit. Make sure you have received a shipping report before you let the car go.
Use the empty space in your car
You can actually use the empty space in your car to ship items across the country. As long as it doesn’t add too much to the weight and it doesn’t hamper the shipping company’s ability to move the car, you can fill it with clothes, books, and anything else that needs moving.
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