Expert Tips for Shipping Your Car to Another State
Unique, Fast, and Big… Tiger Auto Transport Beats the Rest.
Are you tired of searching for a car shipping company and only learning what a hassle it can be? Transporting anything of significant weight and value presents a challenge. Whether you are moving a classic car or one that is inoperable, your personal vehicle, SUV, pickup truck, or perhaps a new car, or an exotic prize possession, multiple factors need to be considered.
Moving to a new home or city is a stressful time. Who has time to research car shipping companies, look up acceptable rates, and learn what is needed to move a vehicle? You need a shipping company that will take all the stress, work, and worry out of the picture and leaves you with one less thing on your to-do list.
Welcome to the Experts Guide to Auto Transport!
This guide will walk you through all you need to know and more about car shipping and auto transport companies. When you are finished reading, you will have become an expert yourself on what it takes to ship an automobile state to state, cross country, or any long-distance. Learn all about the following before you make a choice:
- How to Choose the Right Car Shipping Company
- Calculating the Costs
- Scheduling/Transport Preparation
- Gathering Proper Documentation
- What to Do Once Your Car Arrives
How to Choose the Right Shipping Company
When searching for the best car transport company to cross state lines, internet hunting skills are a plus! Search engines like Google Reviews and Trustpilot offer the basics to start you on the right path to customer reviews. The Better Business Bureau will help in determining the company’s reputation with customers as well. The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration will aid as you search for business licenses, insurance records, and complaint histories. Ratings are your first line of defense.
In your hunt, look for cost comparisons on enclosed auto transport or open-Air, and online shipping or quote calculators. The policies and procedures should be openly stated on the site as well.
Calculate Costs
Okay, this is where it gets tricky. No industry standard for auto shipping companies has been accepted thus far. Google searching prices and you will find a wide range. Try visiting brick and mortar companies near you for car shipping quotes as well.
Most companies use state-to-state pricing best practices. Shipping cars in the off-season for your location reduces prices as well as the transport type you choose. Enclosed transport shipping costs a bit more but is a safer choice for high-value cars. Open-air will get your vehicle there in a more economical way and is still safe. Another charge to be aware of is door-to-door delivery vs. lot-to-lot drop-off. Lots cost less to deliver to, but, keep in mind, someone will need to be present to receive the car.
Other factors going into your shipping quote include the size and weight of your car, distance of the move, and the make and model. Expect to see the ranges vary with these considerations in mind. Whether moving from New York to Florida or coast to coast, try using an online calculator like the one below to get an instant quote. Give it a shot:
Scheduling/Transport Preparation
This is where it gets real. You have chosen your shipper, (good job) and you know how to ship a car. Now it’s time to get on the move. Whether scheduling on-line or in person, be sure to have the locations of both pickup and delivery correct. Discuss the season, holidays, and traffic patterns that might hold up the transport in the cities traveled through and discuss the cheapest way. Don’t forget to ask what other deliveries your vehicle will be traveling with. This will help to figure if any time caveats might occur on the side of the driver.
Shipping times are generally as follows:
- Up to 500 miles may take 1-3 days.
- 500-1000 miles may take 2-4 days.
- 1000-1500 miles may take 3-5 days.
- 1500-2000 miles may take 4-7 days.
- 2500 miles and over may take from 6-14 days.
Now that you know how long it might take to receive your auto-shipment, you can prepare to part with your car in your chosen time frame. For seamless preparation, follow these simple steps and you won’t go wrong:
1. Start with checking car functions like tire pressure, battery charge, and look for fluid leaks to be sure they are all in good condition.
2. Next, remove the antenna, disable the alarm system, and remove trackers or toll beepers to avoid charges on the trip.
3. Now, remove all personal belongings from inside the car and trunk, including registration and insurance information.
4. Fill or remove gas to a quarter full. Gas is needed to move the car but adds to the payload of the truck. So, a quarter is enough.
5. Give the inside and outside a good and detailed cleaning. Then take pictures of every angle of the car. They will be useful at the arrival inspection.
6. Lastly, hand over the keys to the car transporter when they arrive. You are finished for now!
Gather Proper Documentation
Thankfully, this is not one of the more involved processes in auto transport services. Documentation is straight forward. It is best but not required to have the registration, title, and proof of insurance in your hand at the time of pick-up and delivery. (Remember, you took it out of the vehicle) This is one more way you can cut hassle in the end.
It is important auto insurance remains in effect as well. The shipping company will have its own insurance policy, but more is more in the worst-case scenario. Any reputable company will carry $750,000 in public liability.
What to Do Once Your Car Arrives
You have arrived at this point in the process. So, what happens, now? The person receiving the car will go through a few easy steps. The shipping services driver will check your ID or that of the person picking up the vehicle. Then you start the evaluation process all over. Take pictures of the car and look it over for scratches or dents that were not there in the first round of pictures. Be sure the driver is with you during this process and document any damage you see. Once documented the repairs will be covered as per your contract and insurance.
Lastly, you and the driver sign the delivery papers called the Bill of Lading… and you get your keys back!
See… auto transport isn’t so bad!
Are you ready to get moving? Feel a bit better with all the information laid out in front of you? Companies like Tiger Auto Transport make it easy. Once you have chosen Tiger, calculated the costs by using the quote calculator, scheduled transport, prepared your vehicle, and gathered the documentation, you are on your way!
It’s truly that simple! Tiger will take care of the rest. You can rest at ease with a member of their Touch Point Team standing by to support you and your shipment from start to finish. They are available around the clock to answer any questions and provide peace of mind.
Well, what are you waiting for? The difficult part is all done. As an industry leader in the auto transport business for over 15 years and with their exceptional customer service, you will not find a better team.
For more information on Tiger Auto Transport, check our FAQs page and learn all about how we take the worry out of transport on our website.
Click the link above to get our cost-free quote… Or get started now and click the button below to schedule your no-obligation consultation.
