How to Ship Your Car for Extended Holidays and Vacations

If you’re planning for an extended vacation overseas and want to ship your car along with you, you’ll need to figure out the most-efficient way to transport your vehicle. Remember, moving your car from one area to another can pose a challenge, especially if you’re shipping your vehicle abroad. Regardless of your destination, you’ll need to observe legal guidelines and take necessary safety precautions.

Unlike driving your car long-distance, hiring a shipping company offers a quick and safe option for transport. All you’ll need to do is find a reliable transportation company, choose a suitable shipping option, and prepare your vehicle for the journey. If you’re unfamiliar with the shipping process, read on to review the crucial preparation steps you’ll need to follow as the vehicle owner.

Research for a shipping company

When it comes to finding a shipping company, you’ll want to find reputable and reliable leading car shipping companies. That way, you can feel confident that your vehicle is handled with care. With so many shipping companies on the market, sometimes it can be hard to choose the best option.

For that reason, you’ll need to expand your search and compare different shipping companies while determining their total shipping costs. Make sure you ask relevant questions to assess whether or not they meet your requirements.

To ensure the safety of your vehicle, don’t shy away from asking questions. Consult friends and family and other trusted resources who have used shipping services before. Conferring with your loved ones can be a great way to find a reputable shipper.

Credible shipping companies like Guardian Auto Transport are transparent in their dealings and keep your car’s safety at heart. To avoid possible scams, before you sign an agreement with your preferred shipper, check whether they hold a valid license from the relevant bodies. You may also want to ask where your car will be parked overnight. A reputable shipping company should also guarantee that they’ll deliver your vehicle within the specified time window. Avoid shipping companies that can’t pinpoint an estimated arrival date.

Estimate a timeline and budget for shipping your car

Shipping times vary depending on how far your vehicle is traveling. These times can fluctuate depending on the road conditions, weather, and traffic. You can perform a quick Google search to determine how long the trip to your holiday destination’s drive will take. As a general rule-of-thumb, add a few extra days to the travel time to account for unexpected delays. From there, you can develop your timeline.

As the consumer, be warned that shipping costs greatly vary based on several factors, including travel distance, shipping company, model and size of your car, time of the year, and shipping methods. Understanding the above factors can help you set an appropriate budget and project a shipping timeline to avoid inconveniences. You can also use a car shipping cost calculator to get a good estimate.

Decide your shipping option

Another important consideration is how you want the car to be shipped. With most auto transport companies, there are different shipping options available. You’ll want to choose a method best suited to your preferences to ship your car safely and cost-efficiently.

Before you consider other factors, you’ll need to decide whether to ship your vehicle in an enclosed or open carrier. Typically, the enclosed transport is ideal when shipping your vehicle through rugged terrain. If your vacation destination is cross-country, and you suspect poor road conditions, you can use the enclosed carrier to protect your car against sand, snow damage, or dust. However, this option is a bit more expensive than the open-carrier shipping method. Despite its costly nature, enclosed-carrier transport helps minimize damage risks.

Open carrier shipping is when your car is shipped with other vehicles in an open-air trailer. This option is significantly cheaper than enclosed transport and can be ideal for short distances. Although, this shipping method may expose your vehicle to the elements, such as unexpected snow or hail storms and airborne rocks that can ship your windshield. While this shipping option can put your vehicle in harm’s way, uncovered transportation is considered a faster option.

If you’re more interested in savings than an added layer of protection, open carrier shipping is the right option. Note that if the shipper’s insurance doesn’t cover your car, you’ll be required to pay for the damage out-of-pocket.

Check Your Insurance Coverage and that of the Shipping Company Offers

Unfortunately, shipping providers don’t typically include vehicle insurance in their transport services, since they aren’t physically operating the vehicle. However, other insurance companies cover shipped vehicles. Before shipment, review your car’s insurance policy’s provisions to see your provider covers vehicles that sustain damage during transport. As an additional safety measure, don’t forget to call the shipping company and inquire about their insurance coverage before you book. By doing so, you can adequately prepare for a possible accident or damage sustained during the shipping process.

Most credible companies should provide coverage for any damage that your vehicle suffers from while in their care. They should also claim responsibility for your car and ensure you receive it in the same condition documented during drop-off. A well-reviewed and reliable shipping company should protect your vehicle during pickup, when stored overnight, and during transport.

Prepare your car for shipping

Preparing for shipping involves gathering all the required documents. Before shipping, the company responsible may want to verify that the car is yours. In that case, you’ll need to present proof of ownership. Ensure you have your vehicle registration, proof of insurance, and license on-hand before shipment. It’s also essential to provide information on any mechanical problems that your car might be experiencing.

Whether its faulty brakes or hard-to-open doors, try to explain these issues in-depth so that the shippers can document the correct information concerning your car’s condition. You should also be aware that you can’t store personal belongings, extra boxes, or loose valuables in your vehicle. So empty your car as per the requirement to avoid additional fees in terms of fines.

With the right shipping company, a car owner can rest assured that their car will arrive at their holiday destination in pristine condition. When taking an extended vacation, don’t sacrifice the freedom a vehicle can offer in fear that your car will be damaged during transport. Research reputable auto transport companies in your area for customer satisfaction guaranteed.