Car Transport Do’s and Don’ts

**2.5 Minute Read**

Are you relatively new to the world of vehicle shipping and looking to gain some valuable knowledge prior to loading your precious car, van, or SUV up onto a transport truck? There are a lot of signs that you may not notice throughout the process which could point to a vendor you don’t want to work with or one you should consider giving your repeat business. Here are our best car transport do’s and don’ts.

If you’re looking to transport one of your vehicles across state lines or even just across town, one of the first things a vehicle transport company should do is give you a quote based on your location and the type of vehicle they’ll be transporting. Often times it will cost more to move a large SUV or truck than it would to transport a compact car. If a vehicle transport company doesn’t want to offer you an official quote or is being vague about pricing, you might want to move on! There are enough vehicle transport companies in the US that you won’t have a hard time finding one who is willing to provide a reasonable quote.

Paying for an entire delivery before your car, SUV or truck is even loaded onto a vehicle transport truck is definitely a don’t!  While most transportation companies have the customers best interests in mind like Carnections does, there are some vehicle transport companies who are known to charge the entire cost up front prior to the final delivery to your desired destination.  When you first contact a transport company over the phone asking to “ship my car to California” or “move my car to New York” you may want to ask about the process of paying before committing.  You should expect to pay a small deposit, a few hundred dollars upon booking with the rest of the money to be paid in cash upon final delivery.

When considering car, truck, van or SUV transport, you should try and book your pickup and delivery date as soon as possible. Typically, once you book a pickup day you’ll be given a small range of dates in which your vehicle could be delivered. If you have a particular delivery date in mind or a weekend where you would like the car, booking as far in advance as possible will work in your favor.

Preparing your vehicle for shipment is one step in the process that you have complete control over.  Make sure your valid registration is in the glovebox, consider removing personal items that may be damaged or lost and ensure that any items over 100lbs are removed from the trunk of the vehicle.

While it is just a recommendation that you remove valuable personal items from a vehicle prior to shipping, there isn’t a transportation company out there who would take responsibility for damages caused mid-transport to items that could have been removed. Take a look at our auto transport checklist for easy reference.

In conclusion, the most important takeaway is to do your research when it comes to choosing a transport company to move your car, truck, or SUV.  You’ll want to read reviews, get quotes and try to book in advance in order to make the most of your transport experience! Call us at 1-800-909-2330 to get a quote today. We can’t wait to hear from you.