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How to Ship a Car

Auto shipping information is vital for those who own vehicles and want to move with their cars. It is therefore imperative that one gets the details required to transport the vehicle before the actual moving day to avoid being stranded and to avoid incurring extra costs. It is important to note that auto shipping does not only refer to using a ship to move the vehicle – it refers to moving a vehicle through a third party. Information on how to ship a car is readily available from the websites of moving companies and from other sources.

The first step is to decide when you want to move the car; this should not be on the moving day. The car should be moved beforehand since it is much harder and slower to transport, especially if moving over long distances. Weather and other factors can easily combine to create a trip that takes many days.

Next, call several moving companies and indicate what kind of car you want to move, the locations you are moving from and to, and when you plan to move among other relevant information. The companies should provide you with references or testimonials and price quotes. It is important to ‘shop around’ for the cheapest moving company, but note that cheap is expensive sometimes and so the company should have a proven track record. You can confirm the legitimacy of a company from the better business bureau or from other relevant government agencies so to avoid handing the keys to your car to thieves.

It is important to line up the move at least two weeks in advance and to make sure someone will be available on the pickup date to release the car to the carrier if you will not be available. If the vehicle arrives in your new home before you do, arrange for someone to receive it. The moving company of choice should have an insurance coverage for the goods transported, including cars, incase the car is stolen or damaged in any way. Go through the fine print carefully because many companies try to exempt themselves from blame. Find out if there is a deductible and keep a copy of the insurance coverage.

Confirm that the mover has filled out a bill of lading form, which includes a report of the condition of the car before loading. Do not sign the form unless the report is accurate – some unscrupulous carriers will note scratches and dents that are not present, just in case the car is scratched during the move.

Before the auto shipping, remove all of the personal belongings from the car, as these are not covered by the carrier's insurance. It is important to note that most car carrier are about seventy five feet long and it may be impossible or hard for the drivers to get the rig into an apartment complex driveway or there might be wires, trees or local laws preventing the carriers to move close. In such a case, take the vehicle to a nearby parking lot.