If you are relocating across the country, chances are you would like to take your vehicle with you. Doing this as opposed to getting a new car will be more cost-efficient, or you simply have a sentimental attachment to your vehicle. Whatever the reason, typically, in this case, you have the option of driving your vehicle to the new location or using a professional shipping service.
While driving the car yourself sounds like a good idea, it isn’t. Doing so may not only put a strain on your vehicle but can also affect your health. You can read this article to find out how driving for too long can affect your health. This is why it is best to leave the job to the professionals.
However, when you ship your car across the country, there are certain mistakes you could make that can impact the smoothness of the process. Knowing these mistakes is vital to making sure you do not make them. This is why in this article we’ll discuss the mistakes you need to avoid during this process. Let’s get right into it.
Table of Contents
Not Having All the Necessary Documents
Certain documents are needed for vehicle shipment. These documents are needed to prove your ownership of the automobile. So, you may have to provide your driver’s license and other ownership documents.
Ask the company beforehand to find out the documents that would be required. Then take your time to properly gather all of them and ensure they are still valid (unexpired). If someone else is going to drop off or pick up the vehicle for you, then they may have to present personal identifications too. Not having all the necessary documents will result in unnecessary delay.
Using Just Any Shipping Company
The shipping company you use will go a long way in determining how smooth the process will be. Some people do not realize this and this is likely why this is one of the most common mistakes they make. You need to take your time to vet the shipping agency before you decide to work with them.
There are so many companies offering this service out there and all of them claim to be the best. You have to sieve through the options to find the best. Some of the factors that you need to consider when deciding on a company include experience, pricing, reputation, customer relationship, and professionalism.
Not Ensuring Insurance
This is among the worst mistakes that you can make during this process. Most companies are insured and as such would cover any damage that happens to your vehicle while it is in transit. But if a company isn’t insured, you’ll have to cover the repairs yourself.
This is why you need to ask to be sure the company has insurance coverage. Ask to see their certificate of insurance (COI). You can visit https://www.usnews.com/ to learn more about COI. If they are not insured, consider using another company instead.
Leaving Personal Items Inside the Vehicle
Most shipping companies recommend that clients take out all their items from the vehicle before it is shipped and this is with good reason. Leaving your items in the car makes it susceptible to auto burglary. How can this happen?
Typically, the carrier would make stops along the way. During these stops, a burglar who sees a valuable item in a car can break in to steal it. While this isn’t a common occurrence, it is better to prevent it.
So, do not leave your items like jewelry, clothing, electronics, and so on in the vehicle. Take your time to go through the car to remove these items. If your item gets damaged or stolen during shipment, the company won’t be liable for it.
Delayed Booking
You have to make your booking as early as possible; we recommend one month ahead. These companies often have limited spots. If you delay booking, these spots may get filled and this would affect your plans.
Not Getting Prepared
Depending on the company you decide to work with, a driver may likely come to pick the car up from you. You need to be prepared before they come over. When you want to ship a car across the country, you have to clean the car as thoroughly as possible. If the automobile isn’t clean, it may not pass the inspection and this may result in it being rejected.
So, take your time to clean out the car; at the car wash, tell them that you want to ship the vehicle so they can clean it accordingly. Have your documents handy. Also, have a copy of your booking confirmation. Do everything to prevent further delay to the process.
Conclusion
Shipping your vehicle across the country does not have to be a strenuous process. Avoiding the common mistakes discussed in this article is a good way to ensure this. Once you can avoid these mistakes, the entire process should be a breeze.
