Moving across the country is always a hassle, especially when you have to relocate a vehicle. While you can simply drive your car to your new home in most scenarios, that isn’t always ideal. Gas prices can make driving across the country ridiculously expensive, and nobody likes the idea of putting that much mileage on a vehicle all at once.

Fortunately, you can skip the drive if you hire a car shipping company in California to handle your vehicle. The right company can easily ship your vehicle to your new home safely so you don’t have to worry about it. However, there are still some things that you need to do before you have your car shipped across the country. Let’s go over them right now.

Choosing Between an Open Carrier or an Enclosed Transport

When you’re looking for car transport in California, you usually have the option to ship your vehicle in an open carrier or an enclosed transport. An open carrier leaves your car exposed while it is being shipped, while an enclosed transport keeps your car inside a trailer. An open carrier is almost always the less expensive option, but it does leave your vehicle exposed to the weather or road debris. If you don’t mind this – your vehicle is exposed to the elements whenever you drive it – the open carrier option will definitely save you money. If you have a classic car or some other vehicle that you want to keep safe and in pristine condition, enclosed transport is ideal if you don’t mind spending a little extra.

Having the Right Paperwork

Before you ship your vehicle, you’ll need to make sure that you have all the proper documents to do so. Most vehicle transportation companies will require your vehicle registration information, proof of insurance, your driver’s license or some other form of identification, and a bill of sale to prove that you are the owner of the vehicle. Make sure that you have all of these documents in advance so you’re not scrambling for them at the last minute on your moving day.

Preparing Your Vehicle

While it’s easy to assume that you don’t need to do anything before shipping your vehicle, there are some things that you’ll need to do before your car gets shipped anywhere. First of all, you’ll need to clean your car inside and out. This does sound counterintuitive, but doing so will make it easier to notice if anything goes wrong during the shipment.

Most shipping companies aren’t responsible for anything that goes missing inside your vehicle, so remove anything of value before the shipment. You should also document any dings, dents, and scratches on your vehicle before shipping it. Accidents happen even with the most reliable shipping companies, and you’ll want to prove that the company is at fault if there is any damage.

It’s also wise to have your vehicle serviced before it is shipped. This means topping off any fluids, checking the battery, re-inflating tires, and otherwise making sure that your vehicle is in good shape. Even if the shipping company doesn’t require this, it’s still a good practice. While you’re at it, make sure that you don’t have a full tank of gas in your car. Your tank shouldn’t be completely empty, but you should have no more than half a tank. A full tank will make it harder for the movers to load and unload your vehicle and add weight to the shipment.

Finally, have an extra set of keys made for your vehicle if you haven’t done so. The shipping company will require a set of keys, and you’ll want to have an extra in case one set is lost or stolen. The last thing you want is to not have access to your vehicle when it arrives at its destination.

While it’s easy enough to drive your own vehicle if you’re moving a short distance away, driving across the country is a different matter. If you don’t want to put too many miles on your car or spend money on gas, a car transport company in California is the way to go. Just make sure that you keep these tips in mind before you arrange any shipment.

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