Preparing Your Car for Transport

Making a long distance move can sometimes necessitate shipping your car to your new home rather than driving it. There are some things that should be done with your car prior to handing it over to your vehicle transport company to ensure that it will arrive in safe condition. To begin, your automobile needs to be operable and safe to drive. At various points along the shipping route, a technician will be driving your car to pick it up, deliver it, or load it onto the shipping vehicle. Before you give it to the shipper, it is wise to have it checked by a mechanic for any fluid leaks. Not only will this protect your car from potential damage, but it will save you from liability in the event that leaks from your vehicle cause damage to other property.

There are other basic guidelines to follow to make the shipping procedure safe for everyone involved. In general, your vehicle may not exceed seven feet in height, but there are special services available to accommodate unusual or larger sizes. The car must have a minimum of four inches ground clearance to allow the technician to load it safely. Your shipper will want to know about any special modifications made to your car, such as 4X4 lift kits and other alterations. The best practice for fuel safely is to ensure the fuel tank in your car has no more than a quarter tank of gas before it is transported.

Further preparation, such as disconnecting the alarm system in your car will help make the process of shipping it seamless. Remove any valuable electronic items inside the car that are not permanently mounted. These can include radios, CD players, DVD players, cassette players and phones. Remove or retract the car antenna. Take out any personal belongings that have been stored in the car, other than the spare tire or jack that belongs with the car. Take off bike racks, ski racks and luggage racks. In addition, and for your own peace of mind, consider any changes in climate that your car could meet upon delivery to its destination terminal. Make appropriate adjustments in transmission oil or coolant to ensure that the technician for your vehicle transport company is able to safely drive it to your door.