Car owners ship cars to another state for a few reasons, whether relocating to the area, maybe it’s a classic car they don’t want to put mileage on, or it’s a gift to a graduate living in another state.

Regardless of the reasons, if you’ve never transported a car, it’s essential to research the fundamentals of the process.

This will allow a much smoother shipment and the potential for faster transport with the greatest cost efficiency. Often car owners prefer to have their cars picked up and dropped off at their door. The only issue is the inspections and contracts are handled hurriedly.

The best way to avoid the rush is to reach out to the carrier ahead of departure to have the agreement emailed to review the document and to be able to ask any questions or pose concerns.

With everything addressed before pickup, the inspection can go smoothly, and loading can go relatively seamlessly without delays, something other car owners will appreciate.

Tips For Auto Shipping to Another State

When you ship car to another state it’s important to become familiar with the process particularly if you’ve never transported an auto before.

While many car owners prefer to ship using door-to-door transport as the most convenient and hassle-free method, it can also be difficult to get the details you need from the carrier with the contract content gone over with vehicle pickup. That can leave you with many questions unanswered and concerns.

Fortunately, when transferring a car to another state, you can reach out to the carrier to forward the contract ahead of the scheduled departure. This will allow a review of the paperwork so you can call the company or go in with questions and concerns to be addressed.

You can also have your car inspected by a reputable mechanic to document the existing damage to coincide with the inspection done when the vehicle is picked up. Being fully prepared will avoid delays and put your mind at ease. Here are a few tips to follow when transporting your car to another state.

Pick the most suitable auto transport company

Many auto transport companies are available in central hubs like New York or Los Angeles where cars are shipped consistently. If you’re in a more rural area, a distance from a primary interstate, fewer shipping companies exist to transport vehicles to another state.

When looking for the most reliable, trusted carrier, the best solution is to research impartial third-party review sites where you can narrow the options to affordable, reputable companies based on past and current clients using the services.

It’s also important to check authoritarian sites like the Better Business Bureau for a rating on the business, and possible complaints and to weigh the pros and cons of the company.

Cost-efficiency is a factor with the best transport company

Compare a few companies ensuring to obtain quotes to get the most competitive rates. Prominent auto transport companies offer online calculators that don’t impose on sensitive details but instead ask broad questions in order to provide basic estimates.

From that point you have the choice of calling a representative to get more specific details and costs of greater accuracy. Most reputable companies will fall within an average competitive range. You want to avoid working with a carrier that has an excessive price point or one that is meager.

These should be taken as a red flag that the business will be less than high quality. That could put the safety of your vehicle in question since their rates don’t meet those in the industry that are relatively standard.

Enclosed or open-air transport

Usually when shipping a car, car owners can choose between open-air or enclosed transport. The enclosed transport will protect the vehicle with a roof, floor, and four walls on a freight trailer.

With open-air, the transport ships without an enclosure. The option you choose depends on your specific needs and the make, model, and year of your vehicle. When moving along the highway, you will notice new inventory autos being transported on the open-air trailers.

The majority of cars in the US are transported via open-air carriers with these statistically being comparable in safety as the enclosed freight. That’s something to consider when comparing the costs with enclosed transport which costs roughly 50 percent more than open trailers.

The enclosed options are also less accessible than the open trailer creating the potential for delays when shipping.

Final Thought

If you schedule a first-time auto transport to another state, you need to be aware that the route is not necessarily the easiest that you might expect.

It might be necessary for the driver to zigzag to avoid conditions that can delay the process. You’ll want to allow for those situations when shopping for car shipping. Go here for essential tips for shipping a car to another state.

With door-to-door transport, you’ll also want to make sure that you understand that “door-to-door” doesn’t necessarily mean that the car will come directly to your door. Sometimes, drop-offs will be from the interstate to a public parking lot big enough to unload safely.

The priority is that the auto arrives safely and in the same condition as it was when picked up. With reputable companies, damage is rare with safety first as the priority with the cars they deliver.