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Everything You Need to Know to Successfully Ship Your Car Across The Country

Everyone will need to ship their car at some point in life. Whether you’ve bought brand-new wheels, are relocating for a job, or sending your current one to another city for repairs. If you ask a friend or relative who’s transported their ride before, expect some eye-rolling, ranting, and heavy sighs. Why? Because they’ve more than likely gone through a challenging process to get their car shipped. But you don’t have to go through the same thing. With this article’s help, here’s all you need to know to ensure your car arrives swiftly and safely to its destination.

Budget & Timeline

If you’re moving your car across the state, one thing you should know is the budget and timeline. It is the only way so you don’t get blindsided about the amount you’ll spend transporting your car and when you’ll expect to receive it. A few things you need to consider factoring into the cost and timeline are distance, road conditions, weather, and the average traffic situation on your mover’s route. The time of the year, holidays, and several other things might also add to the cost of moving your car. 

The usual base price is $1 per mile for distances below 500 miles, $0.75 per mile for over 500 miles, and $0.60 per mile for distances more than 1,000 miles. The base price gets lower with more distance covered. It should take three days to 2 weeks to get your car delivered. (Source: Updater)

Inspect & Prepare Your Car Before Transporting It

Before you send out your car, be sure to prepare and inspect your vehicle. Here are some things you have to do:

● Clean your car

● Take pictures of your car.

● Check your car’s interior. 

● Check leaks on your car.

● Drain the extra gasoline from your tank

● Check your car’s battery, tires, radiator, etc.

● Remove your car’s exterior accessories and detailing.

● Turn off your car alarm system.

● An extra set of keys 

● Lock your car

Before you send out your car, be sure to prepare and inspect your vehicle.

Know Your Preferred Mode of Transport

You can transport your car in open air carriers or enclosed carriers. Be sure to weigh the pros and cons before deciding which one to choose. 

Open Air Carriers

If you’re on a limited budget, open car carriers are everyone’s go-to carriers. Your car is more susceptible to damage, though. It also takes longer to deliver, considering that one carrier may have 10 or more cars that they need to drop along the way. 

Enclosed Carriers

Enclosed carriers keep your car safer, but they also cost more. Transporting in enclosed carriers means less exposure to elements and keeps your car more secure. However, since it may cost you from $0.25-$0.50 more per mile, you might want to consider it only if you’re transporting a classic or luxury car. Also, it transports a limited number of vehicles per delivery, so you get your car faster if you’re on a tight schedule. 

Find the Right Transport Company

Avoid Car Transport Brokers

Instead of looking for a transport company using a broker, do the job yourself since you’re the one who knows your car best. Some of them are unscrupulous and don’t care about your vehicle except for earning money. If you choose to use a broker, though, do not give a deposit because that’s a big red flag. 

Think of value, not the cost

Another thing is to never rely on the price quotation alone. Remember, your car is one of your most important valuables. It is best to consider the value of the moving company instead of thinking of the money you save. 

Verify the Company’s License

Before you decide to hire a moving company, verify their license first. You’ll need the company’s US DOT number to check with the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration’s website. 

Check the Company’s Reviews

Narrow down your choices to three companies. Read the company’s reviews in the last two years if you can, but be objective. 

Take Care of Your Paperwork

Moving your car across the state means your current license plates won’t work in the new state. Your first move is to get a temporary plate until you get a new one in 2 or 4 weeks. Update your driver’s license also.  

Check Your Insurance Coverage

Check your insurance coverage when you get a car moving service. Be sure to know what the insurance covers so you don’t walk into it blind. Your car mover’s insurance certificate should cover liability, workers’ compensation, cargo limits, and other deductibles if applicable. 

Deactivate All Automatic Passes & Toll Tags

If you have an automatic pass and toll tag, it is best to deactivate them. You don’t want to have unnecessary charges on your account for passes and tolls that you haven’t used.  

Conclusion

Shipping a car across the country is tough. You should know that not all car moving companies are the same. They may offer the same services and perks, but you want one that you can trust when it comes to your cars. It is best to give your prospect company all the details and give them a rundown of your requirements so that you can come up with a workable plan. 

You should know that not all car moving companies are the same.

Continue reading Everything You Need to Know to Successfully Ship Your Car Across The Country

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What Insurance Agents Say to Do Following a Car Accident

One of the primary concerns while operating a heavy motor vehicle is the chance of a car accident. Even the smallest accidents can be scary. Even the slightest dent in a rear bumper could be an expensive fix. The good news is auto insurance is all drivers in the United States are required to have auto insurance so that one bad accident will not negatively impact your financial stability. Some insurance companies will offer accident forgiveness because after all, an accident can happen to anybody at the most inopportune time.

Say you got in your first car accident, and you do not know who to call first. Do I call my car insurance agent? The police? My parents?

Immediately following a car accident, consider following these steps:

1) Check yourself and others for injuries

If you are hurt after an accident and do not feel like you can move, call 911, and remain still. If you can walk away from your vehicle unharmed, check on any other passengers in your vehicle. If you can safely make it over to the other vehicle(s) involved in the crash, check on them as well.

2) Move away from the scene of an accident

If you are not seriously injured and the other people involved in the crash are okay, move far away from the scene of the accident. There could be glass and other sharp objects on the road and to be on the safe side, assume that a car could shoot up in flames at any moment.

3) Wait for emergency personnel to arrive on the scene

While you are waiting for emergency personnel to clean up the accident, try and warn oncoming drivers to slow down and steer clear of the debris.

Now it is time to get the story straight with the cops and collect information to send to your insurance agent. Most insurance agencies want you to call and alert them to an auto accident without delay. If you are ever involved in an auto accident, plan to call them while you are at the location of the crash. This is especially true when multiple cars and people are involved. Here is the information you want to collect from the other drivers:

  • Full name and phone number
  • Insurance provider and policy number
  • License number
  • License plate number(s) x`
  • Description of the vehicle(s)
  • Location of the crash

Other information to collect:

Capture every angle of the damage done to your vehicle and the other vehicle(s) involved in the accident. Consider taking a picture of the other license plate(s) in case you forget the number later.

4) Collect contact information from witnesses.

If you noticed someone that witnessed the accident, ask them if they would be willing to testify in your defense if you are asked to appear before a judge at a later date. Continue reading What Insurance Agents Say to Do Following a Car Accident