Make sure the battery is fully charged – Ensuring that your car can be started and driven on and off the car carrier is an obvious, but important factor when preparing for transport, especially if your car transit time is a week or more.
Remove personal belongings – There are several reasons you should not leave personal items in your car: 1) If the items are large or heavy, it could put your vehicle and the car carrier over the weight limit, which may result in fines and/or delays. 2) You run the risk of personal items being stolen from your car while on the carrier. 3) Lastly, it is against DOT regulations. For more details about this topic, read about including personal items?
Wash your car – While washing your car before a road trip may seem counter intuitive, having a clean vehicle prior to shipping makes it easier to do a thorough inspection. Being able to see clearly whether there are any scratches, dings or dents will reduce the likelihood of any disputes about damage on delivery.
Remove aftermarket add-ons – To protect aftermarket add-ons like spoilers, fog lights, or antennas, you should remove them before shipping to safeguard against any possible damage during transport.
Don’t fill up the gas tank – A full tank of gas adds additional weight to your car. To keep your car under the limit, auto haulers recommend running your gas tank down to 1/4th to 1/8th full.
Finally, it’s a good idea to check with your car shipping company to see if they have any additional recommendations to prepare your vehicle for shipping.
MoveCars.com is a comprehensive online directory of car shipping companies , including enclosed auto transport and international shipping companies. Even before you start looking for a car shipping company, you can find answers to frequently asked questions (FAQs) about car moving, car shipping tips, and a glossary of auto transport terms.