Vehicle Shipping - 9 Things to Keep in Mind
1. Ask the transport company how much fuel should be in your gas tank. Reliable Auto Transport recommends that you drain your fuel level to less than half a tank. 2. Make sure that your alarm system is disabled, disconnected, or turned off.
3. Remove all personal items from your vehicle. Most vehicle shipping companies will not accept a vehicle for delivery if it contains personal items. Personal items left in your vehicle are not covered by the vehicle transporter’s insurance and leave open the possibility of theft.
4. Most vehicle transport companies do not promise a delivery date because of the potential for road hazards or inclement weather along the way. Some vehicle shipping companies offer a guarantee that covers a rental car, but you should find out the cost of the guarantee and the maximum dollars per day that is offered.
5. Once pick-up is made, your vehicle transport company should be able to provide you with a fairly precise delivery date. At Reliable Auto Transport we try to stay within these vehicle shipping transit times:
Coast to Coast 7-10 days
North to South 3-5 days
Midwest to either coast 4-6 days
6. Make sure you receive an inspection report, which shows pick-up and delivery information, current mileage of the vehicle, and MOST IMPORTANTLY shows the condition of your car at time of pick-up. Reliable Auto Transport provides a bill of lading that will show the condition of the vehicle when it is picked up. This document must be signed by the driver of the transporter and the owner (or an authorized agent of the owner) of the vehicle before the vehicle starts its journey.
7. Upon delivery of your vehicle, be sure to inspect your vehicle SLOWLY AND CAREFULLY and compare the condition and mileage against the bill of lading that you received at the originating location. Be sure to also inspect the roof and front and rear bumpers.
8. The odometer readings should be noted at pickup and delivery of the vehicle.
9. Most vehicle shipping companies require that the balance be paid at time of delivery. At Reliable Auto Transport we accept cashier’s checks, money orders, cash, Visa, MasterCard, Discover, or American Express for a vehicle shipping deposit. Upon delivery, the remainder of the bill is paid only by COD to the driver unless prior arrangements have been made.
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