Preparing For Auto Transport: What You Need To Know
by: linker456
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Preparing your vehicle for
transportation
First let's look at the best way to
prepare your vehicle for transportation. Firstly, your car must be roadworthy.
This is because employees of the auto transport company have to drive it on and
off the transporter. Plus, you should wash you car to allow for easy inspection
for such things as scratches and dents.
Then make sure your car doesn't have
any leaks. Cars are usually transported in batches on one large transporter.
You will be responsible if any leakage of fluids from your car damages other
cars on the same transport. By the same token, make sure your gas tank is less
than a quarter full and other fluids such as break and suspension fluids have
room for expansion.
Next, secure or remove any accessories
your car may have. This includes such things as antennae and wide mirrors on
the outside of your car and after-market CD players on the inside. Make sure
your alarm is disabled along with any other devices that may drain the battery.
Remove all personal possessions from your car as the transport company will not
want to take responsibility for them. In fact, the Department of Transportation
does not legally permit the transport of personal belongings in vehicles
transported on auto carriers.
Bear in mind you may have to drive
your car to a pick-up point agreed between you and the car transport company.
This is because the transporter vehicles may be unable to access your
neighborhood owing to their size.
Finally, don't forget to consider the
climatic conditions. If you're moving to, say,
car before shipping. Plus check your heating or air-conditioning systems. You
can also request a covered transport to further protect your vehicle against
the elements.
For international shipments, some
other steps are needed. For one thing, you need to confirm your car meets the
environmental standards of the destination country. You can get this
information from the consulate of the country you're moving to along with
details of any other restrictions that may apply. Your auto car services
transport company can help you here. Note that international car transport
regulations specify that cars be no taller than seven feet and have a minimum
of four inches ground clearance.
Checking the Car Shipping Documents
So now that your car is ready for
transport, let's look at the all-important question of paperwork.
The key document involved in car
transport is the bill of lading. This outlines all the terms and conditions of
the agreement between you and the auto car transport services company. A key
component of the bill of lading is the condition report which documents the
condition of your car at the time of handover. It will also contain such
details as odometer readings.
As any future claims for damages will
be made on the basis of the information in this report, you need to check it
carefully before signing. Both you (or your designated representative) and a
representative of the car transport company have to sign this both before and
after loading. Generally, if your car is damaged you have two weeks in which to
file a complaint.
For international auto transport,
additional paperwork such as those required for customs formalities will be
required. And make note you will need the original title of your car and a Bill
of Sale when arranging international shipment.
Then there's the all-important matter
of insurance. Ask for a copy of the car mover's insurance coverage. Your
vehicle should be insured against damage and theft by your auto transport
company. By law, carriers have to carry a minimum of $1,000,000 worth of public
liability insurance as well as cargo coverage. And don't forget that your
owner's insurance remains in effect throughout the transport of your car. If
you're transporting you car by ocean container, it has to be professionally
packed for the insurance to be valid.
When it comes to documentation, the
golden rule is that you have to make sure you have everything, including the
total cost involved, in black and white.
Providing you're well prepared and
follow the above steps, there's no reason why you shouldn't enjoy a stress-free
transportation of your car. But first make sure you find a reputable car
transport services firm that offers a full service. A reputable car transport
company will be happy to give you a free quote. Knowing that trained
professionals are taking care of your precious car will give you peace of mind
during this stressful time.
About the Author
Secure auto transport offers
international <a
href="http://secure-autotransport.com/company.htm" title="Secure
Auto Transport">Secure Auto Transport</a>.
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