If you live in Washington and you are thinking of transporting your car anywhere, locally, or across state lines, then this article is for you. We will be going over some important things that you need to know. These will include important dos and don’ts.
Once you know what your dos and don’ts are, you will have placed yourself in a position to have a successful transportation of your vehicle. The tips we will share here are not just for state of Washington car shipping, because it is applicable nationwide. So, without much ado, let’s get right into it.
Table of Contents
Dos of Car Shipping
We will begin with the dos, which will cover the things you need to do or take care of.
Understand Your Shipping Options
You must ensure that you know the shipping options available to you before taking any other step. The two general options are:
- Open Method – In this method, your car is shipped in an open carrier. This is cheaper but also provides less protection for your car.
- Closed Method – This offers better protection because your vehicle is shipped in a closed carrier. The increased protection comes at a higher cost.
There are other considerations like door-to-door, terminal-to-terminal, etc. These will form part of your discussion with your chosen shipper.
Carefully Choose Your Shipping Company
Don’t just go with the first company you find. Take some time to ensure that the company you work with is the right one.
The following steps will help:
- Check for Licenses and Certification – Every state has its requirements for operating a car shipping service. If you’re moving out of Washington to another state, then, aside from any local licenses and authorization, you need to be sure that they are authorized to cross state lines. A common requirement is the MC and DOT numbers. You can learn about these here.
- Check for Reviews and Ratings – Before choosing a company, try to find out what previous clients think of them and the service they offer. You can do this by visiting third-party review sites like BBB or even Google Business.
- Compare Quotes – Ask for quotes from several companies. Getting and comparing multiple quotes increases your chances of getting the best deal.
- Confirm Insurance Cover – Be sure that the company you settle for is well insured such that your precious cargo will be fully covered in the event of any mishap.
- Prepare Your Car for Shipping – Thoroughly clean the car (inside and outside). Be sure to remove any personal items in the car. Take thorough note of the state of the car before its shipping. This should include noting any damages and the extent of said damages.
- Maintain Clear Communication Lines – Be sure that there are no ambiguities when communicating with the company. The pickup and delivery arrangements must be well spelled out.
- Inspect on Delivery – The very first thing you should do when you take delivery of your car is to do a quick, but thorough inspection. You need to ensure that there are no damages and if there are any, report them immediately for resolution.
If you can get these dos done, then you are almost certain of having a good shipping experience.
Don’ts of Car Shipping
Now, let’s take a look at the don’ts:
- Don’t leave valuable, fragile, and personal items in your car. Take these items out before the car is shipped.
- Read and understand the terms and conditions as presented by the company. Do not make any assumptions, read every document to be sure that you fully understand the terms under which the service is being offered.
- Don’t be afraid of asking questions. If you find something that you are not clear on, please ask and get a satisfactory answer.
- As much as possible, avoid rush deliveries. The chances of something going wrong increase when the preparation is rushed.
- Do not ship your car in bad weather conditions. This is especially bad if you’re opting for the open method. This means that scheduling your shipping for winter may not be the best idea.
These are just a few don’ts to be aware of.
Tips for Successful Car Shipping
We’ve briefly discussed the dos and don’ts of auto transportation. In this section, we’ll just add a few tips that will help you enjoy a satisfactory delivery.
Plan Ahead
We already mentioned the danger of rush deliveries. Unless it’s something that comes up suddenly, you will get a better result if you start the process early. Make your inquiries early, carry out your search, quote comparison, etc. to be sure that you are choosing the best company. These steps require time.
Documentation
Be sure that you have all your car documents with you. This may be necessary to ensure a smooth transaction.
Track Your Car
It’s not a bad idea to track your car through the shipping process. If your car is not equipped with a tracker, you can easily get one installed so you can monitor its progress.
Maintain Open Communication Lines
As we already noted above, it’s important to always maintain communication with the company. You need to know the progress they are making and also ensure that everything is on track.
Inspect on Delivery
Make time to thoroughly inspect your car once it is delivered to the pre-arranged location. We already explained why this is necessary above. You need to confirm that it was delivered in the same state that it was picked up.
Any damages need to be reported immediately for fixing. Leaving it for a few days will reduce your chances of successfully making a claim. To get more information on car shipping in general, you can visit this site: https://minimalistfocus.com/.
Conclusion
This has been a brief guide on the dos and don’ts that you should observe if you will enjoy a fulfilling shipping experience. These are simple steps that anybody can take. We hope this helps you as you plan your next car shipping from or to Washingto
