Are you moving from one city to another within California? Are you moving to an entirely different state? Or maybe you just want to take a vacation somewhere else? Whatever the case may be, the drive would be long and grueling. That is exactly what California car shipping companies are for.
Shipping your car might sound weird at first. You have one so you can move around. Well, there are several reasons why you may want to do this:
- You have multiple cars
- You can save time by having the vehicle shipped and you fly to the destination
- This saves the car from wear and tear
- You do not want to drive such a long distance
All the above are valid reasons to use a car shipping company instead. Hiring movers is usually a great idea anyway.
But before you go ahead and sign up for the first car shipping company you find, here are a few things you might want to know:
Take Time to Read Reviews
User reviews are a great way to learn which company can provide the best service. This is imperative as the safety of your car is at stake. You are entrusting it to strangers, so at least you want to hire the most professional company to do this.
Moving can be a stressful experience with different things going on all at the same time. At least, you can lessen the burden by working with a reliable car shipping company.
There are several websites that you can use to read reviews as well. Take advantage of this to get the best and most reliable company to work with.
Factors That Affect Price
Price is always a huge consideration for any product or service. When it comes to car shipping companies, it is no different. That said, it is important to know the various factors that can affect the price:
- Where will the car be delivered?
- Is there a regular shipping route that goes through the area?
- Do you want to use an open or closed container?
- Door-to-door shipping or pickup?
- Standard or express shipping?
These are the main things that can affect the price. The more convenient it is for you, the more expensive it is going to be. Select within your budget, then maybe work around other things.
For example, you can choose to meet the delivery truck at a nearby parking lot within the destination city instead of being delivered right at your door.
Prepare the Car for Shipping
Clean your car before having it shipped. Ideally, do it yourself. This way, you get to see and take note of paint chips, dents, and other damages. Take photos to document them. That allows you to know if there are new damages after shipping is completed.
You should also remove all valuables from the car as shippers won’t be responsible for them. Taking out loose items such as coins is also a good idea to keep them from being thrown around inside the car while being transported on a truck.
Make sure that the vehicle is in good working condition and document that. The company will also check the car before being received. Doing so forestalls potential problems and headaches.
The Schedule Is Never Perfect
Most California car shipping companies do their deliveries in bulk. They have pre-determined routes and schedules. That means you have to plan ahead of time to get your vehicle at the destination by a particular date.
You can expect schedules to change since this can be a complicated process. There are things beyond the control of a car shipping company that can affect their schedule. Weather changes and road accidents are just some examples of this.
Get the Right Car Insurance
Most, if not all, California car shipping companies would require you to have basic liability insurance. Others would offer supplemental insurance as well. It may be a good idea to get that.
Again, you never know what can happen out on the open road even if you’re dealing with a reputable company. Covering all your bases can give you peace of mind for your car and at least be compensated if something out of the ordinary does happen.
Getting your car shipped from California to another part of the country may sound simple at first. But there are several things to consider. You must do your research and due diligence. Doing so can help you fend off a bad experience.
