What to Do If You Need Your Vehicle Shipped Right Away

Sometimes life comes at us fast and you may find yourself in a position where you need to have your vehicle shipped right away. Perhaps you just found out that you need to relocate in a few weeks and you’re in a rush to get everything done. Or it might be that you sold a car and need to have it shipped right away. If you need to have your vehicle shipped and you are in a time crunch, you can get it handled with expedited shipping services. Expedited transport allows your vehicle to get on the road and to the desired location in the fastest time possible. Here is everything you need to know if you need to have your vehicle shipped right away.

What is Expedited Shipping?

Think of it like express shipping for a package. You can pay a premium price to have your package shipped in a shorter amount of time. With expedited vehicle shipping, your car is a priority for pickup, meaning that the trucker will reschedule other pick-ups to get yours first.. Standard pickup windows are 1-2 weeks and a 1-2 day window is much harder to accommodate. As a result, you can expect to pay a higher price for this service. That said, if you absolutely need your vehicle to be shipped in the next day or two, expedited shipping is the way to go. Just bear in mind that even though your vehicle can be picked up in a day or two, it will still take a few days to have your car delivered to your new destination. It is physically impossible for a driver to move a vehicle hundreds or even thousands of miles in one or two days. In most cases, you will be looking at two-three days of transit time. 

How to Book Expedited Shipping

When you need to have your car shipped right away, you will need to find an auto transporter that can provide you with expedited service. Not all carriers in your area will be available, so you will need to research and look for a trusted auto shipping company that can accommodate your needs. Be sure to let them know that you need your vehicle shipped as quickly as possible so they can determine whether or not they will have a carrier available in your area. 

How to Have Your Car Ready to Go

There are several things you need to do in order to prepare your vehicle for shipment, so if you are in a hurry it is especially important to have these things completed as soon as possible. 

Gather Your Documents

When you ship your car you will need to provide several important documents to prove the car actually belongs to you. These documents include: original title and registration, proof of insurance, and photo ID. Go ahead and gather these documents so they are ready to go as soon as your driver arrives to pick up your vehicle. 

Wash Your Car

You want to make sure you thoroughly clean the interior and exterior of your vehicle prior to shipment. That’s because it is easier to spot scratches, dings, dents, or other minor damage when your car is clean. 

Take Photos of Your Car

You will need to take plenty of pictures of the exterior of your car and make note of any damage such as scratches, dings, or dents. These pictures will serve as proof of your vehicle’s condition in the unlikely event that new damage occurs during transport. 

Check Tires and Battery

You want to check your vehicle’s tire pressure to make sure that your tires are not over or under inflated. You also want to check to make sure that your battery is fully charged. 

Use Up Your Gas

Your gas tank should be no more than ¼ full at the time of pickup. Additional gas can be a safety hazard and it also adds to the weight of your vehicle. 

Remove Personal Belongings

Finally, you want to remove any and all personal items from inside your vehicle. This includes chargers, electronics, spare change, sunglasses, notebooks, or anything else that might be inside your vehicle.