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Tips to Prepare a Car for Cross Country Shipping

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Home  |  Car Transport   |   Tips to Prepare a Car for Cross Country Shipping

There are certain rules that apply to all car shipments. From documents needed to car prep in place, this guide will ensure you have a stress-free delivery! 

The Basics of Cross-Country Car Shipping:

You’ll need to touch on all these basics before prepping your car:

  • Get a few quotes before settling on one. It’s worth spending a few hours to get a couple of quotes. What you pay for is what you get, so choose wisely. Make sure to ask them about any hidden fees, and if a deposit is required (if it is, run!) 
  • Give your car a good wash. Wash the exterior and interior before dropping it off for shipment. Take plenty of pictures during the inspection process. 

Does Your Vehicle Have Any Loose Parts?  

It’s important to do whatever you can to minimize your car’s risk of injury before it makes its journey—no matter how short or long its drive may be! Fold your side mirrors in, place your antennae in the trunk, and secure any loose parts before shipping it off. 

Take It In For a Quick (and Professional) Check  

A maintenance check is a great idea before transporting your car. Your service professional can clue you in to anything it may need (replacing fluids, knowing your mileage, a battery check). 

Whether you’re have an everyday or vintage vehicle, we’ve got the perfect transport option and carrier for your unique needs! Contact us today and ready our testimonials and learn about our damage-free guarantee that sets us apart from the rest! 

How Accurate is My Cross-Country Delivery Date?

The length of time you’ll be without your vehicle depends on how far it’s traveling (common sense we know, but that’s the basics of it!) If your vehicle is traveling from the west coast to the mid-west), you can expect a 5-7 delivery time.  If your vehicle is traveling from the west coast to the east coast, you can expect a 7-10-day delivery time. In some situations, a vehicle can be dropped off and picked up within the same day, depending on the length of travel. 

No Matter the Distance, We’ve Got You Covered! 

No matter how near or far your vehicle is being shipped to, it all comes down to quality, care and service. Ship A Car Direct offers many advantages that makes us the most trusted car shipper around, including door to door service, no upfront deposit required, and a damage-free guarantee! Contact us today for a free quote!   

Frequently Asked Questions

Answers to Your Car Moving Questions

The hardest thing for people researching car moving companies to understand is that the prices they are getting are not hard and fast gaurantees, but rather ESTIMATES of what one company thinks it will take to get a vehicle moved promptly versus another company's opinion of what it will take. Don't be fooled, there are not carriers committed to take your vehicle at these quoted prices, the company you choose will still have to get to work getting a carrier to commit to move it at the price they quote you.

Your total price breaks down into two parts, the broker's fee (or 'deposit' as everyone calls it) and the carriers fee (your COD amount) Make no mistake about this, EVERYONE YOU ARE GETTING SALES CALLS FROM IS GOING TO BROKER YOUR MOVE. In this industry, there are brokers who try to fool you into thinking that they are the actual carriers and there are an equal amount of carriers who sell themselves on the fact that they have a truck or two but are not being honest about the fact that they broker out 90% of the orders they book. Here is a quick easy way to tell, if a company takes an up front fee, whether they call it a deposit or any other name, they are a broker. Carriers do not take any payment until the vehicle is delivered.

In our opinion, you are crazy to do so. Have you ever been paid up front for the work that you perform for your employer? Why would you pay a fee up front when there are reliable and trustworthy companies like ours that won't ask for it until we provide you with your carriers details?

The average transit time from pick up to delivery on any vehicle going coast to coast will be between one and two weeks. From there you can figure your transit time based on how far your vehicle is traveling, i.e. from either coast to the Midwest might average 3-7 days.

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