When moving to a new city, packing our furniture, clothes, and other belongings is the first thing we do. We hire a moving company to make the relocation process easier and stress-free. Although we have available resources to make the moving day convenient, it’s easy to forget about our cars with so many things to think about.
If there’s one thing we neglect throughout the moving process, it would be our cars. Whether you’re moving out of the country or the nearby city, your car should always move with you. Your car will play an important role as you complete tasks related to moving and reaching different points.
Moving a car to a new destination would mean hiring an auto hauler to have it transported. But getting it ready for shipping is a different matter. Your car is a valued asset, so it’s natural for drivers to get a little stressed about the idea of moving their vehicle.
Before shipping a car, the most important task you should do as an owner is to prepare it properly. To ensure a successful move, you have to do some important steps before loading the car on a hauler. With that in mind, we’ll discuss some basic preparations to ensure a safe relocation for your car.
Keep the car’s interior and exterior clean
Leaving your belongings in a vehicle before shipping can lead to problems such as damage or theft. Thus, it’s better to take the time to clean its interior before sending it off. Also, some moving companies refuse to accept a car until it’s empty of personal items. Others permit items only up to a specific weight inside the trunk or car, as long it’s not visible from the outside. To avoid inconvenience for you and the moving company, make sure to clear out all items and unnecessary junk to discourage theft and avoid unexpected damages.
Besides junk and belongings, remove aftermarket upgrades, alarm systems, toll passes, and GPS devices. If you can’t remove the alarm system, disable it. The alarm can delay the shipping of the vehicle if it accidentally sets off.
Giving the car some thorough washing is also a must before shipping it. It will not only remove grime, debris, and dust from the car but also shows existing damages. Once you’re done clearing out the interior of its junk, devices, and upgrades, use a cleaning cloth and vacuum cleaner to remove leftover dirt. Remove dust on the dashboard, wipe the windows, clean the seats, vacuum the mats, and other interior components. Also, be sure to include the cup holders, door jambs, and the areas on top of the windows.
After cleaning the car’s interior, it’s time to move to the exterior. Apply the same amount of effort when cleaning the car after a messy winter. Use cleaning products designed for vehicles, instead of a towel, dish soap, or old shirt. Don’t forget to include the tires and the most neglected places. Polish the exterior to avoid spots from hiding any nicks or dings, but don’t use wax.
Waxing the car paint is useless since it will likely catch dirt on the road. A complete car wash before shipping is a more practical option to allow a precise assessment of its condition.
Conduct a thorough inspection
Sending a vehicle to an experienced mechanic is the wisest thing to do before getting it shipped. Chances are, you may discover unknown, unexpected, or hidden issues that require immediate fixing. The last thing you want is to have a damaged car ruin your arrival at your new home.
Any vehicle should be in working order before shipping. If it’s not running, the transport service will have a hard time moving it from the hauler. Shipping a vehicle requires working transmission, brakes, and ignition. The same goes for the emergency brake to avoid sudden movements during transportation.
Also, it’s important to secure all possible openings and loose parts before the moving company arrives. Any moving parts will likely come loose during the transit. Secure these parts to prevent further damage and ensure the safety of the drivers traveling beside the moving truck. If the vehicle has a sunroof, moonroof, or convertible top, keep it in place to prevent them from sliding or springing open during the trip.
The bottom line
The preparations involved in shipping a car may seem tedious, but you will find these steps useful to ensure the safe delivery of your vehicle. Going through these steps and applying them will significantly prevent the risks of damage to your car. Once it arrives at its destination, make sure to perform similar inspections to ensure nothing goes missing.
