Car Transport: What to Expect
September 3rd, 2008 by adminIf you’ve never used the services of an auto shipping company before, it can be an intimidating experience for some people. To put it simply, most of us love our cars, and the idea of that shiny new mustang being in someone else hands may bother you. If you have an idea of what’s going on, however, you can rest easy knowing your car will show up at its destination soon enough.
To help you understand the process, here is what you should expect to be happening while your vehicle is in the process of car transport.
Before Car Transport
When you first drop off your vehicle with a shipping company, you may be required to perform an inspection with them. This ensures that both you and the company are aware of any existing damage to the car. After you drop the vehicle off, the company will arrange for which load the car is going on. Sometimes this means that you car may sit on their lot until they are ready for a trip to the destination that your car is being transported too.
On the day the load is scheduled to leave, the driver will load the car onto a transport trailer. Most trailers are built to haul between 6 and 10 cars at once. They generally arrange their load so that they can drop off the vehicles in order. (ie. If your vehicle is the last drop off, it will likely be the first one on the truck).
While your Car is In Transit
After your vehicle is loaded it will begin its trip across the country. While in transport the driver will likely stop a few times to unload other vehicles, pick up new ones. During this process your vehicle may be rearranged on the load several times (that’s why a strong battery is important). When it comes time to drop off your vehicle, the driver will put it in the company’s yard, or at another pre-arranged drop off location.
After Transport is Complete
If you arranged to pick up your car after transport, then you will likely be required to inspect the vehicle again. This is for your peace of mind, and the company’s protection. The second inspection is performed to ensure that the vehicle is in the same condition as it was before. You’ll likely have to sign a release to get your car back (and pay any outstanding bill).
The important thing to remember throughout the entire car transport process is that your vehicle is being handled by professionals. As long as you did your homework and hired a dependable auto shipper the whole process will likely go through without a hitch.