Sacramento Movers How To Transport A Car Long Distance

Being a method of transportation itself, there is one obvious way to transport a car long distance and that is to buckle up and drive it. But this may not be the most appealing option if you’re looking at an especially distant destination such as a new home across the country. A more appealing option than spending hours behind the wheel and putting thousands of miles on your car may be to hire an auto shipping service. There are a few factors to consider when choosing a shipping service for your car.

(Photo Credit: ForgeMotorsAutoTransport.com)

First, before hiring any long distance shipping or moving services be sure to get a written estimate, not just a quick verbal quote. Verbal quotes are great for narrowing down the options and choosing two or three carriers to get an estimate from but verbal quotes do not lock you into a certain price.

Before selecting a carrier it’s also a good idea to consider their reputation.  Find out their BBB rating, what previous customers have to say about them and make sure they are licensed with the U.S. DOT. Be sure to ask about extra charges for fuel, worker’s comp, etc.

Each auto carrier will have slightly different processes so check with them on what they’d like you to do to prepare the vehicle for the move. Be sure to communicate any deadlines you have or specific requests. Make sure all agreements are in writing. Understand what is covered in their insurance and if additional coverage is available. Also find out if the car will be driven or carried on a transport trailer.

There are two types of transport you can commonly choose from. There is door-to-door transport, which means the carrier will pick up your vehicle from your current residence and deliver it directly to the ending residence. The second option is terminal-to-terminal transport in which you need to bring the car to their nearest terminal and then pick it up from the terminal closest to your ending location. Naturally the more services the carrier provides for you, the more they can charge so if you need to keep costs down, terminal-to-terminal may be a better option. Weigh in the costs you would incur if you did it that way such as the cost of getting a taxi to and from the auto shipper’s terminal.

While each carrier may have their own set of recommendations, there a few general actions you can take to ready your vehicle for shipment. For example put a quarter of a tank of gas in the vehicle, lower the antenna if possible, and remove any exterior accessories. Also remove any personal items from the inside of the car. Don’t forget the glove compartment!

Find out what payment methods the carrier accepts. Most carriers collect payment up front so you need to find out if you can pay by credit card, cash or check.  Before giving the payment, however, thoroughly read and understand the bill of lading, the contract that states all shipment details such as starting and ending location, price and delivery date. Also note the state of the vehicle before and after the shipment. Before signing off the driver, thoroughly inspect the car and report any damage incurred during the shipment.

TWO MEN AND A TRUCK® Sacramento employs a staff of over 40 Full-Time Movers and Drivers, with a fleet of 10 trucks. We have performed home and business moving services in and around the Greater Sacramento area for almost 10 years. Our award winning services include full service moving and packing services and we also sells boxes and packing supplies.

With comments or questions contact Carolyn Durkee, Marketing Manager at the Sacramento office of TWO MEN AND A TRUCK® at 916-852-7411 or contact us here.