8 Tips to Prepare Your Vehicle for Auto Transport

If you need your car moved from your old home to your new home, you’ll have to work with an auto transport company.

Auto transport company

They’ll handle the transportation of your vehicles. However, these companies don’t drive your car to your new home and park it in the driveway.

Instead, your car is loaded onto a multi-car carrying truck and delivered to your new residence or the auto transportation company’s regional depot.

Preparing your car for the shipping process

In order for your vehicle to arrive as expected, it’s important to prepare it for the shipping process. Here are eight things you need to do before seeing your car picked up by the car shipping company.

1. Wash your car

Dirt and dust can easily hide dings, scratches, and dents. Before you have the auto transport company pick up your vehicle, wash it thoroughly.

With a clean car, you’ll be better able to notice any possible damage caused by the shipping process once it arrives at its destination.

2. Clean the inside of the car

During transport, your vehicle may be jostled a bit. In order to avoid things from being tossed around inside your car, clean the interior and remove everything not secured. This includes air fresheners and your spare change.

Also remove all of your electronics and their supporting cables/chargers.

3. Disable the alarm

Seems obvious, but to avoid making an enemy of the truck driver, be sure you disable any alarm systems your vehicle may have.

4. Don’t gas up

Your vehicle is being transported, not driven, so there’s no need to fill up prior to loading.

In addition, having a full tank of gasoline makes your car heavier. Additional weight can add and risk to the shipment.

Leave as little fuel in the tank as possible when preparing your vehicle for transport.

5. Check for leaks

Before your car or truck gets loaded onto the truck, check the undercarriage for any noticeable leaks. If your vehicle has an aggressive leak, the car shipping company may refuse service.

If you see a leak, make sure to get it repaired prior to moving day.

After all, you wouldn’t want the vehicle above yours to be dripping oil or transmission fluid all over your car, would you?

6. Check tire pressure

Under-inflated or over-inflated tires are just as risky in transport as they are on the road. By not having your tires properly inflated, you could be increasing the risk of damage to the tire.

Tire damage is most likely to occur during loading and unloading, but if your tires are properly inflated, you won’t have a problem.

7. Remove custom accessories

To prevent the risk of a car spoiler and other special accessories breaking in transit due to their odd size, make sure to remove any custom parts or accessories before the vehicle is loaded onto the truck.

8. Lock the car

Once your vehicle is loaded onto the auto transport truck, there’s no reason for it to be opened up until it is delivered.

Lock everything up to reduce the risk of theft while it is being transported.

Updated from an earlier version on moving.com.