The need to ship a car arises when you need it to be moved from one location to a different one, without you needing to drive the vehicle. While driving may seem like a good option at first, upon closer inspection, you’ll realize that this would be not only tiresome, but also damaging to the vehicle, as well as unhealthy and unsafe for you. Sure, you’d probably be sticking to certain rules to keep the process as safe as possible, such as knowing how long you should drive a day, further explained here, but that still doesn’t mean that the process will be completely secure and without any risks.
Shipping your car through a company that’s been providing such services to people for a long time is, of course, the better and the safer option. While eliminating risks completely is impossible, since this option could also result in certain vehicle damage, especially if not done properly, you’ll undeniably reduce those risks significantly by using these services. There is, however, room for mistakes. Mistakes that could lead to you being unhappy with the service.
Avoiding such mistakes should be one of your goals when shipping the car. Being unaware of them, though, you won’t get to avoid them, meaning you’ll have to do one thing first. Simply put, you’ll need to learn about those common errors people have the habit of making when shipping their cars, as getting familiar with them will make avoiding them much easier. Knowing what to do in this process is a must, and part of knowing what to do consists of knowing which mistakes to avoid, so I’ll list some of those for you below.
- Not Doing Proper Research On The Companies
Different companies, different rules, quality and even prices. Choosing one randomly, or just because you feel it could be the best option, is not exactly the smartest thing to do here. Not doing proper research on the various firms you’ll find could easily lead to hiring a firm that won’t give you the quality you need, thus resulting in you regretting the idea of shipping your car in the first place. So, don’t make this mistake and do your research instead.
- Failing To Check Their Ratings
Research will consist of numerous steps, but there’s one that people sometimes fail to take, for one reason or another. Checking the ratings of the firms. When aiming at finding the best car shipping company, checking the ratings of those you have in mind is crucial. Hiring those that are perfectly rated is always a much better move than hiring those whose ratings are low and that are, thus, ill-reputed. At best, the ill-reputed ones will offer a poor-quality shipping solution, while at worst, it will be a complete disaster.
- Falling For Promises That Are Too Good To Be True
Falling for promises that are too good to be true, such as a single day delivery guarantee, can only lead to disappointment. Reputable companies will always give you a three to five days window, being aware of the fact that they cannot predict the road conditions. It’s certainly not realistically possible for anyone to predict the exact arrival date, although experienced firms will give you a rather close approximation.
- Not Preparing The Vehicle
Not getting the vehicle ready before the driver arrives is another error to avoid, as it will only delay the process. The car needs to be properly cleaned and you need to have all the documentation prepared so as for the entire procedure to run smoothly. Documentation usually includes photo IDs, e-mail confirmations, proof of ownership, insurance certificate, and, of course, the car’s registration data. Depending on the firm you choose, there may be some additional requirements to meet, but you’ll be informed about those in advance, allowing you to get completely ready for when the driver arrives.
- Failing To Remove Personal Items From It
Part of preparing the vehicle consists of removing your personal items from it. Leaving valuables inside could result in their damage or loss, which won’t be covered by the insurance, meaning you’ll have to cover all the costs yourself. So, removing any personal items from the car before it is picked up for shipping is a task that you should complete, as not doing so could result in certain losses and expenses.
Here are some more mistakes to avoid: https://www.forbes.com/home-improvement/moving-services/car-shipping-mistakes-to-avoid/
- Not Doing Proper Inspection
Recording any existing damage is also a must, and so is conducting a visual inspection upon the vehicle’s arrival. Not taking note of everything prior to shipping will result in you not knowing and not being able to prove if certain damage is new. Doing a proper inspection is crucial, and taking photos prior to shipping the vehicle can also be helpful in that regard.