How Do I Prepare My Car For shipping?

Getting your car baby ready for shipping is one of those things that’s easy to overlook in the chaos of moving. But here’s the thing: prepping your car the right way can save you money, headaches and even future damage during transport. It’s simply worth putting in the thought. 

Just like you shouldn’t toss your dishes into a box without bubble wrap you shouldn’t hand over your car keys without a little TLC. While car transport companies handle the hard part- the condition and prep of your vehicle can make all the difference in how smooth your shipping experience is and how Harley arrives at your destination.

This guide breaks it down step by step so you can feel great that your car is ready for its travel times. Let the good times roll.

It may sound silly to wash a car that’s about to go on a long truck ride, but it’s actually a key step. A clean car lets you and the shipping company do a proper inspection before transport. Dirt, dust, and mud can hide scratches, dents or paint chips that might become a point of dispute later on with the insurance company. That $15 wash could mean $15,000 later. You would be shocked how much a scratch on the passenger’s side door can really cost when it requires the entire car be repainted.

Once it’s clean, take close-up photos of the car from every angle. Be sure to get shots of any existing damage, even tiny small issues. That way if something happens in transit you’ve got a time stamped photo record to show the difference. This is exactly what the case will require.

Also clean out the interior and remove any clutter. Things like loose items, water bottles or random receipts can bounce around and cause damage to the interior while your vehicle is being jostled on a trailer. It sounds silly but take this as your opportunity to clear things out.

Car transport companies are not licensed to carry personal belongings and many be fined for doing so. Anything loose inside your car could become a liability or be stolen while your car is in transit. It’s a simple- no/

Take out chargers, phone holders, toll passes, sunglasses, air fresheners and anything else not bolted down. If your car has custom accessories like bike racks or antennas consider removing them too if you can. Not only can they get damaged but they can also affect the fit on a transport trailer.

Be sure and remove any toll items like E-ZPass or SunPass. If they stay in the car they could pick up toll charges during transit which is the world’s most annoying moving bill to get later. It’s a tip from a friend this happened to- trust me.

While your car doesn't have to be in perfect shape it does need to be working for most transporters to accept it. That means doing a quick check at your mechanic. Check the battery to make sure it’s charged and the cables are secure. Top off fluids including oil brake fluid and water.

Look for any leaks and fix them in advance if possible because a leaking car can mess up other vehicles during transport and that means extra fees. You are signed off on a damage waiver for other cars so don’t let this happen to you. If you have unfixable leaks have an arrangement made so oil won’t drip during transit.

Check tire pressure too. Overinflated or flat tires can make loading and unloading tricky and dangerous. Make sure tires are at recommended pressure so the car rolls on and off the carrier without problems.

This part surprises people but it’s important. You don’t need a full tank of gas because your car won’t be driven far if at all. Most transporters just need enough fuel to load and unload your car from the carrier.

A quarter tank is perfect. It reduces the overall weight of your car and cuts the risk of flammable liquid leaks while still giving the driver enough fuel to get it on and off the trailer. You pay by weight so opt for less gas to save.

Imagine a car alarm going off mid-transport in the middle of the night while your car is on a trailer hundreds of miles from your house. Not only is it annoying it could drain your battery or delay the delivery if the driver has to deal with it. You don’t want an angry driver-trust me.

Before shipping, disable your alarm system and any automatic locks or security features that might interfere with transport. If your car has a manual alarm let the driver know how to turn it off just in case it goes rogue en route. Same goes for any codes needed- leave a sticky note for the driver.

Before your car gets picked up make sure you’ve got all the necessary paperwork done ahead of time and on hand. This includes registration proof of insurance and your ID. While most companies won’t need all of this to move your car it’s good to have it just in case.

More importantly, review and sign the Bill of Lading with your driver. This document is your proof of what condition your car was in before transport and it serves as the official contract between you and the shipper.

When your car is delivered you’ll inspect it again and use the Bill of Lading to confirm there’s been no damage. So yes this piece of paper matters a lot.

Right before your car is loaded onto the carrier do one final walk-around with the carrier. Use your phone to take a fresh set of photos and make sure any existing dings or scratches are noted in the Bill of Lading. Look and check every angle and the bottom.

Remove or deactivate any electronic parking passes and confirm with the driver when you’ll get updates or tracking info during the shipment. Understand the delivery date and what the process will be when your car arrives.

Wave goodbye and pat yourself on the back because you just prepped your car like a pro! You’ve got this. Now all thats left is to plan your future road trip together once Harley arrives back in your new driveway.

Preparing your car for transport isn’t complicated but skipping steps can come back to haunt you- I say this from experience. From cleaning and photos to paperwork and tire checks following this simple checklist can help ensure your car arrives in the same shape it left your driveway. Now that you’re ready to ship it’s just one less thing to stress over during your move. You can feel like a pro with just a little attention to detail.