If you’ve decided to transport your car to a new, faraway location – whether as part of a move or an extended travel break – you may be anxious about leaving your vehicle in the hands of a transport company.
Such concerns are understandable, but companies like A1 Auto car transport services take pride in keeping your car safe, and delivering it to its destination in a timely, cost-effective manner. Visit the A1 Auto car transport services website to read costumer reviews, browse their offered services, and fill out their form for a free quote.
They strive to make the transport process as smooth and stress-free as possible, but the one thing they can’t do is prepare your vehicle for transport. For additional peace of mind, here are the things you should do before handing over the keys.
Wash your vehicle
A dirty vehicle could be a damaged vehicle, and you wouldn’t even know it. Dust, rust and mud could be hiding a collection of small scratches and dents you’re unaware of.
You want to know what condition your car is in both before and after you hand it over for transportation, and the company you’ve hired doesn’t want to be blamed for damage that was already there. It’s therefore in everyone’s interest that the car is as clean as possible.
Take photos
Take dated photos of your car from various angles, so that, in the rare event the vehicle sustains damage during transport, you’ll find it easier to claim some compensation.
Remove accessories
This includes unsecured objects inside of the car that might get jostled around in transit and damage the interior, such as electronics, as well as external accessories such as bike and luggage racks.
Leave the tank as empty as possible
The transport company will only need enough petrol to drive the car onto the carrier and off again, so about twenty feet in total. This means you don’t need to go to the trouble of filling up the tank beforehand. In fact, a full tank may add significant weight to the car, incurring extra costs.
Check the radiator, battery, and tires
Make sure the radiator is full and the battery is fully charged and secure.
You should also ensure the tires aren’t under or over inflated, as either will make it far more likely that the tires will be damaged as they’re being loaded on and unloaded from the carrier.
Check for leaks
If your car has a bad leak, the driver may refuse to accept it. If it has a minor leak, you should inform them beforehand, so that they know to place your car on the bottom of the carrier. They don’t want your car dripping onto other vehicles, just as you wouldn’t want to get your car back covered in water or oil from someone else’s vehicle.
Address any engine concerns
If your car has some engine trouble or mechanical fault, try to get it seen to before it needs to be transported.
Transport companies can move inoperable vehicles, but it requires extra planning and equipment, and is therefore significantly more expensive. If you really can’t get it fixed, try to let them know well in advance.
Disable the alarm
Nobody wants to deal with an angry truck driver, and that’s exactly what you’ll be faced with if your car alarm has been going off for hours or even days, and they haven’t been able to shut it off. For courtesy’s sake, disable your alarm before you deliver it to the driver.
Transporting your vehicle is a simple, stress-free process, and by properly preparing your car, you only make it more so.