T & J Hauling, LLC

Vehicle Preperation

Step 1. Before you start preparing your vehicle for shipping, you need to find an experienced and reliable vehicle transportation company. (Congratulations! Step one complete.)

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Step 2. Request a car shipping estimate from us to find out how much it costs to ship your vehicle.

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Step 3. Make sure your vehicle is more than ready for safe transport.

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Step 4. Wash the exterior of your car. If you have enough time, you can clean its interior space although it makes more sense to leave this task after the transportation of your vehicle is over.

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Step 5. Now, it’s time for a visual inspection to register damage it may have suffered until now. Look for scratches, paint chips, dents, rust and any other minor and major defects on the surface. When you locate any damage, photograph them with either your cell phone camera or digital camera and make sure that the photos show the imperfections clearly. Don’t forget to turn on the date imprinting function of your photographing device too.

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Step 6. When you’re done documenting any minor or major damage on your vehicle, take additional photos of your vehicle in order to prove later, if necessary, that any damage not visible on the photographs was done while your car was in the vehicle shipper’s custody. You can include these photos as evidence in the inspection report you are expected to receive and sign prior to and after the actual transportation.

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Step 7. Inspect your car for fluid leaks, while paying special attention to any noticeable leakage around your fuel tank. If you notice any leaks have them fixed at all costs before your auto transportation company is scheduled to arrive.

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Step 8. The gas tank of your vehicle must be left to only 1/4 of its capacity to avoid adding extra weight to the shipment.

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Step 9. Make sure your car battery is completely charged and secured in its bracket against undesirable shifts and movements while on the road.

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Step 10. Check whether the tires are in good condition and fully inflated.

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Step 11. Double check whether the emergency brake of your vehicle is functioning properly because, this is an important requirement when preparing your car for shipping.

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Step 12. Protect your removable parts from the exterior of your car. (example: non-permanent racks for bikes, skis or baggage) Take them down before your vehicle is loaded onto the moving truck. Also, retract fully or remove your car’s antenna(s) if possible.

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Step 13. Safeguard the exterior car parts that cannot be removed, (example: spoilers, additional lights, side-view mirrors, etc.) by using protective sheets of bubble wrap taped in place or special protective coverings.

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Step 14. You must remove any personal effects. Definitely don’t leave any dangerous items or hazardous substances in your vehicle either. You are allowed to leave a child seat if you wish so.

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Step 15. Disable or even remove, if possible, the alarm system of your vehicle. Have in mind that the car carrier driver may be authorized to stop an untimely activated car alarm system by any means possible. 

Step 16. If you own a convertible, secure its top to avoid possible damage.

Step 17. If your car is equipped with automatic parking passes or toll tags, make sure you deactivate them before your auto shipper arrives.

Step 18. Your spare tire, emergency kit, jack, and hand tools can be safely left as they are. The license plates must not be removed.

Step 19. Check with your auto insurer to see if the primary insurance for your car is and will remain active until your vehicle is safely delivered.

Step 20. Just to be on the safe side, write down the digits of your car odometer and keep the readings in a secure place.

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Step 21. Arrange for an extra set of car keys to hand over to the truck driver and keep the original one with you.

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Step 22. If you know of any mechanical problems that your vehicle exhibits, tell the truck driver about them. (regardless of how minor) If necessary, prepare written car handling instructions and give them to that same driver.

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Step 23. During the periods of pick-up and delivery of your vehicle, careful inspections will be performed by your car shipping company. You must be present at those vehicle inspections in order to sign the Bill of lading and the condition report both at origin and destination.

Step 24. When your vehicle is delivered to your new home, you must confirm your car’s condition and duly note down any transportation damage on the Bill of lading before the truck driver leaves your new residence.

Step 25. Well done! You have successfully prepared your car for transport.

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