Is it your first time to use a car transport service? Of course, safety and timeliness are the priority concerns in car shipping, but you also need to consider some other factors like payment and legality of the transaction. To help you have a smooth transaction with an auto transport company, consider these four steps:
1. Decide the date of pick up, shipment and delivery of your vehicle. In determining the date when the car should be shipped, you must first inquire about the estimated length of time that the auto transport company can ship and deliver the vehicle to its destination. The distance between the pick up location and the delivery site should be noted accordingly. Also, consider some environment factors, such as if the date of shipment would fall on a usually stormy month, or if the location of pick up and/or delivery is not that easy to access. Putting a grace period of 3 days or so on your planned shipment date is a smart move.
2. Search for a reputable and legal auto transport company. You can do this easily by searching for car shipping companies online by means of using Google Maps, so that you end up with car shipping agencies that are just near from your area. After finding nearby car shipping companies, 
the next thing to do is to learn which ones are legal and which ones are not. Then, look for customer testimonials and feedbacks so you would know how reliable the company is. Finally, contact the company by email or by phone, or you could just drive to the company’s office, inquire about their services, and then go straight to having your car checked regarding its current condition (e.g. weight, dimensions, scratches or damages on your car, etc.)
2. Arrange for the costs of the car shipping service. The company that you should choose must offer the most competent service rate available. The charge for car shipping should cover the number of miles that the car should travel (or the distance between the pick up location and the delivery location), whether the carrier is open or closed, the time of the year, the type of your vehicle and other factors. Having your car shipped via an open carrier is a bit cheaper than a closed one, but you also need to consider safety matters.
3. Prep up your car. Before going for a car wash, of course, you would not get your car shipped with all your personal belongings inside it, would you? First, get all your precious stuff out of the car. And yes, that includes your car pillows.
Also, don’t forget to have your car all washed up and clean. You must also turn off the alarm of your car. Secure loose car parts like fog lights, antennas and side mirrors.
Lastly, inform the car shipping company about any special instructions or considerations that they need to take note when shipping your vehicle.
After all these three steps, you should keep track on the car shipment process all the time to make sure your car is being transferred safely.
