When making a move across country, one of the more challenging decisions will be identifying how to ship your car to your destination. Unfortunately, you can’t just stuff it in a box. With options out there such as open trailers or enclosed trailers, we look at some of the most important things to consider when moving your car across country:

Due Diligence is even easier this day and age:

There are many auto transport companies out there, and they are not all equal! Depending on your origin and destination, type of service required, there may be multiple service providers. Do a thorough look into the company, digging deep into their social reviews across multiple platforms (Google, Yelp, Facebook, etc..) Take a look at their business summary on Better Business Bureau as well, which will speak to their history and accreditation. The internet is your best friend for this type of initial vehicle transport research. Always cross reference and check various sites to get multiple perspectives on car shippers. This will help form a holistic perspective of a company’s reputation.

Read the fine print!

Many times, an auto transport provider will look good due to their marketing efforts across social media, but it’s the contract and the fine print that will tell the real story. This paperwork includes the contract and well as the Bill of Lading (the legal document issued by the carrier) that will highlight the scope and details of your move. Ensure they are no questionable items or any critical info missing that are directly related to the details. This includes insurance, damage, items left in car, shipping duration or any other details specific to having your car transported safely between states.

Your car’s condition

There’s always the potential for damage when shipping your car, or anything, long distance. The best way to protect yourself and hold the right party accountable is documentation! In this case, when we’re talking shipping your vehicle, both you and the carrier/driver should agree and document your car’s condition. The best strategy is to have a nice clean car(both inside and out) ready for pickup. This will provide the highest visibility for the shipper(and you) to notate any damage upon receiving the car. If you take a walk around and agree upon the condition and (most importantly) note in on the documentation, this will offer clear evidence of any damage, if any was to occur.

Should I pack my car to ship across country?

A common best practice is that if you’re moving across country, then filling your car full of items may seem like an efficient way to ship these items. While this is definitely a good way to possibly save some

money, discuss this scenario with your insurance agent so that in a worst case scenario, your items will be covered.

As will all things moving, reputations and reviews, in this day and age, matter above all else. Whether you’re shipping your car from Boston, Austin, NJ/Philly or Washington D.C. area, make sure you work with a company that has the experience and expertise to provide the optimal transport option and the best customer service overall.