How To Get Your Car Ready For Shipping: A Complete Checklist

According to statistics, acceptable shipping damage rates typically fall between 0 and 5 percent, with a more common rate of 1 percent. This might not seem like much, but even a tiny percentage of the millions of vehicles transported each year adds up to a significant number of damaged cars.

The key to reducing these risks and guaranteeing car safety is preparation. Similar to packing for a significant journey, meticulous attention to detail when preparing a vehicle makes all the difference.

Preowned Auto Logistics’ unwavering commitment to safe and skilled vehicle handling ensures that every car receives the best care from pickup to delivery, providing car owners with confidence and peace of mind throughout the transportation process. Continue reading this blog to find out more about how to prepare your vehicle for shipping properly.

Pre-Transport Inspection & Documentation

Step1: Clean your vehicle

Cleaning allows you to identify existing scratches, dents, and paint problems that you may have noticed before. Cleanliness will provide the transporter with clarity into your vehicle’s condition during pickup, which can help reduce potential arguments over existing damage after shipping.

Step2: Photograph your vehicle

Take clear and detailed photographs of the vehicle from all angles, documenting the vehicle’s conditions, including interior details. Photographic records of your inspection offer unquestionable proof of the state of your car before transportation, which could be helpful if you report damage or loss to your insurance company.

Step3: Remove personal items

Removing personal items protects you from damage, theft, and loss. It also removes extra weight associated with personal belongings. The majority of transport companies have policies that forbid personal belongings in the vehicle, so removing any personal belongings makes shipping and compliance with the company’s rules easier.

Step4: Inspect for leaks and any mechanical problems

Pay attention to leaks, fluids, brakes, and batteries. If you notice any issues with the operational condition of the vehicle, contact the transporting company. Disclosing the vehicle’s condition sets a safer transport process in place and provides for easier transportation. This pre-transport inspection and documentation ease the shipment process.

Vehicle Preparation and Safety Settings

Step1: Disable alarms and toll devices

Turn off your vehicle’s alarm system and toll devices before transporting your vehicle. This will reduce disturbances during transport, allowing drivers to do their job without any interruptions. In addition, removing or turning off toll tags will prevent any unforeseen charges while the vehicle is in transit and will contribute to a seamless experience.

Step2: Leave one-quarter of a tank of fuel

Leave your tank one-quarter full. This is enough gas for loading/unloading while being a lighter / safer shipping weight. The less shipping weight you place into shipping, the less likely complications will arise, and it will help reduce the truck’s fuel consumption.

Step3: Check battery and tire pressure

Having the correct tire pressure makes loading and unloading easier for the transport crew. Your truck can drive away from the shipper at your destination with a fully charged battery, which also helps to eliminate logistical operations issues during pickup.

Step4: Secure/remove adjustable parts

It is best to safely remove all after-market accessories, such as custom spoilers, external antennas, and bike racks, before transport to avoid damage or the possibility of losing a part in transit. Folding side mirrors against the body of the vehicle is another good practice in order to prevent breakage from making contact with transport equipment or other vehicles. Taking these steps will help protect your vehicle’s exterior components when shipping.

Final Steps Before Pickup

Step 1: Provide a set of keys

For successful transportation operations, vehicle access is easy. Drivers need the operative keys to place their vehicle on the transport carrier properly, make adjustments during loading, or park the car securely at an intermediate stop.

• Ensure all supplied keys are operational
• If available, include spare keys so there are no delays
• Test remote controls and key fobs before handover
• Inform the driver what keys they must use specific to vehicle operation

Step 2: Confirm pickup information with your transporter

Ensure correct address, time, and contact numbers to save time and money on all aspects of transport service. Professionally managed vehicle transport services should include complete documentation of your vehicle’s condition and delivery processes. This conversation sets the service expectations as a whole and allows for the identification of any special requests related to your specific vehicle.

Step 2: Discuss your vehicle’s condition and delivery time with PAL’s team

Important topics to cover during the discussion with PAL’s team include current vehicle condition, expected delivery timeframe, inspection procedures, and communication protocols during transport. Get resolution for any concerns about vehicle handling, delivery location accessibility, or specific care instructions.

The PAL team will coordinate delivery schedules, provide tracking updates, and ensure your vehicle arrives in the documented condition. This collaborative approach guarantees professional service standards and customer satisfaction throughout the transport experience.

Why Preparation Matters?

Think of preparing your car for transport the same way you would prepare yourself for a long drive. It’s a little up-front work, and it saves you a lot of future hassles!

Protects your investment

By taking the time to prepare adequately, you are protecting yourself from expensive headaches. Cleaning your car makes it easier to document pre-existing scratches and/or dents, so you are left with no surprises about what occurred during transport and what was already a part of the car. It is best to clean all personal items from the vehicle to minimize your chance of theft and help keep your personal items safe.

It keeps everyone on the same page.

Proper preparation ensures that there is clear written documentation, photographs, and notes about the condition of the cars before transport. It removes a great deal of guesswork from the equation, protecting both the owner and receiver. Besides, it will also allow a quick and fair resolution.

It helps everything run smoothly.

PAL’s drivers and employees are all professionals who know their jobs and are capable of getting the job done. But they need you, the customer, to be ready. If you have your car ready to go, keys in hand, fluids filled, and personal possessions removed, then your pickup can be quick and efficient. This will help:

• No more waiting on the customer for last-minute prep
• Faster loading and departure times
• There is less chance of causing scheduling delays for other customers
• More time for the driver to focus on getting your vehicle to you safely

More peace of mind

Finally, being well-prepared will assure you that your car is in capable hands. You’ll know you’ve taken all reasonable precautions to guarantee the secure and easy transportation of your vehicle. Additionally, being prepared demonstrates your appreciation for the expert service you are receiving and only serves to improve your productive working relationship with the transport team.

How Preowned Auto Logistics Supports You

Preowned Auto Logistics knows that vehicle shipping is a daunting task. We built our service around providing full support to you at every stage of the process.

Expert guidance from start to finish

One of our experienced team members will provide specific step-by-step preparation instructions based on your vehicle and transport needs. We will work with you to create a realistic preparation timeline based on your schedule and any special situations with your vehicle, sharing practical tips from years of experience in the industry.

If you have questions about documentation requirements or vehicle prep best practices, we are there for you from your first booking call through to your pickup day. So you’re never left second-guessing what to do.

Exhaustive documentation process

Our trained drivers will perform an exhaustive vehicle inspection using standardized inspection procedures and digital documentation. The documentation process is comprehensive and protects you and PAL because it generates an accurate record of your vehicle’s condition prior to and post-transit.

The inspection covers exterior condition, interior components, mechanical functionality, and pre-existing damage. We provide copies of any and all documentation, so you are never left wondering about the transport process and what was documented. Professional documentation offers peace of mind and clear accountability.

Reliable service network

PAL can provide service in every U.S. state, in large part due to the industry relationships we have cultivated in partnering with other compliant, reputable carriers. This gives PAL the ability to offer the wide-ranging service of a national carrier while still getting the local service level of commitment and attention.

You will receive frequent communication, including your pick-up dates, updates regarding transport, and the coordination of deliveries. You will have direct access to our customer service team and will receive notifications of any schedule changes or essential updates in a timely manner. There is no guessing where your vehicle is at any point in the process. All communication from PAL is transparent. You should always know the status of your vehicle and can plan accordingly around both the pickup and delivery.

Conclusion

This checklist is your comprehensive guide to getting your vehicle ready for transport. Whether you’re shipping a daily driver across the country or shipping a classic car that requires enclosed vehicle transport, these preparation steps are essential to ensure a complete, successful transport. Keep this checklist on hand and ready for reference before your scheduled pickup to ensure that you miss nothing.

Every item in this list represents the best practices in the auto transport industry, developed from years of professional transport experience. When you follow these preparation steps, you are taking the same reasonable precautions that dealers, collectors, and transport professionals take to secure a valuable vehicle through the shipping process.

Get ready to move forward!

Preowned Auto Logistics is dedicated to making your vehicle transport experience as simple and easy as possible. Our transport specialists will walk you through every part of the shipping process, from your original preparations to its final delivery.

What next?

• Request a custom quote for your specific transport situation.
• Contact our expert team for specialized services like enclosed transport.
• Confirm your pickup, knowing that you are prepared and set for success.

Reach out to Preowned Auto Logistics today and learn why thousands of customers have trusted us for their vehicle transport needs. With our professional approach, nationwide coverage, and personalized service, you can rest assured that we will take the utmost care of your vehicle throughout the shipping process.