Those of us who live here in Texas know that we’re a pretty big state. Driving from the east to west can take a few hours, which may not seem like much, but when you have to do that often it can be a pain. If you’re trying to sell vehicles to other folks in the state, you’ve probably looked for alternatives to driving it there yourself (or having the buyer come pick it up, which comes with its own challenges).
Additionally, if you’re moving, you might not want to drive to your new home. Whether you’re travelling within Texas, moving here from out of state, or leaving the state entirely, there are ways to travel that don’t involve you taking a long and expensive road trip. If you aren’t familiar with the prices on those these days, consider looking at this blog: https://worldtravelfamily.com/whats-the-most-expensive-part-usa-road-trip/.
The gist of it, though, is that it’s not cheap right now to travel long distances by driving. That’s why auto transport has become a lot more popular these days. If you aren’t sure what it is, why you’d want to use it, or how it works, then this is the article for you. We’ll be covering all of that today!
What is Car Shipping, and How Does it Work?
You’ve probably already guessed based on the introduction here, but car shipping is an alternative way of transporting a vehicle for folks who don’t want to be stuck driving.
A shipping company will be in charge of that, and usually they’ll offer their customers a choice between closed containers and open ones. The closed ones tend to be more expensive, but they do protect the vehicle more. Open ones are more affordable, but you open yourself to the risk of more damage that way.
Either way, you’ll be working with auto transport companies in Texas, of which there are many to choose from. Compare the costs between them and see which one you think would suit you the most. After that, you’ll work with the company to figure out an approximate cost, as well as to get guidance on what to do next.
Preparing for Car Shipping
Preparation for auto transport is the most involved part of the process, but it isn’t too difficult to get through, thankfully. One thing to keep in mind is that for most shipping companies, they’ll offer what’s known as door-to-door shipping. This means that a driver will come to your house to pick up the car, and then it will be dropped off after. You won’t have to be involved in that.
Of course, this does mean that you need to be ready for the driver’s arrival. This might include a few different things, but most importantly, you should be sure to clean your car. There are a few reasons for this, but if you’d like a guide on how to accomplish it, you can check out this page.
When a driver does arrive to retrieve the car, they’ll probably fill out a condition form of some sort. That will be much easier for both you and them if you have washed the exterior of the vehicle, so that’s why stopping by a carwash is probably a good idea. After all, the roads get pretty dusty here in Texas.
Additionally, do make sure that the interior of the vehicle is cleaned out as well. You don’t want to lose anything that was inside, but also, each extra pound will add onto the cost of the transport. By clearing all of your personal belongings out, you can really kill two birds with one stone there.
Beyond that, there are a few other things that you might want to get done before the driver comes to pick the automobile up. Make certain that you have your photo identification with you, whether that is a passport, a driver’s license, or some other type of valid photo ID. Additionally, have any relevant car insurance documentation and if you’re selling the vehicle, you may need to provide the buyer’s ID as well.
That bit will probably depend on the shipper though, so just bear that in mind. Thankfully, that is the difficult stuff out of the way. From there, you can just continue planning ahead and thinking about either your big move, the trip, or if you’re going to sell any other vehicles to folks out-of-state (or across Texas).
On a final note, if you’re debating on whether or not it’s worth it to utilize auto transport services, think of it this way: you’re saving a sizeable chunk of change compared to if you were taking a road trip. You’re also saving yourself a headache, especially if you have young kids. Shipping a car just makes things easier.