The Safe Way to Ship a Classic

[jgirl]

One of the greatest things about owning a classic car is the feeling one gets from owning a little piece of history. For many people, they spend years dreaming about that one car that meant something to them when they were a kid or they see a car that really just seems to be the one they need to own. Once you have the opportunity to purchase a classic, you finally realize what it means to have a dream come true and there is not much that you wouldn’t do to ensure that the car remains safe and sound no matter where it may be located. After all, a classic is not just a car at all. It is an investment not only financially but also in time and effort to get it restored or to keep it well-maintained. If you have just purchased your classic car and need to get it moved to your home or business or you want to take it to a car show but don’t wasn’t to rack up unnecessary mileage to get it there, you will need to hire a company that has the experience you need to move the car for you safely so that it will arrive in the same condition it is in now without being damaged. To make sure you choose the right classic car transporter for your car, here are a few things to keep in mind that may help along the way.


Research Companies
If you want to find a company that can be trusted it is best to check with several companies before you make a decision on the one to hire. Many people don’t take time nor do they consider checking customer reviews online but this is a great way to see what other customers think about a company and possibly get a glimpse into the service you may expect from them. It is also a good idea to check with resources such as the Better Business Bureau (BBB) to see if the company you may be interested in has had any complaints filed against them. If so, take note that even the best of companies have disgruntled customers as well as complaints but by checking this out, you can see how the company has responded to the complaint and if they work to resolve issues when they arise. After you have checked reviews, be sure to ask the company as many questions as possible to really get a good feel for how they knowledgeable they are with classic cars and how they may respond to you if you book with them and a problem should arise. Make sure they have valid insurance by requesting to see the insurance certificate. This is a valid question and one that is very important when it comes to ensuring the safety of your car.

Choosing the Carrier
When it is time to choose the type of carrier that will relocate your car, it is best to understand what is available in order to determine which will be best for your car or truck. Essentially, you can choose from open or enclosed transport and while both are safe options for auto transport, you will need to decide which you want to use for your car.

⦁ Open: This type of transport is generally the most common way that automobiles are moved from one place to another worldwide. Private car owners use them as well as dealerships and other auto related companies because they are safe for all types of motor vehicles. If you own a classic car or truck and it has been fully restored or it is still in excellent condition, you may not want to use open transport as the car will be in contact with some elements that can cause damage to paint. If your classic has not yet been restored and is rough shape cosmetically or will be getting a new paint job at another time, then open transport would be a perfect, as well as inexpensive choice for relocation.
⦁ Enclosed: This is the best way to move an expensive classic or luxury model vehicle as an enclosed carrier is sealed on all sides and will be able to fully protect the car from being damaged by weather, insects or even vandals during shipment. Enclosed transport is going to have a higher price tag than open transport but if you have a classic that needs added protection in order to maintain value, this is really the best option.

If you are going to use open transport due to cost or even accessibility and you want to try to have your car placed on a safer area of the truck, be sure to request that the car is top-loaded as this will help prevent it from scraping against another car during the transport. Top loading will cost a little more than regular loading but it is not quite as expensive as using enclosed transport. This is always a good idea when you need to have as much protection as possible when you are shipping a classic car on an open carrier.

Getting the Car Ready

Something that you will need to do on your own is get the car ready for transport before the truck arrives to pick it up. Whether it is being moved across town or all the way across the country, it will need to be prepared in order to keep it safe during shipment. The first step is of course going to be to hire a reliable classic car transporter such as A1 Auto Transport Inc. that has valid insurance coverage that offers an amount to sufficiently cover your car. Since you own a classic car it is also wise to speak to your private insurance agent to either verify that your personal coverage will be in effect or to add an additional policy to cover the car during transport if possible. There is no such thing as having too much insurance coverage, especially when it comes to a one of a kind classic car or truck.

Once you have taken care of the insurance coverage, it will be time to get the car physically ready to go. This means that the car should be clean inside and out by washing and waxing as well as vacuuming and cleaning out all personal items. Personal items are not going to be covered by the company insurance and if you leave anything behind, you run the risk of losing it to theft or damage. If you have loose accessories on the car including rear spoilers, detachable lighting or even tool boxes that have not been bolted down, these items should be removed as well. Not only can they fall off during transport but they add weight to the load which can add cost to your transport fees. If your car is a convertible, be sure to check just before it is loaded onto the carrier to make sure the top is secured down so it will not chance flying up, or off during transport. To keep the weight down you will also need to make sure the fuel is no higher than a half tank before it is loaded. Truck drivers must adhere to safety regulations and they cannot have more weight than allowed when hauling motor vehicles on their truck.

Just before the car is loaded for shipment, it is well-advised that you take some detailed photos of all surface areas of the car. Keep the photos filed in a safe location and hold onto them until the car is delivered. If there is any cosmetic damage you should carefully note this as well and keep the information for your records. This way, when the car is delivered you will have your notes and photos to use as comparison if the condition of the car is not as it was when it was picked up. Keep in mind that damage occurs in less than 5% of all professional auto transport worldwide but when you own a classic car or truck, it is always best to have everything fully covered so it will be taken care of if anything should occur during the time the vehicle is away from you.