According to the Florida Chamber Foundation, at least 225,000 people will move to Florida in 2024. As this estimated number is coming in, some individuals and families will be moving out. There can be as many different reasons for this as there are people but that is not the focus of this article.
If you are reading this article, it could that are you leaving or just want to ship your car out for whatever reason. Whatever the reason, we’re here to ensure that your experience is as smooth as possible. In this article, we’ll guide you through the steps for shipping your car from Florida. As a bonus, you can read this article to learn some packing and moving tips.
Book the Shipping in Advance
Many people make the mistake of waiting until they want to move before booking the shipping company. The services of these companies might be in high demand, especially if you plan to move in the winter. You’ll have to compete for their services with other people during those periods. Booking in advance will save you from the following issues:
- Last-minute tension
- Unavailable transport trucks
- Increased cost
- Inconvenient pickup time
- Late delivery of your vehicle
Prepare Your Car
When you want to ship a car, you have to prepare it for the journey. Some people ignore this step and end up regretting it. Do the following to prepare your car for shipping from Florida:
Clean it Thoroughly
Cleaning your automobile is not to enhance its appeal. Instead, you’re complying with Florida’s regulations regarding transporting species in and out of the state. Therefore, you need to clean not just the exterior of your vehicle but also the interior.
Remove your Personal Items from the Vehicle
We recommend that you avoid storing personal items in your vehicle when shipping the car. Most shipping firms have it as a rule that personal items must be removed from the car. You can check out RoadRunner Florida Auto Transport to learn more about some of the rules shipping companies have. Failure to follow this instruction might lead to the following:
- You might lose your items during transit, and you can’t hold the company liable for it since there is no coverage or insurance agreement for such.
- The items in your car might affect the security and safety of transporting the vehicle.
- You might be charged additional costs if the item increases the weight of your car.
Inspect your Car Thoroughly
Thoroughly inspect your car after removing personal items from it. Make sure you do this inspection before loading it into the trailer vehicle. Here are some things you should do during the inspection:
- Examine the automobile from every angle while checking outside and inside.
- Write down any damage you find. Don’t skip even the smallest of damages. With this record, both parties know the condition of the automobile before it is shipped.
- We strongly recommend that you take a general photo of the car and then pictures of the damages. These pictures will also serve as evidence in case the carrier damages your automobile during transit.
Secure Parts of the Vehicle that are Loose
Generally, the likelihood of your vehicle getting damaged is low, yet accidents happen. Sometimes, these accidents are caused by loose parts and body kits of your automobile. Here’s what you need to do to prevent damage that these parts might cause:
- Check all the parts that tend to disconnect from the main body of the vehicle, such as side mirrors and antennas. You also need to check for body kits such as spoilers, custom hoods, side skirts, fender flares, etc. You can visit https://www.keithmichaels.co.uk/ to learn more about these kits. This step is to identify any of these items that are loose.
- Fasten these loose parts and fittings or remove them completely. If you find it challenging to do, check your car’s user manual for guidance. Or you could ask a mechanic to help you do it.
Disable the Car Alarms
We can understand that this might be the last issue on your mind during a move, but it is very important. Always make sure that you disable your vehicle’s alarm before loading it into the carrier. Why is this important? If the alarm sounds during transit, the driver has the right to disable it in any way they can.
Collect a Bill of Lading
Don’t just allow the driver to load your vehicle without collecting a bill of lading. This document confirms that the driver has picked up your car. If you don’t have this document, there is no evidence that you gave your vehicle to the driver. This might cause you to have problems in case of theft.
Conclusion
We’ve taken some time to break down the important steps you will need to ship your car to or from Florida. Even if you’ve never done this before now, you now have the information you need to get it done without too much fuss. Get started right away because the best experience comes from actual practice.