Moving a long distance can be an exciting adventure, but many people find the logistics of moving to be overwhelming, especially when it concerns cars. It’s not always feasible or safe to move thousands of miles away in your vehicle. Auto shipping is an excellent way to reduce some of the stress of moving while ensuring your vehicle arrives at its new home safely. If you’re making a long-distance move for the first time, here are some ways to prepare your car for transport.

4 Preparation Tips for Auto Shipping

1. Remove Personal Items

Remove all personal items, like phone chargers, bags, GPS systems, air fresheners, and pens. Your vehicle may travel over sea and land, leaving plenty of opportunities for loose items to jostle around and damage the car’s interior. Remove anything that isn’t fixed to the vehicle. Taking out personal items also reduces the potential risk of theft or loss. 

2. Wash the Car’s Exterior

It may seem counterproductive to clean a car before releasing it to an auto shipping company, but it serves a practical purpose. Before the auto transportation company accepts your vehicle, a representative will make a vehicle condition report in which they'll document any existing damage on the car’s exterior before shipping. With a clean vehicle, you and the representative will notice its scratches, dings, and dents, giving you both a better understanding of your car’s condition. 

3. Photograph the Car

While you’re inspecting your clean car, it’s a good idea to take pictures as well. Use a quality camera to photograph the vehicle from multiple angles. Good quality pictures serve as documentation of your car’s condition before shipping, so you can tell if new damage occurred en route to its destination. 

4. Leave Gas Tank a Quarter Full

Your car only needs enough gas to drive on and off the trailer, so a full tank isn’t necessary. Federal Maritime regulations require car shipping services transporting vehicles by sea to transport cars with a quarter tank of gas or less. The rule is in place because gas is heavy, and auto carriers have to remain under specific weight requirements, especially on bridges and overpasses. 

If you’re moving from Anchorage, AK, Fairbanks, AK, or Tacoma, WA, and need a reliable auto shipping service, reach out to Wrightway Auto Carriers. For over 60 years, the company has provided fully insured shipping for cars, trucks, RVs, and some boats with their modern fleet of transporters. Call (907) 277-4549 or visit them online today to learn more about their affordable transit options.