Best way to transport a classic car - Guides

1. Best way to transport a classic car There are many methods that could be undertaken in order to transport a classic car to a specified location. If you arelooking to transport your vehicle within the state then you could just get in the car and just drive there. When you want to ship your classic car to a museum or need to haul it across the state for an antique exhibition. You are bound to find a reliable auto transport company to haul your vehicle to the specified location. Shipping your classic car by yourself could be a grave task to undertake. You need to measure the miles that could further add to your endless covered miles. Not to mention the cost it would have on the depreciation.

2. These classic cars are treated as an investment and any minute thing happens to them could have devastating consequences. As a savvy car shipper, you would not want to take that kind of risk on your pride and joy, would you? Selecting an Auto Transport Service For Your Classic Car There are plenty of options to weigh out in transporting your vehicle. Some people take it upon themselves and haul the vehicle all the way to the desired location. However, not everyone can do the same task and also leave the vehicle unharmed. That’s a risky thing to do. We would advise against it. If you have a car that is classic and has a net worth in six digits. We strongly recommend hiring a professional auto carrier to transport your classic car. These auto carriers are well-versed in handling these sort of vehicles. They are properly trained and some of the transporters have been doing this for decades. Finding a reliable car transport service is a daunting business. That needs a lot of commitment and thorough knowledge of the market. This may take some time of yours to find a decent shipping service. However, it is totally worth it. What are the documents required for an auto transport service provider? There are a few documents that every auto transport service provider must have and display upon request. These are, FMCSA registration. Must have a valid USDOT and MC number. Certificate of Insurance (COI) would a plus. The driver must have a Commercial Driver’s License (CDL) Once you have inquired about these specific documents. Now ask about their services. Their bids and quotations offered to you.

3. It is always a good idea to have two or three companies shortlisted. Find out what they are offering and compare their prices before selecting a service provider. Selecting The Type of Transport Service There are mainly two types of transport service, open and enclosed auto transport. Opentransport would be under your budget, as it’s cost-effective. However, these carriers are widely open double deck trailers with vehicles are loaded on the back. They are vulnerable to the outside elements. Such as road debris, dust and pebbles. This carrier can be used for inexpensive vehicles and won’t be an issue. You can request the auto carrier driver to place your vehicle at the top of the trailer. It will at least be more elevated and out of the proximity of the road. This will help in preventing damages from the road debris and pebbles on the expressway. If you are about to transport a classic car that needs extra care and attention, it won’t be the wisest choice to take the risk on such expensive vehicle. On the other hand, you have the option of choosing an enclosed carrier. This would be ideal choice to hire if you don’t wish to take the unnecessary risk on your pride and joy. The cost of hiring enclosed auto transport services are generally expensive but they are meant to be hired for transporting these exquisite vehicles. These vehicles need an extra care and protection and these carriers are hired to provide them with that protection. Enclosed carriers are further subdivided into categories. Soft-sided enclosed carriers: These carriers have roof and end caps on the front and the back of their trailers. Their sides are made of canvas, thin sheets tightly shut to prevent them from outside elements. However, these carriers are limited to prevent road debris and bad weather. Dust may infiltrate the carrier.Therefore, soft-sided carriers are much inexpensive as compared to the latter one.

4. Hard-sided enclosed carriers: These carriers are fully packed and tightly shut throughout the trailer. These carriers are made of tin and fiberglass. There are no cost-effective materials such as canvas are used in making of this carrier. The materials used in hard-sided enclosed carriers make them resist against outside elements whether it may be road related such as road debris and dust. Or it may weather related such as rain, snowfall and even storms. These carriers are also equipped with hydraulic lifts and ramps to elevate vehicles that have the least amount of ground clearance. These hydraulics assist in perfectly elevating these vehicles without any damages or scratches during the lifting process. Therefore, these carriers are often hired by automobile manufacturers such as Lamborghini, Ferrari, Mercedes, 911 Carrera etc. Evidently, the cost of hiring these carriers are much more expensive than hiring a soft-sided enclosed carrier. When you are looking for hiring an auto carrier to transport your classic car, we advise you to choose an enclosed carrier. It may depend from on whether you want to go with the soft-sided or hard-sided one. If the sky is clear and there are not any expectations or forecast of bad weather such as the storm. Then, it would be wise to save some cash and hire a soft-sided auto carrier. However, if there are expectations of a storm or other related bad weather such as blizzards or tornado. Then, hiring a hard-sided enclosed carrier would be the wisest choice for classic car transport. Selecting an Insurance for Your Classic Car Whether you went ahead with either of these auto transport carriers, the need for an adequate insurance coverage has never been so important.

5. There are many well-reputed companies who offer insurance coverage throughout the shipment process. Some of providing only specific parts of the vehicle. You need to ask your auto transport company which parts are covered and under what circumstances they are covered. It’s always better to keep your own insurance company in the loop when you are about to transport a classic car.Some of the times these insurance companies give a hard time if they have been informed priory. Always remember that nothing is better than the safety of your classic car. Ensure to take all the necessary steps andtake notes of insurance policies as much as possible. This will come in handy in claiming the damages if incurduring the transit. How to Make Your Classic Car Ready for Transport? There are several things that need to be done before the auto carrier picks up your classic car. First of all, your carneeds to be as light as possible. To do that you have to do the following. Take out all the electronic devices from your vehicle. That includes GPS navigation system, audio panelstereos, etc. Take out all the fuel from your gas tank. It should be filled to a quarter. Take out removable spoilers and antennas. Remove or disable the car alarm. The driver doesn’t need to listen to your alarm screaming off during thetransit. Besides reducing the weight of your classic car, you need to check the mechanical condition of your car. You shouldalso Get your car washed. This enables you to find dents, scratches and paint chips easily. Take theirphotographs and make a note of it.

6. Check if the brakes and tires are working properly. Engine oil, brake oil and other components of the car are properly filled with adequate lubricants. Ensure no leakages of oil, fluids or other liquids are found. Top-off the antifreeze to mitigate the chances of the battery being dead during the shipment process. You should make a thorough inspection of your classic car before the transport carrier arrives. If any issues came upduring your inspection. Resolve it as soon as possible and make note of it. Maintain a Log of Proof During the inspection of your vehicle, the oddities and peculiarities that you may find must be kept and recorded inthe log. When the auto carrier arrives, the driver will also inspect your vehicle thoroughly. Then the driver will the task ofloading your vehicle on the back of the trailer. If you want your inspection to go smoothly, you need to have a proper documentation of files of your thoroughinspection. Remember to hand over the copy of your log to your carrier and inform any oddities that were found during your inspection. This will bring you and your carrier on the same page. Taking photos of the current condition of your classic car will assist you with claiming the damages if occurred during the course of the shipment. Upon arrival of the shipment of your classic car, you need to inspect your vehicle again. To ensure that there is any damage done to your classic car during transport. If any damages found, make sure to mention on the bill of lading or the receipt given to you for signature by the driver.

7. The log you made during your inspection and the photos you took your vehicle before transit will be helpful to for claiming the damages. To read a complete article, click here