How To Prep Your Car (10 Steps)

When you hire a car shipper to load your vehicle and haul it to another state, keep in mind, your car, truck, van or SUV will most likely be loaded and secured onto a car carrier trailer holding anywhere from 4 to 12 other vehicles going to the same destination. This means safety is the main objective when prepping a car for transport.

The “TOP 10 Things To Do” to prepare your car for transport. 

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#1 Empty Car of Personal Items.

Please no personal items.

The vehicle should be fully insured bumper to bumper but personal items are Not covered.

The driver will assume no liability over personal items due to a lack of proper inventory.

Be sure to remove anything that is not part of the car as doing so will reduce risk of loss or even theft.

Some items may be left in the car but the carrier must approve and will Not assume liability.

When prepping to get your car shipped, its always best to make sure its empty prior to loading.

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#2 Keep Fuel Gauge Low.

Gas if highly flammable.

Drivers prefer that the cars fuel tank not be over a quarter filled.

This is due to the high probability of flammable gas igniting.

Do NOT fill the tank prior to shipping.

The less fuel the better. Drivers get real nervous when they show up and realize the car has a full tank of fuel.

This can be a very serious issue while in transport.

This will also put the drivers life in danger.

When getting car ready for transport, be sure to not include filling the gas tank.

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#3 Wash Your Car.

A quick wash helps with inspection.

On pickup, the driver will conduct a vehicle inspection report.

This will be to record the condition of your vehicle noting all dents, damages or dings the car may have.

The less dirt the car has, the easier it will be to notice any damage the car may have.

This is mainly for your security.
This way, you can get a detailed record of your vehicles condition.

Prepping your car for shipping with a quick wash will benefit both customer and driver when conducting the vehicle inspection record.

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#4 Take Pictures of Your Car.

Pictures make great proof.

Recording the condition of your vehicle with pictures is a good way to cover yourself in case of any damages made during transport.

A few pictures taken on your phone should not take more than a few seconds and you will feel more secured about your cars safety once it gets loaded.

This will also be an added detail of your vehicles condition in addition to the vehicle inspection report.

This is the best thing you can do to ensure proof of your vehicles condition when preparing to get your car shipped.

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#5 Make Sure Loading Area is Clear.

Keep loading / unloading space clear.

Clear any and all obstructions which may hinder the loading process.

Auto Transport drivers truly appreciate when the customer has made the vehicle easily accessible.

This will allow the driver to quickly load your vehicle for a quick and easy load and go.

The more accessible the pathway is, the better is it for everyone involved. 

When getting your car ready, make sure the loading area is clear for the car carrier.

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#6 Remove Tags & Registration.

Remove your license plate.

Removing the tags and keeping your registration is advised as it is not necessary while the vehicle is in transit.

Anything can happen on the road and having these items will benefit you if the need arises.

The vehicle would be covered under the car carriers care till delivery.

Keeping the tags and title with you is a very good step in preparing a car for transport.

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#7 Find and Fix Any Tire Leaks.

Check for tire leaks.

Keeping your tires fully inflated to very important as a car with flat tires is not safe to load or unload.

Flat tires can cause damage to the rim of your car and to the trailer its being loaded on.

Make sure to change and bad tires or fix any air leaks to ensure your tires will stay inflated.

Auto transport companies can not load a vehicle with flat tires.

Fixing any leaks on your car tires is a critical step in getting your vehicle ready for transport.

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#8 Find Fluid Leaks and Notify Driver.

Please report oil leaks.

This will greatly help the driver when positioning your car onto the car transport trailer.

If your vehicle has an oil leak or fluid leak of some type, the driver will most likely load it on the bottom to avoid damage to vehicles below yours.

Any adjustments which must be made to the load order would be done by the driver.

They are experienced with these types of situations and loading your vehicle in the right place to prevent any damages.

When preparing a car for pickup, look for  any oil leaks to avoid damaging other vehicles on the carrier.

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#9 Remove Any/All Toll Passes.

Remove toll passes.

While on the highway, the car carrier will pass under many bridges and tolls.

If you have a toll pass attached to your vehicles, expect the tolls to be charged too.

The driver can not be held responsible for these charges as this is your responsibility.

Remove all toll readers to avoid any issues.

The last thing you want is a bill for unnecessarily paid tolls while in transit.

Its simple. Remove the toll pass when getting your vehicle prepped.

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#10 Remove/Adjust Any Special Mods.

Please or adjust special mods.

Remove or adjust any special modifications before car shipping.

This will make loading easier as anything obstructing the loading process will only delay and possibly put your vehicle in danger of damage.

Anything which must be adjusted should be done prior to the auto carrier arriving.

The driver will not assume liability for anything that must be done to the car prior to pickup.

This is the sole responsibility of the customer when preparing the car for transport.

😃 Following the above steps will help the auto transport process go smoothly while ensuring your vehicles security. The more prepared your vehicle is for transport, the easier it is for your driver to continue securing your car till delivery.

These tips apply to Both
open auto transport and
enclosed auto transport.