When you’re about ready to ship your car for moving, wanting a new car or transporting it for any other reason, timing is everything. When you have a timeline to meet, you will want to everything set well in advance of your vehicle’s pickup. A vehicle transport 48 hours checklist is all that can help to ensure that your car is ready safely transported.
In this blog, we will discuss the steps to take 48 hours prior to your vehicle being transport. When using this checklist, it will help streamline the entire process so that you and the transport company have an easier time shipping your vehicle.
Importance of a 48-Hour Vehicle Transport Preparation Checklist
Moving a vehicle contains many steps that ensure that the process is smooth and your vehicle reaches its destination in the same condition as it left. Getting your vehicle ready within two days of shipping can benefit you.
Don’t delay items required for last minute preparations to ensure the pickup of your vehicle on time.
Learn how to transport your vehicle without incurring any damage.
Organize all the paperwork having everything ready with the right paperwork will create no confusion and the shipping company will have all the documents they need.
Now you know why it is really important to get ready. Here are the things you need to do 48 hours before your car is shipped. You have to take these steps so that everything goes smoothly with your car shipment. The car shipment is a deal and you need to be ready, for it. So 48 hours before your car is ship you should start getting everything in order.
1. Clean and Inspect Your Vehicle
The first thing in your 48, hour vehicle transport preparation checklist that you should do is clean and inspect your vehicle thoroughly. A clean car is a good proof of any damage before the shipment and it also helps the transport company in evaluating your vehicle.
- What can you do for me? I want to know what you are able to do. Can you tell me about the things you can do?
- Give your car a wash – get rid of all the dirt and grime on the outside. This way, you can easily spot any scratches or dents. Make sure you take note of these, since it’ll be helpful later when you’re moving the car. It’s important to wash it first!
- Next, check the car’s outside for damage. Really look it over for any scratches or dents. If you find anything, snap some pictures of each one, so that you have proof.
- Look under the vehicle for leaks or any other damage on the undercarriage. Make sure that your car is in running condition and that there are no major issues under the car that will prevent it from being transported. Most transport companies will require this condition.
It is a good idea to clean and inspect your vehicle as you can document the condition in which it was in. This way any damage caused during transport won’t be contested later!
2. Clear out personal items and loose accessories.
Before getting your car ready for transport, you must remove all your personal effects and loose items from outside and inside the car. While in transit, these things can move around and damage your car or other cars that are on board.
What to Do:
- Clear your car out of all goods: Take all your things with you (electronics, clothes, anything that has a monetary value). Usually, for safety reasons, the car shippers dont allow the customers to leave the stuff inside, so pack it separately.
- Get rid of the extras: If you have added any parts, like spoilers, antennas, roof racks, or anything else that is custom, made, you should take them off or secure them. If such items are not secured, they can get damaged during the shipping.
- Look in the trunk: Make sure your trunk is empty so that nothing slides around and damages the inside or outside of the car.
At Car Shipping Center, we encourage our customers to really consider this step because it is a good way to prevent loss and give the transport company a clean vehicle to work with.
3. Check the Fluid Levels and Tire Pressure
If you’re going to be shipping your car, especially via an open carrier, it’s critical to equip your vehicle with fully operational systems from outside to inside. Any malfunctioning vehicle systems will result in delays in the vehicle transport process.
- Fluid levels: Check your car’s oil, coolant, and brake fluid and make sure they are at the right levels. Any fluid at a minimum level may lead to the vehicle not running properly or even getting damaged while on the way to the destination.
- Tire pressure: Examine the tires’ air pressure to see if they need to be filled or released. Underinflated tires will have problems during loading and unloading whereas overinflated ones may experience difficulties during transportation.
- Battery: In case the vehicle used for a while, make sure the battery is fully charged. A battery that is dead can.
At Car Shipping Center , we recommend performing these checks as part of your 48-hour vehicle transport preparation to ensure a smooth shipping experience.
4. Ensure the Vehicle is in Running Condition
If your automobile is transported on an open or closed vehicle carrier, it is of great importance that the vehicle is in running condition unless you have negotiated such a situation with the transport company. A nonoperational car will need more handling and special equipment which will probably lead to the higher price.
What to Do:
- Start the car. Check that the car engine runs smoothly when you turn the key. If the car does not start then you have to make a plan, for shipping a car that does not work. This usually means you need to use a kind of truck to move the car.
- Check the brakes: The brakes need to be working right. Safety is a deal when we are talking about transport and delivery. We have to make sure the brakes are good so the transport and the delivery process go smoothly and everyone stays safe. We need to check the brakes to keep people safe when the transport and delivery are happening. The brakes are very important, for transport and delivery.
- If you notice any problems with the vehicle like the engine is not working right or there are issues with the suspension you should let the shipping company know about it. The shipping company might need to get some equipment to move the vehicle safely.
At Car Shipping Center we want to make shipping your car really easy. If your car is, in working condition that means you do not have to deal with extra services and the Car Shipping Center can transport your car smoothly. This way the Car Shipping Center can get your car to where it needs to go without any problems.
5. Final Paperwork and Communication
The last thing you need to do to get your vehicle ready for transport is make sure all the papers are in order. You want to double check that the transport company has all the information they need from you. The transport company needs to know what is going on with your vehicle transport. Your vehicle transport is very important. You need to make sure the transport company is on the same page, as you.
What to Do:
- When you get a shipping contract you should really look it over carefully. Check the shipping contract to make sure everything is right. This includes the address where they pick up the stuff and the address where they deliver it. You also need to check the insurance coverage for the shipping. Sometimes people have instructions for the shipping so you should check for those too.
- To get the vehicle ship we need to prepare the bill of lading. The bill of lading is like a receipt for the vehicle. It has all the details about the vehicle and what kind of condition it’s in when we pick it up. We have to make sure the bill of lading is signed by the people. Then we can give it to the people who are delivering the vehicle.
You should always be in touch, with the transport company. The transport company needs to be able to get in touch with you at all times. So when you start give them your phone number and address. Also tell the transport company if there is anything that might make it hard for them to get to your house or the place where you want the transport company to deliver your stuff.
So, the transport company will be able to contact you whenever it is necessary.
Good communication with the transport company ensures that there are no misunderstandings during the shipping process and that everything runs smoothly.
Conclusion: Proper Preparation for a Smooth Vehicle Transport
If you do what this 48-hour vehicle transport preparation checklist says you sure that your vehicle is ready moved and it will get to where it’s going in the same shape it was when it left. You should take some time to make your vehicle clean and check it over carefully. You need to take out any things that are inside. You also need to check the fluids and the air in the tires. You will not have to pay money to fix things either. This is about your vehicle transport. So follow this vehicle transport preparation checklist to get your vehicle ready, for vehicle transport.
We at Car Shipping Center have a passion for making the vehicle shipping experience simple and efficient for our customers. Give us a call now to get a free estimate, and we’ll assist you in transporting your vehicle securely and punctually to its destination.
