How to Prepare Your Car for Shipping

Before handing your baby over to a transport company, some simple prep on your end ensures a smooth, damage-free delivery. No need to stress! Just dedicate an hour or two to these tips, and your car will safely arrive at your new front door.

Give It a Good Clean

Start by cleaning both the interior & exterior. Remove any trash, personal items, or extra stuff you’ve crammed in over the years. You’ll want access to load it onto the truck or train car more easily.

Use a mild soap and water to wash the exterior, getting into all the nooks and crannies. Follow up with a quick vacuum and wipe down the inside with a leather or interior car cleaner if needed. Clean windows are key for easy visibility when securing tie-down straps and maneuvering during transport and unloading. Nobody wants a face full of dust and debris!

While cleaning, inspect closely for any existing paint chips, scratches, or body damage from normal wear and tear over the years. Note anything you see on the condition report given by the transport company during pickup. Having a clear record protects you from any bogus new damage claims when you go to collect your car. CYA!

Top Off Essential Fluids

Check all fluid levels, including gas, engine coolant, brake, and transmission, to be sure everything is topped off before your car is loaded for transport. It prevents leaks from happening if levels get too low over the long journey.

For gas, aim for about 1⁄4 tank maximum when shipping a car. Any fuel over that point increases the risk of dangerous flammability and adds unnecessary weight. Save some money at the pump!

Having the gas gauge low also allows transporters to easily spot leaks or tank punctures during transit if fuel levels unexpectedly drop. Nobody wants that nasty surprise of a soaked cargo area upon delivery! If you’ll need to drive far from the drop off point, bring along a gas can to fill up.

Oh and do take out any loose items like matches, lighters, or explosives while we’re talking flammability! Better safe than blown sky-high!

Disconnect the Battery

Unless you enjoy getting back into town to a car with a dead battery and all your presets wiped out, disconnecting it beforehand is smart.

Turn off the engine and remove the car keys. Pop the hood and locate the battery near the front wall (it may be under a small removable panel). Identify the negative (-) black ground cable and use the right size wrench to loosen the bolt just enough to pull the cable off the terminal.

No need to disconnect the positive (+) red jumper cable. Isolating the ground cable disables the electrical system enough to prevent battery drain during shipping.

Make a note on the condition report that the battery is disconnected to save the next guy some head-scratching!

Take Out Your Belongings

Remove any and all personal items from both the interior and trunk. Just like when flying, the car transport company isn’t responsible for any belongings left inside. So take out:

• Owner manual and paperwork
• Garage door opener
• Dashcam and mount
• Insurance info
• Spare keys
• Radar detector
• Registration docs
• Sunglasses and accessories
• Aftermarket sound equipment
• Toll road pass
• Phone cords and chargers
• Custom floor mats

You’ll thank yourself later for not having to hunt down grandma’s antique vase that broke en route! Keep irreplaceable items close by rather than trusting movers.

Go ahead and keep the car jack, tools, and spare tire, though. No need to remove bolted parts or disassemble anything permanently connected. Who has time for that?

Take Lots of Photos!

Here comes the most important step before turning over your keys – document the heck outta your car!

Take photos all around the exterior from multiple angles, getting close-ups of any existing defects like scratches, chips, or rust spots. Open all doors to photograph both interior and exterior handles, hinges, speakers, mirror mounts, etc. Check wheel wells, undercarriage, and the roof as well.

Zoom in on any unique features like spoilers, hood ornaments, or custom art, so there’s no question later what damage was already there versus what happened during shipping.

Having thorough before photos protects you from any claims of damage that existed beforehand. Email photos to yourself as a backup or upload them to cloud storage right away. Never trust a phone not to break or get lost along the journey. Protect yourself with evidence!

Lock It Up Tight

The last step is locking up and securing anything that could shift open during loading and transit:

• Turn the wheel completely to the right for the steering wheel lock
• Put the car in park & engage the parking brake
• Close and lock all doors, trunk, and hood
• Retract or remove any antennas
• Ensure all hatchbacks and truck beds are securely closed

When shipping car across country or even across town, following these tips sets both car and owner up for smooth, stress-free transport. Before handing over those keys, tick through the checklist to get your auto baby prepped. Then hit the open road with confidence once delivered!

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