You don’t own a truck and don’t know anyone else who does. Especially one who will drive to California hauling a trailer loaded with your new classic car that many miles. Your personal car is too small to hook up a trailer and haul a car. The only real option you have is to contact an automobile shipping company and have them transport the car from California to Ohio for you.

Before You Make Your Online Bid

Online auctions can be exciting, especially when you see the car of your dreams listed and you want a shot at bidding the right price to have that classic beauty sitting in your own driveway. One of the most important things for you to so when making bids online is to contact the seller prior to placing your bid. You need to find out of the car is in running condition and what shape the body is in.  If you’re going to have to get the car transported if you win the auction, you need to know these things in case you will need to make arrangements with the transport company to pick up a non-running car or one that may be fragile for transport. Keep in mind that if a car does not run, it will usually cost a bit more to haul than a car that is in running condition. You may also want to check with the seller to see where the car is located. If the car is out in a rural area it can cost more to have a transporter drive far out in the middle of a secluded area. If they are near a large city there may be an option to have them take the car to a dealership or a shipping lot where a transport truck will be able to access the car easily, thus cutting down on shipping cost.

When You Win the Bid

Once you have won the bid you’re going to feel excited and most likely be very anxious to get your new beauty home to you. Before you proceed with booking an auto transport company to haul your new prized possession across the country you need to take care of some very important things first. First, you need to have the original owner send you pictures or videos of the car. You’re going to want to get as many detailed pictures of both the exterior of the car and the interior of the car as possible. Make sure to let the original owner know to set a time and date stamp on the photos or videos and to try to get close up shots to see if there is any damage such as paint chipping or dents on the car. When the transport driver will do an inspection of the car prior to loading it onto the carrier, but it is always a good idea to have your own as well.

You’ll want to contact your motor vehicle insurance company to add insurance coverage to the car as soon as you have purchased it so it will be covered during shipment. Most auto transport companies will provide insurance during the shipment to cover any damages that may occur during transport, but it is always advisable to have your own personal coverage as well. Keep in mind also that if the original owner has an insurance coverage plan on the car you just won at auction, he or she would be paid by their insurance company for damages if any occur prior to you taking physical possession of the car or signing the car title. You will want to make sure that you don’t have the car transported to you before you have signed the title and have taken ownership of the car in your own name.  If anything were to happen to the car before it reached you, you would be out every penny you spent on purchasing as well as transporting the car if it were not in your name already and fully insured.

Transporting the Car

Now that you have the necessary information on how to secure your new investment with insurance, location for transport pick-up and signing the title, you will want to contact a reputable automobile shipping company and gain as much information about the transport process from California to Ohio.  Once you have the car title in your hand it will be time to arrange transport and get your new classic beauty home where all of your friends and family can gloat over what a great car you have. When you’re ready for the best in auto transport, be sure to contact Z-Best Auto Shippers for the most reliable auto transport with guaranteed delivery dates, the best pricing and the honesty you need for dependable automobile shipping. Call for a free quote today and let our friendly staff walk you through each step of the car shipping process.

If you have never had a car shipped before, it’s best to take a look at all of the things that can affect the pricing as well as the length of time it can take for delivery of a car when being transported. Once you have a better idea of how transport costs are applied, you’ll be able to make a better decision on how you want your own car to be transported.

Open Air or Enclosed Carrier?

Once you begin checking around for pricing, you’ll soon discover that transporting a car on an open air car carrier will cost substantially less than shipping with an enclosed carrier. Transporting a car on an enclosed carrier is often a preferred choice for those who need to transport a classic car or a luxury model vehicle, Enclosed carriers offer added protection from the elements and flying debris such as rocks or debris flying from other cars when travelling. An open carrier is usually the way that most people will choose to transport their car. Open carriers will have the same exposure as you would expect if you were to drive your car on your own, but you will not have the extra mileage that will lower the value of your car as you would if driving it on your own.

Alone or With Others

When you’re making plans to have your car transported you’ll find that you will usually be given an option to transport the car by itself or to transport it on a multi-carrier truck with many other automobiles. Transporting a car by on a multi-carrier truck will be less expensive than transporting a car by itself. The shipping company will let you know about fuel cost associated with transporting a car and when shipping alone the fuel cost is averaged only to you while shipping with many other cars the fuel cost will be broken down between all vehicle owners, thus enabling the cost to be lowered per person sharing the transport method. You will need to note that many larger motor vehicles are not always eligible for multi-carrier transport as the dimensions may too large to accommodate the vehicle on the carrier. Your shipping representative will be able to go over all of the details of individual and multi-carrier vehicle transport with you and will be able to let you know what is available for your particular vehicle.

Your Vehicle and Destination

Some very important things to consider for automotive transport are going to be the weight of your car, where the car is picked up or where it is loaded onto the transport vehicle and where it is going to be delivered. The more a car weighs, the more it is going to cost for transport so naturally, a small economy car will cost less to transport than a larger model vehicle such as an SUV.  You also need to be aware that if you will need to have your car picked up by the transport company they will need to be able to drive on the roadway to your location. Roads that are very narrow or with poor driving surfaces may not easily accommodate a large transport truck and it may cost more to have your car picked up in locations such as those. You will also find that cost will rise if you need the car transported long distance or in a rapid amount of time. Being aware of things that can cause pricing to increase will be a great assistant to you when you are checking prices with several companies. It will help you to be aware of companies that may be increasing prices when there is no logical necessity to change them.

A Final Note

Anytime you have a car transported be sure to thoroughly check the car for signs of physical damage such as paint chipping or dents and dings before the car is loaded onto the carrier. Having a detailed inspection should include pictures or video.  Checking your car for signs of damage prior to transport can ensure that you notice any damage, if there is any, when the car is delivered and this can save you money for repair if it is covered by the carrier. When you’re looking for a professional auto shipper who will take care of your motor vehicle, have an open line of communication through each step of the shipping process and will make sure you are informed on all attributes of automobile shipping, Z-Best Auto Shippers is the company to choose. Z-Best takes pride in maintaining the lowest competitive pricing and staffing only professionals who have the knowledge and experience in the auto transport industry to ensure that your professional automobile shipping is always on time, priced right, and taken care of with reliable and dependable services regardless of the type of car you have or the distance it is going.

Image courtesy: nipitphand / freedigitalphotos.net

1. Remove your personal items:  If you are moving, it may seem like a great idea to pack your vehicle full of things you need to also arrive at your final destination in order to save yourself some additional shipping costs.  Unfortunately, this is not a good idea for a number of reasons.  Most auto transport companies are not insured to cover your personal items, and many are not even licensed to have them aboard, so they will instruct you to remove them prior to transport, delaying the departure time, and messing up the shipping schedule.  The additional weight of your items in the vehicle can also put your over the pre-determined weight limit, which can lead to hefty fees and/or also cause delays.
2. Wash your car:  This one may seem counter-intuitive, especially if your vehicle is being shipped in an open container.  However, prior to departure, the driver will be assessing your vehicle from front to back, top to bottom, making note of any scratches or blemishes already present, and a clean car is much more easily inspected.  A proper inspection will ensure there are no damage disputes when your vehicle arrives at its final destination.
3. Protect Aftermarket Add-ons:  If your vehicle has any aftermarket alterations, you will want to make sure they are properly secured, or even removed, so as not to suffer any damages during transport.  Especially items, such as spoilers, that may extend the shape and size of your vehicle, and make it more likely to be scratched or dented.
4. Ensure Gas Tank is LOW:  You will want to leave your vehicle with approximately 1/8 tank to ¼ tank prior to pick-up.  A full tank increases the weight of the vehicle which can lead to delays at weigh stations, and additional fees for you.
5. Make Sure Battery is Charged:  Because your vehicle will need to be started after a prolonged period of disuse, depending on the shipping time, a fully charged battery will ensure there are no issues when it needs to be started back up at the final destination.

Again, confirm with your auto transport company additional steps for preparing your vehicle for transport prior to pick-up, but by following the steps above, you should be well prepared to having your vehicle shipped with no issues.

Weather Conditions:

The most inevitable of these factors would be unforeseeable weather conditions.  Whether, the vehicle is making the journey across country, or even across the ocean, weather can be extremely unpredictable.  Anything from snow which can cause road blocks, to a hurricane which can halt or delay a ship’s progress, there is simply no way to avoid these acts of God.  In some cases, alternate routes may be available, while in other situations, the transport driver may be forced to simply wait out the storm.

Weigh Station Lines:

Another inescapable issue can be long weigh station lines which can delay the transport of a vehicle across country.  Because these wait times cannot be predicted or avoided, the transport driver could be subjected to dealing with longer than average delays.

Flat Tires or other transport maintenance issues:

Although auto transport companies strive to keep their transport vehicles in exceptional condition, flat tires and other mechanical issues are unforeseeable and can cause temporary delays, especially depending when on route they are discovered and remedied.  While a flat tire may only push back arrival time a couple hours, a more serious mechanical issue in a rural area could cause a longer set-back.

Customer Reliability:

Unfortunately, sometimes the delay can be attributed to the customer.  If a drop off is scheduled, and the customer arrives late, it can easily throw off the entire transport schedule by hours or more.  Also, incorrect paperwork presented at pick-up can slow down the process and delay the vehicle being released.

Although, no one can have a direct influence on weather related or other unforeseeable circumstances, make sure to hold up your end of the deal by being prepared and on time, and be aware that a range of dates for arrival allow for a more accurate prediction.  Be wary of an auto transport company that provides the exact time and date of arrival because these often lead to tenuous expectations.

Contributing Cost Factors

• Size of Vehicle– Larger and heavier vehicles are usually more expensive to ship as they take up more room and weigh down the transport truck, so you can expect to pay more for a heavy-duty truck than a compact sedan.
• Type of Car Carrier– The most popular option for shipping a vehicle is to use an open container, but sometimes, you may determine an enclosed carrier is a better option for your car.  If that is the case, you can expect an increase in costs, simply because the carrier type provides much better protection against the elements.
• Condition of Vehicle– If your car is non-operational and cannot be driven on to the carrier, the costs will increase significantly because you will require a truck with the proper equipment to load and unload a non-working vehicle.
• Drop-off and Pick-up Location– Although the distance itself plays a large part in determining cost, the location of drop-off and pick-up also weighs heavily in the calculation.  More remote areas are more expensive than central locations, and you will find that you can save yourself some money if you are able to be flexible with beginning and end locations.
• Terminal Use– If you are unable to have your vehicle dropped off immediately prior to shipping or picked up immediately after arrival, you may need to use a terminal for temporary storage.  The fees for terminal use vary by location, but the longer your vehicle will be in one, the more you can expect to pay.

If you gather all the relevant information pertaining to the above factors prior to requesting information, you will receive the most accurate and detailed quote.  If you are unsure about any information, feel free to ask your shipping company to elaborate.  The testimony of a great shipping company should be the willingness and ability to fully service their customers and handle all questions or insecurities.