Moving to a new home can be an exciting but stressful experience. A long-distance move requires all manner of logistical considerations, not least how you are going to transport your car. Luckily, there are a number of reliable car transportation companies out there who can take all the stress out of it for you.
If you are having your car transported, you must prepare it properly for the journey. Here are five top tips for preparing your card for transportation.
1.Give your car a good clean, inside and out
Cleaning your car is a good starting point, and not just because it looks good, but also because it can flag up any imperfection before you hand it over to the transportation company. Give the outside a good clean and shine will allow you to identify any scratches or bumps. It may also show the pristine nature of your car, meaning if there are any scratches at the end of the journey, you’ll know they probably happened in transit.
Cleaning out the inside of your car can allow you to declutter and remove any loose items which may become dislodged during transportation and cause damage. This includes items in the boot, such as jump leads. It is also a good idea to take some photographs of the inside and outside of your car before it begins its journey to keep a record of the state it was in when it left you.
2.Switch off the alarm and sensors
The last thing a transporter driver wants to hear is your car alarm blaring in their ears. Make sure to disable the alarm before transport to avoid this. You should also switch off other security-related features such as parking sensors as the noise of them can also distract the driver.
3.Leave the fuel levels low
Too much petrol or diesel in your tank means a heavier car, which translates into a heavier load for the truck to carry. Make sure your fuel tank is low enough so that there is no additional weight for the truck driver to contend with. If you feel there is too much in the tank, maybe run a few errands before your scheduled transportation to run the levels down a bit.
4.Check for deflated tyres and leaks
Underinflated tyres can be damaged when being lifted on and off a truck, so make sure your tyres are at the required pressure just as you would if you were driving the car yourself. It is also important to make sure no leaks are coming from the bottom of the car. Leaking oil can very dangerous when loading and unloading a vehicle and, in some cases, a transportation company may refuse to handle your car if there are any oil leaks. If you do spot deflated tyres or oil leaks, get them sorted as a matter of urgency.
5.Make sure the car is locked
While this seems obvious, it can be easy to forget, especially when your car is weighted down on the back of a flatbed truck and held in position by heavy-duty straps. It’s always best not to allow an enterprising thief the opportunity to try his luck.