Paperwork for auto transport you must prepare
Moving can be really expensive. From buying packing supplies to hiring movers. Not to mention hidden costs that can rake up quite fast. That’s why we think a great way to skimp on moving costs is to transport your car. Sometimes, traveling long-distances, especially if you are relocating halfway across the country, is not smart to do by car. The cost of fuel, time, and food simply are too high. That’s why we think the best way you can save up quite a bit of money is to settle the paperwork for auto transport and relocate your car. If you want to learn what auto transport Florida to pick and how to prep your paperwork and vehicle for safe relocation, you’ve come to the right place. Today, we are going to share with you just that. Are you ready? Let’s begin!
Paperwork for auto transport you must prepare
One might think that transporting your vehicle is as simple as calling moving companies in Florida for a pick-up. Unfortunately, it’s much more complicated than that. There is a lot of documents and precautionary measures that you need to take into account before even picking up the phone and calling auto transport services. People like to throw around terms such as proof of ownership and bill of lading. So, let’s see exactly what that is.
1. The paperwork
If you need to transport your car, there are a couple of things you need to get settled first. You should first check whether you have the following documents:
- Identification. The auto transport company needs a way to ID you. The most common way of doing this is through a driver’s license, passport or even a simple state-issued ID will do the case. Make sure you have one of these documents present with you that are not expired that you can show your company.
- Proof of ownership of the vehicle. You must provide proof of ownership of the vehicle, or if the car is leased then you need a notarized letter from the owner that he agrees with the shipping. Some companies will ask for this, while others will not. Make sure you are on the same page with your movers on this topic.
- Proof of insurance. Most auto transport companies will outright decline to relocate your car if the insurance has expired. So, make sure that everything is up to date so you don’t run into any inconveniences along the way.
However, keep in mind that relocating your car overseas requires is a bit more complicated and nuanced than what we mentioned above. While these might seem like a nuisance or an inconvenience, trust us. These safeguards are in place to protect you and your car from any unwanted damages.
2. Documents for auto transport you must prepare: don’t forget to prepare your car
While handling documents is important, you also need to remember that when hiring special services for transport, to prepare your car for safe shipping. However, preparing your car is not as easy as you might think.
Wash your car and take proof of damages.
Transporting and relocating cars is a tricky business. Sometimes accidents happen and cars get scratches and damages. Nobody is happy about that, but it happens. However, that’s exactly why you want to make sure you get car insurance before you ship it hundreds and thousands of miles across the country.
How to settle your claim if any damages occur on your vehicle.
Although, the best way of proving that the damages occurred during transport is in the following. First, make sure you wash the inside of your car as well as the outside. Then, drive out to a big open area with lots of natural light and use your mobile phone camera (if it’s good) or borrow a camera (if you need it) and take pictures of your car before you ship it. After your car has been shipped and delivered make sure to take photos of it after it’s been delivered. That way you can display this information to the insurance company and get your insurance claim settled as soon as possible. If any damages occur.
Declutter your car.
Another important thing you need to do when preparing your car for transportation is to make sure that you remove all personal items. That means glasses, keys, wet wipes, any car scents, etc that can get damaged during transportation and the like. The reason for it is that the auto transport company cannot be held accountable if any of those stuff gets stolen or missing during transport. But of course, that doesn’t mean you should remove absolutely everything. Keep your spare tire, jack, license plate, and emergency kit. Or in other words, only keep the bare essentials!
Empty your gas tank and perform maintenance
It’s also important that you make sure your car is performing as intended. You should go to a mechanic and make sure everything is alright, and change anything that needs to be changed. Make sure to empty your gas tank as well. The lighter the vehicle, the less the moving quote will be.
Paperwork for auto transport: signing the bill of lading
Last but not least it’s time to finish everything up with paperwork for auto transport. After you’ve checked up on all the paperwork and made sure that everything is a-okay there. And also that you’ve cleaned and decluttered your car, checked for any performance issues, and empty your tank, it’s time to sign the bill of lading. Now, while we understand none reads any contracts before signing them, we implore you to do just that. Because the bill of lading is a legal document that covers topics such as where you’re shipping your car, the condition of your vehicle, or any other issues with your vehicle. So, it’s quite important that everything mentioned in it is correct. Once you sign that, you are off to the races. So, you can relax and enjoy the rest of your moving experience.