However reputable your choice of shipping company, it’s still worth taking a few precautions when transporting your classic car, just in case.
Here are five of our top tips to help you make sure everything runs smoothly, the next time your car needs to be shipped anywhere.
1. Check Your Insurance
Just in case anything should go wrong, it’s wise to check that your car will be insured – and that might mean making sure your own insurance covers certain mishaps.
The company you choose to transport your car may also have specialist insurance cover in place, so it is worth asking to make sure you know what your level of coverage will be in total.
2. Drain the Tank
It’s a sensible precaution not to try and transport a car when its tank is full to the brim with a flammable liquid, so an empty fuel tank can be a good decision.
Of course, you might reasonably want to drive your car, either to its departure point or immediately upon arrival, and you’re going to need some fuel for that.
As such, rather than a completely empty tank, you might be able to keep it at a quarter full or less – this lets you drive the vehicle when you need or want to, but is good news for the environment as it reduces the weight of the vehicle during shipping.
3. Remove Your Valuables
It’s equally sensible not to leave any valuable items in the vehicle while it is being transported.
This is simply good practice, as it removes the risk of those items going missing for any reason, either deliberate or accidental, and can ensure there are no issues regarding whether or not you are insured for such losses.
4. Get It Fixed
If there are any pre-existing issues with your classic car that you have been meaning to get fixed, it’s a good idea to have them looked at before you have it transported.
Make sure everything is firmly attached into place, and your vehicle stands a much better chance of arriving at its destination in just as good condition as it set off in.
5. Read the Paperwork
Finally, just make sure you know what service you are receiving – along with any limitations of liability – so that you can take any necessary precautions of your own to safeguard your cherished vehicle.
Have your own paperwork relating to your car, and make sure you have backup copies of this too, along with a written confirmation of the condition of the vehicle when it left its departure point.
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