How to Prepare Your Vehicle for Transport with a Car Moving Service

Preparing your vehicle for transport with a car moving service requires careful attention to detail to ensure a smooth process. 

To begin, it’s essential to thoroughly clean and declutter your vehicle, creating an ideal environment for transport. 

However, taking care of your vehicle’s condition goes beyond tidying up. 

There are additional steps to consider that will help safeguard your vehicle and ensure everything goes seamlessly on the big day.

Clean and Declutter Your Vehicle

Choosing a local moving company provides access to a wealth of local knowledge, streamlining the moving process and enhancing efficiency.

Navigational Expertise:

• Traffic Patterns: Local movers possess intimate knowledge of local traffic patterns, including rush hour congestion, typical detours, and construction zones. This allows them to plan efficient routes, minimizing travel time and ensuring a timely arrival at your destination.
• Navigating Challenging Areas: They are adept at navigating challenging areas, such as narrow streets, limited parking zones, and difficult access points, ensuring a smooth and efficient delivery.

Understanding Local Regulations:

• Permit Requirements: Local movers are familiar with local ordinances and permit requirements related to moving, such as parking permits, street closures, and any other necessary approvals.
• Navigating Bureaucracy: They can assist with navigating any local regulations or bureaucratic hurdles that may arise during the moving process.

Community Resources:

• Local Connections: Local movers often have valuable connections within the community, such as access to local storage facilities, repair services, and other resources that may be helpful during your relocation.

By leveraging their deep understanding of the local landscape, local movers can navigate the complexities of your move with greater efficiency, minimizing delays and ensuring a smoother and more stress-free relocation experience.

Check and Maintain Fluid Levels

Before transporting your vehicle, it’s essential to check and maintain proper fluid levels to ensure optimal performance and prevent potential issues during transit.

Engine Oil:

• Check and Top Off: Check the engine oil level using the dipstick and top off as needed with the appropriate type of oil.
• Consider an Oil Change: If the oil is dirty or the mileage is approaching the recommended oil change interval, consider having an oil change performed before transport.

Coolant Level:

• Check and Top Off: Check the coolant level in the radiator reservoir and top off as needed with the correct type of coolant.
• Ensure Proper Cooling: Proper coolant levels are essential for preventing engine overheating during transport.

Brake Fluid:

• Check and Top Off: Check the brake fluid level in the brake fluid reservoir and top off as needed with the appropriate type of brake fluid.
• Ensure Optimal Braking Performance: Maintaining proper brake fluid levels ensures optimal braking performance during transport.

Transmission Fluid:

• Check and Top Off (if applicable): Check the transmission fluid level (if applicable) and top off as needed according to your vehicle’s owner’s manual.

Power Steering Fluid:

• Check and Top Off (if applicable): Check the power steering fluid level (if applicable) and top off as needed to ensure smooth steering during transport.

Windshield Washer Fluid:

• Top Off: Top off the windshield washer fluid reservoir to ensure adequate visibility during any necessary inspections or movement of the vehicle.

By carefully checking and maintaining all fluid levels before vehicle transport, you can help ensure a smooth and trouble-free transportation experience.

Document Your Vehicle’s Condition

Thoroughly documenting your vehicle’s condition before transport is essential to protect yourself and ensure a smooth claims process in case of any unforeseen damage.

Visual Inspection:

• Detailed Photographs: Take clear, high-resolution photos of your vehicle from multiple angles, including the front, sides, rear, and close-ups of any existing scratches, dents, or other imperfections.
• Interior Inspection: Photograph the interior of your vehicle, including the dashboard, seats, upholstery, and any other relevant areas.

Written Inventory:

• Detailed Description: Create a detailed written inventory of your vehicle’s condition, noting any existing damage, scratches, dents, or other imperfections.
• Mileage and Other Relevant Information: Record the vehicle’s mileage, any recent repairs, and any other relevant information.

Vehicle Condition Report:

• Joint Inspection: Conduct a joint inspection of the vehicle with the driver or representative of the auto transport company.
• Document Findings: Document all findings on a vehicle condition report, including photographs and a detailed description of the vehicle’s condition.
• Signatures: Both you and the representative of the auto transport company should sign and date the vehicle condition report.

By thoroughly documenting your vehicle’s condition before transport, you create a valuable record that can be used to support any potential claims in case of damage during transit.

By meticulously cleaning and decluttering your vehicle, checking and maintaining fluid levels, and thoroughly documenting its condition before transport, you can significantly minimize potential risks and ensure a smoother and more successful relocation for your vehicle. 

These proactive steps will help protect your investment and provide peace of mind throughout the transportation process.