You just finished talking with Tempus Logix, and you got the best car transport price, car delivery timeframe, and the type of trailer in which you want to transport your car. Tempus Logix’s experts informed you that the driver would contact you 24 hours prior and then again 4 hours before the actual pickup. You are responsible to prepare your car for shipping before the driver’s arrival.
At this point, you might have wondered, “what do I need to do when the driver comes? Just hand him the keys?”
In actuality, that is all you need to do—meet him, watch the inspection of the car, sign the papers, and say your goodbyes. After this, you merely wait for your car delivery to your assigned destination.
But, if for some reason you wonder if there is any other thing you could do to prepare the car for the pickup, here are some tips:
Wash the car
Lather up, PW, and dry the car! Now when it is clean, you can start a visual inspection for any existing scratches, dents, or damages. If there are any, you may photograph them for your and carriers’ record.
The transporter has to do this either way, but for you doing it beforehand can save some time. Besides, it will be easier to notice any changes to your car when delivered. With Tempus Logix, the vehicles arrive in the same condition as carriers have loaded them onto the trailers. Say if some does happen—Perish the thought!—the indemnity will follow faster because of your preparedness.
Empty the car
It is better to have the car empty of personal belongings before the shipment. But if you have to move some things with your car, then packed it neatly, put it in the trunk, and try to keep the 100 lbs free of charge limit. Make sure no loose parts/objects are on or in the vehicle. You do not want anything flying out or bouncing inside the car during the transit. Also, check for any leaks due to mechanical issues. It can cause damage to other vehicles if it is on a multi-level multi-car trailer.
Keep the tank low
For weight reasons, carriers prefer transporting cars that have less than 20% of fuel in the tanks. One gallon of gas weighs 6 pounds. 20% is equal to about 2.5 to 3 pounds. These numbers, compared with the weight of a full tank (72-90 pounds), makes a big difference for the GVWR, not to mention, adding them by 2-9 for multi-level multi-car trailers.
If you had filled up the tank and then you planned to transport the car, obviously you are not going to empty it. However, getting the car prepared before shipping will make the transit just much smoother.
