Winter isn’t a popular time to ship a car for many people, but sometimes you have to get that car to its destination, and going for an auto transport service is the best option. Of course, it may take somewhat longer than driving it yourself, but it will be far safer. Operating in harsh road conditions caused by cold weather is hardly challenging for professional truck drivers. So you can be confident that your automobile will arrive at its drop-off location irrespective of the weather. Whatever your reason for transporting a car in the wintertime, if you follow these winter auto shipping tips, you can expect your vehicle to arrive in the same condition as when you left it with the carrier.
Plan Ahead
When shipping a car, it’s usually a good idea to prepare ahead of time, as unexpected delays are a possibility, especially in the winter. Scheduling the winter shipment in advance is critical to improving your chances of receiving the needed delivery dates. At Tempus Logix, we strongly recommend planning your auto transport at least a month before shipping your car.
Be Prepared for Widely Varied Shipping Prices
The shipping season, together with the vehicle’s weight, size, and type, may also affect auto shipping prices. In general, the coldest months of the year are the most affordable for shipping a vehicle. It all boils down to supply and demand as fewer people ship vehicles in wintertime; so, vendors need to lower their rates to attract customers. That’s specifically applicable in rural regions where some of these carriers shut down for a cold season. Plus, fuel prices often go down in the winter before skyrocketing in the summer when people are more prone to travel.
Use Enclosed Auto Transport Option
When shipping your automobile in the winter, one of the most important considerations to make is whether to choose an enclosed or open trailer. Even though it may cost a little more, enclosed auto transport is frequently a better alternative during a cold season because it entirely protects your automobile from adverse weather. Additionally, if you go for an enclosed auto carrier, you won’t have to worry about making any special winter preparations to protect your car on road transport.
Choose Your Car Transport Company Carefully
Picking up a reliable auto transport company amongst so many options is quite overwhelming. Dealing with the issue becomes even more exacerbated in the wintertime when harsh weather conditions can considerably obstruct delivery. The excellent news is that Tempus Logix can help you ship your car securely and efficiently, regardless of weather conditions. In addition, we only work with certified carriers, assuring the safety of your vehicle and the reliability of the service. To learn more, obtain a free quote, and don’t hesitate to contact us by phone or email.
Prepare Your Car for a Winter Road Trip
- Lubricate the door and trunk locks, don’t forget hinges and latches. To protect the rubber seals on the doors from freezing, use a weather-strip spray or a similar substance. Make sure all the doors and hatches are perfectly closed if you don’t want any water or snow coming in. You can also place a pack of moisture absorbers in your vehicle, just in case.
- Check your antifreeze levels before transporting your automobile in the winter. Your engine might freeze if you don’t have enough antifreeze, leaving you stranded. An imprinted scale on the side of the tank should display the maximum and minimum levels of antifreeze in your car engine. Take a peek at the current level, and if it’s close to or below the lowest level, you should add some.
- Before shipping, double-check your car battery as it’s more likely to become sluggish at cold temperatures, thus providing insufficient power to start the engine and run the car. So unless your car battery is brand new, get it checked and inspect the terminals for tightness and corrosion.
- Check whether all of your car windows shut tightly. In the case of a convertible car, make sure the top is secure in place. Checking window seals is especially important when deciding on open-air transport since your vehicle is less protected from weather elements like hail, rain, snow, dust, etc.