This vehicle shipping guide will help you prepare your car for a worry-free car shipping experience. 99.7% of cars moved by ShipCarsNow arrive damage-free. Our goal is to transport your vehicle as safely and efficiently. Following these easy steps can help protect your car's condition during the vehicle shipping process, help you avoid unplanned costs, and help ensure the timely arrival of your vehicle..

Your Contact Information

• Valid Phone and Email: Provide a good phone number and email address where you can be contacted throughout the vehicle shipping process.
• Location Contact: It is also helpful to provide an alternate contact, such as a work number or your authorized representative's phone number.

Safety First

• Notify Us Of Any Vehicle Modifications such as vehicle lowered, vehicle lift kits, camper shells. To safely load and unload your vehicle, there must be a minimum of 4 inches of ground clearance.
• Notify Us Of Any Specialty Item such as spoilers, low-hanging fog lights, luggage racks or running boards that may affect clearances for loading and unloading. We need to be aware of anything that alters or changes the original manufacturer standard specifications or dimensions of your vehicle.
• Pickup Truck Shells/Bed Liners need to be securely fastened so they cannot shift or come off during transport. If your truck has a shell or other aftermarket modification, remember to notify ShipCarsNow at the time of order to avoid unexpected shipping charges.

Minimum Requirements

• Your Vehicle Must Be Operable in order for us to ship your vehicle. The tires, brakes and engine must be in good working order, and the vehicle must be fully drivable with all safety equipment and appliances intact.
• Gas Level must be between 1/8 to 1/4 tank of gas prior to transport, and not more. This minimizes the weight of the car during shipment and provides added safety for the car transporter.
• Remove All Personal And Household Items: Do not pack any luggage or ship any personal or household items in your car. Per U.S. Department of Transportation regulations, it is illegal to ship your car if it contains personal or household items. Both you and the car transporter could be fined, and your vehicle could be impounded. Also, the car transporter's insurance does not cover damage or theft of personal or household items that are packed in your car. To avoid costly delays or penalties, please ship any luggage, personal, and household items separately. ShipCarsNow will not move your car until all such items are removed from your vehicle.

Protect Against Loss or Damage

• Lower Or Remove The Antenna. Fold-In Any Mirrors Where Possible.
• Remove Portable Interior Components such as hands-free car phones, GPS systems, and stereo face plates to avoid potential loss or damage.
• Wash Your Car prior to transport to facilitate the pre-shipping inspection of your vehicle. When our carrier arrives to pick up your vehicle, it is important that both you and the truck driver provide an accurate assessment of the vehicle's overall condition, including pre-existing chips and scratches. We recommend you take date-stamped digital photos that document the vehicle's condition before it is transported.
• Repair Or Seal Convertible Tops if there are pre-existing tears or open seems to prevent weather exposure from causing additional damage.

Preparing Your Vehicle for Transport

• Check Fluid Levels to prepare your car for a change in weather when shipping to a warmer or colder climate. It is a good idea to check antifreeze, battery and other fluid levels before transport.
• Check Your Battery to ensure it is fully charged and secured in its mounting bracket to avoid delays or additional charges for jump starting a dead battery.
• Tire Pressure: Ensure your tires are properly inflated to avoid additional time delays or charges due to a flat tire.

When Your Vehicle is Picked Up

• Provide a Complete Set of Keys to the truck driver (e.g. ignition, trunk and glove box keys or key fob/entrance code to the truck driver). This is a U.S. Department of Transportation requirement for any company transporting a vehicle over the road or by rail.
• Gas Level of between 1/8 to 1/4 tank of gas and not more.
• Check for Leaks and alert the car transporter if your vehicle has any fluid leaks. This ensures the safety of the car transport personnel and helps them comply with any environmental regulations.
• Disable Car Alarms prior to shipping. If the alarm is activated during transport, it could wear down the battery. If a car hauler has to recharge the battery before moving the vehicle, this could cost you additional time and money.

When Your Vehicle Is Delivered

• Post-Shipment Inspection: Perform a careful inspection of your delivered vehicle with the truck driver or ShipCarsNow agent, including the undercarriage and the interior. Make sure to note any damages on the post-shipment inspection form so it can be compared to the pre-shipment report. Both you and the driver need to sign the inspection document; retain a copy for your records.
• Damage Claims: ShipCarsNow has an excellent track record with a 99.7% damage-free rate. In the unlikely event damage occurs, you need to file a damage claim within 24 hours. If you have questions about your vehicle's delivery condition, contact the Claims department at 866-207-3360.

Questions? Call us toll free, 24x7, at 1-866-207-3360.We'll be happy to answer any questions or concerns you have.

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