By preparing your car’s move well in advance, you will make it easier for your auto transport company to ship it on time, in good condition and at the contracted price.

The first step is a thorough inspection of your car by the auto shipping company. You will be asked to sign a bill of lading and a vehicle condition report before the car is shipped. Review the details of the vehicle condition report and make sure you fully agree with the auto shipper’s assessment of your car’s condition just before it is shipped.

Before it is transported, thoroughly clean your car inside and out. This will help the shipper perform a detailed and accurate inspection of the vehicle and give you time to remove extra items from it.

Be sure to tell the shipper in advance if your car is not in running condition. Many auto transport companies will not ship disabled vehicles or will charge a higher price for additional towing or transport services needed to get the vehicle to its destination.

Some other things you should plan for when shipping your vehicle:

• The vehicle should not have any fluid leaks.
  
• You will want to have the complete set of keys available to provide to your auto shipper.
  
• Remove all personal items from the vehicle before it is transported. The auto transport company cannot accept the vehicle by law if there are personal items inside of the car. If you do leave anything in the vehicle, the shipper is not liable for any loss or damage to your items.
  
• Remove the car cover or spare tire covers. However, it is a good idea to keep the spare tire and jack in the vehicle.
  
• Remove any roof racks or other nonpermanent items that you may have on your vehicle.
  
• All antennas must be removed or fully retracted.
  
• If your vehicle has an alarm system, you will want to disable or disconnect it prior to shipment.
  
• Keep about a quarter or a half tank of gas in your car on the day of shipping.
  
• If you’re doing a household move and are moving to an area where the climate is quite different from your current residence, prepare your vehicle in advance for the new climate. Your service professional can help you add the necessary coolant or other fluids that you need and if necessary, can check air conditioning and heating systems.