As if it wasn’t already a hassle moving to a new state, making sure your car ships with you can come with a long list of surprises. Even trying to save a few hundred dollars by having a friend or family member help you ship your car to another state can come with some expensive risks. We’ve never been big fans of DIY here.
Booking a car shipping company on uShip can get you a lower price for professional transporting, and if you’re prepared ahead of time, you can reduce your risks on the road by miles. Read on for our complete checklist on shipping your car to another state.
Make Sure Your Vehicle Maintenance is Up to Date
There are always plenty of auto transport safety risks you can’t plan for, but you can always make sure your car is in a healthy condition to ship. Take time to check the following yourself or have a mechanic you trust to take a look under the hood.
- Check Tire Pressure
- Change or Check Oil levels
- Charge or Replace Battery
- Check Brakes
- Test E-Brake
- Monitor Fluids
- Keep an Eye Out for Engine Leaks
- Make Sure Timing Belt is up to Snuff
How to Ship a Car on uShip
Creating a car shipping listing is free and easy. You can plan ahead or find last-minute transporters to help you ship your car. All you have to do is:
- 1. Create a listing on uShip.com
- 2. Choose a Transporter
- 3. Book your shipment
- 4. Make a payment once your car arrives
Researching Car Haulers For Hire on uShip
Choosing the right auto transporter can be the difference between a job done right and loss or damage to your vehicle. Here are a few things to consider before making a choice:
- Decide whether you need open or closed transport
- Review bids on your listing
- Read company reviews left by other car shippers
- Speak with your carrier through the uShip platform and get your questions answered
- Check to see if the carrier is registered with the FMCSA
- Check their profile for insurance coverage
Open or Closed Vehicle Transport?
Is your car a Collector’s 67 Mustang or a hand-me-down with lots of miles? Either way, your car deserves safe, reliable, and affordable shipping, but this can help more easily decide between open or closed car transport.
The main difference comes down to price and protection from the elements. Open transport is the most cost-effective way to ship your vehicle, but closed vehicle transport will offer more protection against damage.
Protect Your Car During Shipment
For the majority of us, our car is one of the most expensive things we own and we rely on it to regularly take us where we need to go. Luckily, uShip offers our ‘Ship with Confidence Guarantee’. uShip’s cargo insurance comes at a great rate, is backed by Lloyds of London, and offers fast payouts on all claims.
While most uShip auto shipments go off without a hitch, The ‘Ship with Confidence’ Guarantee can compensate you up to $500* in the rare case of damage or loss on the road. Looking for more protection for your stuff? Look into Cargo Insurance from uShip.
Ready to Ship Your Car?
Free Car Shipping QuotesPreparing Your Car to Ship
Getting your car in shipping condition can save you money in the long run. Any additional weight on your car could incur a fee from your auto transport company. Here are a few things to prepare before shipping your car:
- Gather all necessary documents such as insurance, vehicle title, driver’s license, etc.
- Wash your car’s exterior and interior
- Clean your car inside out and document any current damage
- Remove any valuable and/or personal items from the vehicle
- Make sure your gas tank is only ¼ full
- Remove any exterior accessories such as bike racks or trailers
- Remove parking or toll tags
- Fold back your mirrors for offloading
- Deactivate your anti-theft alarm
- Make sure you have a spare key
Things to Check After You Ship a Car
You did your due diligence to inspect your car before it shipped, but even the most reliable vehicle transporters could leave unwanted scratches and dents behind. Check for the following once your car is delivered:
- Repeat all the steps in the maintenance and preparing to ship checklists
- Don’t sign your eBOL before the inspection
- File an insurance claim if necessary.
- While insurance is not required to ship a car, car shipping insurance is available when you book through uShip to help give you extra protection on the road.
Frequently Asked By uShip Car Shippers
More food for thought before you ship a car with uShip.
How Much Does Shipping Your Car to Another State Cost?
The cost to ship a car to another state depends on distance and transport type, but you can typically expect to pay between $500 and $1500. If the car hauler charges per mile, you can expect around $3.00 per mile to ship a car less than 200 miles, or possibly $0.78 per mile to ship 1,000 miles or more.
Can I Ship a Car with A Bike Rack or Kayak Rack?
Unfortunately, no, but depending on your transporter, you may be able to store your bike or kayak inside the car for an additional cost.
How Soon Will My Car Arrive?
Arrival time will depend on the distance of transport and your carrier’s process. Make sure you negotiate pickup and delivery dates ahead of time with your transporter.
What’s the Difference Between Car Shipping Carriers and Brokers?
Brokers serve as the middleman between car shippers and car carriers, although some might have a fleet of their own. A car carrier is an individual or organization that provides the service directly.
Do I need to Have a Truck Fleet to Be a uShip Car Transporter?
If you’re interested in earning extra money as a car hauler for hire, and you have the means to safely transport cars, you can market yourself as a car shipper on uShip.
Ready to Ship Your Car?
Free Car Shipping Quotes
Abby Ruffier
SEO Content Strategist
Abby Ruffier has worked as uShip’s SEO content strategist since May 2022. She is passionate about helping uShip’s message reach a wider audience to help bring sustainability to the logistics industry.
