How To Ship Your Rare and High-End Vehicles
Owning a rare or high-end vehicle can be quite a privilege in life, but responsibilities come with it. One such obligation might be moving it from one location to another when you can’t drive it yourself or don’t want to. You might be driving your family’s moving truck and can’t physically tow the luxury vehicle. Alternatively, you might buy or sell it in different markets, you might not have the time to drive it yourself, or you just want to keep needless miles off your prize. In all these cases, knowing how to ship a rare or high-end car gives you options.
The Process
The process of shipping any car starts with finding the right shipping service. You not only need to find vehicle shipping services but also find ones that can deal with luxury vehicles. Be sure you sift through reviews of other luxury or high-end owners for their personal experiences.
Additional protection is a good idea for rare cars and trucks. Open-air carriers might be fine for daily commuter vehicles but aren’t protected from debris and weather. Enclosed carrier services will keep your prized vehicle inside a bigger one. That way, it should arrive without being exposed to the elements, projectiles, or even vandals and thieves.
Make sure your car is cleaned and washed before shipping. This makes working on your bill of laden easier. Also, any extra weight you can remove will slightly lower the shipping cost. In fact, avoid topping off the gas prior to shipping if you were planning on that.
A thorough bill of laden will involve taking pictures of your collectible vehicle and noting any damage already present. Incidents during transit should be rare with the right carrier, but you’ll need this documentation to file a claim if need be.
Exotic Car Transport Is Different
Exotic car transport is different than normal car transport. It is also called classic car shipping, antique car transport, expensive vehicle shipping, and luxury car shipping. Whatever you call it, it’s additional protection for anything from rare vehicles to sports cars and anything else of high value.
Enclosed transports are the norm for this kind of vehicle shipping, given the extra protection that they provide. On average, these carriers cost around 40% more than open carriers, but it’s worth it. Other factors do play into the pricing, though. They include what time of year you’re shipping, vehicle condition, distance traveled, and vehicle size. Smaller vehicles cost less to ship because they might leave enough room in a carrier for more cargo.
Pros and Cons
The United States Department of Transportation usually imposes a maximum weight limit of freight at 80,000 lbs. Commercial car carriers typically only handle five to nine different vehicles simultaneously. The upside is that the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration tracks public records involving car shipping licenses, complaints, and insurance records. There is a lot of information available you can use to vet various carriers for your own needs.
Shipping your high-value vehicle has numerous benefits. You don’t increase a vehicle’s wear and tear when riding on a truck. It’s also safeguarded from inclement weather in enclosed trucks, and that’s useful in all seasons. Shipping carrier drivers are insured and qualified for their line of work. Using a shipping carrier is usually cheaper than hiring a private driver.
There are some potential downsides. The shipping timeline might be longer than you want or expect, and it is sometimes hard to manage. If you’re moving, you probably won’t be allowed to put personal items in your car. Also, low-clearance or narrow vehicles might not fit properly if you choose open transport.
However you decide to ship your exotic or luxury car, there are several things you should do to make it successful. Get several quotes or bids, and confirm that your car will be insured via transit. Ensure your car is inspected for physical damage and mechanical issues before and after delivery. Doing these things means getting your luxury ride where you need it without actually driving it yourself.
