How to Prepare Your Vehicle for Transport

When moving any vehicle with a professional transportation company, safety is at the forefront of everyone’s mind. Getting your car from one location to another, in perfect condition is always our priority, and to do so, we always advise our customers of the necessary steps they need to take before we get started. Taking the time to adequately prepare a vehicle for transport reduces any chance of sustaining any measurable damage. By following the steps below, you can expect to minimise the likelihood of an incident occurring en route, and expect your car to arrive in the exact same state as it left in.

Do Cars Have to Be Empty When Shipped?

The short answer is no - you can pack your car and ship it with goods inside, provided you have informed us, chosen the correct service in your booking, and packed your vehicle following our guidelines.

To provide this service safely, we have explicit requirements on what is acceptable and will be accepted to travel. Please refer to our policy document as well as the information below.

Your luggage and personal items must be stored as follows:

Items are expected to be neatly packed in suitcases, removalist boxes or closed travel bags.
Items will only be transported in the boot of the vehicle, back section of a wagon or in a ute with a lockable lid.
If your vehicle does not have a closed boot, storage is allowed up to the base of the window.
All boxes and suitcases cannot exceed 80kg in total. Your driver will confirm this.
If items are not loaded properly, as per our requirements, the goods will not be allowed to travel.

Unless the Goods in Car service has been paid for, the vehicle needs to be empty of all personal and loose items. Check compartments such as glove box, console, CD stacker, boot etc.

One fitted spare tyre, factory tools and fitted baby seats are permitted, as are disabled assistance items providing they are securely fastened.

How do I prepare my car for transport?

Check that Your Car is in Good Working Order

Though your car will be driven minimally during the transport process, it should nonetheless be in good driving condition. Inoperable vehicles can be shipped, but the transporter must know in advance so that they can make the proper preparations. For operable vehicles, mechanical issues can cause unforeseen delays and damages. Therefore, you should perform a maintenance check before shipping your car.

Use the following guide to help you ensure your vehicle is in good operational order:

Make sure the battery is fully charged and that the tyres are properly inflated.
Top up all fluids in the car
Rundown your fuel tank to a quarter, this will reduce excess weight and help keep your consignment moving along quickly.
Keep an eye on the vehicle for a few weeks prior to shipment. If there are any leaks or mechanical problems make sure you let the driver know. Vehicles with leaks should never be placed on the top rack of a multi-car carrier because they can drip on the vehicles below.
Document any mechanical problems and write down any special instructions needed to drive your car onto and off the trailer. Be sure to advise the driver of any problems starting or stopping your car.

How can I protect my car while transporting?

Inspect Your Car Thoroughly for Existing Damage Before Shipping

To be certain of your car’s condition and for insurance purposes it is always best to conduct a full examination of the vehicle before you begin the transport process. This will allow you to identify and document any pre-existing issues and know for certain whether anything has occurred in the moving process.

You can do this in a few easy steps:

Thoroughly wash your car.
Make a written record of any chips, dents, scratches or other cosmetic damage.
Take pictures of the car from several angles as well as close-up shots of any damage.
Date the photographs and written record.
Verify that the transporter makes an official note in addition to your personal records.

Prepare your car to be loaded on and off your car transporter’s truck or trailer to help them ship your car with ease. Remember, the better you prepare your car for shipment, the more likely it will arrive on time.

Remove Toll Tags and Parking Passes

Remove or deactivate any toll tags or parking passes on your car. These items could be charged continually on the way to the destination. Furthermore, they are valuable and could be targeted for theft.

Preparing Convertibles for Car Carrying

If you have a convertible vehicle, make sure the top is secured as thoroughly as possible to avoid damage from air, debris, or moisture.

Do not secure convertibles with a wind-resistant tarp or cover. Tarps or covers are like sandpaper on vehicles and vehicles are not transported with these under any circumstances.

Fold back your mirrors and retract the antenna. Any specialty items, like fog lights should be secured or removed.

Finally, turn off or disable your car alarm. If you cannot disable the alarm, provide detailed, written instructions for the driver on how to turn off the alarm in case it is triggered.

To minimise any delays in the transport of your vehicle, follow these steps when preparing for transport. You will be more confident that your car can be looked after and protected.

Preparing Your Vehicle for Transport Ensures a Smooth Experience

By following our guidelines and policies, you can be sure that your vehicle will arrive at your destination in perfect condition and exactly when you need it. We work hard to ensure the best service and pride ourselves on our customer service, so if you have any questions before you get your vehicle transported, please feel free to reach out to us for assistance.