Top 5 Car Shipping Tips for Seniors

As more and more baby boomers retire, one thing they often consider is moving to another state. There are many reasons why people move. For some, it's warmer weather or a chance to leave their hometown in favor of a new city where they can start over. For others, they may need to be closer to their family and friends. Regardless of the reason, it's important to know how to ship personal belongings, especially a car. Here are the five most important things to consider before shipping your car when you’re past retirement age.

Decide on a Budget and Timeline for Shipping

The first thing to do is determine how long it might take for your car to arrive at its destination. It could take anywhere from two days to three weeks to ship a car. Ideally, you'd want the car to arrive at the destination a day or two after you're scheduled to be there.

Pro tip: Type the following text into a search engine, such as Google, to get an estimated transit time: "How long does it take to ship a car from [your current city] to [the destination city]?" 

How to Save Money on Car Shipping

Now that you know how long shipping the car will take, decide how much money you can spend on the move. There are many things you can do to save money on shipping:

• Wait for the off-peak season. Moving costs are cheaper during colder months because fewer people use their services. If possible, plan to move during fall or early winter to take advantage of lower prices. 
   
• Ask about discounts or promotions. Some car shipping companies may have seasonal promotions or offer discounts. Why not ask if they offer discounts for seniors or first-time shippers?

If you're on a tight budget, add the shipping costs to your total moving expenses. There may be areas where you can cut costs to pay for car shipment. 

Read Through Your Car Insurance Documents

Before booking your vehicle's shipping date, read through your car insurance policy. Some vehicle insurance policies actually cover damages to a car while it is in transit. If that's the case, write down the value and whether it covers the automobile while not on the shipping truck. 

Inquire About Insurance Coverage From the Shipping Company

Next, you'll want to make sure that your shipping company has insurance. Some companies offer insurance as part of the cost, while others may ask you to buy a separate policy. Since this information may be difficult to find on the website, a good idea is to call and inquire about it before signing any agreements.

It's also essential to ensure the insurance protects your automobile against loss or damage while it isn't in transit. In other words, you want to double-check that the policy covers your vehicle when it's in the parking lot.

Determine How You Want to Ship the Car

Deciding how you want your car to ship is as important as determining your budget and timeline. Vehicle shipping companies, like Montway Auto Transport, generally offer different modes of transportation. Let's delve into each choice and consider why door-to-door shipping is the best option if you can afford it.

Opt for Door-to-Door Shipping

• Door-to-door: A driver from the company collects your car. Once it arrives at the destination, someone from the company will drop it off at your new address. 
   
• Terminal-to-terminal: This option involves dropping your car at a terminal and then collecting it at a different terminal in the new city. Although it costs less upfront, you will need to travel to the depot, which may be a distance from your home. 

Open Versus Closed Shipping

• Open: If you're looking to save money, open auto transportation is a good choice since more cars are transported at the same time. However, there's a greater risk of damage from the weather or road debris with this option. 
   
• Enclosed: Covered auto transport is less common and far more expensive because the carriers are limited in the number of vehicles they can accommodate. Therefore, it's important to compare prices between open-carrier and closed-car carrier companies.

Prepare Your Car for Shipping

On the day of shipment, give your vehicle a wash. Then, remove all personal belongings so that your car is empty when you hand it over to the shipping company. If you don't, anything left in your car could become lost or damaged during the transit. Taking photos of your car on the last day can also help identify any damage incurred during the journey. You may add a date and timestamp to photos on most phones, so you can submit them for insurance claims if necessary.

Conclusion

If you’re a senior citizen, there are many steps to consider when shipping a car to save you some time and money. These include finding a reputable auto transport company, asking about senior discounts, and booking in advance for less expensive rates. The more information you have about what's involved with transporting a vehicle beforehand will make it easier to prepare. That way, you’ll ensure everything goes smoothly from start to finish – taking some stress out of the process.