Tips for Shipping your Luxury Car
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Luxury cars represent more than just a mode of transportation. For owners, shipping a luxury car represents a high-value investment that requires utmost attention and care. It demands special protection and focus to ensure it reaches its destination in pristine condition.
In this guide, you will understand different international shipping methods for shipping a luxury car, preparing it for shipping, choosing the right international shipping methods for luxury car shipping, risks involved in its transportation, and much more.
The Different Methods of Luxury Car Shipping
There are various methods of luxury car shipping, each offering different levels of protection and costs:
Open Shipping
Often known as the most preferred and cost-friendly method, open shipping is a method wherein your luxury car is shipped along with other vehicles. An open trailer transports the car alongside other vehicles.
The risk associated with this type of luxury car shipping is that it comes with fewer protection factors and high chances of potential damage when not managed well.
Enclosed Shipping
In this method, there is a covered trailer that ships the vehicle along with a few other vehicles, adding a shield on it to protect it from road debris and harsh weather conditions. Though this method is expensive, it is considered a safer way to ship a luxury car internationally.
White Glove Shipping
This method of shipping utilizes special enclosed carriers and equipment. In most cases, the luxury car is shipped as a single per enclosed trailer. In fact, white glove shipping is the most premium method of shipping a luxury car, with perks like special protection and focused attention from the handlers but heavier pricing factors.
While these are methods of shipping a luxury car, the modes may vary. This means that you can opt for your luxury car shipping by air, sea, or land. Among the three models, air shipping is the quickest. It speedily makes your car reach the destination but comes with high pricing. Ocean shipping is more affordable, but the transit time is slower. Land shipping, though the least expensive, is mostly suitable for shipping your luxury car in domestic regions and is often not recommended for international moving.
How to Prepare Your Luxury Vehicle for Shipment
By following the below-mentioned steps, you can rest assured that your luxury vehicle is ready for safe and secure transportation.
- Clean it thoroughly, inside out. Think of it as putting new clothes on your luxury car for a trip. You don’t want any dirt grinding into the paint or getting stuck inside while it’s bouncing around on a truck
- Keenly inspect and document every scratch and dent. Capture photos and take a video walking all the way around your car. This will prove what it looked like before the movers came, so you aren’t blamed for it
- Make sure you empty all the compartments of your luxury car completely, like you’re moving house. Empty the glove box, the center console, and the trunk. Take your favorite sunglasses, the spare change, and your aux cord. If it’s not bolted down, it should come out with you
- Turn off the alarm for the sake of silence. Imagine that thing blaring on and off in a packed transport truck. It’ll drive the driver crazy and could drain your battery. Just disarm it
- Don’t send it off with a full tank. They actually require you to have only about a quarter-tank of gas or less. It’s a safety thing to hand your luxury car to the movers with less weight and less risk of a fire
- Make sure it can actually move on its own. Do a quick check. Are the tires decently inflated? Is the battery charged? It needs to be able to drive up and down the ramps of the carrier under its own power
- Get your paperwork in order. If it’s going to another country, this is highly important. You’ll need the title and any other documents that the shipping company requests, so gather those now and avoid waiting until the last minute
The Risks Associated with Luxury Car Shipping
While shipping companies take utmost care during the shipment of your luxury car, there are several risks associated, and you must be aware of them:
- Damage: At times, there may be unpredicted situations and unforeseen circumstances. One such is weather disturbances. In such scenarios, damages may be unavoidable
- Delay: The consequence of any unforeseen circumstance may result in mismatched logistics timelines and challenges. So, delay factors are often associated with luxury car international shipping
- Loss: Though very rare and potentially not possible when keen attention is given, cars might go missing during the transportation
To avoid these risks, it is best advised to go with an experienced and reputable international shipping company who, along with services, also provides insurance coverage for your luxury vehicle shipment.
When Your Luxury Vehicle is Delivered
After your luxury car reaches its new destination, make sure to do the following:
- Be there at the new destination before time to receive your shipment
- Inspect if your car has arrived in the same way as you saw it get loaded into the shipment
- Check every detail of the car. Match the current condition with the photos and videos you had recorded before the shipment began
- If possible, accompany a trusted representative who can help you ensure that your car has reached the destination the same way it started
- Examine the documents and ensure that no extra miles were added during the transit
- If you encounter any issues, immediately report them to your shipping company. Provide relevant evidence and get information about the errors that have occurred. In fact, doing so within time will also help you to claim the insurance the company offers on shipping services for luxury cars
- Before closing the delivery service, double-check everything. Ensure that the car is checked inside out to ensure nothing is added to or removed from it during transit
International Sea and Air Shipping for Luxury Car Shipping
To get the best of international luxury car shipping, we, the International Sea and Air Shipping team, are here to assist you. With more than a decade of experience and reliable expertise as an international shipping company, we have been trusted by hundreds of our clients for their luxury vehicle shipping.
We offer competitive pricing and strive to mitigate all potential risks during the luxury car shipping process. Our positive reputation and track record of satisfied customers make us a trustworthy choice for shipping your high-value investment.
Contact our luxury car international shipping experts today and get more details about service.
FAQ’S
Can a regular transport company ship my luxury car?
Yes, it can, but it is always best advised to go for a shipping company that has special expertise in handling international shipping for luxury cars and offers multiple associated services.
Does insurance cover my vehicle during the shipping process?
Mostly yes. Experienced and renowned shipping companies like International Sea and Air Shipping, who are well aware of potential damage risks, often offer insurance that covers conditional factors that may occur during the transit process.
What documents do I need to ship my luxury vehicle?
For international luxury car shipping, the most commonly required documents include the title of your vehicle, registration documents, proof of ownership, residential status, and your identification documents.
How likely is it that my vehicle will undergo damage in transit?
There is no doubt that weather conditions and several unpredicted circumstances may put your vehicle at risk during the transit process. However, with a reputable company like the International Sea and Air Shipping, the likelihood of damage is minimized, and immediate solutions are proposed.
Would it be possible to leave stuff in my car during its shipment?
It is recommended to remove all personal items from the car before placing them for shipment. It ensures the safety of your items and complies with the safety guidelines of vehicle shipping and overseas moving regulations.
Should I exchange my set of keys?
It is advisable to hand over one set of your luxury car keys to the mover. This might be required for the driver to safely load, secure, and unload your vehicle from the transport carrier.
Should I leave my anti-theft system on?
No, it’s best to disable your car’s anti-theft system before shipping to avoid any potential issues during transportation.