Shipping your vehicle when you have a serious job relocation, buying a car, or moving (shipping your car) can be tough, especially when you are moving it far away. Some people even have a serious job relocation, buying a car, or moving (shipping your car). Even if you are buying a car and are getting it from a faraway dealership, you have to consider the long-distance shipping and the condition the car is in.
In this blog, we want to answer a few different questions we have in mind: How does long-distance shipping affect the condition of your vehicle? What are the factors that affect this? How to preserve the condition of your vehicle during the long shipping process? How to minimize the damage and to have a smooth shipping process? Also, we will explain the importance of working with professional car shipping and relocation services to reduce possible damage and have a smooth car relocation process.
How Long-Distance Car Shipping Affects Vehicle Wear and Tear
You need to consider the impact long-distance driving has on your car, as it involves a number of driving, environmental, and mechanical factors, and long-distance driving has the potential risk of wear and tear on your car.
● Responsibility For The Car
With long-distance driving, the main concern with driving responsibility is having the responsibility of driving the car. The vehicle will be shipped to you and has to be driven in various weather conditions. The car is exposed to a lot of weather.
Rain and Snow: Wet conditions can cause rust, water stains, and even mold to develop on the vehicle’s exterior and interior. Snow, ice, and rain can cause worse mildew and can completely damage the bottom of your car. Corrosion isn’t good.
Sun Exposure: If the car has been driving under the sun, the paint can fade a lot and get dried out. Other parts of the car can crack from the sun, and the paint will dry and look bad.
Dust and Dirt: With open trailers, cars are exposed to the elements and can get marked up by dirt, dust, and debris from the road. This is especially important to keep in mind when dealing with high-end or classic cars, as the paint can get scratched up and become bad over time.
● Tire and Suspension Stress
When cars are being transported over the highway and loaded onto a transport truck, the cars must sit still for a long time and aren’t being driven. This can lead to issues with the tires having flat spots or uneven pressure, depending on how long the car is being transported. Suspension can also become a problem, especially with high-end vehicles. If the suspension is damaged from the bumpy terrain and road conditions, the car may experience issues when being driven at high speeds.
● Mechanical Stress During Transport.
With the distance in mind, it can be hypothesized that the transport process of a vehicle, including any road shipping, will induce some mechanical disturbance on the car, in spite of the car mover’s positive intentions. For instance, the vehicle in question will experience road vibration, especially during transport on an open trailer, and some detonation-induced vibrations can aggravate the wear of some sensitive vehicle systems, including the engine, exhaust, or transmission.
There is little doubt that the vehicle’s finely tuned mechanical systems will be especially impacted if the car is an ultra-luxury or high-performance model. Long-distance travel can aggravate climate systems and road vibration factors in the vehicle, along with any mechanical systems that are not properly secured, or if the vehicle is in a road condition that is considered a severe environment.
● Increased Mileage
Distance car shipping always includes an extra wear and tear aspect of increased mileage. An enclosed trailer is less susceptible to wear and tear, but is not entirely immune to it. All vehicles are driven to and from the transport truck at pickup and drop-off points. Each car must be driven onto and off the transport truck, adding extra miles to the vehicle’s odometer. While added mileage is generally trivial, it still wears down the engine, tires, and other parts of the car. Even from the minimal wear and tear, it still may add up over time.
● Potential for Dings, Scratches, and Paint Damage
While exposure to the elements is always a concern, along with distance, the probability of getting dings and scratches must be mentioned. During transport, the car may incur damage from road debris and other vehicles. Even with precautions taken by the transport company, there is at least a small risk of paint chipping on the vehicle. This increased risk is especially substantial on roads with a lot of construction and high traffic.
If you are planning to buy a luxury car from the best places to buy cars, it will be important to protect the car’s exterior during transport. A small scratch or chip can greatly diminish the car’s value, as well as its overall appearance.
If You Want to Minimize Damage While Your Car Is on a Long-Distance Haul
Wear and tear are a normal part of the car shipping process, especially with long distances. However, there are some things you can do to protect the car and maintain it in the best condition possible.
● Pick Enclosed Car Shipping
If you are looking for the best option to protect a car from the elements during a long shipment, you should pick enclosed transport. With open transport, there are many environmental factors, such as dust, rain, and snow. With enclosed transport, the car is safely protected and shielded from the elements, as well as dust and debris on the road. For luxury car transport, enclosed transport is the best choice to make sure the car is kept in perfect condition during transport.
● Work with Experienced Car Movers.
When relocating vehicles, choose professional car movers with experience to mitigate the risk of possible mechanical stress, tire problems, and improper car handling. Professional car movers utilize high-end service and equipment, properly securing the car and using an optimal route to avoid damage from unnecessary travel. They also know the routes and have the capability to transport high-end and exotic vehicles.
● Consider Using a Corporate Relocation Service.
If your move relates to a job or corporate position, the use of a corporate relocation service will likely ease the stress of car transport and do so in a timely manner. These relocation services usually offer professional car transport and relocation services, so the car will be in good hands and reach its destination safely. They also offer corporate relocation services, which help organize multiple vehicle transport and relieve stress from managing it all alone.
● Getting Your Car Ready to be Shipped
Make sure you get everything ready for your vehicle. You should do the following steps to get your vehicle prepped.
Cleaning the vehicle: Washing your car allows you to thoroughly inspect the vehicle for damage before it gets shipped.
Checking tire pressure: Making sure the tires are very inflated helps to avoid flat spots while also helping your car to get a smoother ride.
Documenting the condition: It is a good idea to take pictures of the car from every angle so you’re left with a good record of any damage or issues you can refer to if any problems arise during transport.
● Consider Professional Wrapping
If your car is more expensive or has any fragile parts, it would be a good idea to invest in professional wrapping, custom car covers, or special padding. If you get extra coverage, it helps prevent scratches or tiny dings from the car when it’s being shipped.
Final thoughts
Getting a vehicle transported to another location can cause some damage to the vehicle. Knowing the risks for damage and figuring out how to lessen the possible damage can help keep the vehicle safe during transport. When using a service to transport a vehicle for a job move relocation, buying a vehicle for the best vehicle sale location, or when working with vehicle transporters for personal use, it is important to get a transport service that is reliable and focuses on the safety of the vehicle and its condition during transport.
Determining the best way to transport the vehicle, working with car transport professionals, and using the proper safety measures during transport will help ensure that the car will arrive at its new location in excellent condition and will have minimal damage from the transport.
