Yes. Car shipping is extremely safe.

Around 17 million new cars are sold in the US each year. That means 17 million cars need to be shipped to dealerships each year, either within the US or from overseas. Car shipping is big business, with great care taken and numerous regulations imposed to ensure all of those 17 million arrive at their destination without a scratch.

And that’s just the new ones. Figures don’t exist for the number of loved or pre-loved cars shipped to, or within, the US, but it’s guaranteed to be several million more.

So what does that mean for safety? It means the systems and services in place to transport cars across America and beyond are well-established and regulated, and no reckless or second-rate car-transporter would last five minutes in the present market. That’s good news for anyone wishing to ship their car, and any car shipper who puts safety first.

The fact you are reading this proves you are a conscientious car owner who cares about the protection your car will receive in transit. Perhaps it’s your first time shipping your car. Perhaps your car is a Maserati, or a jalopy that is not as robust as it once was. Either way and everything in between, you can rest assured most car shippers have the experience to handle your pride and joy with perfect care.

Choosing the best shipping service

It’s advisable to do a little homework before entrusting your vehicle to anyone. There are more than enough companies to choose from, so you can shop around until you find one that best suits your needs.

A good rule of thumb is to check customer reviews. Of those reviews, run a quick search for ones relating to car shipping, particularly to and from the area you’re looking to ship to. If the feedback is positive, and the service is more than a few months old, you can be fairly certain you and your car will receive likewise treatment. A little research now means a lot less worry when the time comes.

Secondly, make sure a potential transporter has an MC and DOT number. Most will, but it’s something to check if you’re at all uneasy. Then, you can begin to post the details of your shipment and let the quotes roll in.

Then you have the added security of being able to choose your haulier. Most driver profiles will not hide their skills, experience and customer feedback. Those with glowing reviews may provide higher quotes, and less experienced drivers will deliver the shipment for less. It’s up to you.

It’s recommended you get in touch with any quote-giver and ask any questions you might have about safety, equipment and experience. Ask if Some drivers offer GPS sharing so you can keep track of your car en route, or an enclosed trailer to keep your car hidden and dry. Whatever you’re looking for, there will be a driver who offers it, so patience is wise: No need to plump for the first quote in your inbox. Vehicle shipping is a buyer’s market. And at the end of the day, the decision is yours.

Tips for safe car shipping

To know how to prepare your car for voyages great and small, take a look at our brief guide. No matter how trustworthy the driver and how safe the route, it’s still sensible to empty your vehicle of expensive belongings and, if possible, have as little gas in the tank as possible to reduce weight and centripetal momentum. Any good vehicle transporter will tell you the same. It all helps guarantee a safe journey for your car, boat, motorbike or any other vehicle.

It can also help the transporter greatly if you switch off the alarm before handing the car over. Locked cars with no engine running, sensing they are being moved, can sometimes react as if they are being broken into. It won’t affect the safety of your car to switch it off, but it might benefit the driver’s eardrums.

Another tip to note: Larger car-shipping services maximise their profit and efficiency by using Terminals, i.e. they wait until a carrier is full before shipping it. This can mean delays, if a vehicle due to be transported does not appear, and so the carrier will wait before departing. Boutique services with drivers you can speak to mean you can avoid this, if timing matters to you.

Lastly, if you are at all concerned about damage to your car, you can take pictures of it before it leaves so you can check its condition on arrival. That means if the very worst happens, you have legal grounds to be recompensed

Get started!

Now you’re ready to find your perfect car shipper. Post your shipment to a board of qualified and vetted drivers and start comparing quotes. We’ve saved the best news for last: Car shipping is not only safe. It’s easy.

Featured Image credit: www.moving.com