These days, car shipping can revolutionize the life of snowbird travelers, who, in most cases, go back and forth between two homes and usually have one residing in a cold and the other in a warm place. Instead of taking their car on a long, tiresome journey to their seasonal home, many snowbirds decide to go for the hustle and bustle-free life with professional auto shipping services. So if you’re a snowbird and wonder about car shipping, you should get acquainted with the available choices, how to get your vehicle ready, and the advantages of hiring a professional transport service.
Get acquainted with the hows, the whats, and the whys of shipping a car for snowbird travelers, including how to pick the best service, get your car ready, and make sure it arrives safely and on time.
Why Auto Shipping is Perfect for Snowbird Travelers
A snowbird is a person who is usually in a warm place for a certain period of time during the year, and in his/her cold northern home during the rest of the year. A car trip from coast to coast before or after your stay at one of the two places might sound tedious and time-consuming. However, auto shipping provides a hassle-free way to get your car wherever you want while you take care of other moving-related things.
The following are some of the primary reasons why car transport is the best way to go for snowbirds:
1. Save Time and Energy
If you decide to drive your car long distances, it will take you several days to complete the trip, especially when you are moving from one season to another. Apart from the time lost in the traffic, and the different road conditions, and accommodations, the journey can turn into a very stressful and exhausting experience. If you choose auto shipping, you can sit back and relax while your car is transported to your destination, thus saving a lot of time and energy.
2. Avoid Wear and Tear
Your car will greatly suffer from a long drive on different road conditions. If you send your car to be shipped, you are basically giving it a break from the long journey. It is not going to accumulate unnecessary mileage, and it is not going to be at risk of getting scratched or dented by the rough roads.
3. Flexibility and Convenience
Vehicle transportation by means of an auto shipping service gives you the option of time flexibility. It does not matter if you are going to your vacation house at the beginning of the year or coming back at the end of the season, you can have your car picked up and delivered at a time that suits you. In short, you will no longer have to worry about the coordination of your drive with other plans.
4. Enjoy a More Relaxed Move
If you decide to transport your car by means of auto shipping, you will be able to enjoy a stress-free and relaxing move for your seasonal relocation without having to drive or deal with your car. It will be possible for you to fly to your destination and let your vehicle take the trip. When you are there, you will be able to take your car.
Types of Auto Shipping Services for Snowbird Travelers
Depending on their needs, snowbird travelers can choose from a variety of auto shipping services. Each service varies in terms of the level of convenience, cost, and protection for the vehicle.
1. Open Auto Transport
Open auto transport is the best choice among other alternatives for the snowbird, as it is one of the most affordable and widely used ones. The procedure in this method is to send your vehicle on a topless carrier which can hold multiple cars. Though the car is open to ambient air and other factors, open transport remains a dependable and cheap option, more so if the car is standard and doesn’t have to be secured in any way.
Pros:
Money-saving when multiple vehicles are shipped at a time
Possible for very distant routs
Generally, the mode of transportation for regular cars
Cons:
The car is fully exposed to the weather and the dirt from the road
Not that good as an option for luxury or highly valuable vehicles
2. Enclosed Auto Transport
Enclosed auto transport is a service on the higher end of the scale, mainly for cars that need additional protection, for example, antiques, luxury cars, or models with high value. The idea is that your car is taken inside a covered trailer, thus being protected from the elements, and also from dust and other small particles.
Pros:
Top-notch safety for valuable or luxury cars
Perfect for sending off vehicles without a single flaw
Lower chance of occurrence of damage or weather-related issues
Cons:
More expensive than open transport by a large margin
Not possible if more than one car is going to be transported
3. Door-to-Door Shipping
For snowbird travelers, door-to-door shipping is amongst the easiest methods to go about. Your car is made ready for transportation right at your place of residence and then delivered to your destination. No waiting in line, no hassle, no worries just a simple and easy process.
Pros:
Maximum comfort with both the collection and delivery at your home
Offers great time and energy savings during the moving process
Is the most appropriate choice for a single person as well as for a family
Cons:
A little more expensive than a regular shipping mode due to the convenience factor
Cannot use there in very distant areas that are inaccessible by big trucks
4. Terminal-to-Terminal Shipping
When you are in need of a cheaper, but still efficient way of shipping your vehicle to another place, terminal-to-terminal shipping is probably the best solution for you. Your car is dropped off at the terminal in your current location, and it is then shipped to the terminal at your destination. Hence, you can pick up your car from the terminal at your destination location.
Pros:
More de rationale than door-to-door type of shipping
Frequent pickup and delivery locations are possible
Cons:
Not so convenient as you still have to get to and from the terminals travel
Maybe more waiting for the car to be taken and delivered to/at the terminal
How to Prepare Your Vehicle for Auto Shipping
It is very important that you prepare your car in advance if you want to be sure that the car shipping process will be smooth and successful. Here is what you should do before your car is picked up:
1. Clean Your Car
Wash the inside and outside of your vehicle before it is shipped. In this way, you and the transport company can check your car for any kind of damage that it has not been noticed before. Moreover, a clean car is also free of problems during checks for scratches, dents, or other minor damages.
2. Remove Personal Items
First of all, make sure that nothing belongs to you is inside your car when it is going to be transported. Most of the companies do not allow personal belongings in the vehicle due to the risk of loss or damage during transport. In addition, by keeping the vehicle without extra items, the total weight will be lower, and the shipping cost might be reduced.
3. Check Fluids and Battery
It is advisable that you check your car to make sure it is fully equipped with the necessary fluids oils, coolant, brake fluid, etc. along with checking the battery’s health. If needed, top off the fluids and ensure the battery is fully functional so as to avoid any setbacks during the delivery of your vehicle.
4. Document Existing Damage
Do not hesitate to take pictures of your car if there are any damages before you let someone else handle it for shipping. Such documentation can be very supportive to you in case of accidents during shipping. Check for any scratches, dingy spots, and dents.
5. Lock the Vehicle and Disable the Alarm
Always a good idea to car freight make sure the car is locked and that it is safe before shipping. Besides, you should turn off the alarm system so that it does not get activated unintentionally during the period of the transport.
Conclusion
Winter auto shipping for snowbird travelers is truly one of the best ways to make seasonal moves hassle-free and more convenient. It doesn’t matter whether you are going down south for the winter or coming back home after spending a few months in a warmer place, the professional auto shipping services will absolutely save a lot of your time and put less strain on your vehicle along with you. You can be certain that your car will be delivered to its destination well and on time by picking the right way of shipping, taking good care of the vehicle, and knowing your options.
While mulling over your next seasonal move, go for the option of auto shipping that is best suited for snowbird travelers and hand over the job of vehicle relocation to a trustworthy transport company. You can have a worry-free move and your car wont get better treatment than with the right service.
