Right now, Texas is really the place to be in the minds of many. There’s a reason that in the past few years, a lot of folks have decided to travel there or move there for extended periods of time. Even some workplaces have started having their employees move there for professional reasons.
All of this is to say that if you’re planning on moving to the Lonestar state anytime soon, you’re not alone. As we can see in sources like this one, https://digital.library.txstate.edu/handle/10877/7922, the population demographics have shifted a lot in recent decades. It does raise some questions though – how can we expediate our move there?
One option is to ship our car there ahead of time so that we can travel in other ways. The United States is a big place, after all. Travelling through Texas is a journey unto itself, even if you’re coming from a state that’s relatively nearby. However, many folks aren’t even aware that this is an option available. That’s why we’re here today.
What is Car Shipping?
Before we go any further, we would be remiss not to explain what this process is and how it works. That said, it’s pretty simple, and basically what it says on the tin. When you decide to ship a vehicle, it’s the process of working with a freight shipping company to move the automobile from one destination to another.
Where it gets a bit more complicated is the “how” aspect of the process. There are a surprising number of moving parts, though obviously most companies will do their best to make it easier for us as the customers. Allow us to explain.
How it Works?
There are a few important steps that you’ll want to be aware of before you ship a car to Texas, such as how far that you’ll want the vehicle transported as well as where your final destination in the state will be. If you’re moving, that might be at the airport, train station, or even at your new home depending on the circumstances. That’s one of the first things that you’ll want to have slated into place.
From there, though, there’s more to consider as well. Most transport companies offer a service known as door-to-door shipping, meaning that a driver will stop by your home to pick up your vehicle then they will drop it off for you once you’ve arrived and the process is complete. It’s quite convenient, and an option that many customers are fans of.
With that said, it does require some preparation on our part. Namely, we need to have our car ready to be transported. What might that involve, though?
Primarily, it means that we should clean both the interior and exterior of our vehicle. The inside is especially important so that you can ensure that none of your personal belongings remain. After all, they could potentially be lost during transit. Beyond just that, though, costs are calculated based on how heavy your car is.
Articles like this one can explain why this is the case, but it is admittedly rather self-explanatory. What’s important here is that we don’t leave anything in our cars such as chargers, and bicycle racks or other exterior installations should definitely be removed as well. As far as cleaning the outside is concerned, it’s largely to help when we document any pre-existing damage.
Although it’s highly unlikely that anything bad will happen to your automobile during the shipping process, it’s better to be safe than sorry in our book. So, we’d recommend that you document the current state of your vehicle. Take pictures of dents, scratches, or anything else that you consider relevant.
If you opt for an open container for the shipping process, there’s a higher chance that your vehicle will end up dirty when you receive it, or that there will be new chips in the paint or other imperfections. It is less expensive than the closed options though, so it’s up to you to decide what your priority is.
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One final thing that you can do to get ready for the process is to gather any relevant documentation beforehand. This will probably include your identifying information like a driver’s license or passport, along with proof of ownership of the car and your insurance details. This is just to reduce risks and liabilities for the shipping companies.
Luckily, tons of companies around the country are able to transport vehicles to Texas, so we have a lot of options to pick from. Feel free to compare the various quotes that you get while making your decision. Since a big journey like this takes planning in the first place, it’s probably not shocking to hear that this step can also involve a lot of careful consideration.
