How To Ship An Exotic Car

Your exotic car is at stake here – you can't risk even the slightest damage to your precious pearl. Thus your search for the ideal automobile transporter should not be a rush. You must look for the best of the best. All automobile transport companies and contractors will have glowing remarks on their website, but don't make your judgments based on this.

You'll have to dig a bit deeper.

Go to independent sites like Google My Business, Yelp, Bing, and so on, where you can see how their verified customers have generally received the service providers. Remember that you're looking for a contractor that does not only ship cars across states but has the necessary tools to transport high-value vehicles and exotic rides (such as yours) while ensuring the complete safety of your ride.

It will help if they've successfully done this sort of work before.

Then you also need to ascertain if they are licensed to take your car across the state lines. For license verification, you only need to log into the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration website, punch in the Department of Transportation (DOT) number, and your verification will be complete.

Once all of this is done, you'll have narrowed down your choice by a lot. Next, you can pick the most impressive option, but of course, your budgetary considerations will matter here (given that you're shipping an exotic car, we think that this may not be as big an issue as otherwise).

It is okay if you ask the transporter a couple of questions or if you demand some credible references. After all, you're trusting them with a high-end vehicle.

The A1 Auto Transport has been in this business for years. We understand the level of commitment and professionalism expected of someone who offers their services to ship an exotic car. And we can deliver as is expected of us!

This part is a no-brainer. Your shipment is going to cost you a couple of thousands of dollars. After all, you're transporting an exotic car. The usual cost range for regular four-seaters is between $600 and $1,000, but you should expect to pay more than this.

Plus, you can choose safer and more efficient (and thus costlier) transport options.

However, there is no way to give you an exact price tag in your case since that number will depend on a ton of different features, such as:

• The specifications of the vehicle itself, i.e., the size, weight, etc.
• Your car's make and model will also affect the price, i.e., shipping an exotic car is costlier
• Travel distance from the pickup point to the delivery point
• The mode of transport you selected for your car
• The time of shipment is also very important; the summer season is the busiest for transport companies. Thus the rates will be higher than otherwise.

You can call various candidates in this regard and then settle for one that offers all the specifications you need within a reasonable price tag.

Your endeavors should be directed at preventing transport damage, but this does not mean that you should not be prepared for the worst-case scenario. Most probably, your car is already insured, but does the policy cover transport damages?

You'll have to contact the insurance provider to get an exact answer here and be sure to tell them everything, i.e., you plan on moving your car from point A to point B via X mode of transportation so that you can be sure that your car will be covered in case of any damage.

Some transport companies, like A1 Auto Transport, have insurance coverage of their own as well to reimburse you for any damages to your vehicle during transport.

None of your personal belongings should be inside the vehicle when you're shipping it. This much is common sense. Most transporters will send you some guidelines for preparing your vehicle for travel. They will be very clear about this one thing: if anything is left inside the vehicle, they'll bear no responsibility for it.

You can't keep the fuel tank bone dry, but you can't have it filled to the mouth either. Instead, keep about ¼ of the total tank capacity filled with fuel. This way, there won't be any issues transporting your vehicle, and you won't be overcharged (due to the extra weight).

Find a trusted professional to inspect every inch of your car for vehicle safety concerns such as air pressure in the tires, brake mechanism, belts, gaskets, overall vehicle health, and so on. Once you get your car at your new place, you should have it inspected once again to put your mind at ease.

First, have your car cleaned thoroughly. After that, move from inch to inch, checking for any dents, scratches, or other superficial damage. Also, photograph every angle so that you can compare the state of your vehicle after it has been delivered.

Also, note down the reading on the mileage meter for comparison later on.

This covers anything from removable antennas to anything inserted in your car's console. If your car has some add-on ornamentation, you should take that off as well. In essence, you should bring your car to its factory state when shipping.

This way, you'll safeguard the accessories from any possible damage.

You have several options when it comes to transporting your vehicle across state lines, and the more you spend, the safer or faster your option will be. Assess the merits of each option before you finalize your decision:

Open Air Transport (Land): Open-air carriers can transport as many as ten vehicles at a time, and as the name suggests, the vehicles are completely exposed. Though efficient and effective, this method is not the safest, but it does cost the least.

Enclosed Transport (Land): This is a variance of the previously mentioned method. The only difference is that the vehicle is transported overland, encapsulated from the excesses of the environment. This is comparatively safer but does cost more. If you're looking for an overland option, then we'd recommend this one for your exotic car.

Air Freight (Plus Overland Transport): This is a rarely used and ultra-expensive option, but if the overland distance is too much, then you can consider shipping your car via air freight, following which it will be delivered to your place wither by a professional transporter (driver) or on a carrier. This is the safest option for bigger distances (for both domestic and international transports).

Domestic transporters will most likely deliver your car to your new address unless instructed otherwise. When you get your car, have it inspected and compare its condition to before the transport to ascertain that everything looks and works well.

And with that, you're done with transporting your exotic car!