The Day of Delivery: Car Shipping Steps and Checklist
Transporting your vehicle within the country or overseas has been made easy with the option to ship a car. The most important step after the pickup is awaiting delivery. If you are relocating, purchasing a vehicle from an online platform, or sending one to a relative, it is highly necessary to know what to anticipate on delivery day.
This checklist describes everything you need to do and know from the last stage in the car transport process. Following these steps will enable you to prepare for delivery and inspect the vehicle efficiently.
1. Confirm Delivery Address and Other Information Relating to the Trip
In communication with either the car shipping company or the carrier, spend some time validating the specific details. Attending to all these aspects will result in smooth operations on the day of delivery. If you're arranging transport to or from central England, choosing reputable Car Shipping West Midlands services can help ensure both timely delivery and professional handling of your vehicle. It is very possible for the address to be wrong or for the location to be difficult to access for wider vehicles. In such cases, the freight forwarding company should be notified in advance.
Delivery Time Frame: Most carriers provide a delivery window. Verifying the time estimate provides you with an opportunity to prepare.
Special Requirements: Notify the company in advance if there are any non-operational requirements, such as special delivery requirements, such as calling in at a set time, or if non-operational vehicles are involved, to avoid inconveniences.
Contact Information: Ensure the contact information you provided is current so that any calls can be made during the time you need.
2. Prepare For The Arrival Of Your Vehicle
With several vehicles being delivered on the same day by a single delivery firm, it is essential to ensure streamlined processes for everything, which makes proper timing essential. Marked below are some steps to assist in that prep.
Key Preparations:
Be Available. Be present as best as possible at the location listed for delivery within the expected delivery time frame. Delegating to have someone else pick up the car if you are unable to stand by is an acceptable option.
Inspection Area: Select an area where the land is flat as well as open for delivery. There is a need for the driver to have adequate space to park and safely remove the vehicle from the truck. Tight areas or spaces that can obstruct the unloading process should be avoided.
Prepare paperwork: As is customary with any transport, the carrier will want you to have signed a bill of lading, which is a record of the condition of your vehicle with utmost detail before and after transport. Review the document thoroughly and store a copy for your records.
3. Check Your Vehicle As Soon as It Arrives
After delivery, your initial priority should be to check your vehicle thoroughly for damage to ensure it is in the same condition as when it was picked up. A comprehensive evaluation of the car includes:
Evaluation Steps:
Overview: Look for as many parts and glances as possible for broken components, scratches, dents, and anything that appears out of place or previously unseen. If pictures were taken during pickup, use those as a reference to ensure all parts are in the same condition.
Dashboard and Seats: Make sure there are no signs of damage or defects. Ensure the seats, window shields, and any other parts of the interior are in proper working order and unharmed.
Check Distance Travelled: Looking at the watch, record the distance travelled by the vehicle as shown on the voltmeter. Some increase in distance is acceptable, but if, during these processes, the value observed is drastically higher than a mere transport, the method undertaken for the shipping might come under scrutiny.
Check Essential Car Fluids: Make sure that your car’s oil, transmission fluid, brake fluid and all fluids of similar nature are at optimal levels.
Test All Basic Functions: Start the car to check all basic functions, including lights, air conditioning, power windows, and doors. Make sure everything is functioning properly.
Document Any Damage:
Take photographs from multiple angles if there is any damage to the vehicle.
Write down a detailed description of the damage, noting when it was first discovered.
Use the provided contact details to report damage to the shipping company immediately. Most companies that ship cars have methods in place for handling damage claims.
4. Signing The Bill Of Lading
The bill of lading (BOL) is a document that captures the condition of your car at the time of pickup and delivery. For receiving the vehicle, you are required to sign the BOL admitting to accepting the vehicle in a satisfactory condition. Should there be damages, you need to note them on the BOL and sign it.
Points to Remember
Check for Any Differences: Scrutinize the document as thoroughly as possible. If any discrepancies, such as missing parts or damage, exist, ensure they will be recorded before signing.
Sign and Keep a Copy: As the Bill of Lading states, “sign as you have inspected.” Therefore, ensure that the terms of the shipment are in good order so that you may later proceed to sign the bill of lading. Also, do not forget to request a copy. Having that would be helpful if you wish to file a claim for any damages, particularly when the shipment is suspected to be faulty.
5. Payment Management (If Applicable)
In certain conditions, you might need to settle directly with the driver at the point of delivery, especially if the cost of service is at the lower end of the spectrum of car shipping options available to you. Should that be the case, make certain that the cash amount or the certified check is equivalent to what was agreed on. Alternatively, confirm whether settled payments are permitted through other means, like electronic transfers.
Things to note regarding payments:
Confirm Total Payment: Confirm the value listed on your invoice after receipt with what was sent before the service. Address any discrepancies with your carrier.
Tip: Drivers operating in the field are the ones who face the brunt of the customer’s problem. Because of that, if the driver performed their job well, consider giving them a tip even though the act does not need to be enforced.
6. Close the Loop
The steps following delivery and inspection of a vehicle are as follows:
Final Cross-Checklist:
Fill All The Gaps: Oftentimes, gaps arise somewhere there is a transition related to customs forms, import duties, and taxes that need to be tackled, especially when we are thinking on an international level.
Register the Car: If you are moving to another state, you must register your car with the local Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV).
Keep Records: In case of future issues, it is advisable to keep all records pertaining to the auto transport, the bill of lading, payment receipts, along with the vehicle's photos.
7. Reach Out To The Shippers In Case Of Problems
In case of any issues concerning delivery, such as your car being damaged or arriving late, it is important to get in touch with the car shipping companies. Most of them have specialised assistance teams who address problems that occur within the process of delivery.
Common Problems And Resolutions
Damaged Claim: It is the responsibility of the carrier to protect the vehicle from damage while in transit. If damages are sustained while in transit in the vehicle, claim support with the carrier company. Support for claims usually requires pictures and detailed narration of the damages.
Delays: Weather and road conditions can cause delays. Also, where delays in vehicle transport take time, internal communication should be maintained through the carrier to get the status of the proceedings.
Item Omission: Any item that has been personally owned and stored in the motor vehicle should not be viewed as an omitted problem unless the same is reported instantly.
Conclusion
With the automation of various sectors, business operations have also been made easier, and now, car shipping companies provide car delivery services to various locations. Similar to ordering various items from online platforms like Amazon and eBay, one can order a car through various web portals, and it will be delivered to the required destination. After ordering and paying via these web portals, there is a tracking system that allows the user to trace the items being shipped in order to stay updated. When it comes to cars, the user is able to view the status of the vehicle being delivered online. If the user chooses to inspect the car physically, during or after the delivery, they also have the right to a smooth transaction in regards to the required documentation. For reliable shipping, companies try to ensure safe delivery without any issues, while the client retains complete peace of mind.
Additionally, there are various websites that assist in setting appointments for skip tracing services that can be provided. On these websites like Move My Car, people are free to evaluate quotes provided by car delivery companies, and it allows them to find the rates that suit them best at all levels of services. With a bit of planning and checking everything beforehand, people now have the ability to match their preferred date and time easily through automated systems provided for the appointment.
