More often than not when you move long distance, you can drive yourself and your family to your new home. But sometimes, you may want to fly there or it’s simply impossible for you to move all your vehicles yourself. If you have multiple vehicles or you have sports vehicles (such as boats, jet skis, motorcycles or ATVs), you may want to look into having a professional company do the moving for you. Moving companies may specialize in moving big items.

Prepare your vehicle

It’s a good idea to inspect your vehicle inside and out. Make note of any dents, scratches etc. and take pictures of your vehicle. If you’re having operating problems, tell your mover. Remove all personal belongings. Secure any loose items in the car, to prevent them from shaking or breaking while in transit. Fold down any mirrors and retract any antennas.  Disable any alarms as well. Keep all your documents and make copies.

If you’re moving internationally, you’ll have to inquire with US Customs for any requirements needed to move your car, as well as with your the destination country’s counterpart.

Each moving company will have their different policies of what needs to be done prior to the move, so make sure you check with them. But most will ask to you to drain the gas any leave little or no gas at all – it makes the vehicle lighter and easier to transport.

Finding the right movers

If your moving company doesn’t offer shipping for vehicles, then do ask them for recommendations. They might know of good companies or have worked with them before. They will most likely give you a someone they know or they have a partnership with and you might end up with a discount. Begin your search as early as possible – some moving companies require 1 month’s notice. This will also give you a better chance of getting a delivery date that’s convenient for you.

There are many different types of moving companies out there, with different services. Some will pick up and transport your vehicle from point to point. If you’re looking to save, you may want to ask if your company offers discounts if you deliver it to a transport terminal and pick it up from another one of their hubs. If you’re transporting a car, a moving company may also be able to offer driving services – an employee will pick up your car and drive it to your new home.

You can use the phonebook, internet and classifieds as well, but do your homework. Use the same criteria and process you used when you looked for your house mover – Ask the necessary questions, check if they are licensed and have the proper insurance to operate. For example, a vehicle mover must have $750,000 liability and $5000 cargo coverage. The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration has a website, where you can check a company’s credentials by entering their MC number or DOT License number. Check on references and google the company to see if there are any negative comments about the company.

The cost of your move will vary depending on the type of vehicle, weight and size, the distance of the move, dates and how much insurance you want. Usually, companies will ask for a small deposit or the payment upfront.

Try to get 3-5 moving quotes from different companies. Don’t rely only on the final price to determine which one to hire. Review what the company has to offer in terms of service, to help you make the best decision.

Hiring the movers

Once you’ve made the decision, you can hire the mover of your choice. First, you’ll have to agree on the pick-up and delivery dates. They will give you a delivery time window – usually 3-5 days. If they can’t pick up the vehicle on the dates you want or you won’t be there to receive it, then you’ll have to pay for storage fees.

They will do a full inspection of the vehicle where they will take note of any damage – be present for this because you’ll have to sign the contract. Read the report very carefully, and hopefully, if you’ve done your own inspection, you can point out anything they might have missed.

Once delivery date comes, be prepared to receive your car. Accept the delivery during the day, when you can thoroughly inspect the vehicle. Take note of any damage immediately and inform the mover, so you can make the necessary insurance claims.

Making the necessary preparations, moving your vehicle will be easy. Don’t be afraid to ask your mover questions and explain the terms of any contract before your sign.