All factors appear when you are trying to ship your car and this is especially true with the question regarding whether or not you can keep personal items inside. Although it may seem easy to do, there are a number of factors that should be considered. For this reason, we will take a detailed look into the pros and cons as well as regulations and alternatives for this shipping option.
Can You Self Ship Your Car with Items Inside:
As a general rule, for most of the companies that deal with car shipping including Carson shipping, personal items are discouraged. Allowing personal items is strongly discouraged due to safety and all other risks involved.
Why Shipping Personal Items is Discouraged
– Person safety
– Damage to items
– Legal Restrictions: Auto transport companies legally cannot ship personal items for insurance reasons. Items such as clothes and electronics are not covered by the same insurance as the vehicle itself, and the carrier may not be liable if they are lost, damaged, or rendered unserviceable.
– Weight Limits: The addition of personal items in the vehicle will put it above the weight limit since it is not only the vehicle that is being transported. This not only affects cost, but may also further reduce the effectiveness and control of the transport truck.
Risks of Shipping Personal Items in Your Car
The shipment of personal belongings using automobiles may appear to provide some conveniences, but, in fact, it is riddled with a host of other issues. Let’s dive into them in depth.
- Damage to Personal Items
During the shipment of cars, the personal belongings are also included at risk of damage as used by the vehicle while shipping them. Cars utilize suspension and damping systems which might be able to somewhat alleviate jolts and bumps but can experience severe Avon shake, temperature differences, and even crash. Vehicles are held down to stop movement, but the insides are free to slide around. Items such as interior can get scratches and dents over time, pose a risk when placed inside unsafeguarded. Items such as electronics, glass, or collectibles if not properly secured tend to break easily in addition to being very light.
- Theft or Loss
Theft is possible during the transport process and personal effects left in the vehicle are not covered under the vehicle’s insurance policy. The owner would assume all replacement costs for the lost items. While there are provisions for security, auto transport companies face increased risks of theft or loss when cars contain personal belongings.
- Delays or Complications
Shipping personal items in your vehicle may also create delays or complications with the transport. Some transport companies have policies that require a vehicle to be inspected pre-loading, and personal belongings may interfere with such procedures. Moreover, some states or regions may have particular laws that restrict the transportation of personal effects packed within vehicles which adds delays or additional complications.
Suggestions for Moving Personal Items Without Placing Them in Your Vehicle Along With Other Items
If you plan to not bring your vehicle into the personal item packing process, there are other means of bringing your belongings. Below are a few alternatives
- Collection of Personal Items and shipping them Impartially
As opposed to using a vehicle to transport your products, using a separate shipping line for personal items might work better. Various shipping companies offer services specifically concerning personal items. This is mostly done by moving companies or freight carriers. Through these means, items are not only shipped, but fully insured and adequately packed.
– Pros: These items are insured as specified by personal shipping laws, and protective boxes or crates can be used to ship the items.
– Cons: An entirely different service would do the shipping, thus more time to coordinate and additional costs would be expected.
- Acquire a Trailer or Cargo Van
For those looking to move a great deal of goods, renting a trailer or cargo van works best, especially for self driven relocations. It allows drivers to shift their car with the goods, further protecting these from accidents whilst keeping them separate from the vehicle.
– Pros: This offers great flexibility for those relocating with high volumes of goods.
– Coordination considerations: You’ll have to manage the logistics concerning the loading and unloading of the trailer or cargo van.
- Utilize your Self Storage Option
If you want to store your belongings for a specific period without the hassle of moving or shipping them immediately, renting a self storage unit can be a good option. Some self storage companies offer short term contracts ranging from a few weeks to several months, which can be extremely flexible depending on your personal requirements.
– Advantage: Storing belongings at a self storage unit can help mitigate any potential damage during relocations.
– Disadvantage: Increase overall costs of relocation due to the extra charge of renting a self storage unit.
Steps to Prep Your Car for Shipping Without Personal Items
Make sure to take prep work seriously to ensure you don’t have to handle any surprises on the shipping day.
- Get Your Vehicle Cleaned
You might not have to, but deemed necessary if you want to avoid run down situations where you give the team shippers no room for errors, the visibility will repair damage on your vehicle cleaner aids.
- Remove Personal Items
As we noted before, most auto transport companies strongly recommend that you remove all personal items from the car before shipping. This also includes clothing, electronics, food, and even documents. With this step, you can prevent some damages, as well as comply with strict company policies.
- Disable Alarms
Double check that your vehicle’s alarm system has been switched off. This would prevent the alarm from ringing during transport, which could cause delays or worse complications.
- Check for Leaks
Perform a check on the car for any possible leaks. Fluid leaks could potentially fosse damage to the vehicle or other cars during transport. If your vehicle does have any leaks, make sure to notify the transport company so that they can make the right arrangements.
Why Choose Carson Shipping for Your Car Transport Needs
When choosing a company to ship your car, make sure to go for one that guarantees to do the job securely and reliably. At Carson Shipping, we like to say that we offer superior auto transport services specific to the needs of our customers. Our highly trained specialists make it so that your car is securely transported without the burden of packing personal items.
Why Choose Carson Shipping?
– Experience and Skills: Carson Shipping has broad experience with transporting different types of vehicles, such as non-running cars, high-value cars, and classic cars.
– Transparent Pricing: The Company offers straightforward pricing, which is especially important for people during these hard economic times.
– Transport Options: Depending on what the customers prefer, we can provide either open transport or enclosed transport. Regardless of the method chosen, the car will surely be in safe hands.
Conclusion
Think about how you can streamline the process by separating the car and personal belongings for transport. This route may yield fewer complications than shipping a car loaded with items. It allows using self-storage or a moving company for more effective handling tailored to personal items. A reputable auto transport service, such as Carson Shipping, can provide smooth and hassle-free transport.
Reach out to Carson Shipping for additional information and no-obligation quotes on vehicle shipment.
