Moving to Virginia feels like a power move for many Americans, as the state is known for a developed job market, and the fact that it’s a leader in public school education makes the state the perfect place for families to start a new life. However, it could be a rather far place to move for people who are not living in the Southeastern or Mid-Atlantic regions in the U.S., so driving your own vehicle can be a real challenge.
Luckily, car shipping services are available across the US and can help you better manage the moving process by taking your car from your previous home to your future home safely. If you’re planning on moving soon, know it’s best to book the shipping in advance, as it can take a few days to complete, and various factors can interfere with the timing of the arrival, so let’s see how the process would go.
Book the shipping
When you want your car shipped to Virginia, it’s important to research companies and get quotes for a better assessment. Depending on your budget or needs, you might need a carrier with open or enclosed transport, while EV cars require special protocol according to the state. It’s ideal to book the shipping at least one week ahead of your departure, as some routes can take between seven and nine days to complete.
After you confirm the booking, an FMCSA-licensed driver will come to pick up your vehicle, where they will make a joint inspection, after which you can check the status of your door-to-door car shipping delivery. Upon drop-off, you will inspect the vehicle along with the driver to sign it off. So, let’s see what steps you need to complete before that.
Clean your vehicle
The first step in getting your car safely shipped is cleaning it. We recommend you clean it at least 24 hours before the driver picks it up and take photos of it, so both you and the driver are aware of existing damage like scratches or dents.
This is an important task because booking the car shipping means signing a document called a Bill of Lading (BOL) that serves as proof of the transport as well as a record of the condition of your vehicle. The document, along with the picture you’ve taken of the car before shipping, will help resolve any potential disputes. It is important that you read and complete the BOL carefully at pick-up and after arrival to ensure everything is alright with your vehicle.
Remove personal items
While you may believe you can transport the vehicle with a carrier and pack it with some of your belongings, know this is not the case for this type of transport. Carriers are certified to ship only vehicles and not personal items, and your insurance will stop at covering the car. There are other reasons why you shouldn’t leave things inside the car, such as the weight limits that carriers operate according to, and some extra weight might lead to fines or additional time for shipping.
It’s safer to remove personal items to prevent them from breaking inside the vehicle or attracting unwanted attention when drivers are doing their overnight stops. This is especially true with open carriers, but that doesn’t mean closed carriers can safely be transported with your belongings in there.
Do some basic maintenance
While some carriers can also ship non-running vehicles if they have a winch, it’s ideal to do a basic maintenance run for the vehicle to see its condition before shipping. For example, the steering should be functional along with the brakes, and the tires should hold air, so you know you can drive onto and off the truck ramps.
For a more thorough check, take the vehicle to your local service station to check the condition of the battery, so you know it can start and be operated. Ask them to check for leaks, and if there are any, notify the driver so they can load it somewhere to avoid it leaking on other cars. Finally, checking for fluids like coolant and oil should be part of the basic check-up before departing.
Comply with the fuel requirements
Interestingly, there might be fuel requirements for your car that are best taken for the security of the entire carrier. Usually, companies require a quarter tank of gas for several reasons (so the vehicle can be operated), such as the need to move the car from the trailer in case of emergencies, and there’s a general lower risk of other accidents like fires when the tank isn’t completely full.
When it comes to electric vehicles (EVs), it’s ideal to charge the battery between 45% and 65% so you avoid draining the battery unnecessarily throughout the transit. Having a fully charged battery for the EV might also represent a risk during summer months, when high temperatures outside also raise the temperatures inside.
Consider additional tasks
With everything in place, it’s not a bad idea to do some additional security checks, like disabling anti-theft alarms and removing toll tags. Remember to keep a spare key since the carrier driver will also have one, and they might also ask you (not all the time) to remove luggage racks or bike racks according to their carrier. If not, make sure to secure them in place, retract any antennas and watch out for the top of your convertible car to avoid any top damages. However, in this case, a closed carrier is advised.
Final considerations
A Virginia move can be challenging for long distances, but if you want to take your mind off transporting your vehicle, choose a special carrier for shipping vehicles for safe transport. To make things easier, be sure to book the shipping early and prepare the car by cleaning it thoroughly and taking pictures. Removing any personal belongings is best, and fuel the tank or change the battery of the vehicle as instructed for a shipping without unfortunate events. Finally, keep in touch with the carrier’s driver for document requirements to prevent disputes.
This content is provided for informational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional advice. AFP editorial staff were not involved in the creation of this content.
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