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    Auto transport guide for Canada – how to prepare?

    Posted on by Derek M.

    Now this auto transport adventure seemed so frightening at first. I mean my car might not be much, but boy do I love it. And I would really, absolutely hate to see something bad happen to it. Again, in other people’s eyes it might be junk, but to me it is priceless. My late father worked on it with me and I really can’t imagine working on any other car.

    You need to prepare your car for auto transport well if you wish to avoid any future damages.
    It may not be much, but it is much to me!

    Still, the time of the move came and wherever I go – my car goes. See where the beginning of the adventure starts? The move is long-distance. International moving experts in Canada advised not to bother with the car. But after I explained the importance they understood and started working with me on the auto transport process. Now, spoiler alert. Before we continue with everything else I have to emphasize that my fear was misplaced. I mean, it is ok to fear out of ignorance, but when you put everything down on a piece of paper it makes sense and it is far less frightening. Hopefully, I will be able to clear your path a bit more after this article, where you will learn that auto transport is no boogeyman. Just somewhat of a drag.

    Preparing for auto transport

    Before we dig into the topic it is important for you to understand that less than 5 percent of vehicular transportations end up with damages. That means that you are most likely not to sustain any type of damage. Therefore, try to give your negative thoughts a rest since odds are – nothing will go wrong with your auto transport. 

    Before the auto transport begins there are certain things you need to do to get ready. These are all pretty standard things. None are impossible. However, it is important you do all of them. Still, before you start a DIY project out of this make sure to consult moving company in Ontario.

    The things you need to take care of before starting the auto transport are:

    • Wash your car in detail (advice is to use wax as well)
    • Record any existing damages on the car such as dents, chips, and scratches. Document them in form of photographs
    • Take those photos close range as well as from a distance
    • Make sure that the person recording all this, on behalf of the company, acknowledges all the things you point out

    The reason why you will spend all the time doing this is to avoid “but your car came with this scratch”. The damage is there. Who will pay for it? If you have photography proof none of this is possible.

    Remove everything from the car

    Why? Simple. Your car will undergo at least 2 inspections: one when it gets loaded and second when it gets unloaded. Add to this some inevitable inspections on the go, or additional ones if it takes 2 transportations and you can understand why your car will remain unlocked for the majority of the trip.

    When preparing your car for auto transport you need to follow all the steps.
    Follow these steps and you’ll be fine.

    If your car is unlocked many unwanted customers might have access to it. That’s why you want your car to travel ‘light’. Take out everything you possibly can and take it with you. Stereo for instance, or any personal belongings you might keep inside. Ship it out empty. This way you will not have to think about anything, just go with it.

    Car preparation

    Your car will not move at all. Or if so, someone will drive it ever so slightly. Still, this does not mean your car should be undrivable. It should remain in driving condition. Any unforeseen mechanical issues can cause further delays and damages. This is why it would best be you explore all potential failures of the car, just in case.

    Aside from the normal maintenance, there are certain parts of the car you should check:

    • Check the tires and make sure to properly inflate them
    • Make sure your car battery is fully charged
    • Make sure your gas tank is at 1/4 or less. A lighter car will make for an easier transport
    • Make sure to check up on any potential leaks your car has
    • Keep good documentation of all potential mechanical issues your car has or has had

    Remove toll tags and parking passes

    Make sure to deactivate any and all parking passes and toll tags you have, because odds are that it will be continuously charged throughout your auto transport. The only way to fix this, and avoid any unnecessary charges, is to cancel any and all of the above mentioned.

    Prepare for loading and unloading

    Lastly, there are a few details to do in order to prepare for loading and unloading. Because basically the better you prepare for the transport the lesser are the chances of something going wrong. In case you are driving a convertible to make sure to secure its top as thoroughly as possible. Otherwise, you might suffer damage from air, debris or moisture.

    When preparing to relocate your car make sure its in driveable condition.
    Check all your fluids, gas and potential mechanical issues.

    Make sure all your mirrors are folded and antennas retracted. Any external specialty items that can be removed somehow should be removed or tightly secured. These include fog lights, ground effects, spoilers and similar additions.

    Ultimately, if you own a car alarm make sure you disable it. You really don’t want it going off mid-transport. In a case where you don’t know how to disable the alarm make sure you leave elaborate instructions on how the person transporting it can do it.

    For everything else, do not hesitate to contact professional moving services in Ontario!