How to Successfully Transport a Car Interstate

It’s finally time to upgrade your old sedan. But transporting a car interstate isn’t as simple as booking a cab and asking the driver to stop by your house. While booking a one-way flight from your airport of departure to the new arrival airport is more affordable and convenient, it’s also possible to ship your car. If you’re looking to transport a car to another state but don’t know where to begin, there are a couple of basic tips that could come in handy if you’re to learn about Interstate Car Carriers. 

Proper Documentation 

First and foremost, make sure you do your research with the proper documentation beforehand; this will make your move easier (and faster) when the time comes. Not sure what this paperwork is? Start with a vehicle title.

A vehicle title is the most important document you need when transporting a car to another state. Unless you are shipping your car, a vehicle title is required to transport your car on a public road. In addition, if you plan on registering or titling the car once it arrives at its destination, you will be required to have a signed-off title from the seller. And, once you have a signed-off title, keep it in a safe and secure place. This is one important document you don’t want to lose. 

State Regulation

Next, check out the regulations from the states you’ll be traveling through. Are there any restrictions on the age or weight of the vehicle? What documentation will you need? What are the maximum driving hours? While each state is different, most will require that you display your car’s license plates properly.

If you have any other questions about the transportation of a vehicle, contact your state’s secretary of state and DMV offices. 

After you’ve done your state-specific research, you will need to finish up with your paperwork. First, you’ll need the appropriate insurance coverage for the car’s new location. Depending on where you’re moving to, there may be different updates we need to make on our insurance coverage.  

Car inspection and Safety

Next, you’ll need to get car inspections to ensure that your vehicle meets the state’s safety regulations. You don’t want to be caught traveling without the proper safety standards in place. When you’re all set with your paperwork and inspections, make family and friends aware of your travel plans. Transporting a vehicle can take time (especially if you’re driving a long distance), so plan and pack accordingly. The last thing you want is to be stuck because of an empty gas tank. 

When it comes to loading and unloading your car for transport, you have two options: drive on, drive off (DODO), or drive-in, drive-out (DIDO). The difference between these two loading options is how the truck driver will access your vehicle to load it before departure. Each way has its advantages. 

Car Carrier vs. Freight: What’s the Difference?

If you’re looking for a single truck to transport your car across the country, your choice of carrier or freight depends on whether the freight is a one-way or round-trip shipment. 

Car Carrier: A car carrier is typically a truck that has been converted to carry cars. They have beds that fit 2-3 cars and are used for both local and long-distance transportation of vehicles. As the name suggests, they carry one vehicle at a time from point A to point B. Generally, these trucks are dedicated to this purpose only but occasionally will be used for load/unload services in conjunction with heavy haul trucking services (e.g., moving large amounts of classified freight). 

Freight: A freight is a truck that transports a load of cargo from one point to another. These trucks are used for both local and long-distance transportation of cargo. Freight trucks can be used for one-way or round-trip transport but are best suited for transporting freight that is too large or cumbersome to be transported by car carrier trucks. 

If you’re looking to transport your car interstate, it is important to know the regulations for car transport. The following are some key points that should be noted before you plan on Transporting a Car Interstate: 

-You must have the vehicle registration and license plate in place.

-Your driver’s license will need to be valid, too.

-You should have the car in tip-top shape.

-You cannot transport hazardous materials (meth labs, ovens, etc.) and cannot exceed a combined weight of 500 pounds.

-If your vehicle is less than 15 years old, you will need to have at least 3 months’ written proof of ownership.