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Do you need to ship a car to another state? Moving to a new state can be difficult. The challenge results from the long To-Do list of tasks that must be accomplished before the move. However, auto shipping services serve to make your life easier with convenience and peace of mind.

The first step in the auto transport process is choosing a reliable auto transport company, one which you can trust with the shipment of your vehicle. It may seem like the process ends there. However, there are many additional steps that must be completed to ship your vehicle to another state.

Choosing An Auto Transport Company

When moving to another state, it is crucial to find a reliable auto transport company. You want to find a company you feel comfortable leaving your car with. You do not want to worry about damages, late deliveries, or overcharges. Paying a professional to handle the shipment of your vehicle means just that. An experienced auto transport expert will have the necessary knowledge and training to get the job done right.

These companies do exist. All you must do is find them. National Dispatch is a top-rated car shipping company for the following reasons:

Experience. Experience is a good indicator that your car transport will go smoothly, from start to finish. National Dispatch has years of experience in the car shipping industry, transporting vehicles all over the country for both individuals and businesses.
Professional Staff. You want to do business with someone who is professional, friendly, and honest. We seek to provide the best customer service by answering all your questions and ensuring that you remain informed every step of the way.
Affordable Rates. Our car transport rates are competitive with the industry. We aim to provide high quality services at an affordable price. Use our free online quote calculator, located on our website, to receive an instant quote.
Trustworthiness. Honesty and integrity are key characteristics of any company. They should be upheld to the highest standards. Trust in us to transport your car to its destination in a safe and timely manner.

Read more information on How To Choose an Auto Transport Company.

Cost To Ship A Car

One of the most commonly asked questions in auto shipping is, “How much will it cost to ship my car?” This will depend on a variety of factors. Many companies offer a quote calculator on their website. This can be used to determine an estimated cost of auto transport services from one state to another. If you have an idea of how much it will cost to ship your vehicle ahead of time, then you can properly prepare a moving budget.

Requesting A Quote

Not all quote calculators are created equal. These vary across the industry, from simple to more complex. National Dispatch has an easy-to-use quote form on the website, which makes the process of getting car transport rates very simple. Here are some perks of using the quote calculator located on National Dispatch’s website:

Instant. Upon entering in the required information, you will be instantly redirected to the car transport quote results page. It only takes a matter of seconds. This saves time in comparison to other sites that require you to wait around for email results.
No Personal Information. Only four fields of information are required to receive an auto transport quote. You must enter the vehicle make, vehicle model, pickup location, and delivery location. However, no email, phone number, or other personal information is requested of you.
Available 24/7. The quote form is always available on our website for use, twenty-four hours a day, seven days a week. This means that even when our office is closed, you can receive a free, instant car shipping quote.
Free. There is no cost to get an auto transport quote. If you need to ship your car, why not check out the services that we offer?
User-Friendly. We created the quote calculator with our customers, in mind. Therefore, we want to make it as easy as possible to get a quote. On the quote results page, you can easily choose between different shipping options and services without switching screens.

Factors Affecting A Car Transport Rate

You may be wondering how the car shipping company calculates the number that you see on your estimated car transport rate. Well, many components must be taken into consideration to reach a price point. Here are a few of the factors that affect your quote:

Distance. The distance between your current home and your destination point is a major consideration factor. The cost of shipping will vary if you are transporting city to city, state to state, or coast to coast.
Location. This may seem very similar to distance, but it is different in some respects. This variable has more to do with your geographical location and setting. Moving to a major city versus a small town could vary in costs.
Vehicle Type. All aspects of the vehicle must be taken into consideration. This would include the size, make, and model. Larger vehicles weigh more which will have an impact on how much you will pay to transport.

Keep in mind that not all car shipping companies are the same. Car shippers charge differently based on their policies and their general way of conducting business. The best advice is to go for value over price. Although it may seem like a good idea to save money and go for the cheapest option, you often get what you pay for.

Learn more information on Car Transport Rates.

Father and son washing car

Preparing A Car For Shipping

Preparing a car for transport is necessary to minimize any risks associated with transporting a car. To ship a car, you must:

Gather all needed documentation
Perform an inspection
Remove personal belongings
Perform a maintenance check

What Documents Do You Need To Transport A Car?

A reputable car transport company will require documentation before the car is able to be shipped to its destination. This documentation may vary from company to company. However, below, you will find the most popular documents required:

Vehicle registration and title. This proves that you are the rightful owner of the car that you are about to ship.
Photo identification. Acceptable forms of photo identification include a driver’s license or passport.
Car insurance. Although most auto transport companies offer insured services, proof of insurance may also be required.

Perform An Inspection For Pre-Existing Damages

It is important to check for any pre-existing damages prior to transporting your vehicle. This ensures that you know the current condition of your car for insurance purposes, in case any unforeseen circumstances were to occur. An inspection can be completed by doing the following:

Wash the exterior of the car. A clean car will help you to spot any cosmetic damages on the vehicle.
Record any chips, dents, or scratches. Write down if there are any cosmetic damages for your records.
Take pictures. Go around the outside of the vehicle, taking close-up photographs of any of the damages that you noticed. Take the pictures from various angles, and include a date stamp.
Make a copy. An inspection will also be completed when the driver arrives to transport the vehicle. Make sure that the driver also makes note of these pre-existing damages, or provide the transporter with a copy.

Remove All Personal Belongings

Do not pack personal items in your car. It is best to transport these items, yourself. This reduces the risk of theft and damages. It is also important for insurance purposes, as an auto shipping company will not be liable for damages caused by these items. Packing more items in your car also adds more weight to the vehicle, which will have an impact on the price.

It is the driver’s job to transport your vehicle. Make his job easier by removing all personal belongings, such as GPS systems and unmounted radios. You should also be sure to remove all luggage, bike, and ski racks, unless they are permanent. It is not necessary to remove vehicle items, such as the jack and spare tire.

Lastly, you should remove or deactivate toll tags and parking passes. You do not want to run the risk of accumulating charges as your vehicle travels to its destination.

Read more on Preparing A Car For Shipping.

Perform A Maintenance Check

Although the vehicle will not be driven much during transport, except for loading and unloading purposes, it is important that the vehicle is in a safe, working condition. If you are looking to ship a non-running vehicle, National Dispatch also provides those services. However, special equipment is required. Right now, we will focus on operable vehicles. Here is what you should do prior to shipping your operable car:

Check the tires. Ensure that the tires are properly inflated at the appropriate tire pressure. Also, check the condition of the tires.
Refill fluids, if necessary. Your car runs off a variety of fluids, including brake fluid, washer fluid, coolant, transmission fluid, oil, power steering fluid, and more. Make sure the levels are where they should be.
Keep gas tank at ¼ to ½ full. This is the recommended amount to reduce weight and ensure a smooth transport.
Be watchful of leaks. The driver should be notified of any issues with your vehicle. If your car is leaking, it should not be placed on the upper level. It may leak on the cars below it.
Notify the driver of quirks. You know your car better than anyone. You understand how it runs and performs daily. Let the transporter know of a special concerns with the vehicle prior to shipping.

Learn more about Car Maintenance.

What Should You Do After Shipping A Car?

Your car has been delivered at your new home in a new state. What is there left to do? Upon the delivery of your car, you will need to complete another inspection with the driver. This is to ensure that the vehicle is in the same condition that it was shipped in. If you do notice any damages, notify the auto transport company immediately. You will also be required to sign the Bill of Lading.

After relocating to the new state, you should contact the local DMV to update some important information concerning your vehicle. This information includes:

Driver’s license. You must update your driver’s license to reflect your new state of residence. States vary in the length of time given to complete this task, typically between 10 to 30 days.
License plates. Similar to your driver’s license, the vehicle must be registered in the new state within a certain number of days. This is typically longer, between 30 and 60 days. Check to see if the old plates need to be surrendered.
Inspections. Depending on the state to which you are moving to, there may be certain requirements. For example, California requires that most vehicles pass a smog check.
Car Insurance. Notify your auto insurance company of your move. It may be necessary to adjust your coverage.

Contact National Dispatch Today!

National Dispatch is a nationwide car shipping company with a company-owned fleet. We have years of experience in the industry, shipping cars all over the country for both individuals and businesses. We transport vehicles for residential moves, extended vacations, corporate relocations, military moves, and more.

Whatever your reason for moving to another state, we can handle the shipment of your vehicle. We transport all types of vehicles, including cars, trucks, SUVs, vans, and motorcycles. We even ship classic, luxury, and exotic models, as well. By offering both open and enclosed auto transport, our services cater to meet your specific needs. If you are in need of a faster delivery time, then we offer a guaranteed shipping option.

Request a free, instant car shipping quote using our online quote calculator. Fill out four fields of information to get a quote in seconds. No personal information is required. If you prefer to speak with an auto transport representative by phone, call us at 800-321-2051.

Flying Back Home

The wintry weather is coming to an end, and Spring is in the air! For a snowbird, these upcoming months are of the utmost importance. It is time to start thinking about making the trip back to your northern home.

As a snowbird, you reap the benefits of a mild summer in the north and warmer winter in the south. By making this trip, however, there is an appropriate amount of planning involved and tasks that should be accomplished before your return.

National Dispatch has created for you a checklist of tasks that need to be completed before leaving your southern home. In addition, we have provided for you helpful tips for your next journey, including everything you need to know on shipping your car.

What is a Snowbird? Better Question: Who is a Snowbird?

If you are not a snowbird, you might have been confused as you started to read this article. If this is an actual bird, why does it need help planning its trip home? And, what is it going to do with a car? Let us explain.

A snowbird is a person. Snowbird is the term given to a group of people who travel to a warmer climate during the winter months, starting in October. These travelers leave their home in the North to seek residence in the South. Most of these individuals make up the population between the ages of 50 and 70 years old.
There are many destinations. The common destinations include Florida, South Carolina, Arizona, California, and Texas. Some snowbirds even go to such places as Las Vegas or Hawaii to escape the harsh winter.
Snowbirds have their reasons. There are many reasons to get way from the cold winters associated with the North. Not only is it nice to soak up the sun, freezing temperatures can produce hazardous sheets of ice. This is dangerous for both walking and driving. In addition, shoveling snow is a strenuous activity to undertake.
Some will seek permanent residence. Some snowbirds will eventually seek permanent residence in their southern home. There is a long To-Do list that must be completed before leaving and upon arrival. A snowbird should prepare their northern home for the winter, register their vehicle in the southern state, and notify the United States Postal Service of their temporary change in address. These are essential tasks to accomplish, because a snowbird may leave from three to five months.

Leaving Your Southern Home

Now, we have discussed who a snowbird is, the common destinations of travel, and reasons to migrate during the winter months. If you are a snowbird or thinking of becoming one, we have listed a few tasks to remember to complete before leaving the south.

Here are a few of the jobs that you will want to complete:

Hire someone to check-in on the place. Your southern home will sit unoccupied for many months until it is time for you to make that journey again. Ask a friend, family member, or neighbor to stop in once or twice a month to ensure that no problems have come about.
Do a walk-through inspection. As if you were buying the home for the first time, walk through the property, checking for anything that could present a hazard. Go ahead and bring in or tie down any outdoor furniture that might be blown away in a large storm.
Set your AC appropriately. You are not going to be at this home for some time, so setting the thermostat at 70 degrees would not be economical. Put the thermostat to a higher setting, such as 85 degrees. This way it will remain running while you are gone.
Close the blinds. Make sure that you close the blinds or curtains. This will prevent the harsh rays of the run from shining in to your home while you are away. Closed blinds also make it difficult for people to look into your home.
Clean up. You do not want to come back to a dirty home, so do a little light cleaning. Also, clean out the refrigerator and the pantry, since you will be gone for several months. You do not want to return to unwelcome visitors (i.e. ants) taking up residence in your home.
Turn off and unplug appliances. Before leaving your southern home, make sure that the stove and other appliances are turned off. Anything that is not necessary to keep running while you are gone can be unplugged.
Remember to lock up. Do not forget to lock up all exterior doors and windows. If you have a sliding glass door, a security bar can be used for extra protection. If you have a garage door, you will want to make sure that it is secure, as well. Set the alarm if you have one.

Upon Returning to Your Northern Home

You have left your temporary home in the South and have returned to your Northern home, just in time for Spring. Now, it is time to prepare your home to be lived in, once again.

Here are a few tasks to remember to complete upon your return:

Contact the United States Postal Service. During the time spent away from your primary residence, you probably requested that your mail be forwarded. Upon your return, you will need to make sure that this service is terminated.
Adjust the thermostat. You turned down the temperature, so that heat would not be running in a vacant home. This was to save energy and money. Now that you are home, it is time to adjust the thermostat to a comfortable setting.
Tell your friends, family, and neighbors. You may have asked someone to stop by your northern home occasionally to make sure there were not any problems. Let your friends, family, and close neighbors know of your arrival.
Plug in appliances. All of those electronic appliances and gadgets that you unplugged can be plugged back in.
Resume services. You may have asked your cable or internet provider to pause or delay your services while you were gone. If this is the case, then you will need to contact the company to resume services.
Turn your water back on. Water is a necessity, so you want to make sure that it is up and running immediately. When turning your water back on, check to make sure that you do not have any leaks, cracks, or busted pipes.

The Next Trip

It’s currently Spring time, and you recently made the journey back North from your temporary home in the South. Before you know it, it will be time to start thinking about making your next trip. We have created a To-Do list of tasks to complete before leaving your northern home, along with information on how to make the next trip even better.

To-Do List: Leaving Your Northern Home

Turn down the temperature on your thermostat.
Turn off the water.
Bring outdoor furniture inside.
Unplug electronics and other appliances.
Establish mail forwarding.
Let friends, family or neighbors know that you are leaving.
Secure the home (alarms, locks, etc.).
Clean your home.
Pause cable and internet services.
Forward calls from your home phone or create a special voicemail.
Set lights on timers.
Ask someone to keep your pet(s).

Making the Most Out of Your Future Trip

How can you make the next trip better? Instead of driving a thousand miles from New York to Florida, consider shipping your car. It’s fast and simple. In the next section, we will outline the specific reasons why this is the best option for you.

Why Should You Ship Your Car?

There are many reasons why snowbirds drive their car to their southern home. They may not know of the other options available or believe that driving is the simplest choice. However, there is another option available, using a car shipping company.

Here are a few points on why you should consider shipping your car:

Driving can be dangerous. The whole purpose of leaving the North for the winter is to escape the brutal cold and all of the hazards that snow and ice may cause. However, driving hundreds of miles can be dangerous, as well. Depending on when you leave, you face the possibility of running into winter weather along the way. In addition, there is always the chance of getting into an accident when making a long car trip.
Traffic, we all hate it. “I love sitting in hours of traffic.” – Said no one ever. When you make the trip from your northern home to your temporary home in the South, you run the risk of traffic. Traffic causes frustration and stress, which does not start the trip off right. Why risk it when you could fly to your destination stress-free?
Driving can get expensive. When you make any trip, there are expenses involved. You must stop for gas and food. If it is a long journey, you may want to stay at a hotel for one night or two to break the trip up.
Shipping your car is easy. Door-to-door service is provided by the car transport company. Not only can you track your vehicle, the driver is accessible along the way and will notify you with updates, such as an estimated time of arrival.
Car shipping means less wear on the vehicle. If you were to drive your car from your northern home in New York to your southern home in Florida, that would put approximately 1000 miles on your vehicle, one-way. Year-after-year, you make this same trip, putting more miles on your car. More miles means more wear on the tires.

Choosing National Dispatch:

It is understandable to be cautious when choosing a car shipping company. After all, you are entrusting them with transporting your vehicle from one destination to another without any problems or damages.

Here are few reasons why you should choose National Dispatch to ship your car:

We have a company-owned fleet. Not all auto transport companies own their own car carriers, but we do.
Request an instant free car-shipping quote anytime. You can fill out a quote online, without including any personal information. All we need is the vehicle make and model, pickup location, and delivery location. You will receive your quote in seconds!
We are dedicated to our customers. Our customers include individuals relocating, auto dealerships, vacationers, car collectors, corporations, construction teams, military personnel, and more. We listen to our customers and because of dedication to service, we receive repeat business, frequently.
Pick-up and delivery is in a timely manner. We provide door-to-door service, so the process is fast and easy. Our drivers are always accessible by phone and will contact you before their arrival.
We transport a variety of vehicles. We will transport your motorcycle, classic car, or luxury vehicle. IN addition, we ship both running and non-running cars.
We provide our services statewide and nationwide. No matter where your southern home is located in the United States, we will get your vehicle to its destination.
We offer a variety of options for transporting your car. We offer both open and enclosed car carriers to suit your needs. When choosing an enclosed car carrier, you vehicle will be transported in an enclosed trailer, free from dust, grime, and the elements of the road.

Kick Your Feet Up

Spring is in the air, and winter is coming to a close. We hope that these tips for leaving your southern home will prove useful in the weeks to come. As you think about making your next trip, use the To-Do list for leaving your northern home to make your life a little easier. Consider using a car shipping company to transport your vehicle to its destination. Its fast, simple, and worry-free.

Choose National Dispatch for your car shipping needs. You can count on our knowledgeable and skilled drivers to transport your vehicle in a safe and timely manner. Get a free instant car shipping quote by going to https://www.nationaldispatch.com/. You can also call 800-321-2051 to speak to one of our auto transport specialists.

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