Whether you are moving across the country or to Florida from another state, you’ll probably have to move your car with you. This can be an exciting and daunting process at the same time, especially if you have never done it before. Before getting started, here are 10 things that every car owner should know about shipping a car to or from Florida so that you don’t run into any difficulties along the way.
Table of Contents
1) Importing a Car
To import your vehicle, it will first need to pass through customs. This process can take anywhere from 2 days to 6 weeks, depending on how long it takes for your car’s papers and registration to be processed in order.
2) Why Do People Ship Cars in the First Place?
One of America’s favorite pastimes is taking road trips and exploring our great nation. Unfortunately, some people can’t drive across the country because they don’t have reliable transportation, leaving them with few options for transporting their vehicles cross-country. That’s where shipping companies come in—they can drive your car to your destination while you relax in a comfortable cabin.
3) Vehicle Preparation for Shipping
The first step in shipping a car is making sure it’s ready for the journey. This means cleaning your vehicle inside and out, performing routine maintenance, taking pictures and videos of your vehicle, and much more.
4) How much does it cost to ship your vehicle?
There are many factors that determine how much it costs to ship your vehicle. The exact price will depend on what kind of vehicle you own, where you’re shipping it, and whether it is going by land or sea. It will also vary by shipping company since there are many different choices out there. But as a general rule of thumb, an automobile should run you somewhere in between $500 and $4,000 for international shipping.
5) What are the shipping companies like?
With all of that information, there’s one question on your mind: Which company should I use? The best shipping companies, in terms of customer service and experience, include North American Van Lines and ACT Van Lines. These two companies get consistently high ratings—but you might want to shop around and compare prices with other companies as well. It’s never a bad idea to do extra research before making such an important decision!
6) Where do you start looking for shipping options?
There are two ways that you can go about getting estimates for shipping your car: either by contacting companies directly or by using an online shipping comparison service. Contacting individual companies is certainly more labor-intensive—you’ll have to call each one individually and deal with different customer service reps at each company.
7) What Happens if Something Goes Wrong?
It’s not uncommon for mistakes to happen when shipping cars. It’s important that you know what your options are if something goes wrong, so read up on how car shipping companies handle damaged vehicles and any other mishaps they may experience. In doing so, you can rest assured that your vehicle is in good hands.
8) Will the Vehicle Pass Emissions Inspection?
If your vehicle is more than seven years old, it’s highly likely that it will need to pass an emissions inspection before it can be registered in some states. Even if you only plan on driving your car for a few days, consider registering it in your state of origin.
9) Insurance Concerns when Shipping a Vehicle (State and Federal Requirements)
If you’re planning on shipping your vehicle, you’ll want to ensure it will arrive safely, and with all its parts. To that end, always check with your insurance provider before shipping. Most policies will not cover damage if an unattended vehicle is left at a shipping location for an extended period of time; be sure to keep that in mind if you plan on keeping your car at a transport yard during transit.
10) Is it Legal To Drive an Out-of-State Vehicle Within Your State/Jurisdiction?
As long as you’re driving within your own state, it is perfectly legal to drive an out-of-state vehicle in your home jurisdiction. However, make sure you get your plates changed (or pulled entirely) before crossing over into another state. If you don’t do so, you could have several citations on your hands when pulling into a neighboring state.
