A vehicle shipment in winter is a different story as everything from the biting cold to the slippery roads and even the snow make the whole process less straightforward. Therefore, if your plan is to have a car shipped during winter, then you must prepare it with some extra care so that it will be safe on the trip.
By properly winterizing your car for the transport, you will be able to limit the possible damage and help the car delivery implement without any hitch, no matter the reason of the car shipment, whether it is going to a new place, a classic car transport, or a car that you are not planning to drive in winter. A do-it-yourself preparation process during the cold season is what this manual aims to achieve for the vehicle freight.
1. Examine the Battery of Your Car
Winter weather is usually tough on a cars battery. The reason why the trouble of the car giving delays is quite little is usually a weak or dying battery, particularly in the cold season when the car is not being used. It is also very important to the battery be checked to see if it is in good condition before the car is shipped.
1.1 Battery Preparation Advice
Battery testing: If your vehicle is having a hard time to start or it shows signs of a weak battery, let it be tested before the delivery.
Battery charging: If the battery is weak, it has to be charged fully before the transport.
Battery disconnection: For the purpose of long storage during the transit, some carriers, for example, the Automobile Shipping, suggest that the car is being made safe by the battery being disconnected.
When the battery is in perfect condition, you will have no worries during unloading at the destination.
2. Inspect and Maintain Tire Pressure
When the temperature gets low, the air in the tires gets compressed and will take less space so the reading will be at a lower value, which means tires will look underinflated. Such situations are very typical for tire checks before shipment, as underinflated tires will cause the shipping company to have a hard time loading your car, especially in the case of an open transport carrier.
2.1 Tire Pressure Tips for Winter Transport
Check Tire Pressure: A tire pressure gauge will indicate whether the air in the tires corresponds to the standard made in the vehicle manual.
Install Winter Tires: In case your vehicle is going to be transported to a cold place with a lot of snow and ice, think about using winter tires before shipping. They will provide you with much better grip and stability during those times of cold weather.
Make Sure Loading and Unloading is Done Easily: The properly inflated tires will help the driver to a better loading onto the transport carrier thus a loading process will be done faster and with less effort.
By checking and maintaining proper tire pressure; you stay away from delaying or having a hard time during your shipping process.
3. Ensure Fluid Levels are Correct
Fluids in your car can be under extra pressure due to low temperatures. If their level is low, some troubles may appear during shipping. So, before your car is shipped in winter, make sure all the necessary fluids are full.
3.1 Fluid Checks Before Winter Transport
- Antifreeze/Coolant: The coolant should be both at the right level and properly mixed with antifreeze if the temperatures are low.
- Engine Oil: Cold will make the oil in your engine thicker, and the starting will be more difficult. So, the oil should be at its proper level and if necessary, you should change it to a winter one.
- Windshield Wiper Fluid: During snow and salt rides, your windshield can become dirty very quickly, so make sure your WFP is full with a brand that is safe for winter use.
If all the fluid levels are kept at their correct point, you will give a minimum of a trouble risk during the shipping process, especially in very low temperatures.
4. Clean Your Car and Take Out Personal Items
Before the car is shipped, it is always the best thing to do to clean your car especially if you are off during the winter season. Snow, ice, and salt from the road are the main culprits that will be sticking to your car’s body and will eventually eat it through rusting. Besides that, taking out the personal items will be a great help for the both of you in terms of safety and security.
4.1 Get Your Vehicle Ready for Winter Shipping
- Clean the Exterior: Remove salt, dirt, or grime that may have accumulated on your car to avoid rust and other kinds of damages in shipping. It is more important if you are in a place where salt is usually used on the roads.
- Clean the Interior: Personal items should be removed, and all loose change, documents, and electronics should be put away to make sure there is no theft and nothing is moving inside the vehicle during shipping.
- Check for the Presence of Damage: Photograph your car to identify all the damages before shipping. This is to help them in case of a claim of damage during transportation.
A clean car is definitely a better looking one and at the same time it is a vehicle that works for you because it helps to protect the car during the trip, especially if it is going to be a rough winter.
5. Prepare Your Vehicle for Storage (If Applicable)
In case your car is being transported to a different place where it won’t be used for a long time, for example, a storage location or an off-season area, then you must take some extra measures.
5.1 Winterizing Your Car for Long-Term Storage
- Top off the Gas Tank: Leave the gas tank roughly half full so that there won’t be any condensation in the tank and fuel lines.
- Save the Outside: One may opt a car cover to save the finish from getting damaged by the snow, ice, or the salt that has been spread on the road in case the vehicle is going to be left for a while.
- Allow For Appropriate Air Flow: In the event that the car is kept in a place for a long time, make sure that there is proper ventilation in the storage area so that no mold or mildew can build up.
Once again, if the intention is to park the car for the entire winter, it has to be winterized properly and then checked when the next time use comes.
6. Understand Winter Shipping Options
Vehicle transport during the winter requires a very good understanding of the available transport options because different weather and road conditions can cause delays.
6.1 Enclosed vs. Open Transport
Although open transport is the most popular and cheapest way, enclosed transport will be the right choice for a winter shipment if you want to keep your car safe from the low temperatures. Besides the safety and security aspects, an enclosed transport truck will also protect your car from snow, ice, and road salt during the journey, thus freeing it of worrying any corrosion issues.
6.2 Consider Expedited Shipping
On the other hand, if you need your car fast especially in winter, when weather is the main cause of the delays, then the best choice is expedited shipping. In such a situation, the expedited services will put your car at the top of their priority list, thus giving you a more accurate delivery schedule and a reduced possibility of a late delivery because of harsh weather conditions.
As for Automobile Shipping, we are the ones who provide you with not only the choice of open or enclosed transports but also the assurance that your vehicle will be shipped safely during the cold months of winter.
A Car Winter Transport Plan for Safety
Getting your car ready for a win transport does not necessarily mean that it has to be complicated but it requires some extra attention. A thorough check of the battery, maintaining tire pressure, topping off fluids, cleaning your vehicle, and the selection of the best shipping method are small yet significant steps that can really pay off. They guarantee that your car will be delivered safely and will be in a good state of progress at the destination.
In case you are thinking of a winter car shipment, Automobile Shipping is the right place to go. We provide not only convenient, safe, and reliable shipping solutions but also the options that can fit your schedule best. Moreover, the shipping is carried out with special attention and care during the cold season.
