logo
  • Home
  • FAQs
  • User Videos
  • Quote Calculator
866-221-1664
Get Your Free Quote
logo
866-221-1664
  • Home
  • FAQs
  • User Videos
  • Quote Calculator
Get Your Free Quote
Get Your Free Quote

6 Tips to Consider for Shipping a Kit Car

50,000+ Reviews
1,000,000+ Customers Helped
Home  |  Car Transport   |   6 Tips to Consider for Shipping a Kit Car

A kit car is an automobile sold as a set of separate components whereby the buyer assembles it into a fully functioning vehicle. If you need your old kit car shipped to a new location or you are purchasing a new one, it is advisable to work with a reliable auto transport company. This is a company that handles the transportation of the car to your preferred destination. Here are the tips.

Choose a trustworthy shipping company

It is usually hard to trust someone you barely know with your precious vehicle. It is highly regarded that you carry out detailed due diligence on the company that is going to ship your car. The most recommended companies would be the one with all the equipment and staff with verified skills and reputable car shipping experience. This will ensure that your priceless antique is accorded the best service during the entire shipping process. It also assures you that the car will be safely and efficiently delivered to the intended destination.

Book a slot on time

Shipping a car typically takes days or weeks depending on the option you choose. As soon as you decide on the best auto shipping company to use, it is advisable not to waste any more time. Book a date immediately to avoid stress and unnecessary rushing on the last minute.

Choose your best transport service

There are typically two shipping models for kit cars. The enclosed and open auto transport shipping models. The open auto shipping model means that your kit car will be shipped alongside eight other vehicles in an open-air trailer while the enclosed auto shipping model is a model whereby your car is transported in an enclosed case. Both shipping models have their pros and cons. The open auto shipping model poses small risks to your vehicle while the latter is quite expensive.

Study and understand the shipping company’s’ shipping insurance policy

It is highly advisable to understand what the shipping insurance policy to comprehend what the insurance covers and what it does not. You should consider more detailed insurance coverage for your precious kit car for the best protection in case of an accident during the shipping process.

Adhere to the recommended preparation procedures

There are important procedures that should be followed prior to shipping your vehicle. It is important to follow each step as outlined in the shipping guidelines. For instances, the gas tank should only be a quarter full, and the car should not have any leakage problems. Also, you should remove any valuables from your vehicle and prepare to handle instructions containing any unique details regarding your vehicle to the shipping company.

Avail yourself during the shipping

An inspection should be carried out on the vehicle before and after transportation. During the process, you should be available to receive progress updates and any other relevant information. Also, the truck driver may require some useful tips to determine the best place to drop off your car. Upon successful shipping, you should verify that your vehicle is in the right conditions.

Frequently Asked Questions

Honest Answers to Your Car Shipping Questions

Yes, we always ask for your specific pickup and delivery addresses, if the carrier can get right to the addresses you provide, they will. If the addresses that you give us are not safely accessible for a Multi-car carrier, however, you will need to make arrangements with the driver to meet at a nearby location where the carrier can safely get in and out.

People do it all the time (rarely for free) but the official answer is no.

Not what you wanted to hear, we know, but that is the honest answer.

We are not licensed to broker the shipment of household goods and, likewise, no car carrier that operates in the USA is licensed to transport them from state to state either. Despite what you might be being told by other car shipping companies you may speak with.

Remember, at the end of the day we're all salespeople, and the true answer to this question is not a great selling point.

You will hear a lot of companies tell you that you can put up to 100 pounds of items in the trunk, but that is not entirely true. That fact is that items of that amount are fairly common and the department of transportation is probably not going to split hairs and fine the trucker over items of that amount, provided they are not over their weight limit. They could fine them, however, if they see a vehicle stuffed full of personal items so the car carrier will most likely try to negotiate something with you to cover themselves against any costs they could incur. It's not something we can build into your contract though.

We have a short and helpful video on this topic in our user videos.

Only in rare cases and car carriers will usually charge a premium to make it happen.

All dates given by car carriers are typically estimates and projections.

For this reason (and to keep your cost down) we ask that you build in some flexibility and give us the earliest possible date you would be WILLING to release the vehicle, even though it may not be your preferred date.

We'll put you in direct contact with your car carrier and the driver will also typically call you the afternoon or evening before your pick up and delivery (they won't just show up unannounced, and if they do we want to hear about it). However, car carriers are out on the road battling traffic, weather and any number of other factors that can and do throw them off of their pickup and delivery projections from time to time.

If the projected dates we give you come and you are unable to make contact with your carrier, please call our office immediately so that we may help resolve the situation.

The average transit time from pick up to delivery on any vehicle going coast to coast will average 7 to 10 days. From there you can figure your transit time based on how far your vehicle is traveling, i.e. from either coast to the Midwest might average 3-7 days.

Yes!

Even better, we do not even ask for payment until we have you confirmed for pickup by a safe, reliable, fully insured, direct car carrier. If for any reason you do not ship your car with the carrier that we arrange for you, there is no fee.

The fees paid directly to the carrier however, (in most cases, their fees are not paid until your vehicle is delivered) are not directly controlled by us, so any requests for a refund of the carrier's portion would need to be addressed with the carrier directly.

Of course! And you are always backed by our Damage Free Guarantee policy.

Part of what you pay us for is to verify that the car carrier that we put you on is covered by the proper amount of insurance and that everything is up to date.

There is never any additional cost to you for this coverage, and their insurance is always primary.

View All FAQs
Toyoto Subaru porsche bmw honda ford audi bmw

We’re Loved by Customers

See Reviews by Our Verified Buyers!

shipacardirect.com widget logo
Get Your Free Car Shipping Quote
Get Your Free Quote
  • About Ship a Car Direct
  • Quote Calculator
  • User Videos
  • FAQs
  • Resources
  • Blog
  • Contact Us
MC-632461
logo
© 2023 Ship a Car Direct. All Rights Reserved.
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms & Conditions
  • Site Map