I have helped a number of my customers transport their vehicles over the years. From these exact sema trucks (pictured here) for events that are multiple states away to motorcycles to new car deliveries off the car hauler, and most vehicles in between.
I can directly help and im happy to offer advice, otherwise, below are some important points to consider when transporting any vehicle. The majority of these points come from the eyes of me, an automotive detailer.
Protection (open trailer)
If you aren't able to use an enclosed trailer, you are going to need to protect the high impact areas from debris and bugs, I would recommend to cover all frontal-facing and high impact surfaces with a couple layers of painters tape.
You don't want to use a cover or tarp as these can slide against the paint and even flutter against it during the trip, causing GUARANTEED paint damage to some extent.
Also, you may want to consider loading the vehicle in reverse (obviously factor the weight distribution correctly), as this may allow the vehicle [on the trailer] to shield itself better from more of the debris overspray kicked up from the [tow] vehicle.
Type of trailer
The first choice to make is whether you want your
car to travel on an open or enclosed trailer. Enclosed transport should be the only choice for a restored or high-value vehicle. While it may be tempting to save a few dollars by going with an open carrier, it can be like stepping over a dollar to pick up a penny.
A fully enclosed transporter provides the maximum protection for your collector car. Conversely, on an open transporter, your car will be exposed to all of the potential hazards of the road such as rock damage, salt or even hail. To add insult to injury, open carriers are not liable for damage that occurs as a result of “normal road hazards.” Other vehicles may also drip fluids onto your vehicle if it is loaded on the lower level. (Most enclosed carriers don’t have this problem because their trailers have solid floors or drip pans under the ramps).
Loading style
All open transporters (and some enclosed transporters) use inclined ramps for loading. Ramps have several limitations: First, the loading angle can be too steep for cars with limited ground clearance. Additionally, cars with extremely narrow tracks can be harmed by ramps. Ramps can also present a hazard in slippery conditions, which could make loading dangerous, particularly for cars with high-performance tires and lots of torque. Finally, the inclined loading can put stress on vehicle drivelines. Clutches are particularly susceptible to wear during ramp loading.
The alternative to loading ramps is a lift gate, which is a horizontal platform that is raised and lowered by hydraulic cylinders. It provides the ultimate in safe loading. Think of it as an elevator for your car. The car is lifted until it’s level with the deck of the trailer, and then driven or winched forward and secured.
Insurance & Liability
All properly licensed automobile transport companies carry liability and cargo-loss insurance. But it’s the carrier (the transport company), not the shipper (you), who is the insured under this policy. Moreover, carriers are not licensed insurance brokers. They can’t legally sell you insurance in the traditional sense. And because the carrier probably has a substantial deductible on its cargo policy, you’ll be looking to the carrier rather than its insurer in most cases of minor damage. This is another reason to choose a stable, reputable company. At the end of the day, it’s the bill of lading rather than the insurance policy that decides how a claim will be handled, because the bill of lading is the contract of carriage between the carrier and the shipper.
Although it’s not unusual for a transporter to disclaim responsibility for something beyond its control, a reputable transporter will never ask you to sign a damage waiver that releases them from liability for their own carelessness. And you should never sign such a waiver, because it may prejudice the rights of your insurance company to collect on your behalf.
Preparation
When it’s time to ship your car, it’s up to you to get it ready to load. One of the best things you can do is to make sure the car is clean. If it’s clean, it’s easier for you and the carrier to do a proper inspection. This will help avoid damage claim problems at the destination. No matter where the vehicle is, you can have a local [to the vehicle] detailer pickup the vehicle from the seller/shop/storage, clean it, and take a number of thorough pictures, before handing the vehicle off to the transport service. If you wish, I can use my nationwide network of trusted detailer contacts for this.
You’ll also want to provide written instructions regarding anything that the person handling your vehicle will need to know, including information about battery and fuel cut-off switches, hidden switches and any other “tricks” to starting and running your car. These instructions should include any information on how to operate or disable an alarm system. In addition:
• Do not completely fill the gas tank. A quarter tank of fuel is best.
• Batteries should be charged to avoid additional fees for winching.
• Don’t leave loose articles in the vehicle or in the trunk. These items can shift and be damaged or cause damage to your car.
• Be sure the antifreeze level is adequate for the climate at both ends of the trip. Insufficient antifreeze in the coolant can result in a cracked engine block.