# How to best ship a car a long distance **URL:** \ **Category:** General Discussion\ **Tags:** r-class, mercedes-benz\ **Created:** [June 5, 2017, 6:02pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/how-to-best-ship-a-car-a-long-distance/104667 "2017-06-05T18:02:35Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 14\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![jtsanders](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/c2a13f/32.png) [@jtsanders](https://community.cartalk.com/u/jtsanders)\ **Post date:** [June 7, 2017, 7:28pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/how-to-best-ship-a-car-a-long-distance/104667/21 "2017-06-07T19:28:20Z")
I would have given that shipper zero stars and written a scathing review of them. They are the experts on shipping, should warn customers of difficulties encountered in shipping, and provide solutions to the customers. Those solutions might cost extra, like car covers of some sort, but the onus is on them. Customers are not considered experts, the vendor of a service or product is. That is why we hear of crazy settlements in ladder cases. The ladder manufacturer did not warn customers of common hazards and paid the price. It seems to me the shippers that provide unsatisfactory serves of the Tempe you describe need to lose some law suits to make the cars as good as before the shipment. If they lose enough money, maybe they will start acting responsibly. ---
**Author:** ![TwinTurbo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/8baadc/32.png) [@TwinTurbo](https://community.cartalk.com/u/TwinTurbo)\ **Post date:** [June 7, 2017, 7:43pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/how-to-best-ship-a-car-a-long-distance/104667/22 "2017-06-07T19:43:13Z")
You can’t prevent every possible damage scenario. Maybe you could find a place that will handle it differently and not do any swapping but I’d think that would be difficult to find and expensive if they do. Can’t hurt to ask. I wouldn’t hesitate to pay extra for the covered option just to avoid those potential avenues for damage. Then- take pictures! lots of them. Note the odometer mileage when they take possession. Don’t be rushed when they deliver it and ask you to sign their form. The drivers want to take off and may try to pressure you to sign so they can take off. Take your time to inspect the car. Be sure to speak up about anything and make them note it on the inspection form. Check the delivered odometer and make note of it on the form as well if it is out of the ordinary like 1-2 miles max. ---
**Author:** ![Waterbuff](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/f07891/32.png) [@Waterbuff](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Waterbuff)\ **Post date:** [June 7, 2017, 8:51pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/how-to-best-ship-a-car-a-long-distance/104667/23 "2017-06-07T20:51:55Z")
> [@TwinTurbo](#): > > You don’t get to choose where the car goes on the truck. You don’t even know if it will only be on one truck for the entire trip if it is a long one. I met the truck at pickup and did pre-shipment inspection. Watched them load it up. Fast forward, I met the delivery truck and it was not the same truck. I asked the driver he said it went to a centralized lot where it was unloaded and stored for a few days before being loaded onto a different truck with other cars going the same way. > They damaged two of my cars. The first was a headlamp on a Corvette that was stuck open. The car was loaded in daylight so no need for headlamps. This goes back to #1 above. They re-loaded the car at night the second time. The headlamp mechanism was trashed and the lamp off kilter. Someone obviously hit something with it open. The second car was damaged in front of my eyes during unloading. Thank goodness I was there to see it. The driver tossed a hold down strap over the top and the substantial buckle hit the driver’s side door, denting it and chipping the paint. My experience agrees about not being able to choose where the car goes on the carrier. Sorry if it seemed I was suggesting otherwise. The possible switch in carriers probably depends on many factors, including start/end locations, the shipping agent or carrier used, etc. My car was apparently with the same guy and rig from VA to CA. It’s always a big negative when property damage happens under other people’s watch and often a pain to deal with insurance. Did your own insurance on the car not help you at all? ---
**Author:** ![irlandes](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/b5e925/32.png) [@irlandes](https://community.cartalk.com/u/irlandes)\ **Post date:** [June 8, 2017, 2:01pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/how-to-best-ship-a-car-a-long-distance/104667/24 "2017-06-08T14:01:11Z")
Of course, you could pay someone to simply drive it. I remember the first Cannonball Baker Cross country run, probably many years ago, two young men contracted to drive a nice Cadillac to California from NYC. 😃 They were instructed to drive well below the speed limit and to stop at dark for the night. As long as they kept it down around 105 the cops left them alone. And, since it was Cannonball Baker Run, they drove through with minimum stops for restroom and gas or sleeping. They noted it used no oil in a nearly 4000 mile high speed drive, and I would not have expected it to. But, I wonder about the suspension hitting road defects at 105 mph? Anyway, what the owner didn’t know, didn’t get them killed. 😃 I certainly am not saying all hired drivers are going to enter your baby in the Cannonball Baker Run. I wonder if anyone else remembers that incident? ---
**Author:** ![Barkydog](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/barkydog/32/2470_2.png) [@Barkydog](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Barkydog)\ **Post date:** [June 10, 2017, 7:03pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/how-to-best-ship-a-car-a-long-distance/104667/25 "2017-06-10T19:03:25Z")
I loved this movie when it came out, might not now, “Vanishing Point” _“Kowalski works for a car delivery service. He takes delivery of a 1970 Dodge Challenger to take from Colorado to San Francisco, California. Shortly after pickup, he takes a bet to get the car there in less than 15 hours. After a few run-ins with motorcycle cops and highway patrol they start a chase to bring him into custody. Along the way, Kowalski is guided by Supersoul - a blind DJ with a police radio scanner. Throw in lots of chase scenes, gay hitchhikers, a naked woman riding a motorbike, lots of Mopar and you’ve got a great cult hit from the early 70’s.”_ ---
**Author:** ![VDCdriver](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/vdcdriver/32/48514_2.png) [@VDCdriver](https://community.cartalk.com/u/VDCdriver)\ **Post date:** [June 10, 2017, 9:03pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/how-to-best-ship-a-car-a-long-distance/104667/26 "2017-06-10T21:03:13Z")
In my neck of the woods, this is the company that local collectors of Studebakers and Packards use to transport their vehicles to Florida for the winter, and then back to the rolling hills of Somerset County, NJ, for the summer: [http://www.horselesscarriage.com/](http://www.horselesscarriage.com/) Their reputation is…sterling. ---
**Author:** ![petpathways](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/9de053/32.png) [@petpathways](https://community.cartalk.com/u/petpathways)\ **Post date:** [June 10, 2017, 9:27pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/how-to-best-ship-a-car-a-long-distance/104667/27 "2017-06-10T21:27:34Z")
thanks Andrea ---
**Author:** ![VOLVO-V70](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/8e8cbc/32.png) [@VOLVO-V70](https://community.cartalk.com/u/VOLVO-V70)\ **Post date:** [June 10, 2017, 9:54pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/how-to-best-ship-a-car-a-long-distance/104667/28 "2017-06-10T21:54:23Z")
The OP does not say where they are moving to but if it is a place like California that has emission inspections I wonder if it would be better to just sell it and purchase something after they get there. Of course the vehicle might pass but it might be worth while to know before making a decision. ---
**Author:** ![Purebred](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/purebred/32/46796_2.png) [@Purebred](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Purebred)\ **Post date:** [August 3, 2017, 7:50pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/how-to-best-ship-a-car-a-long-distance/104667/29 "2017-08-03T19:50:13Z")
Yes, see them on I95 ---
**Author:** ![the\_same\_mountainbike](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/c89c15/32.png) [@the\_same\_mountainbike](https://community.cartalk.com/u/the_same_mountainbike)\ **Post date:** [August 5, 2017, 2:06am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/how-to-best-ship-a-car-a-long-distance/104667/30 "2017-08-05T02:06:29Z")
I’ve never done it, but I’d bet that if you attended a custom car show of any significance and asked around you’d be able to get some good references. You’d also have a good day. Even if you didn’t get any good references. ---
**Author:** ![sgtrock21](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/sgtrock21/32/246_2.png) [@sgtrock21](https://community.cartalk.com/u/sgtrock21)\ **Post date:** [August 5, 2017, 2:13am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/how-to-best-ship-a-car-a-long-distance/104667/31 "2017-08-05T02:13:14Z")
I haven’t had a car towed on a hook for at least 30 years. RWD, FWD, or AWD were all flatbedded. ---
**Author:** ![sgtrock21](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/sgtrock21/32/246_2.png) [@sgtrock21](https://community.cartalk.com/u/sgtrock21)\ **Post date:** [August 5, 2017, 2:25am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/how-to-best-ship-a-car-a-long-distance/104667/32 "2017-08-05T02:25:24Z")
I would consider ‘Vanishing Point’ a PSA (Public Service Announcement) for not using a ‘professional driver’! ---
**Author:** ![Barkydog](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/barkydog/32/2470_2.png) [@Barkydog](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Barkydog)\ **Post date:** [August 5, 2017, 2:31am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/how-to-best-ship-a-car-a-long-distance/104667/33 "2017-08-05T02:31:18Z")
I suppose, but it was a great movie at the time, I am going to see if I can pull it up on netflix, probably a disappointment in the making 💘 ---
**Author:** ![sgtrock21](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/sgtrock21/32/246_2.png) [@sgtrock21](https://community.cartalk.com/u/sgtrock21)\ **Post date:** [August 5, 2017, 1:05pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/how-to-best-ship-a-car-a-long-distance/104667/34 "2017-08-05T13:05:18Z")
I watched VP for the third time about 2 years ago. I still enjoyed it. PSA comment was a joke. [Previous page](https://community.cartalk.com/t/how-to-best-ship-a-car-a-long-distance/104667.md?page=1)