Shipping modified or custom cars safely requires careful planning and preparation. Unlike standard vehicles, custom cars often come with unique features, delicate parts, and valuable modifications that need extra attention during transit. Whether you’ve spent years perfecting your car or purchased a one-of-a-kind custom vehicle, it’s essential to ensure its safety and protection during shipping.
In this blog post, we’ll guide you through the best practices for shipping modified or custom cars. From choosing the right transport method to preparing your vehicle for shipment, we’ll provide all the information you need to ensure your custom car arrives at its destination without any damage.
Why Shipping Modified or Custom Cars Requires Extra Care
Custom or modified cars often have non-standard features, making them more vulnerable during the transport process. Some of the reasons why extra care is needed include:
- Unique Modifications
Many custom cars feature aftermarket parts, specialized bodywork, or unique modifications that can’t be easily replaced or repaired. Whether it’s a custom suspension, oversized wheels, or a specialized engine, these modifications can make the car more prone to damage during transport.
- Higher Value
Custom vehicles often have a higher market value due to the modifications, upgrades, and uniqueness of the car. This increases the need for safe transport to prevent any loss or damage during the shipping process.
- Fragile Components
From custom interiors to delicate exterior features like spoilers or wide-body kits, modified cars often have parts that are more fragile than a stock vehicle. These parts require extra attention to ensure they are not damaged during loading, unloading, or transit.
Shipping companies that specialize in custom car transport will understand the importance of these features and take additional precautions to ensure the vehicle is handled correctly throughout the entire process.
How to Ship Modified or Custom Cars Safely
- Choose the Right Shipping Method
The first step to safely shipping a modified or custom car is to choose the right shipping method. There are two main options to consider: open transport and enclosed transport.
Open Transport: Open transport is the most common and affordable shipping option. Your vehicle will be loaded onto an open carrier with other cars. However, because the car is exposed to the elements, this option may not be suitable for custom cars with fragile parts or high value.
Enclosed Transport: Enclosed transport is the safest option for custom or modified cars. Your car will be transported inside a fully enclosed trailer, protecting it from weather, road debris, and potential damage. This option is ideal for high-value vehicles, vintage cars, and custom builds. Although it’s more expensive than open transport, the added protection makes it the best choice for valuable or delicate vehicles.
When shipping modified or custom cars, always opt for enclosed transport to ensure your vehicle is fully protected during transit.
- Prepare Your Car for Transport
Proper preparation is essential to prevent any issues during the shipping process. Here’s how you can prepare your modified or custom car for transport:
Document the Car’s Condition: Before handing over your vehicle to the shipping company, document its condition with detailed photos. Take pictures of any modifications, custom parts, and any pre-existing scratches or dents. This will serve as proof in case there’s any damage during transport.
Remove Loose Items: While custom cars often have specialized features, it’s important to remove any loose items or personal belongings from the car. Not only can these items shift and cause damage during transit, but shipping companies typically do not allow personal items inside the vehicle.
Check the Fluid Levels: Ensure that the car has no more than a quarter tank of fuel. Shipping companies typically request that the fuel level is low to reduce the weight of the vehicle and ensure safety during transport. Also, check the oil, coolant, and other essential fluids to ensure that the car is in good working condition.
Secure Custom Parts: If your car has fragile or custom parts (such as body kits, spoilers, or antennas), make sure they are properly secured or removed if necessary. This will prevent them from being damaged during transport.
By preparing your vehicle in advance, you can minimize the risk of damage during the shipping process.
- Insurance Coverage
When shipping a custom or modified car, it’s essential to ensure that the vehicle is adequately covered by insurance. Most shipping companies provide basic insurance coverage as part of their service, but this may not be enough to fully protect a high-value or modified car.
Before shipping your custom vehicle, verify the following:
Basic Coverage: Check what is included in the shipping company’s standard insurance policy and whether it covers the value of your vehicle, including any modifications.
Additional Coverage: If necessary, consider purchasing additional insurance to fully protect your vehicle. This may include coverage for damages caused by the transport process, as well as theft, fire, or weather-related issues.
Insurance for High-Value Cars: If your custom car is particularly valuable, ask the shipping company if they offer specialized insurance for high-value vehicles. This ensures that your car is fully covered during transport.
It’s essential to understand your insurance options to ensure your custom car is protected from potential risks during the shipping process.
- Choose a Reliable Shipping Company
Not all auto transport companies have the experience or expertise to handle modified or custom vehicles. When choosing a shipping company, look for one that specializes in high-end, modified, or exotic car transport. A reliable company should have experience in handling delicate and valuable vehicles and should offer:
Professionalism and Expertise: Look for a company that has experience with custom cars and a good track record of handling high-value shipments.
Reputation: Read customer reviews and ask for referrals to ensure that the company has a solid reputation for providing safe and reliable transport services.
Flexible Shipping Options: The shipping company should offer flexible options, including enclosed transport, door-to-door service, and tracking for peace of mind.
Taking the time to choose a reputable and experienced shipping company will ensure that your custom car is in safe hands during its journey.
Additional Tips for Shipping Modified or Custom Cars
Provide Detailed Instructions: If your vehicle has specific handling requirements (such as sensitive parts that need extra care), provide the shipping company with detailed instructions to ensure that the car is handled properly.
Schedule in Advance: Custom cars often require additional preparation and coordination, so be sure to book your shipping service well in advance to avoid last-minute delays.
Inspect the Vehicle Upon Arrival: When your vehicle arrives at its destination, conduct another thorough inspection to ensure that it has been delivered in the same condition. If there’s any damage, immediately contact the shipping company to begin the claims process.
Conclusion
Shipping modified or custom cars requires extra care to ensure their safety and protection during the transport process. By selecting the right shipping method, preparing your car properly, and choosing a reliable shipping company, you can ensure that your vehicle arrives at its destination without any damage.
At Car Shipping Auto, we specialize in transporting custom and modified vehicles. Our experienced team provides enclosed transport options, insurance coverage, and expert handling to ensure your car arrives safely. Contact us today for a quote and let us help you ship your custom car with peace of mind.
