Auto Transport for Relocation – How to Plan Ahead

how to prepare for car relocation

Brantley Kendall

15 Nov 2024 1 month ago


How to prepare for car relocation? When you’re moving houses and already have tons on your mind, the last thing you want is for the car relocation process to be a cause of even more stress and problems. These can compound quite quickly, ultimately leading you to forget to plan or prepare for something, subsequently creating more problems and trapping you in a vicious cycle. Today, we’ll talk about how to plan a car relocation to ensure everything goes smooth as butter.

Car Relocation Process 101: Always Pick Your Method First!

There are a number of ways you can ship your car to another state or city. At a glance, your options will include:

  • Driving the car yourself
  • Hiring someone to drive your car for you
  • Relying on a car shipping broker

Each of these comes with its own myriad of variables, though that’s beside the point. Your first step in relocating your car and other possessions should always involve deciding on the method. That way, you can sort out the other arrangements – like moving your furniture and personal belongings – with a clear plan.

Preparing the Car for Relocation

With the date getting ever closer, and your ducks progressively in more and more order, it’s time to start thinking about getting the car ready for shipping. As explained above, you’ve got more than one route to take here. We’ll cover two different scenarios: driving and shipping the car via a third party.

Driving Your Vehicle Yourself

The biggest piece of advice to give here is to plan as much of the trip ahead of time as possible. Everything will be almost entirely on a case-by-case basis here, given the number of variables, such as:

  • Your car’s condition
  • Distance to your destination
  • Your travel companions (and whether they can switch with you)
  • How many possessions you have in the car
  • Weather conditions & time of year (e.g., snowbird season)

All of these influence how the car relocation process will shape up. Still, the steps you’ll want to take every time include getting your car inspected to ensure it’s road-ready and topped up on fluid levels. Should any maintenance issues pop up, like tire pressure or a necessary oil change, address them promptly.

Critically, you’ll also want to plan your route carefully, with a particular emphasis on rest stops. When going far, for example, relocating across the country and multiple states, rest will be essential.

Also, remember to pack essentials in your car, like an emergency kit, water, snacks, and blankets. If you’re traveling with companions, arrange a driving schedule to avoid fatigue, and be sure to check the weather forecast to steer clear of dangerous conditions.

Hiring Help

If driving isn’t feasible (for example, if you’re shipping a non-running car) or you simply have enough on your plate as it is, you can always pay someone else to handle it. Here are your available options:

  • Hiring a Professional Driver: Directly hiring someone to deliver your car to the destination is a good choice for shorter moves. However, be sure to vet their credentials beforehand and discuss things like insurance coverage, too.
  • Transporting by Other Means: Other ways of transportation, such as shipping by train or airplane, are available, though they’re best saved for when you need to transport a luxury car and want to reduce risk to the absolute minimum. Bear in mind that using these methods eliminates the possibility of door-to-door transport, so you’ll have to pick it up yourself from the terminal.
  • Using a Transport Company: A car shipping broker like Sakaem Logistics connects you with reliable auto transport companies, removing the burden of arranging the logistics of the move from your shoulders. This adds a layer of convenience for you, extra safety for your car, and offers multiple choices, such as transporting it in an enclosed trailer or open trailer.

While each method has its place, for the least stressful experience, entrusting Sakaem Logistics is your best bet. The other options offer the fewest protections, and with us, you get the best cost-to-benefit ratio you could ask for.

Regardless of your method, your car has to be in a shipping-ready state before it’s loaded up. For a full guide on checking all the boxes, read: How to Prepare a Car for Shipping.

The Takeaway

How to prepare a car for relocation? These days, the car relocation process with third parties can be set up to suit your needs perfectly. Above all, however, you should prioritize the car’s safety to prevent further headaches during an already stressful time. Want to alleviate that stress and get your car where it needs to be? Choose Sakaem Logistics! Rely on our experience and industry knowledge, and let us shoulder the burden of figuring out complex logistics for you!

You may also read: Is It Safe to Ship a Car?


Brantley Kendall