Properly preparing your vehicle for the Atlanta to New York City route ensures a smooth shipping experience and protects your car during transit. Here's what you need to do:
Clean Your Vehicle: Wash both the exterior and interior of your car. This makes it easier to document any existing scratches or dents during the pre-shipping inspection.
Remove Personal Items: Carriers are not insured for personal belongings left inside your vehicle. Remove all valuables, toll passes (like Georgia's Peach Pass or E-ZPass), GPS devices, and any loose items that could shift during transport.
Document the Condition: Take clear, dated photos of your vehicle from all angles. This creates a record of its condition before shipping, which is helpful for insurance purposes if needed.
Check Fluids and Battery: Ensure your car has adequate fuel (about a quarter tank), all fluids are at proper levels, and the battery is fully charged. The carrier will need to drive your vehicle on and off the transport truck.
Disable Alarms: Turn off any car alarms to prevent them from going off during the 900-mile journey up the I-85 and I-95 corridor.
Remove or Secure Accessories: Retract or remove antennas, bike racks, spoilers, and any aftermarket accessories that could be damaged or cause damage during transport.
Address Mechanical Issues: Your vehicle should be in running condition. If it's not, inform us in advance as special arrangements may be needed.
For a complete walkthrough of the preparation process, see our detailed guide on how to ship a car. You'll also want to review our car shipping documents page to understand what paperwork you'll need for pickup and delivery.