Moving to Denver is one of the best decisions you can make. There are countless job opportunities, phenomenal healthcare, and proximity to the iconic Rocky Mountains. Getting to the Mile High City isn’t a problem, but transporting your car is a different animal. Driving the vehicle yourself is too troublesome, so, does this mean you can’t do anything with your ride?
Don’t throw in the towel just yet. This article will provide an in-depth guide to shipping your car when relocating to Denver.
How to Ship Your Car to Denver
You need to juggle multiple responsibilities when relocating to Denver, such as choosing your new house and packing your stuff. With your plate already full, the last thing you want is to spend hours driving your car.
This brings us to the best way to ship your ride to the Mile High City – hire a reliable car shipper.
It may seem like there’s not much to it other than dialing the first number you find, but don’t rush headfirst into it. The following guide will help you select a reliable provider, avoid overpaying for your transportation, and ensure your car arrives in one piece.
Step 1 – Research Your Options
When looking for any company, nothing beats word-of-mouth marketing. The car transportation industry is no different in this regard. Ask your friends, coworkers, neighbors, and family if they’ve ever worked with a car shipper. They might be able to recommend a few reputable organizations and those you should stay away from.
Don’t forget to perform an online search too. Whatever team you come across, look them up to check the experiences of previous customers.
But what if you could contact a verifiably dependable mover without lifting a finger? That’s exactly what we’ll help you do by recommending A-1 Auto Transport. This car shipping provider has a proven track record of relocating different types of vehicles across many major cities, including Denver. They’re also reasonably priced and fully licensed.
Step 2 – Get Your Quote and Schedule Ahead of Time
After discovering a few (or just one) car shippers, it’s time to get a quote for your relocation to Denver. So, get in touch with your provider and request an accurate offer. They’ll consider the following factors to come up with a detailed quote:
- Distance to Denver – The longer the trip your provider has to cover, the more they’ll charge for the service. If you live in Colorado Springs or other nearby areas, you shouldn’t pay more than a few hundred dollars. However, hauling your vehicle across the country is more expensive (upwards of $1,000).
- Type of service – Most car shippers let you choose from two types of service: open and enclosed transport. The former is more affordable but exposes your four-wheeler to rain, snow, dust, and other elements. The latter is expensive but offers unparalleled protection from bad weather and other threats. Hence, opt for enclosed transport if you have a luxury or classic ride and want to keep your prized possession unscathed.
- Car weight – Naturally, heavier vehicles are harder to secure and transport than lighter rides. This also makes them more expensive to haul.
- Season – Looking to relocate to Denver in the spring or summer? It’s a great call, but keep in mind that this is also when most other Americans relocate. This results in a higher price due to simple supply and demand. Hence, try to postpone your relocation until fall or winter if you’re on a budget.
- Time of scheduling – This factor refers to the exact time when you book your service. If you do it just a few days before the relocation, you’re putting the company on short notice. They have less time to prepare for the project, and they’ll likely charge more. If possible, arrange your car shipping a few weeks or months ahead to get a better deal.
Step 3 – Prepare the Vehicle for the Service
Your transporter will handle most of the manual work (loading, hauling, and unloading the vehicle in Denver). However, this doesn’t mean you should put your feet up after scheduling the service. After all, you want to be sure your car is in great shape when it gets to the Mile High City.
That’s why a mechanical and exterior vehicle check is in order:
- Fuel level – Be sure to leave only a quarter of your tank full. This way, you’ll have enough gas to drive your vehicle when it gets to Denver without adding unnecessary weight to the car and increasing the price of the service in the process.
- Personal possessions – Remove any personal possessions from the vehicle, including clothes, leftover drinks, phones, and other electronics. The reason is simple – your provider isn’t responsible for them during transit, so there’s no way to get compensated in the event of damage.
- Accessories – Light fixtures and bike holders make your car more functional, and awnings are excellent for RVs. However, they often get in the way of seamless transport. Consult your carrier if you need to detach some of these items before they pick your vehicle up.
- Clean the vehicle – You’re probably thinking, why would I clean my vehicle if I’m planning to ship it? There are several reasons, but the main one is that washing your vehicle sheds light on any existing scratches or dings. So, scour your ride from top to bottom and take photos of videos. You’ll be able to compare its existing condition to the one after the service, allowing you to make an insurance claim in case of damage.
Wait for Your Driver and Head for Denver
You’ve scheduled your service and prepped your vehicle. All that remains now is to wait for your driver. They’ll arrive at the agreed time, pick up your ride, and take it to Denver. If all goes well (and there’s no reason it shouldn’t if you’ve booked a dependable team), your car will arrive unharmed, allowing you to explore your new city behind the wheel.
Article by: Jason Mueller