If you’re planning to relocate your car to a new city in Australia, this article will help you tons. Australia is a huge country, and moving your four-wheeler through its intertwined road network is quite a task.
However, your relocation stress will get much lighter if you’re prepared well ahead of time. To give you a sneak peek, this article will share basic guidelines on pre-transport tasks, official papers, routes, transport services, cost, safety, and more.
So, without any further ado, let’s check some expert tips and advice to get your wheels moved from point A to point B.
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6 Tasks to Tackle Before Relocating Your Car
If you focus on the prepping tasks before relocating your car, there will be fewer hassles. The pre-transport tasks may slightly vary for luxury vehicles versus regular cars. That’s why luxury transport tips are a bit different from those for regular cars. Let’s find out the details.
1. Car Type: Regular or Luxury
Your car type will determine the best method of transport for your vehicle. You must be more cautious about transporting your luxury or collector car than a regular one. For example, if you drive a luxury vehicle, you’ll want to ensure it has the ultimate protection by opting for enclosed vehicle transport.
This is especially true if you have specialised components like a Mercedes steering wheel, which require extra care during transport.
For most regular vehicles, open carrier transport will suffice. But, no matter which type of car you own, you’ll need to take note of your car’s current condition before shipping. Be sure to document the vehicle condition with pictures in case you need to file a claim.
Make sure you have the legal documentation ready. Also be sure to check and see whether the carrier is spacious enough to accommodate your vehicle
2. Check Your Car’s Operating Condition
It’s highly recommended that you check your car’s operational status before transporting it to a new place. If your car is operative and its interior is sound, it’s safer to relocate it.
You should also get a mechanic to check the car just to be certain. Here are some things you should check before shipping:
- If the battery is fully charged.
- If there’s any flat tire. If so, fix it before moving.
- The petrol tank should be a quarter full, just to drive in and out of the carrier. A full tank will add extra weight to the shipment and could cause fuel to leak on other vehicles.
- Refill the fluids: engine oil, power steering fluid, brake fluid, etc.
- Record your car’s current condition: scratch, dent, damage, etc., in text and photos. You may need to share this record with the transport official or the truck driver.
- Remove any custom or personal items from the boot or interior. The transport company only insures your car, not the personal items or gadgets.
Before relocating your car, ensure that all necessary maintenance is completed, including car air conditioning repairs, to avoid any issues during the journey.
3. Preparing the Papers
As with any valuable asset, legal papers are essential for documenting your car’s ownership. Be sure to gather your vehicle’s papers ready before relocating.
Maintaining and fixing official vehicle documents is a tedious job, so stay ahead of the game. Make a checklist of the following documents and tick off those that are ready:
- Registration paper for the current city
- An updated registration paper for the city you’re moving to (new address below three months)
- Your driving license
- Your car’s inspection certificates
- Your car’s insurance records
- Vehicle identity records
- Proof of ownership
4. Hire a Transport Company
Hiring a transport company could be a wise option for moving your vehicle when you consider the distance, road hassles, route familiarity, weather, etc. Although it might be expensive, it’s safer and more cost-effective when you consider the wear and tear on your car. Shipping your vehicle also saves you from adding miles to your odometer.
Consider the following facts while hiring a transporter:
- Share the exact location and address with the transport official and trailer driver.
- Share a set of your car’s papers with them.
- Check the service contract carefully before signing, making sure every expense is detailed.
5. Which Way Is Better: Road, Train, or Ship?
You have a few different options when it comes to transporting your vehicle. Moving by road gives you two options: driving the car yourself or letting the transporter service shoulder the load. Driving long distances yourself will lessen your car’s utility, pose accidental risks, and expose your car to unpredictable weather conditions.
Conversely, transporting the car by an open or enclosed truck is, although expensive, safer and quicker.
Moving by train is a good option, but the railway schedules and network may not always be feasible for your relocation. If your move takes you over the water, you will need to explore options for shipping your car via tanker ship.
6. Estimating the Cost
When transporting your car, estimating the cost is essential.
Getting a firm grasp on the estimated cost can help you ensure that you stick to your relocation budget. With inflation on the rise, it’s important to be diligent about your finances..Collect quotes from various transport services and see which one best serves your budget.
The cost of transporting a car depends on the model, condition, route distance, location, etc. Generally, the price stays between 50 cents to $1 per kilometre, so on average, it costs between $500 to $1200 to move your car to a new city.
The cost factor also includes your car’s size, pickup and delivery convenience, and seasonal rates, among other factors.
Essential Things to Consider When Hiring a Transport Company
If you’ve decided to hire a transport service, be it by truck, train, or ship, make sure you consider and verify the following matters:
Safety Insurance
Your car’s safety should be insured by any of these three sources:
- Car company’s insurance (insurance from the car manufacturer).
- Your personal car insurance.
- Transport company’s insurance (insurance from the company you lease or buy a car from).
Many reputed companies provide insurance for their cars. If the company insures your vehicle, check the clauses if they cover any accidental or natural damage to the car while transporting.
If the transport company doesn’t provide insurance coverage, make sure that your vehicle is fully covered during transport under your existing auto policy.
Reliability and Reputation
Make some time to explore various websites of the transport services that serve your area. Most companies have rating and customer feedback options on their websites.
Take time to scan through those ratings and customer feedback to verify the company’s service quality. Find the company that suits your relocation needs and discuss everything mentioned before agreeing to hire a service.
Another option to verify the reliability and reputation of a company is to consult your friends, relatives, neighbours, or colleagues. Ask around to see who may have recently used a transport company and verify their experience.
Conditions
Check each condition of the transport company’s contract carefully before signing anything. Be extra cautious about the payment and insurance clauses.
Read the terms and conditions to know if they suit your needs. Many services charge separately for the vehicle, and goods. Make sure to clarify any vague conditions and that there are no hidden charges.
Delivery Terms & Period
Another crucial factor to consider is the delivery term. Allowing a company to take your vehicle with an obscure delivery date is unwise. Ask the company officials to confirm the date and place of delivery.
Usually, the companies will give a timeframe of between three to ten days to deliver your car to its destination. Make sure that the time frame provided will work with your moving schedule and other relocation logistics.
Summing Up
Let’s recap the factors of relocating your car from one city to another in Australia:
- Determining your car type
- Checking its operability
- Preparing the papers
- Consider the various transportation options
- Get quotes from several transport companies
You should also maintain the insurance records, check online reviews on transportation companies, and review their terms and conditions and delivery period.
Ensuring the above should make your car relocating easy and stress-free. Moreover, it’s considerably more cost-effective to move your vehicle by a transport service rather than driving it yourself.
Frequently Asked Questions
- What is the cheapest way to relocate my car to a new city in Australia?
Transporting your car by train will likely prove to be the cheapest option since the train charges less per car than a truck or ship. When shipping via train, you can also keep your boxes and belongings inside your car without incurring additional fees. Plus, you can hitch a ride at the same time as your car. . Opting to ship by train offers reduced moving costs and more convenience.
- Is it okay if I keep the tank full when transporting my car?
No, it’s not advisable to ship your car with a full tank of gas. A full tank increases the total weight, making it possible for the transporter to charge you more. Besides, less fuel makes it a safer journey.
- How do I file a claim on my car’s insurance if it’s damaged in an accident during transportation?
You must look over your car’s insurance policy before shipping it. Review which party is responsible for insuring your car during transport: the car company’s insurance, , your personal insurance, or the transport company itself. If your car sustains damage during transport, you’ll need to file a claim with the appropriate party.
- How much will it cost to relocate my car to a new city in Australia?
Be prepared to pay around 50 cents to $1 per kilometre when transporting your car to a new city in Australia, depending on the distance, location, car model, and condition. You should also check on the seasonal rates of the companies and if they provide any special discount.
