New year, new you, new car?
Well, why not? It’s a new year, and it’s about time you start saying yes to whatever your heart wants. We’ve only got one life to live, so there is no reason to deprive yourself of the simple joys of life, such as sporting a brand-new ride to mark the start of 2024.
That’s right. This year might be the year that you finally bring home your dream car. Whether it’s a vintage classic or a brand new sports car (check this out), there’s always a way to get these bad boys home, especially when you know your way around the market.
Who knows? You might be able to land the best deals too.
The key is to be resourceful and look for sellers not just within your state but also out of state. With the internet today, you can now access automobile shows and auctions virtually. You can even browse for the latest wheels with the click of a mouse. If you’re searching for a model that’s more “exotic” or unique, or maybe even a custom-built one, you just might meet your four-wheeled muse in places you’ve never thought to look.
But what do you do when you finally find the perfect vehicle for you only to discover that there are hundreds of miles separating the both of you? The answer’s pretty simple: you ship it.
Fortunately, car shipping companies exist, and they aim to connect car enthusiasts with their dream rides no matter where in the world they are.
If you’re living overseas? Not a problem.
If you’re in a different city? Say no more.
If you’re living out of state? No stress.
Car shipping companies can easily help you transport your vehicle so that it arrives at you safe, fast, and hassle-free. Now that you know how to ship a car to another state in 2024, it would be wise to also know the steps involved. After all, if you’re shipping such a precious, high-value item, you simply can’t afford for any mistakes to happen.
Below, we’ve listed the five most important steps that you need to take to ship your car to another state successfully.
Sort Out The Paperwork
First things first, you need to make sure that you get the paperwork done. This includes all the documents, permits, and registrations that are associated with your vehicle. This is especially true if it’s a brand new purchase.
Generally speaking, shipping companies would ask for basic requirements such as a copy of the vehicle’s registration, recent emission test results, your driver’s license, and a valid, government-issued ID. They might also ask for supplementary documents to make sure that the vehicle is up to par with state border requirements. The more you prepare, the less likely you are to encounter issues with border patrol. All in all, it’s best to get the tedious work out of the way before anything else.
Don’t Forget Your Taxes
Next, pay your tax dues. Depending on the state you are shipping the car to, different tax laws may apply. The most common type of tax that you have to pay when you acquire a new vehicle is the sales tax. If you’ve already settled your tax obligations in the state where you bought the car, then make sure you have receipts with you to verify the claim.
Check out these 5 states with 0% sales tax on new vehicles: https://www.autolist.com/guides/states-no-sales-tax-cars. Although buying from these states doesn’t guarantee that you won’t have to pay anything when it arrives in your state, you might be a resident in one of these states yourself—lucky you!
Find A Reliable Car Shipping Company
Once you’ve got most of the paperwork done and fulfilled your tax obligations for the new car purchase, what you want to do next is find a good company that can facilitate the transfer for you. Make sure that you do a thorough search before signing up for any offer. Check the credentials of each company to make sure that they are a legitimate business before paying out any money. The internet is your friend, and reviews are abundant, so be extra resourceful to make better choices.
Prepare For Shipping
After you’ve sorted out the matter regarding who will be in charge of shipping your car (your company of choice), the next thing you have to do is start preparing the vehicle for the transfer. Apart from the paperwork, you also need to physically prepare the vehicle to make sure that it is shipped out in good condition. If you are buying out of state, it would be best to relay specific instructions to your seller or vehicle dealership to make sure that they properly prepare the vehicle for shipment.
Hold On To Your Bill Of Lading
Once everything is prepared and your new vehicle is about to go out for delivery, the shipping company will issue a bill of lading, which will serve as your receipt for the shipping service. It details the specifics of the vehicle (brand, model/make, year produced, etc.) as well as other information associated with its shipping. Keep the bill of lading until your vehicle has arrived at its destination state successfully. This will serve as proof that you’ve had the vehicle delivered, as well as detail the condition of the vehicle when it was handed to the shipping company officially.
