If you’re shipping a vehicle to Hawaii, it’s important to properly prepare it for the journey. There are several things you can do to make sure your car arrives in the condition you left it and without any damage. In this blog post, we’ll review some of the best tips for preparing your vehicle for a shipment to Hawaii. By following these tips, you can rest assured your car will arrive safe and sound!
GET YOUR VEHICLE READY FOR A SHIPMENT TO HAWAII
First, you’ll want to remove all personal belongings. Give it a good decluttering! This also includes items like your GPS, custom stereo, aftermarket video and DVD players, phone chargers, and any other valuables. It’s also a good idea to remove any aftermarket accessories, such as spoilers or body kits. These items can sometimes come loose during shipping, causing damage to your vehicle. Exceptions are made for child seats, jumper cables, and in some cases automobile parts.
Second, clean the interior and exterior surfaces and take pictures of any damages. A clean vehicle is the best way to evaluate its current state and will be more enjoyable for your travels around the Hawaiian Islands. Take pictures of any damages to your vehicle that occurred before shipping so they can be used to evaluate your vehicle’s condition when it arrives.
Next, gather the appropriate documents. Your title or lien holder authorization letter (if your vehicle is financed or leased), current registration (if available), photo ID, copy of the booking, and your set of keys are the documents needed to transport your vehicle to Hawaii.
It’s also important to verify your vehicle is working properly. To decrease the chances of your vehicle not making it to its Hawaiian destination as scheduled, it’s recommended you inspect your vehicle thoroughly. Tires for proper inflation, the battery, fluid levels, and the brakes including a working emergency brake are just a few examples. Address any sensors alerting that something may be wrong with your vehicle before you ship it. For electric vehicles only, the battery must be fully-charged with the charging cord left in the vehicle.
Now you’ll need to reduce your gas tank – it can’t be more than a quarter of a tank full. Transporting a vehicle with a full tank is considered dangerous and a potential fire hazard to the ship, your vehicle, and the other vehicles in transport.
Lastly, turn off the car alarm and other devices. At Ship A Car Hawaii, we’ve heard our fair share of car alarms going off because the owners didn’t deactivate them before shipping. Take the time to turn off any alarms and it’s also recommended to do the same for toll tags and parking passes.
By following these vehicle shipment tips, you can adequately prepare your vehicle for a shipment to Hawaii. Planning ahead is KEY to your vehicle arriving safely and without any damage. Reference our shipping checklist page for a comprehensive list of to-do’s. Shipping a vehicle from Hawaii to the Mainland has its own set of rules, and we’ll be sure to cover those in a future blog post.
Do you have any additional tips not mentioned in this article? We’d love to hear them. For any questions on preparing your vehicle for a shipment to Hawaii, contact us directly at 866-795-9493 or https://shipacarhawaii.com/.
