On average, we have 300,000 items in our homes. If you’re relocating, you’d probably try to downsize a bit before packing everything up. But try as you might, you just still have so many belongings you wish to take with you! If you’re using car shipping services, you might’ve gotten an idea: why not put some boxes in your vehicle? It’s the best way to cram everything in one trip, after all! But while it sounds like a good idea, it may not be allowed. So can you ship a car with things in it? Here, Nexus Auto Transport answers this question and also explains more!
Can You Ship a Car With Items Inside?
If you’re asking about the legality of shipping a car with items inside, the Department of Transportation hasn’t banned it. But that doesn’t necessarily mean the answer is 100% “yes”.
Instead, what it comes down to is the specific policy of individual auto shippers. And even if some companies allow you to ship a car with boxes inside, there are certain conditions you need to meet. And not to mention, the car shipping cost might be higher. You can check the cost here: https://www.a1autotransport.com/ship-car-to-singapore/
As far as Nexus Auto Transport, they do allow you to put things in your car when shipping with them! You can put up to 100 pounds of items in the trunk. You aren’t allowed to put anything inside the car itself, such as on the front or back seats.
While the company itself won’t charge you extra for doing so, the trucker might since they have to carry extra weight. Also, none of the items is insured for loss or damage.
Why It’s a Bad Idea to Ship Your Belongings in Your Car
Just because you can do something doesn’t necessarily mean you should. Here are some reasons why you should avoid packing your car full of your belongings.
It’s Not Insured
As we’ve just mentioned earlier, none of your stuff will be insured. While a trustworthy and reliable auto shipping company should be able to transport your vehicle safely, there are no guarantees in life, after all.
It’ll already be devastating enough if a freak accident happens and your car is totalled or lost. Do you really want to also risk losing your valued possessions, with no chance of compensation?
You Might Have to Pay Extra
The trucker can always choose to charge you extra since they’ll need more fuel to transport their cargo. This might not be such a huge minus point since this additional fee might still be under other item transport options.
There’s a Higher Chance of Theft
If you’re having your car shipped via an open hauler, there might be a higher chance of theft. This is because your vehicle is sitting completely out in the open, and everyone can see inside it. It’s inevitable that the trucker will have to make stops to eat, rest, etc. So their hauler won’t be guarded 24/7.
Of course, a good solution is to put everything below the window lines or even in the trunk so your things are hidden from view. But there’s still a chance that thieves are willing to pop open the trunk, just to see what you have in there. And needless to say, thieves might break your windows to reach things inside, even if you’ve packed them below the window lines.
Damage Might Occur
You can try your best to secure your items and boxes, but it’s very likely that they’ll shift around while in transit. If the majority of your belongings are pricey and/or have sentimental value, then this might not be a good option to transport them, especially since they’re not insured.
Not only can your stuff get damaged, but also the interior of your car. When things get loose and start flying around, they can cause scratches and dents.
What to Do Instead
Considering that an auto shipper’s job is to, well, ship your vehicle, they aren’t the best professionals for shipping items. As you can see from above, it can be a bad idea to put your personal belongings in your car while it’s being transported.
Despite this, you might decide that the benefits outweigh the risks. So you might decide to load up your car with your things anyway. Otherwise, what should you do instead?
One option might be to rent a car or truck to load up with your boxes. You might have to make multiple trips, but if your new house is close enough, it won’t cost much in time and money.
If you’re moving long-distance, you can also choose to ship your items in boxes. All you’ll have to do is pack them up, drop them off, and you’ll receive them at your destination! This takes the burden of transporting your stuff off your shoulders.
Ship Your Car With Nexus Auto Transport
So can you ship a car with things inside? It really depends on the auto shipping company you choose in the end, but in most cases, they won’t want to be responsible for your items, so the answer is usually “no”.
To make it easier on yourself, you should plan to handle the transportation of your boxes and your vehicle separately. It might feel like more of a hassle, but in the end, you’ll avoid a headache trying to sort out the mess.
So fill your car or rented truck with your stuff. And as for car shipping, trust Nexus Auto Transport to get your precious vehicle to your destination, safe and sound!
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