Have you ever wondered how large items get transported in even larger quantities across the world? Trades of all kinds happen every day; countries import and export goods to one another. It’s amazing how the world is bridged together and people have access to products that they wouldn’t even be able to get their hands on if not for this one industry: car shipping.
Shipping Vehicles From Pennsylvania to Florida
There are all sorts of shipping companies globally. From those that ship dry goods – from clothing to gadgets, housewares, and sports equipment. There are also those that specialize in shipping wet goods like fresh produce, livestock, frozen food, and the like.
Among these shipping companies, there are also those who are experts in transporting automobiles and other wheeled vehicles like trucks, motorcycles, RVs, and more. These companies are what we generally call car shipping companies and today, we’re going to talk about how these businesses make it happen. Specifically, state-to-state transfers, such as shipping a car from Pennsylvania over to Florida and vice versa.
According to our nifty old friend, Google Maps, the distance between the State of Pennsylvania to the State of Florida is about 1,140 miles. This doesn’t even say specifically where in Florida, which is a considerably large state. This distance equates to roughly 17 hours of traveling by car, supposing you don’t make any stops.
This is why a lot of people who are moving to either state would opt for Pennsylvania to Florida car shipping to have their vehicle delivered to their new residence. By doing so, they can avoid the highly strenuous and time-consuming drive and take a more comfortable and convenient way of getting to their destination like catching a flight, instead. After all, being on the road for more than half a day spells a lot of trouble, especially for those who are not too experienced in long-distance driving in the first place.
So, how does it happen? How does your car get shipped from one state to another? In this article, we’re going to break it down for you.
Dropping Off Your Car At The Pick-Up Point
The first thing you have to do is to leave your car in the care of the company. Most companies would have you drop off your vehicle at the loading site and process the shipment details from there.
There are also companies that offer pick-up from a specific location where they have one of their staff pick up your car and deliver it to the loading site so that you don’t have to. Of course, if you’re more interested in availing of the latter option, expect to pay additional fees for the pick-up service.
Processing The Paperwork
Next, once you’ve arrived on-site or at the car shipping company’s office, you have to fill out the necessary paperwork and submit the required documents. They would ask for an updated copy of your car’s registration along with your driver’s license.
They would also likely ask for recent emission test results, sales tax receipts, and other documents that border patrol may require. Check out more info on Florida’s sales taxes here: Car and Driver.
You will also be receiving a bill of lading which technically serves as your official receipt and details all the shipping details, including the current condition of your car when the company received it.
Loading Your Car Up On A Carrier/Hauler
Once the tedious work is over, it’s time to get your car on its own special ride for the trip. You have the option to transport your vehicle via an open or closed carrier. The open carrier is the cheaper option as this type of carrier can transport multiple automobiles at once, which allows for the costs to be split more evenly among clients.
Driving Your Car To Its Destination
Of course, what comes after is the actual drive. Your car can be in transit anywhere from 1 day to a week, depending on how many stops the carrier has to make and how fast your chosen company’s delivery time is. Make sure you don’t arrange your shipping schedule too close to when you will need your vehicle to avoid last-minute conflicts.
After 1,140 Miles, Your Car Arrives At The Drop Off Location
Assuming your vehicle has no issues with its documentation and successfully passes through the destination state’s borders, it should arrive at the drop-off terminal on time (if not earlier).
If You’re Bougie, It Can Also Get Delivered To Your Door
For added convenience, you can also pay a little extra to have your vehicle delivered straight to your location or residence. This is the perfect solution for people who want to maximize every bit of time they have.
