Nothing feels more amazing than coming to terms with what you want in your life. Finally seeing where you’re headed, feeling peaceful about the changes you’re going through, and excitedly looking forward to what comes next is just the best place to be in life. And for you, that’s probably starting a new chapter in the beautiful island of Puerto Rico.
Moving to a new city, far from what you know, and immersing yourself in a new culture all sounds very exciting. But before you can even get to any of that, the hard part comes first which is doing the actual “move.” Migrating from your current life to another place doesn’t only require you to be mentally and emotionally prepared – there’s also the physical move to prepare for.
Sorting through years’ worth of stuff, packing what you need, disposing of what you don’t, and getting everything ready can get physically and financially taxing. And while there’s no skipping the physical toll that comes with moving to another residence, you sure can do a couple things to lessen the costs of migrating. Especially when it comes to bigger items, like your car.
If you’re moving to Puerto Rico soon and would like to bring the car you already own with you, here are some tips to keep car shipping costs down:
Plan Ahead
There are several reasons as to why someone would go through the trouble of transporting a vehicle to another place – a place overseas, in this case. The reason may be practical, sentimental, or both. Whatever the case, if you already know for a fact that bringing your car with you is non-negotiable, then it would be in your best interests to arrange the shipment in advance.
Planning ahead and booking in advance can help you save a lot on car shipping costs. Car shipping companies, especially those that offer overseas services, tend to get expensive at certain times of the year. Plus, a lot of companies offer “early bird” discounts and charge more for short notices. So plan ahead to land the best deals.
Avoid Shipping During Peak Months
As mentioned above, there are certain times of the year when market prices would spike up. This goes for any industry; car shipping to Puerto Rico being no exception. For instance, prices tend to be higher during winter or rainy season because it would be harder for shipping companies to transport your vehicle across the sea or farther distances due to unpredictable weather conditions. The demand for shipping also rises during the summer and winter holidays when people are more likely to travel for leisure. You can avoid peak months and the holiday rush if you plan your move ahead of time.
Reduce Your Vehicle’s Weight
Another thing you can do is to make your vehicle as light as possible before you get it shipped out. Your car’s weight will greatly affect the pricing quotation the shipping company will give you as heavier and bigger cars require more work to transport. It might also mean less space for companies to transport other vehicles alongside yours (in the case of a bigger car).
To reduce your car’s weight, you should start by removing anything unnecessary from your interior. Check compartments and clear out anything that doesn’t need to be there. This is also good practice to ensure that you’re not leaving any valuables inside your automobile before they get shipped.
When the shipping date is near, you might also want to hold off on loading too much gas in your tank, especially if your car carries a tank with a bigger capacity (check this out). More gas means more weight and you don’t really need that much gas when your car is in transit as it will be immobile for a long time. Just leave enough gas for you to be able to drive home once you pick it up.
Keep An Eye Out For Promos & Deals
Once you’ve determined your car shipping company of choice, make sure that you follow them on their most active online platforms. Check out their socials, their website, recent ads, etc. Car shipping companies tend to run promotions and discount deals at different times of the year (e.g. Anniversary special, end of the year promos, new client deals, etc.) and they will use their online platforms to update their clients regarding such events. If you’re planning to have your vehicle shipped out soon, keep yourself up to date with their latest announcements.
Ship To Terminal Only
Some companies would ask you whether you would want your car delivered straight to your new home address. This is usually referred to as door-to-door delivery and is quite convenient if you have more in your budget to shell out for this service. If cost-cutting is more of a priority for you, however, you may want to opt for terminal-to-terminal delivery instead. This basically means that the company drops off your vehicle at a designated pick-up location (terminal) along with other vehicles they need to transport in that area. This means that you will have to drive the vehicle home yourself but if you’ve got the time, why not?