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ShipA1 Jan 15, 2020

If you have been using car shipping services to transport your vehicle, you know what an inspection report is and know a bit about how it works. A lot of times the auto transport companies you hire only provide you the necessary information you need and skim through the more important details about shipping a vehicle. Having knowledge of these important details can help you in your car shipping, in this post we will discuss the importance of vehicle inspection report and how you can have an excellent inspection report.


Vehicle inspection report is a document which is included in the bill of lading. The bill of lading (BOL) in short is a receipt of shipping services, a contract between a freight carrier and auto shipping company and a document title. Every car shipping company Ship-A1 included is obliged to produce a complete vehicle inspection report. You or someone you know has to be there at pickup and delivery to sign paperwork, and perform an inspection of the vehicle with the truck driver. This inspection report is an important document, so any new scratches or dents cannot be argued by vehicle shipping company.

These Are The Steps For A Perfect Car Shipping Inspection Report

Here are the best ways to complete  a comprehensive vehicle shipping inspection report.


Don’t Forget To Take Clear Pictures

The most important thing to do before taking pictures of your vehicle is to thoroughly clean it. Once your automobile is clean, inspect it entirely for any pre existing scratches, dents, and paint chips. Do not forget to take clear and close-up pictures of these defects with a high quality camera, these photographs are for your record, so be sure to take clear images. With these pictures, you have supporting evidence and any new damage cannot be argued by your auto shipping company.

Mark All Damages Before Handing Over Your Vehicle

Inorder to file a claim for insurance you should insure that all pre-existing damages are marked accurately down to the last detail. Ship-A1 crew is professional and well educated on car shipping.

Get Signatures

Obtaining a signature from a neutral party counter checks the vehicle shipping inspection report with the actual automobile to verify that the findings are correct and truthful. This is important in the event if anyone disagrees on something between the automobile holder and the vehicle shipping company.

How To Prepare Your Vehicle For Shipping

After hiring the car transport company for shipping your vehicle and filling the inspection report, you can also prepare your vehicle for shipping. However, you can send your car for shipping as it is, which is not the best approach to it. Instead, you can prepare your vehicle for shipping for safe and damage free shipping.


All shipping companies would show you documentation that your vehicle is insured in the unlikely event of an accident. The Department of Transport (DOT) requires that all the car transport companies to have cargo insurance. Due to this coverage, your vehicle would be inspected by the company before loading it.


Car transport companies car not permitted to transport any personal or household items in the automobiles they are shipping. However, some car shipping permit personal items confined in the trunk. Though, these items are not insured, incase of any theft or damage vehicle shipping company is not responsible.


Make sure your vehicle is in working condition, because car transport companies cost extra for inoperable cars. When filling shipping quotes, it is important to mention this detail, so that auto shipping companies will be prepared. Fix all mechanical problems before the pickup window and write down any special operating instructions. Also make sure that before your vehicle gets loaded in the carrier, check the undercarriage for any significant leak. If your automobile has a leak, the car shipping company may refuse to ship your vehicle.


Overinflated tires are just as risky in transport as they are on the roads, and by not having your tires inflated properly, you are damaging your tires. Tire damage is most likely during the loading and unloading phase.


These steps for preparing your car for shipping may seem tedious, but they are all important to ensure your vehicle is transported and delivered as safely as possible. Following this guide will significantly reduce the risk of any damage to your vehicle. Trust Ship-A1 for shipping your car with the necessary experience. We strive to make the auto shipping process as simple as possible, it’s our goal to keep providing you all the car transport services and to deliver a trusted and affordable service.