Over the past decade, auto shipping has emerged as an easier and more complete transportation option for cars and other heavy goods than waiting for cargo-carrying ships to arrive at a destination.
But, despite it being a more cost-effective option, it’s also tricky to safely ship a car that’s a lowrider or modified to be lowered because it needs to be handled with great care.
This article will help you understand how lowrider car transport works and how you can ensure yours arrives safely.
What Kind of Vehicle is Considered Lowered By Car Shipping Companies:
Transporting a lowrider car is possible, but it takes a different kind of equipment and expertise to do so (more on this later).
Car transport companies consider any car with less than 4 inches of ground clearance as a lowered vehicle and transport it differently from a regular sedan.
Challenges of Transporting a Lowered Vehicle:
A lowered vehicle has low ground clearance, meaning the lowest point of its undercarriage is very close to the ground. And that means it comes with a set of challenges that are not there when moving regular cars. Some of them are:
Loading And Unloading:
A low ground clearance vehicle cannot be just loaded onto a ramp like a regular car. It has a low undercarriage and bumpers, and that means if you try to drive it up the ramp, chances are, it will hit the ramp. Either the undercarriage or the bumper will be the point of impact, and that means scratches and dents or, in worst cases, the whole bumper coming down.
So to ensure your vehicle is transported safely, auto shipping companies will use special hydraulic gates. The gate will come down to the ground, your vehicle will be driven over it, and then the ramp will be lifted up to the level of the trailer. The vehicle will then be driven inside and secured with chains or straps.
The same will be done when the car needs unloading, it will first be driven to the hydraulic ramp, which will then be lowered down to the ground, and then your car will be driven down on the ground.
Tip: make sure to have a set of car keys copied that you will give to the carrier. They may need to move the car a few times during transit to load and unload other cars.
It Costs More to Ship:
Regular car transport carriers (open carriers) do not come with hydraulic gates, and that means your vehicle will be transported inside an enclosed car carrier. The cost to ship a car using an enclosed carrier is more than the open one, and that’s not just because of a hydraulic gate. It offers better protection because it’s covered from all sides, so rain, dirt, or random bumps on the road will not have any impact on your car.
Plus, an expensive car like a lowrider should be moved inside an enclosed container because it also has higher insurance coverage, so even if something happens to the car, your investment will be protected.
How Much It Costs to Ship a Lowered Vehicle?
The price of shipping a lowered car varies depending on the size and type of vehicle. Most carriers will give you a fixed rate for your vehicle, but that’s not the case with lowered vehicles.
The reason is that a lowrider has a low ground clearance, which means it’s more difficult to move around. Thus, you will need hydraulic gates. Nevertheless, expect to pay anywhere between $500 and $1000 or more depending on the total distance.
For More Information Visit https://diytransport.com/buying-a-car-using-edmunds-in-6-easy-steps/