“What happens to my car insurance when I move into another state?” This is a question many people ask themselves when relocating. Well, there’s some good news and a bit of bad news here. The good news is that you Read More
It’s finally time to move across the country! You’ve found a new house, packed up all your belongings, and said goodbye to friends and family. But there’s one more thing left to do – transport your car. If this is Read More
Welcome to California, the Golden State. The place that has something for everyone. Pristine beaches, sparkling waters, and majestic mountains ranges. Don’t forget about the challenging deserts and intense valleys. It’s a state with so much to offer that it can feel overwhelming to think about all of the possibilities available when you’re looking at where to live. Things can even get a bit more complicated when you’re trying to ship a car to the region. Fortunately, you won’t have to tear your hair out. Here’s the step-by-step process of shipping a car to California.
Can’t stress this out enough. If you’re a complete beginner at moving a car from point A to B, this is the step that can make or break how easy everything else will be. Get yourself organized and learn what you’re up against. Car transport is not just as simple as renting a U-Haul, loading it up, and driving off into the sunset. Many things can go wrong when you don’t know what to do next, so be sure to research, set a budget, and consider your options.
There are two main options available for moving your vehicle across the country. Each has its own benefits and downsides that should factor into your decision-making process. The two types of transportation include open carrier services and closed container services.
Once you’ve decided on how you want to transport your car, set a budget that corresponds with that choice. Don’t forget to factor in the cost of gas, tolls, food, and lodging for yourself if you plan to drive and pick it up.
Once you’ve done your research on what it takes to get the job done, then it’s time for some real talk. Find yourself a car shipping company with some experience in long-distance moving and can provide all your shipping needs.
This goes to say that you shouldn’t just settle for the one with the cheapest rate. You need to consider:
Take note. This is the most crucial step of all.
You’re entrusting your car – and, potentially, thousands of dollars – to a complete stranger. At least leave it in the hands of people who are legally authorized to handle car shipping. With dozens of car shipping companies in California and beyond, you’ll need to do a little research before you sign a contract with any shipper.
That being said, the first step to checking your potential company’s reliability is making sure that it is licensed with the Department of Transportation. The easiest way is to ask for their USDOT number and enter it on the FMCSA website. It’ll show you if a company is registered together with the supporting status details.
As for insurance, this should be pretty obvious. Your car should be insured from the moment it’s loaded onto the carrier truck and until it reaches its destination. The best way to go about this is to ask your potential company how much coverage they provide for damages, theft, and other unfortunate events that could occur during transport. Oh, and don’t forget to clarify claiming protocols to avoid headaches later on.
Once everything has been cleared up with your carrier, it’s finally time to prepare your car for the big day.
Make sure that you have all of your documentation in order before transport. This includes driver’s license, vehicle registration, proof of ownership, and insurance-related papers.
Wash your car and have a mechanic check it over to ensure that everything is in working order. Make sure you have all of your personal items removed from the vehicle, including CDs, gadgets, and garbage. Any valuables should be taken with you, or the carrier won’t be responsible for its loss.
Finally, take pictures of your car and document any existing mechanical issues. This will help when you need to file a claim in the event of damage.
At last! Your car has finally reached its destination. But before you get too excited and hit the road, there are a few things you need to do.
The most significant factor to a successful car transport is your knowledge regarding the process and the quality of service by your carrier. Knowing this, don’t settle for less. Take your time in getting to know your potential carrier so you can assure yourself you’re entrusting your vehicle to the best.
When you analyze all of the costs of homeownership, the primary expenses that stand out are the mortgage payment, the property taxes, and the homeowners’ insurance. While the first two expenses are understandably required costs of ownership, you may be wondering if homeowners’ insurance is mandatory. You may be hard-pressed to find a real estate lender that does not have a property insurance requirement. A closer look at requirements and why they are in place can help you to decide how to proceed when purchasing Greenville homeowners’ insurance.
Lenders may have different property insurance requirements in some cases, but you will find that all require building coverage. Building insurance provides you with financial benefits in the event your property is damaged by a fire, weather events, theft, vandalism and other related types of events. However, a standard building insurance policy does not cover losses related to mold growth, floods, earthquakes, and other perils. Be aware that you may be able to buy coverage for these additional perils as riders or special additions. In some cases, the lender may also require these additional coverages. For example, if the home is located in an area that has seismic activity, earthquake coverage may be required.
At first glance, it may not make sense that a lender would require you to insure something that you own. However, keep in mind that the lender’s collateral for the mortgage is the home. The land is not typically insured by a homeowners’ insurance policy because any perils can never destroy the land. Even if the home is destroyed, the land will remain. If the home is damaged and you are unable to afford to repair or replace it, the value of the lender’s collateral is reduced or completely lost. The lender requires building insurance to protect its collateral. If you do not maintain coverage based on the lender’s requirements, the lender may purchase a policy for you and pass this expense onto you.
As soon as your mortgage is paid off, homeowners’ insurance becomes optional. However, it makes sense to maintain building insurance and even to purchase optional coverage for your property. You may lose a substantial amount of money if your property is damaged or destroyed without coverage in place. Optional coverage may include benefits for personal property losses. This includes replacements if your furnishings, appliances, clothing and other items are damaged or stolen. There are many instances when you may experience losses related to insurable events. Because these losses can be expensive and even financially devastating at times, it makes sense to purchase coverage to protect yourself.
Home insurance is mandatory if you have a home loan. In addition to being required, it also offers real benefits to you. With this in mind, it makes sense to consider buying optional coverage and maintain coverage even when it is no longer a firm requirement for you.
Your home will probably be one your greatest investments in your life. Knowing what a typical insurance policy covers for any homeowner can be crucial in the event of an unfortunate situation. Understanding the different reasons why having coverage is Read More
Investing in property and casualty insurance is a wise choice. First, the coverage protects your belongings in case of damage or theft. Second, liability is also a component of this coverage. Liability helps when you’re responsible for injuring someone or Read More
