ATV Shipping – It’s Not As Bad As You Think

Let’s face it, getting your ATV from point A to pint B can be quite a hassle. Worse still are those distant deals on sites like eBay or Craigslist that are no longer good deals if you had to take the ol Family Truckster cross country.

This leaves many of us little choice but to consider using a shipping service. That’s fine and good for sending DVDs and money orders, but a full sized quad or UTV?! We talked to the company uShip to get the scoop on how the process works and how much it usually costs to have an ATV shipped.

Multiple Options

Believe it or not, were you to decide to ship a quad, you’d likely be presented with a variety of transporter options. The reason for this? Companies like uShip do to trucking what Priceline does to hotel rooms: They negotiate unused transporter space for you that would otherwise being going to waste. Trucking outfits often have unused space in the back of their carriers but have to take the trip regardless of whether that space is filled or not. As such, if they can make some additional money on a run they’re making anyway, great deals can be had on this space.

Once you type in the size/ weight of your vehicle and starting point/ destination, you will receive multiple price quotes. It’s then up to you to decide which transporter option best suits your needs.

Making a Selection

It’s easy to think with your wallet and go for the cheapest available option but uShip says there is more to consider than just the freight charge: When choosing an ATV transporter, there are a lot of variables that come into play. Insurance, tracking capabilities and references are just some of the things you should consider when choosing an ATV transporter. You’ll want to make sure that you know as much as you can about the transporters you are talking with, so you can choose the best carrier for the job.

Keeping your ATV safe during shipping is also extremely important; so they recommend asking about your transportation options, like whether they offer an open or enclosed ATV trailer.

Insurance

Even in the safest conditions accidents can happen in cross country voyages. Most companies should offer insurance with their ATV transportation services so don’t forget to ask what they offer and whether or not it is included in your freight quote.

Gather as many insurance quotes as you can and decide if what’s offered will be enough to protect you should something happen. Depending on the coverage provided, you may want to purchase third-party insurance.

Preparation

Once you’ve chosen your transporter and decided on insurance, it’s time to prepare your ATV for the shipment. Having everything ready when the service provider comes to pick up your machine will make for a much smoother process. Truckers rarely have time to be fiddling around as you attempt to get the vehicle ready at the time of pick up.

Here are uShip’s suggestions:

Properly document all of the pre-existing scratches and damages on the vehicle. If you do this correctly you can avoid any confusion if an insurance claim is later necessary. When you’re initially preparing your ATV for transport, you should follow these steps:

Thoroughly wash your ATV
List all the dings, scratches, dents and related marks that you’ve made on your ATV
Document any other problems that the ATV is experience, i.e. mechanical issues or leaks
Take pictures from many different angles for photographic evidence of ATV’s condition
Find past invoices and other documents from body shops and show them to your carrier
Remove all personal and loose items as the carrier won’t be responsible for those items. Any accessories lost will not be covered by insurance

It’s unlikely that the carrier’s company policy will require you to drain your gas tank, but it’s a good idea to check first and make you that you have a proper understanding of what is expected. Some companies will ask that you drain your tank to a level between 1/4 and 1/2 full.

Keep your ATV in good, working condition before it is shipped. Though it’s unlikely, a situation might arise where the carrier will need to transfer your ATV from one trailer to another during shipping. The carrier will probably be the individual driving the ATV on and off the trailer, though, so it’s a good idea to follow these steps to make sure your ATV is ready for whatever situation arises:

Keep your tires inflated
Fully charge the battery
Make sure there are no fluid leaks
Fill the tank with the appropriate gasoline

Cost

Because of the way the system works (you will get literally hundreds of quotes from shippers who have room for your vehicle), it’s often impossible to provide an exact cost but uShip provides samples of recently successful ships and the cost. The quotes also vary due to specifications like dimensions of your particular machine and distance but even still the prices are quite impressive. ATVs averaged between $200-$400 and full-size side-by-sides between $500 and $800.