ShipA1
Jan 25, 2020
Car
modification of a car's performance. Most vehicles stay stock for an average
driver's expectations and conditions, although tuning has become a way to
personalize the characteristics of a car to the owner's preference. Cars may be
altered to provide better fuel economy, produce more power, or offer better
handling and driving. Car tuning is related to auto racing, although most
performance cars never compete. Tuned cars are built for the pleasure of owning
and daily driving. There is nothing sweeter than making a car truly unique by
customizing certain aspects of it. But new rims and flashy paint color are not
the only things you can change. Car enthusiasts across the U.S. make modifications
to their cars. Some are merely cosmetic, but others affect the car's
performance. There are tons of car modifications that are totally harmless, but
others are likely to get the car's owner slapped with a ticket and fine because
the alteration isn't actually street legal.
Types of modifications
Auto transport costs can vary widely based on different
factors. This is why it is essential to understand which types of vehicle
tuning and modifications can have an effect on the price. The first significant
mod type has to do with changes to the size and weight of the vehicle. Think
oversized bumpers, wider tires, massive spoilers, and the like. The second type
is a bit more subtle, but crucial nonetheless. These are mods that render the
vehicle difficult to load on a regular car carrier. We will talk more about
each of these further in the article. Keep in mind that not all types of car
tuning will have an effect on car shipping costs. A custom audio system or
decals on your vehicle should not be a concern for you. Lighter adjustments
(such as tactile decoration) are fine too. As long as the mods do not fall
within the broad categories above, you are clear.
Suspension Upgrades:
As long as you stay within your state's limits for the ride
height adjustments, an aftermarket suspension system is totally legal.
Furthermore, the right aftermarket suspension system can be a great way to
upgrade your car's performance. When done right, your car will handle much
better, and you (or a qualified shop) can even tune the suspension to optimize
the vehicle for the way you drive. Whether you race your vehicle or you want
your commute to be a little more enjoyable, a sound suspension system is
arguably worth the investment.
Turbochargers and Superchargers:
Adding a turbocharger or supercharger to your car is
another popular performance modification. These devices "boost" your
engine by forcing in more air, thus creating more power. Unlike nitrous oxide
(see No. 1 in illegal mods), however, turbochargers and superchargers are legal
as long as they don't cause your car to fail your state's emissions check or
safety inspection. Let's look at California, which is the strictest state when
it comes to vehicle pollution standards. Even in California, as long as you
don't alter your emissions system, your upgrades are certified for use in your
car's engine, and you pass the state smog check, you're good to go.
Sport Seats:
Seat upgrades are popular car modifications, whether
you're a novice racer or you want to look like one. A set of sport seats looks
cool, and if you choose the right ones, they can be much more comfortable and
supportive than your car's stock seat. Sport seats can even help improve your
driving position. Many manufacturers of actual racing seats caution buyers that
they are not suitable for streetcars, mainly because racecar seats are designed
to be used with race harnesses, which are not legal for use as an alternative
to a car's factory seatbelt. However, some manufacturers, like Ricardo, make
sport seats that are legal for street use. Just make sure you can use your
factory seatbelt, and that installation won't disable any of your car's airbags.
Paint Jobs
An obnoxious paint job might be a crime against good
taste, but it's not an actual crime. Generally, you can paint your car however
you want, or get a similar effect with a vinyl wrap, as long as it doesn't look
like you are trying to impersonate police or an emergency vehicle. There are a
few things to bear in mind with the process of repainting your car, however.
It's expensive to have a car repainted by a professional, and it's a
time-consuming pain to do yourself. If you do decide to paint your car at home,
check your local pollution ordinances to make sure you won't get cited for the
paint and chemical fumes.
Window Tint:
Some states have stringent laws regarding window tint. In
Illinois, for example, a driver must have a documented medical condition to get
away with any front or side window tint. Many other states have laws on the
books restricting shade that is reflective, or that makes it impossible to see
inside the car. However, if you really want tinted windows, you can get away
with at least some tint in most states. The tone is measured based on the
percentage of light that can still pass through the windows, and states that
don't ban tint outright will usually specify a range of permissible interests.
How car shipping in Another state:
Before I can explain why shipping costs can be higher for
modified vehicles, you have to know how navigation a car works. For starters,
there are two main types of car carriers – open and enclosed transport. The
open transport is what you have most likely seen on the road. It can carry 6 to
9 vehicles, usually on two decks. These carriers are the most common (around
90% of all in the States). Then comes enclosed transport. It is primarily
designed for luxury and classic vehicles, sports cars, show models, etc. The main
idea behind it is to completely shield the vehicles from rain, dust, and dirt.
Most such carriers also can load multiple vehicles, but there are some
exceptions for exceptional cases, which we will discuss below.
How size and weight modifications affect shipping
costs
Some changes are heavy and increase the weight of the
vehicle substantially. For example, heavy-duty bumpers with wrenches are made
of metal and weigh a lot. But even if the bumpers are lighter, a set of them,
along with a massive spoiler, could also render the vehicle more oppressive.
Since heavier cars require more power (i.e., gas) to get transported, it has to
be reflected in the shipping costs.
Size of vehicle:
Aside from weight alterations, modifications that
increase the size of your car may also affect the price of transport. Above I
have explained that most carriers take multiple vehicles. Logically, the more
vehicles an airline can choose, the more efficient the carriage, and the more
profit he makes. So, a car that takes the spot of two cars, for example, and
requires the carrier to take fewer vehicles will be more expensive to ship.
Let's take length modifications, for example. If they are excessive, the car
will have to take two spots on the carrier, which drives the cost up. However,
such mods are not familiar, so if the vehicle is not too long, to begin with,
you will likely not have a problem with length.
What about modifications that make vehicles lighter:
Some sports and racing cars are designed to be much
lighter in order to benefit as much as possible from their powerful engines.
However, some people take it one step further and mod their vehicles to get
them even lighter. Such modifications usually include the removal of additional
seats and gadgets around the car. It is also possible that the whole interior
is stripped clean, and then only the essentials are installed. This includes a
light metal frame, a new steering wheel, and only a single seat that is
specifically designed for racing. With all that in mind, you may wonder whether
lighter vehicles will have lower car shipping fees. Sadly, this is not the
case. Since the majority of cars will be more massive than the one described
above, the carrier will have no incentive to take a vehicle for a lower price.
In the best-case scenario, you will have to pay the standard shipping fee.
Modifications that make loading Complicated:
Size and weight modifications affect the price in an
obvious way. However, the situation is not as clear for adjustments and
tunings, which render a vehicle difficult to load on the truck. In such a case,
the price increases because a different service will be required. If you want
to ship a luxury sports car or one that has been modified to have its
suspension lowered, then you may run into clearance problems. Vehicles with the
ground clearance of fewer than 3-4 inches cannot be loaded on a regular
trailer. Instead, you will need one that has a lift gate.
