Recent Hawaii Shipping News

Jump to section:
What you need to know about buying a car on E-Bay
Shipping a car you bought on E-Bay
Tips for buying a car on E-Bay
Conclusion
 

What you need to know about buying a car on E-Bay

If you are considering purchasing a car on E-Bay, you will eventually need to get your new car home somehow. One option is flying to its current location and then driving it all the way home. However, that can be both expensive and time consuming.

Another option is shipping your car which will allow you to get your new car to you without the hassle and expense of traveling to get it yourself.

However, there are a few things that you should know first before you ship your car from E-Bay.
 

Shipping a car you bought on E-Bay

Shipping your car that you bought on E-Bay is even easier than bidding on it. You can easily choose dates and schedule your shipment online or over the phone. We recommend that you talk to any auto transport companies that you are considering using prior to placing bids on E-Bay, this way you will be ahead of the curve when it comes time to actually ship your new car.

As we mentioned earlier, shipping the car that you bought on E-Bay also helps you avoid the hassle of having to travel to go get your car. In most cases, you will need to fly somewhere that is a long distance away and then you will need to drive your new car all the way home.

Shipping the car will also help you save the expense of the plane ticket as well as the expense of driving the car back.
 

Tips for buying a car on E-Bay

If you are buying a car on E-Bay for the first time, you should know that the process is not typical at all. Use these tips when you are considering buying a car on E-Bay.

• Do the right research first – Before you even start placing bids on cars from E-Bay, you should do the necessary research first. You should find out what your states emission and safety requirements are. You should also find out how much you will be charged for taxes. In terms of taxes on a car sale on E-Bay, it will be sales tax in the state that the car is currently in. You also need to figure out what your current state’s requirements are in terms of things like title and registration. Finally, you should look into your options for shipping before you have completed any sales.
• Get it inspected – It is important to get the car checked by someone before you go ahead with buying a car on E-Bay. This will allow you to verify a seller’s claims about a cars condition. You can find more information here.
• Ask about the title – It is important to ask about the car’s title when you are buying a car on E-Bay because it is critical to the sale of the vehicle being legal. Ask to see a copy of the title and verify that the title has the same name as the seller of the car. If that is not the case then question the seller as to why their name is not on the title.
• Use the E-Bay feedback to gauge the seller’s credibility – Most legitimate sellers will have ratings of 99% and above. So, be sure you look to buy from a seller who has 99.8% and above only. A score such as 99.5% is actually low and should not be trusted for larger and more expensive items such as cars. It is also advisable to buy only from those with at least a hundred previous transactions.

Conclusion

Buying a car on E-Bay can get complicated at certain points. Shipping a car that you purchased on E-Bay does not have to be complicated at all. The whole process will likely take several weeks including the shipment of the car. However, the wait will be worth it as E-Bay is a great way to find a good deal on a car that you likely really want.

Jump to section:
Adjusting your sideview mirrors
Adjusting your rearview mirror
Conclusion
 

Adjusting your sideview mirrors

It is extremely important that you adjust all of your mirrors each time that you get into your car before you start driving. If you do not or you wait until you start driving and need to use them, you could end up getting into an accident that could have very easily been prevented. In terms of adjusting your sideview mirrors, you will just need to make sure you can see the road that is behind to either side of your vehicle. If that is not the case, you can adjust them with a series of buttons that you will find either on the steering wheel or the driver side arm panel.

Your sideview mirrors will give you a view of what is behind you to either side of your vehicle. This is obviously useful to you if you need to change lanes or backup for some reason. The most important thing to note about your sideview mirrors is that they do not offer a complete view of the areas behind the sides of your vehicle. There is a “blind spot” which means that when you use your sideview mirrors, there will be an area in which is to the rear and sides of your car that you will not be able to see. Thus, you will have to also turn your head quickly and check before you use your sideview mirror to change lanes or reverse.
 

Adjusting your rearview mirror

Your rearview mirror will allow you to see what is directly behind your car. This also will be useful when you are reversing and or changing lanes. The blind spot that exists with your rearview mirror will be the few feet directly near your bumper. This will not affect you if you are changing lanes, but it could if you are reversing out of your driveway, for example.

The only two ways you can check this are if you have a rearview camera or if you get out and look. As far as adjusting your rearview mirror, just be sure that you can clearly see the road behind you and not the sky or the back of your vehicle. If you cannot, use your hand and manually adjust it.
 

Conclusion

Your mirrors will allow you to take instant quick peaks at the road behind your car and to the side of it. This is extremely important as you will need to be sure that the road is clear before you try and do something such as change lanes or back out of your driveway. Always adjust your mirrors immediately as you sit down in your car. Finally, be sure to always check your blind spots before committing to any maneuver based on your mirrors view.

Jump to section:
Maximizing trunk space
Trailers
Wrapping up
 

Maximizing trunk space

When you transport large items in a typically sized car, it will take a bit of preparation and planning. This will entail maximizing the space that is available in your car’s trunk area. There are a few pretty simple ways that you can accomplish this. You should start by cleaning out your trunk and getting rid of any junk as well as putting anything inside your home that is not essential to you driving. If you have an SUV or larger vehicle, odds are that you will be able to put your back seats down in order to create more space. Check your owner’s manual to see how you will be able to do this.

Next, you should make any use of built-in spaces that exist in your car to hold smaller things so you will not need to store them in your trunk. Finally, when you are loading larger items, be sure you load them first. Whatever items, large or small, that you do store in your trunk, be sure they are secure and will not be sliding around before you start driving.
 

Trailers

You also have the option of using a trailer to transport large items with your car so long as your vehicle has the capacity to tow a trailer. You can either buy or rent a trailer. If you are just moving large items once or twice, it only makes sense to rent a trailer. If you are going to be regularly moving items that are too large to put in your car, you should consider buying a trailer.

When you are driving with a trailer, be sure that you drive with even more caution then usual. Make sure that the trailer is safely and securely attached to your car before you leave. You also must be sure to keep extra distance between you and the car in front of you as the trailer will make it take slightly longer to reach a complete stop due to the extra weight. Be sure wherever you are traveling with the trailer, there will be enough and legal space for you to park at least for the time that you will spend unloading it.
 

Wrapping up

Using your car to transport large items in Hawaii will take some extra prep work. You will either need to clear out extra room in your car via trunk space and by possibly putting your back seats down or else you will need to get a trailer. If you do choose to get a trailer, be sure to drive with extra caution. Either way, be sure that those large items are secure before you start your drive.

Jump to section:
Car shipping windows
The value of booking early
Conclusion
 

Car shipping windows

When you ship your car to or from Hawaii, there will be two dates that you will have to concern yourself with. However, these will both be small windows of two or three days. There will be a “pickup window” and a “delivery window”. During these windows, your delivery driver will pickup or deliver your vehicle at any time the same way cable repair can arrive at any time during their six-hour windows. Fortunately, your auto transport driver will call you with at least an hour’s notice before they arrive.

You will need to be available during these windows in order to be present for the pickup/delivery processes which will both include an inspection and giving over/receiving the keys. However, it does not have to be you who needs to be present. It can be anyone that you trust with valid photo identification over the age of eighteen. You or whoever you trust to be present will also be responsible for signing the bill of lading. Due to the fact that someone you trust can be there, you can take shifts waiting or have them wait at your house while you run errands during these windows. So, the pickup/delivery windows really should not limit you in any considerable way.
 

The value of booking early

In order to get the pickup/delivery windows that you most prefer, you should book your shipment as early as possible. Typically, to get your preferred pickup/delivery dates, you will need to book your shipment at least a month in advanced. If you want to be completely sure that you get specific dates/windows, book your shipment at least two months in advanced. By booking early, you can also end up saving a few dollars but this is not guaranteed.
 

Conclusion

The dates for the pickup and delivery of your vehicle are arranged when your originally book your shipment. The earlier you book your shipment the higher the chances will be that you get the exact dates that you want. Keep in mind that these “dates” will actually be two-to-three-day windows. During these windows, your driver will give you a call when they are one or two hours away. When they arrive to pickup or deliver your vehicle, you or someone you trust will have to be present in order to sign for it, the inspection and to give or receive the keys. If you have any questions about car shipping dates in Hawaii or are ready to schedule your shipment give Hawaii Car Transport a call anytime at (808) 445-6695.

The best time of the year to buy a car

Believe it or not, the best time of the year to buy a car is the end of the year. November and December are the months during the year when multiple sales quotas begin to come together for salesmen. This is when salesmen might get a little more desperate and willing to cut you a slightly better deal in order to close your sale. So, if you are thinking about buying a new car over the summer just try and hold off for a few months, you will likely end up getting a better deal as a result.
 

Use sales

Be sure that you take advantage of sales and promotions at dealerships too. Many dealerships have many sales that run throughout the year. The best plan of action is to call them before you even go to the dealership and ask them exactly what sales they have going on at that particular time. If they prompt you to come into the dealership in-person to find out, avoid that dealership.
nbsp;
Year-end-sales-events are actually a perfect opportunity to combine this strategy with the above strategy of waiting until the end of the year to take advantage of the sales quotas.
 

Dealing with a car salesman

Dealing with a car salesman is not always the best experience. In general, they can seem pushy and untrustworthy. When you are buying a car, you can use the following tips to negotiate with a car salesman to make sure that you get the best deal possible:

• Remind them of your offer when they are desperate – Car salesmen are much more inclined to give you a deal or break if they are in absolute need of a sale. Times that they might be desperate might be before the dealership closes on Saturday or Sunday, the last day of the month or right after a major weather event when business is likely slow.
• Know how much the vehicle that you want is actually worth – Be sure that you know what the true value of the car you are looking to buy actually is. Car salesmen can smell when someone hasn’t done their research. Use sites like Edmunds.com to find out how much a car is actually worth before you even think about stepping foot on the lot.
• Always shop around – Use all of these tips at multiple dealers. See who can come in at the lowest price for you.
• The monthly payment is not as important as the total cost of the car – Many people end up getting bogged down by the thought of a lower monthly payment. However, what you should really be using to compare deals between dealerships is the total cost of the car. The total cost of the car is all the monthly payments plus whatever extra fees or add-ons you have to pay for. Also, the length of time that you are making monthly payments should not greatly exceed the length of the warranty.
• Do your best to avoid expensive extras – Many salespeople will do whatever it takes to get you to agree to as many (completely unnecessary) add-ons as possible. Use your head and only agree to what you need.

Conclusion

Buying a car can be a frustrating process if you aren’t ready to deal with a salesman. However, if you prepare yourself properly, it will be a lot easier and more tolerable. Use the tips and tricks we mentioned here to give yourself a bit of an edge in the car buying process so you can get the best possible deal on your new car.
If you bought your car from a dealership located a considerable distance from your location, you can always ship your car wherever you need it! Contact the car shipping experts at Hawaii Car Transport today!

Jump to section:
Car seat laws in Hawaii
How car seats will help save lives
Conclusion
 

Car seat laws in Hawaii

In Hawaii, car seats are required by law for kids under four years old. For children that are four through seven years old, they must be in either a booster seat or a child passenger restraint. You can also determine whether you need to use either a car seat or booster seat by a child’s weight. If your child weighs under forty pounds they need to be in a car seat. If they are over forty pounds and under eighty-five pounds, they must be in a booster seat.

If you allow children to ride in your vehicles without these and you are pulled over, you will need to go to court and you will be forced to take a four-hour course as well as pay a fine of up to five hundred dollars. It is also quite important that you make sure that you install the car or booster seats correctly. If you do not and you end up getting into an accident the safety that those seats could provide would be compromised. You should always put a car or booster seat in the back seats because it is statistically safer back there in case of a front-end collision.
 

How car seats will help save lives

Car seats increase safety for children riding in a vehicle by allowing them to be securely strapped into a seat that is fitted for them. This would never be the case with a regular adult-sized seat belt. Booster seats simply increase the heights of older kids while they are sitting so that the shoulder belts are not too high.

There is a ton of statistical evidence out there that points to how much car and booster seats increase safety for children riding in a car. First, traffic accidents are unfortunately the leading cause of death for children over one year of age in the United States. However, child passenger restraints end up reducing child fatalities in car accidents by over fifty percent each year.
 

Conclusion

If you drive with children in your car in Hawaii, they must be securely buckled into either a car seat or booster seat depending on their weight and age. You must make sure, whether it is a car seat or a booster seat, that they are properly and securely installed. If you allow a child to ride in your vehicle as a passenger and you get caught, you will face a court date and penalties. What is worse is that you are risking that child’s life in a big way by doing that. If you are shipping your car to Hawaii, be sure to remove any child or booster seats before the vehicle gets picked up as the cost of the child/booster seats will not be covered by the car shipping insurance if they end up getting damaged in transit.

Jump to section:
We ship much more than cars
What else you need to know about shipping a specialty vehicle
Conclusion
 

We ship much more than cars

Hawaii Car Transport ships tons of cars every year. What you might not know is that we ship all types of vehicles, not just typical passenger cars. Hawaii Car Transport also has the ability to ship trucks, SUVs, vans, motorcycles, limos, heavy construction equipment such as tractors and more. If you have a question about a particular vehicle’s ability to be shipped, you can always just call us and speak to one of our representatives about it at (808) 445-6695.
 

What else you need to know about shipping a specialty vehicle

The process for shipping a specialty vehicle could possibly be a bit different depending on what you are shipping exactly. Typical cars get shipped on either open-air carrier or an enclosed carrier. Larger vehicles such as a bus, limo or tractor will be shipped on a flatbed carrier. If you are shipping something like a motorcycle or scooter, your vehicle will be shipped on a pallet inside of a special enclosed carrier. Regardless, your auto transport company will take care of all of this, you will just need to worry about the preparation prior to the shipment.

Let’s say that you are shipping something like an RV. Your preparation will be the same as someone shipping a car, there will just be more of it. When you are shipping a typical car, you will need to do two primary things in preparation: remove any personal items and get the exterior of the car cleaned. This is the same for an RV, but it will take you considerably longer to remove all of your personal effects. It will also take you much longer to wash it because you will likely need to do it yourself and an RV is much bigger than a typical car.

Now, if you were shipping something like a combine harvester (a certain type of farm equipment), you would likely have the extra step of removing the tires so that it can be properly placed on the flatbed carrier. As we said, every specialty vehicle will likely have a slightly different preparation process and shipping process. All you need to do in order to know what needs to be done for your specific vehicle is to talk to your car shipping representative prior to booking your shipment.
 

Conclusion

There are very few vehicles out there that you will not be able to ship to or from Hawaii. You can ship motorcycles, scooters, limos, Humvees, RVs, tractors and much more. There will be some differences from typical car shipping, but your auto transport company will take care of most of that. You will just need to take care of the preparation for the shipment. If you have any questions about shipping a particular vehicle, you can always give Hawaii Car Transport a call at (808) 445-6695.

ELD Mandate

The ELD Mandate is short for Electronic Logging Devices Mandate. This came into play with auto carriers in 2012 but they were given until 2017 to get their fleets up to par with this mandate. This requires that all trucks have electronic logging devices which track a driver’s hours electronically and automatically by being integrated with a truck’s engine. This has been a big change for most auto carriers because this limits drivers to only eleven hours of driving in any fourteen-hour period. After that, they must take ten consecutive hours of rest.

Previously, many drivers could easily exceed this if they were running late with a car shipment. Now they have no choice but to stop driving for the day at the eleven-hour mark and rest. They also must take a thirty-minute break during that eleven hours.

This means that any time lost during transport due to things like traffic or inclement weather cannot be made up later on by driving an extra hour or two. This directly translates to longer overall transit times. As a result, this means slight increases in prices across the auto shipping industry. This does, however, mean safer roads with less overly tired truck drivers on the road.
 

Minimum insurance requirements

All car shipping companies must carry two major forms of insurance — cargo and liability. All auto transport companies are obligated by law to supply a copy of their insurance certificate to any possible customer that asks for it. If you are not sure of the legitimacy of the insurance certificate, you can also confirm it with the insurance company, or the DOTs verification website.

Vehicle transport companies are required by law to be able to prove that they have at least seven hundred and fifty thousand dollars in public liability insurance to pay for any damages to cars in transit or being set for transport.
 

Contracts

Auto transport cannot legally take place without a contract that you and the company both sign. In 2019, sitting down and signing a contract for a service like car shipping is very much a thing of the past. So, how do car shipping companies transport vehicles without a signed contract?

Well, they will require you to agree to the terms and conditions before you can choose to book your shipment. By clicking “I agree” you are signing off on the terms of the car shipping agreement AKA the contract. Your e-mail confirmation of your booking is considered a copy of your contract with your auto shipping company. You should print and keep a copy for your records.
 

Conclusion

All of these laws and regulations have a considerable effect on the auto shipping industry. It affects the entire industry, from the drivers all the way down to the end consumers. These unavoidable rules end up playing a legitimate role in the overall cost of car shipping for both the customer and the car shipping companies themselves. If you need your vehicle transported to the mainland or from the mainland to Hawaii, call Hawaii Car Transport today at (808) 445-6695!

Jump to section:
Residential Restricted Parking Zones
Parking ordinances
Parking rates
Conclusion
 

Residential Restricted Parking Zones

In Hawaii, parking is usually pretty congested. So, what many local town-governments are doing is instilling Residential Restricted Parking Zones. This means in certain areas on residential streets, parking is allowed by permit only. So, if you don’t have a permit, you can’t park there. If you aren’t a resident of that specific area, then you cannot get a permit. This can be frustrating, but it is for good reason though. Many locals are finding it increasingly difficult to find parking anywhere near their homes. So, this had to be done.

If you are moving to Hawaii, you might qualify for one of these permits depending on where you live. You can find out more here.
 

Parking ordinances

The following are places you can’t park in Hawaii. You cannot park within thirty feet of a stop sign. You cannot park within ten feet of a fire hydrant. You cannot park in front of a driveway. You must also be at least four feet away from the end of the “flare”. The flare is the end of the driveway. You cannot park within twenty feet of a crosswalk.

Then there are the places you can park in Hawaii. You can park at meters after you pay the meter. Make sure the meter is not broken. If the meter is broken, you may not park there. Broken meters are considered “No Parking” signs. You can park anywhere street signs permit parking. Be sure only to park there for the allotted amount of time on the signs. Parking enforcement goes on twenty-four hours a day in Hawaii. There are also parking facilities with attendants. You can read more about those below.
 

Parking rates

Parking rates will differ depending on where you park and when. There could be other variables involved such as the business that you are visiting validating the parking. The metered parking facilities in Hawaii generally allow you to park in a particular spot for between one and five hours. The most common time limit you will see is two hours. The meters usually cost either seventy-five cents or a dollar and fifty cents per hour depending on where and when you are parking.

The attendant parking facilities are obviously better for long term parking situations. These facilities will charge anywhere between ninety and a hundred and fifty dollars per month for parking. Those prices are pretty reasonable when you consider that it’s only four or five dollars a day for unlimited parking there, whereas parking on the street could easily end up running you over twenty dollars in a just one day. There is also short-term parking available in these facilities. However, the rates for short term parking in one of these are like metered parking on the street.
 

Conclusion

Parking in Hawaii can be quite difficult and frustrating at times. The streets are crowded, and the parking is scarce. However, if you plan ahead and know what to avoid, you should be just fine. If you are planning ahead for your trip and need your vehicle shipped to Hawaii, let us help you out! Get a free quote today!

Jump to section:
The basics about getting your tire patched
Avoiding the need for a patch
Wrapping up
 

The basics about getting your tire patched

Getting your tire patched is a quick and cheap way to fix a leak in your tire. This means if you have a nail in your tire or some sort of small tear or hole, you can use a patch as a cheap and temporary fix. You will eventually need to get a new or used tire either way. Choosing to get your tire patched will also take less time. This is useful if you need a quick fix when you are driving somewhere or want to wait and shop around for the best price on a new or used tire.

Typically, the cost of a tire patch will run you around twenty or thirty dollars depending on where you go for it and the severity of the damage. A brand-new tire will likely cost between a hundred dollars and three hundred dollars. A used tire will likely cost between fifty and a hundred dollars. So, you can see that getting your tire patched once can be a nice quick fix but anymore than that and you will just be better off buying a used tire.

You will be able to get your tire patched at places such as Pep Boys, Jiffy lube and typical mom and pop auto repair shops. However, you will want to try and go to an actual tire shop that does patches. They have the most experience and specialize in it. Anywhere you go will almost certainly do a fine job but if it is not a place that specializes in tires, it could take a while for them to complete the service whereas a tire shop could potentially do it in minutes.
 

Avoiding the need for a patch

Your absolute best option for a leaking tire is to avoid any leaks in the first place. It is obviously not possible to avoid tire leaks altogether, but you will be able to minimize the risk. First, you should always make sure your tires are properly inflated at all times. Under and over inflation can make your tires more prone to being pierced and torn.

You should also always do your best to avoid any hazards. This will include roads with the potential for lots of debris such as roads near construction sites. If you see larger debris in the road, slow down or stop and drive around it, not over it. Finally, avoid potholes or roads that are in poor condition if possible.
 

Wrapping up

Getting your tire patched in Hawaii is a temporary and cheap option for getting a leak fixed quickly so that you can continue to go about your busy day. Eventually, you will need to get a used or new tire. You should always do your best to avoid ending up with a leak by trying not to drive on roads in disrepair or near potential hazards such as roads that are next to construction sites.

If you need your vehicle shipped to Hawaii or from Hawaii, make life easy and leave the process up to the experts at Hawaii Car Transport. Call (808) 445-6695 today for a free quote!