Recent Hawaii Shipping News

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How getting your car detailed is different from a typical car wash
How detailing can help you ship your car
Final word
 

How getting your car detailed is different from a typical car wash

Getting your car detailed is essentially a very thorough version of getting your car washed but that is too general and there are specific differences to be aware of. First, a car detailing’s purpose is to bring your car back to the aesthetic level quality that it was at when you bought it whereas a car wash’s purpose is just to remove dirt and protect from rust and corrosion.

When you get your car detailed, you will get everything you do with a car wash plus extra services. For example, you will get the interior of your car cleaned when it is detailed but it will be an incredibly meticulous cleaning that will leave every inch of the interior spotless. You can even get cosmetic retouching during an auto detailing which is the actual repair of small scratches on your paint. Obviously, detailing will be more expensive, but it will be worth it. An auto detail will likely run you at least a hundred and fifty dollars in 2021 and beyond.
 

How detailing can help you ship your car

When you ship your car, it will need to be cleaned first so that your car carrier driver can conduct a thorough visual inspection for any pre-existing damage. This is done to protect the car shipping company from any false damage claims where someone might try to get the car shipping company to pay for damage that already existed on their vehicle prior to shipping. If there is damage that they find, they will make note of it on the bill of lading.

These drivers are well trained at finding any pre-existing damage, but it will take them much longer to find it if your car has not been cleaned. So, it will be a benefit to both you and them if you get your car washed or detailed prior to their arrival. It will save you both a considerable amount of time.
 

Final word

Getting your car detailed versus getting it washed definitely makes a difference. It literally can be the difference between “brand new” looking and just “clean”. However, it will cost you at least three or four times more to get your car detailed. Whether you choose to get your car washed or detailed, it will need to be cleaned prior to you shipping it so that your driver can conduct their visual inspection for pre-existing damage.

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Using these lights safely
Using these lights legally
Conclusion
 

Using these lights safely

When you are driving at night in Hawaii, you will occasionally need to use the lights in your passenger cabin. Maybe you are at a drive-thru restaurant, and you need to be able to see what is in your wallet or maybe you dropped something like your glasses, and you need to be able to find them. Regardless of why you are using your car’s cabin lights, you should never do so while your car is in motion.

This can easily lead to distracted driving. Imagine trying to simultaneously find something on the floor of your car and drive at the same time. The results could be disastrous. You can also distract other drivers when your car’s interior lights are on. It can cause them to temporarily lose focus on their driving and cause an accident. Always pull over if you need to use your car’s interior lights.

If you have children in your car, these lights can end up being extra distracting because these lights also often signal that a door has been opened. If you notice that these lights come on as you are driving, in a quick moment of panic, you could turn back to ensure that one of the kids has not opened a door. This is enough to cause an accident. So, it is critically important that the children who are passengers in your car are aware they cannot play with the cabin lights as you drive.
 

Using these lights legally

As we already mentioned, having your interior lights on while you are driving can hurt other drivers’ focus on the road. This is because the light has a potential to cause a glare which can make it difficult for another driver behind you to see the road in front of them. However, it is not illegal in Hawaii to have your interior lights on as you drive in Hawaii or any other state for that matter. However, if you keep them on long enough as you drive, and a police officer is nearby they could pull you over for being a threat to other drivers’ safety. The ticket and fine that you can end up with can vary based on an officer’s discretion.
 

Conclusion

The lights in your car’s cabin should only be used when you are not driving your vehicle. They can be a distraction to you and to other drivers. While it is not illegal to use these lights while driving in Hawaii, a police officer could deem you a danger to other drivers’ safety around if you keep the lights on for too long while driving. Be sure to speak to any child passengers prior to driving and make sure that they understand that these lights should never be played with.

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Different types of gas
Stay safe when you are fueling
Conclusion
 

Different types of gas

There are five types of gas that you could see at the pump at the gas station. They are E15, E85, diesel, premium and regular. The most common types used are regular and diesel. That is because most cars with the exception of luxury and high-end sport cars use regular and trucks use diesel. If you are driving a regular vehicle, we recommend using regular gas. You might be able to use premium but the difference it makes in engine performance will be negligible and will not be worth the higher cost. Do not use diesel fuel unless you are driving a truck with a diesel engine. Most passenger trucks do not have diesel engines so consult your owner’s manual if you are unsure.

E15 and E85 are both ethanol-based fuels for use in certain vehicles. The difference is that E85 is mostly ethanol-based but also fifteen percent true gasoline while E15 is fifteen percent ethanol-based fuel and eighty five percent regular gasoline. What this means in terms of your ability to use these fuels for your particular vehicle is that for E85 fuel you will need a “flex-fuel” safe car. You can consult your manufacturer’s manual or check online to see if it is safe to use flex fuel (E85) in your car. For E15, almost all cars made after 2002 will be able to use this type of fuel.
 

Stay safe when you are fueling

The fuel for your vehicle as well as it’s fumes are extremely flammable and dangerous. That is why you need to be very careful when you are pumping gasoline into your vehicle. This starts with the obvious steps of always turning your car off and never smoking while you are fueling up. You also must be careful not to get fuel on your hands or clothes while you are fueling because that fuel can ignite later on if exposed to flame. Finally, and possibly most importantly, watch out for the risk of fuel igniting from static electricity. You can avoid a static electricity fire at the pump by touching a metal part of your car after you get out but before you start pumping gas. This should be enough to get rid of any static electricity.
 

Conclusion

The vast majority of cars on the road will take regular gasoline. A few, higher-end cars will perform a bit better with premium. Trucks with diesel engines will obviously take diesel fuel. Some cars will be able to make use of ethanol-based fuels which help increase fuel efficiency and are better for the environment. Regardless of the type of fuel that you are pumping into your vehicle, you always need to practice the utmost safety. This includes, shutting your car off, no smoking and grounding yourself from static electricity by touching the metal of your car as soon as you get out to start fueling.

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Where to pull over
What to do once you pull over
Conclusion
 

Where to pull over

If you are driving and you realize that the police are behind you with their lights on, it could be one of two things. They might just need to pass you to get to an emergency call or you are being pulled over for a traffic violation. Either way, you should pull over. If you take too long to pull over and the police officer is in fact pulling you over, you run the risk of adding the criminal charge of evading a police officer.

You should start by changing lanes towards the right. If, after you change one lane, the officer does the same and remains behind you, you can then be certain that you are being pulled over. If you are already in the right most lane, try pulling onto the shoulder or side of the road. If the officer follows, you are being pulled over. If you are being pulled over and there is a side street with considerably less traffic or a close parking lot, try to pull over there. This will make it safer for the officer to approach your window on foot. They will likely appreciate you looking out for their safety and doing so might help buy you some good will in terms of the traffic violation you committed.
 

What to do once you pull over

When you do come to a complete stop, there are a few things you must do as well as a few things you should do. You must turn off your car, roll down your window, have your license, registration and insurance ready to present the officer as well as obey any directives they give such as stepping out of the vehicle.

Doing what is required is the bare minimum. You should also take your keys out of the ignition and throw them onto the dashboard. You should also keep your hands on the steering wheel at ten and two where the officer can see them. Finally, you should also roll down your passenger side window as the officer may talk to you from there for safety reasons. Doing all of these extra things will make the officer’s job safer and easier which could potentially help you get out of a ticket or get a lower-level ticket instead.
 

Conclusion

When you see a police officer’s lights in your rearview mirror, it is time to either get out of their way or pull over. If you are getting pulled over, be sure that you pull over promptly and somewhere safe from passing traffic so that the officer does not get injured during the stop. When you do pull over successfully, turn your ignition off, remove the keys from the ignition, have your documentation ready and roll down both of your front windows.

Honolulu

There are several locations in Honolulu where your car can be picked up from:

• 1001 Ahua Street, Honolulu HI 96819

  Phone: (866) 363-7485
  Hours of Operation: Appointment required; Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, Friday, 9:00am to 3:00pm
  Four free days of holding.

• 933A North Nimitz Highway, Honolulu, HI 96817

  Phone: (866) 363-7485
  Hours of Operation: Appointment required; Monday-Friday, 9:00am to 2:00pm
  Four free days of holding.

Piers 1-2, Fort Armstrong, Forrest Avenue, Honolulu, HI 96814

Phone: (866) 363-7485
Hours of Operation: Appointment required; Monday-Friday, 7:00am to 11:30am and 1:00pm to 3:00pm
Four free days of holding.

1411 Sand Island Pkwy, Honolulu, HI 96819

Phone: 1-800-462-8766
Hours of Operation: Mondays – Friday 8:00am – 11:30am & 1:00pm – 3:00pm
Two free days of holding.

Hilo

There are two locations in Honolulu where your car can be picked up from:

• 456 Kalanianaole Avenue, Hilo HI 96720

  Phone: (866) 363-7485
  Hours of Operation: Appointment required; Monday-Friday, 8:00am to 12:00pm and 1:00pm to 4:00pm
  Two free days of holding.

• 55 Kahanu Street, Hilo, HI 96720

  Phone: 1-800-462-8766
  Hours of Operation: Appointment required; 7:30am – 11:30am 1:00pm – 3:00pm
  Two free days of holding.

Kahului

There are two locations in Honolulu where your car can be picked up from:

• Pier 1 – 130 Ala Luina, Kahului HI 96732

  Phone: (866) 363-7485
  Hours of Operation: Appointment required; Monday-Friday, 7:00am to 11:30am and 1:00pm to 3:30pm
  Two free days of holding.

• Pier 1 – 105 Ala Luina Street, Kahului, HI 96732

  Phone: 1-800-462-8766
  Hours of Operation: Monday – Friday 7:00am – 11:30am 1:00pm – 3:00pm
  Two free days of holding.

Kawaihae

• Kawaihae Harbor, Kawaihae, HI 96743

  Phone: 1-800-462-8766
  Hours of Operation: Monday – Friday 7:00am – 11:30am 1:00pm – 3:00pm
  Two free days of holding.

Nawiliwili

• Pier 2 – Nawiliwili Harbor, Lihue, HI 96766

  Phone: 1-800-462-8766
  Hours of Operation: Monday – Friday (Except Wed) 7:00am – 11:30am 1:00pm – 3:00pm, Wednesday
  7:00am – 11:30am
  Two free days of holding.

Tips for picking your car up at the port

This is the final step in your car shipping process. After picking up your car, you will be all set in Hawaii.

• Inspect the vehicle thoroughly – You need to check your vehicle thoroughly for any damage. If there is any damage, be sure to tell a representative if there is any so they can mark it on the Bill of Lading so you can file a claim. Once they notate this, try to be sure to file an insurance claim within twenty-four hours.
  

• Get your car washed – Your car will likely have some dust or dirt on it from the shipping process. The hull of the ship can be fairly dusty at times.
• Get your car inspected – You should get your car inspected so that you can get any issues fixed that may have occurred during shipping such as your alignment be slightly knocked off.
• Fill up your gas tank – Remember to get your gas tank filled because there was only a quarter of a tank when you handed the car over.

Conclusion

Your car will get to Hawaii without an issue. The only question is where you will pick up your car. You should make sure you get a drop-off location from your auto transport company before your car even gets picked up. We can ship your car to Hawaii and make the process a breeze if you need.

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How to keep your pet safe while you drive
How to drive safely with a pet in the car
Wrapping up
 

How to keep your pet safe while you drive

Driving with a pet in the car can be a challenge. Dogs and cats get hyperactive when they are nervous or when feel they are not being paid attention to. This can end up being dangerous for the both of you. You should first think about keeping your pet safe before you start driving. Then, you can worry about driving safely with much more peace of mind.

First, you should really consider a car seat or car friendly crate for your particular pet. This can help keep them from being thrown around as the car is in motion. You should also try driving around the block with them a few times in order to get them used to the car prior to taking any longer trips. If it is determined that motion sickness is an issue for your pet, talk to your veterinarian and see if there is medication that you could give to your dog or cat before trips in your vehicle. Always drive slowly and carefully with a pet in your car.
 

How to drive safely with a pet in the car

Being able to avoid the distractions caused by your pets when they are in the car is a huge part of keeping you both safe during any trip. They might make a lot of noise which could momentarily break your focus and that is all it takes to cause an accident which could harm you both or worse.

If at all possible, consider driving with a passenger when you are driving with a pet. The passenger can take the reigns of caring for the pet and keeping them calm while you are driving. Also, you should always keep the pet in the back seat with some sort of a divider if necessary. This will completely eliminate the possibility of them jumping on you while you are in the middle of driving. If it is a longer trip, take breaks because the stress of driving with a pet in the car can build quite quickly.
 

Wrapping up

In the course of owning a dog or cat, there will be times when you will have to drive with them in your car. This can be quite dangerous if you do not take the right precautions. After all, you will want to be sure that you and your pet arrive at your destination safe and sound. Always keep your pet in some kind of a car seat or crate, keep them in the back seat and try to have a passenger present to care for them as you drive.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.