Category: Vehicle Transport

Transporting your Car to Florida

Many Canadians choose to spend all or part of the cold winter months south of the border in sunny Florida. Known as snowbirds these seasonal travellers take advantage of our US neighbour’s sunny, warm climate during Canada’s cold winter months. Safe Auto Canada provides a premium car shipping service from all destinations in Canada to the USA including Florida, Arizona, Texas and others. Our simple straightforward guide will tell you everything you need to know when transporting your car to Florida.

Open Transport VS Enclosed Transport

Transporting your car to Florida with Safe Auto Canada is the fastest and safest way to move your vehicle from point-to-point in North America. When driving to Florida you can make it in as little as 23 hours without stops. But you’re human and that simply isn’t time or cost effective. Driving 8 hours a day it will take you 3 days of driving minimum, the cost of hotels, as well as the cost of fuel and food.  Safe Auto has several teams of skilled drivers along with a fleet of enclosed transport haulers to take your vehicle securely to the destination of your choice. Enclosed car transport ensures that your car is not submitted to the elements while in transit.

Open Carriers expose your vehicle to the elements for the duration of its trip. While less expensive they may expose your vehicle to elects you don’t want it to come into contact with, such as dirt, rocks, ice snow and road debris. Open Carriers also load and secure cars very differently than our custom enclose trailers. An Open Carrier requires the driver to drive up a series of ramps to load your vehicle. Our custom enclosed trailers use a hydraulic lift to lift the vehicle into position, then are driven straight on. This is especially helpful for lowered and sports cars but is safer for any car being loaded.

Documentation

Once you have chosen Safe Auto to transport your vehicle over the border, you will require documentation to do so. Working with us and our associated customs brokers will help you get all of your documents in order for the American Border as well as the Canadian Border for returning clients. Both borders have their own unique requirements for crossing.

Here is a list of the required paperwork to transport a vehicle over the border:

-A complete Customs and Border Patrol (CBP) form 3299

-A photocopy of the vehicle registration

-A copy of the vehicle owners drivers licence and passport

-A signed letter of permission allowing our carrier to move the vehicle on your behalf

-Proof of current Canadian residence with a copy of a recent bill including your full name and address.

-Proof of commercial flight or other details to meet the vehicle once it and you arrive

The 3299 form heads up the border package for every vehicle. It will list the vehicle, including any and all items inside of the vehicle being transported. Perhaps you are going to Florida for 4-6+ months and would like to bring clothing or luggage with other personal affects. This is absolutely allowed, and can be convenient when travelling by plane as it is one less additional piece to concern yourself with.  It is imperative that you list all items being placed into the vehicle on the 3299 for border security. And please, do not attempt to transport any firearms, explosives, drugs or WMDs over the border. Failure to be truthful or complete with your reporting can result in your vehicle being impounded or denied entry. 

How long are you allowed to stay in the USA?

As a Canadian resident you are allowed temporary US residence of less than 1 year.

Now what?

At this point you are probably asking yourself, what do I do next? Where do I find these forms and how do I guarantee I have completed the border crossing package correctly? Simply call us or email us and we’ll take care of everything.

https://safe-auto.ca/contact/

Vehicle Preparation

Please make sure your vehicle is clean before pickup. When we arrive we will take pictures of the entire car as well as any damage, scratches, chips etc that may exist. This will be time and geo stamped and act as our Bill of Lading for the car. On delivery we will repeat this process. This ensures that the car you receive is in the exact shape it was when we picked it up. Also its a good idea to have a look through the car to make sure there is nothing inside that you don’t remember in it. Let’s remember that it is crossing an international border.

Take aways?

Safe Auto does it:

-Faster

-Safer

-Cleaner

-With less hassle

-Door-to-door

-And with all of the appropriate legal and border concerns satisfied.

 

Check out some of our reviews!

 

Safe Auto Supercar Giveaway 2022

As a thank you to all of the people that follow us on Instagram, TikTok and elsewhere we decided to give something back to our car community. We’re blessed here at Safe Auto to be able to see and transport Porsches, Lamborghini’s, McLaren’s and just about any car you can think of everyday. That said, most people rarely see these cars, much less get the opportunity to drive them. We decided to give a select group of random followers the opportunity of a lifetime during our Safe Auto Supercar Giveaway to not only see some of these cars up close, but to drive them as well for 6 hours through the scenic Niagara countryside courtesy of our friends at GTA Exotics.

At Safe Auto we participate in a lot of events. Like, all of the events actually. Did you hear about a car show, race day, or cruise? Odds are we were there. And after the fact we hear a lot of people feel left out, so we decided to hold a month long Instagram contest, randomly choosing winners and invite them to participate in the best exotic car rental experience this side of the GTA.

What a pleasure it is to drive a car. An even better experience is driving a purpose built sports or supercar. What could top that? Putting the pedal to the metal in someone else’s car! Powerful ponies, raging bulls, American super-muscles, JDM hero’s and super-hybrid, German gentlemen-racers, and well majored English thugs. All the heroes present and accounted for.

GTA Exotics will rent you a seat for a 3 or 6 hour experience driving through backroads. The company started when the owner Stew decided to purchase a Viper and rent it out on days he wasn’t using it. One viper turned to two, and turned into a fleet which evolved to a back country driving tour in some very special vehicles.  

Our day at the Safe Auto Supercar Giveaway started early on Saturday. We showed up a bit early to get the lay of the land. When you pull up to the main office its not what you think. It’s actually not an office so much as it is a mansion. With e helipad and a full sized fountain at the tip of the circular driveway. Yes-helicopters and supercars. With more than 20 beauties lined up around the lot our 5 winners arrived. We saddled up after a safety orientation. 

—Brief aside: when driving any car at any speed, safety first. Seriously. Going fast is fun but do it in a controlled setting. Also, dont crash other peoples cars trying to hang the tail out like your Chris Harris. Be a bit more Canadian than you think you should when pedalling another mans 488.— 

GTA Exotics has done this for long enough their system is well refined. Each driver picks a car and sits next to a copilot. Every 30 minutes you swap seats, have a giggle, give the next driver some advice, then carry on. Every hour is a car swap. We started in the back with the new C8 Corvette because I wanted to finish driving the new Acura NSX. After a great day of driving and frequently conferring with our contest winners here’s a quick review of all 6 cars we drove.

The Cars

The C8 corvette: I don’t care who you are the centre console is ignorantly designed and not at all accessible. Having said that, its is a driver focused mid engine performance coupe. The new drivetrain placement gives the Corvette a totally new level of balance and cornering capability. Which we tested heavily. The 8 Speed Tremec dual clutch transmission is smooth and one of the fastest out there. The C8 Corvette is easily the new benchmark for performance at the sub 6 six figure mark, but not the favourite of the group. 

The Ferrari F8 Tributo: 708 hp twin turbo V8? Hells yes. The all-black mid-engine luxury missile is easily too fast for the road. Not because it has too much power but it puts the power down so aggressively that it can’t keep traction. We kept the car in “sport mode” all day and even in this setting it wanted to break tires all day. Was it fast? Absolutely. Comfortable? At all almost all speeds, yes. And very drivable. But it becomes uncontrollable for the uninitiated at half throttle. This car needs to be driven with eyes wide open and a fast foot for braking.

The Porsche GT3 RS: This car is a love letter to every little boy who ever wanted to drive a race car as their daily. Until you stop working out and focus most of your time on work and or family only to develop a dad-bod. The GT3 RS has kept Chiropractors flushed with cash for the last decade, easily. Having said that, the drivability at the limit was sublime. This vehicle (with all of the safety settings on) makes every ham-fisted dope with more bravery than brains look feel like a GT class LeMans winner. The exhaust is deafeningly boomy, but only when its on. I can understand why so many people feel it’s the perfect car.

The Lamborghini Huracan EVO: That’s right-EVO. The top trim Lambo available at the time. Al wheel drive, 631 hp, 5.2 V10. Yeah baby. This this screams and sings and shouts to the 8500 rpm limiter. A playboy middle finger to Ferrari from its inception, it does the same thing as the F8 but differently. The power is smooth being naturally aspirated but still hits hard. A great middle ground between the Porsche and the Ferrari we drove. Thankful for the safety systems in the car as my copilot decided to brake late, almost all day. Loved this car.

The McLaren 720S: Wow. Just F*****g wow. It does everything a Ferrari does but better. A lot less drama when you are foot to the floor with. It lacks drama in a way but when you look at the speedo you are immediately going to jail. The Ferrari by comparison is a handful, and I’m convinced the McLaren will trample it in all tests except for braking. I didn’t expect it be so fun or the experience to be as visceral, and it over delivered on all aspects. This thing is a total thug of a car when giving it 10/10. So be careful, and keep the driving assists on, but enjoy it all with the top down. Love the dynamic rear spoiler too. Very race stuff.  

The Acura NSX: The new one. Not the Ayrton Senna developed vehicle of the 90’s. I was truly most excited to drive this one. It’s an underdog that over delivers performance. Yes, a bit expensive for all the interior and styling is a bit boring, but the hybrid systems paired with the twin turbo V6 punches above its badges weight. It doesn’t feel as sharp as the McLaren, as unmanageable as the Ferrari, or sound as good at the Porsche. Saying it is boring isn’t right. But it is actually a mix of all of the other vehicles we drove. Not over whelming but surprising, not a teleported but bogglingly quick. It feels distinctly Japanese-better engineered with lesser quality materials. I think the price for the product has left it over looked, and I agree. But the performance is really a great over all super car.

The Conclusion

A big shout out to the Safe Auto Supercar Giveaway for putting us in these great vehicles. And massive thank you to GTA exotics for taking care of us. The staff are knowledgeable when it comes to vehicle driving and their individual personalities while wheeling. They had a very refined plan, ever changing driving route, and such an easy system. Starting at $379 Canadian for the 3 hour and $549 for the 6 hour, its worth every penny. Great gift, team building experience, or driving a bucket list car. Contact GTA Exotics for a backroads jaunt you wont soon forget. 

And don’t forget Safe Auto Canada is the #1 Choice in Vehicle Transport and Storage in Toronto, Canada, and North America wide.

https://safe-auto.ca/contact/

 

DRIVE Festival 2022

Safe Auto at DRIVE Festival 2022

A New Hope

Canadian Car culture has long been underground. An off the shoulder scarf in the wind moving quietly at its own accord not bothering anyone, until. Car culture in this country has plenty of small time events that have grown over the years to support the subcultures of mainstream products with attendance in the thousands. There just isn’t anything that compares to the big American or international gatherings which support car culture as a whole. Shows like Pebble Beach, Goodwood festival of Speed, Car Week in California, we just don’t get them at the same scale. Enter DRIVE Festival.

DRIVE Festival is a weekend long celebration of all things automotive. Everyone is represented from muscle and vintage-to-classic and concept, electric and hybrid-to-custom and import. Manufacturers show up to parade this seasons new models along the race track as well as off road. Not just for the licensed driver, but for the whole family, DRIVE Festival 2022 saw attractions for the coming generations of car enthusiasts. 3 axis racing simulators, electric kids ride alongs, electric vintage style motorcycles and even the Dark Knight himself cruised up with his Bat-mobile.

In 2021 DRIVE Festival had more than 17,000 attendees and 2,500 plus test drives on three test tracks all located inside the scenic forestry of Canadian Tire Mosport Racetrack. For its first year those are impressive numbers. Though we haven’t seen the numbers yet, we trust 2022 DRIVE Festival knocked those numbers into space. 

The Weekend

Friday was press day. Easy access and very few if any spectators mucking about while vendors set up and glad hand one another. Manufacturers pitch their tents. Pylons quadren off high speed testing zones. The Fleets Coffee truck finally shows up for on-sight latte service we all desperately need to carry the day on. Friday is a relatively easy day for those involved. Sort of a dry run for the chaos Saturday and Sunday can bring with tens of thousands of enthusiasts storming the gates to test drive electric cars, off-road ATV’s, see historic Mclarens bomb up and down the bespoke hill climb from turns 5 up and down through turn 1 of Mostport.

Safe Auto spent the weekend with BMW True North and our corporate partners Collecting Cars Canada. We were cruising the pits, lapping the skid pad with Continental Tire in the C8 Corvette, and bombing up the hill climb in our 800hp Audi RS6. Did you know gold 22”HRE wheels, though heavy, make decent track wheels….at 200+kmh?

Saturday and Sunday the masses roll up to the gates for 10am in massive lineups. Big wing Scion FRS, Ford F-150 Raptor, Hellcats for miles, Honda Civic Type R (what’s a car show without 200 Civics?), and BMW M3s of all vintage rev their engines and bang off the redline as they roll underneath the entrance bridge to the paddock inside the pit lane.

The Real Fun 

Our experience was likely the best of any vendor or guest alike. We cruised the grounds assisted by a golf kart we stole from our friends Windshield Experts (thanks boys) . We enjoyed Nissan, Toyota, and Hyundai in both off-road excursions through the woods to showcase their new lineups, as well as on the back half of the track with electric vehicle test drives for those signed up. Continental Tire took us for a max attack autocross in the new C8 Corvette. Side note: the C8 Vette is quick so buy plenty of tires. You’ll need them. We enjoyed turning our 1000hp Audi RS6 into a hill climb monster. Though its almost 5000lbs, it outpaced more than a few track built vehicle and kept respectable time in the corners. Did you know gold 22”HRE wheels, though heavy, make decent track wheels….at 200+kmh? A few laps were turned out with our camera car setting itself up in front and behind the all new Nissan “Z” pace-car to grab footage for the event. 

All-in-all we had an amazing weekend at Canadas largest and fastest racetrack. If you haven’t had a chance to experience supercars, muscle cars, JDM hero’s, off-road monsters, and everything in between we suggest you keep your September weekends open for 2023 as DRIVE Festival is likely to have something for everyone. Canada has a new mainstream attraction for car culture with DRIVE Festival.

 

-Drive Safe

How To Prepare Your Vehicle For Transport

Your vehicle is a valuable asset, and shipping it may be stressful. If you’ve chosen to entrust your vehicle with Safe Auto, be confident that our process is simple and worry-free. The Safe Auto Experience means outstanding customer service and regular communication, as shown in the customer experiences shared on Google. You can also read Our Testimonials to find out why Safe Auto is trusted to safely transport cars, trucks and motorcycles. To ensure that you have peace of mind throughout the entire process of vehicle shipment, we’ve put together some tips on how to prepare your vehicle for transport!

Make Sure Your Vehicle is Clean

The first step in how to prepare your vehicle for transport is giving your vehicle a thorough cleaning inside and out. During pickup, a driver will do a full walk-around of the vehicle, and you might notice that they are snapping photos as they go. This is so that they can complete a vehicle condition report. This report will document the condition of the vehicle, including any existing damage. A clean vehicle makes it easier to clearly see and document any scratches, dents, paint chips, dings or any other damage.

Cleaning the inside of the vehicle should include removing any loose items such as air fresheners, transponders, cell phone holders and the like. Even inside the trailer, your car will be going over bumpy roads and will likely be jostled. It is best to ensure any items that may damage the interior during transport are removed.

Take Photos of Your Vehicle

Once your vehicle is nice and clean, make sure to take your own photos. Don’t just focus on areas with damage, but take lots of pictures at every angle, exterior, interior and of the odometer. Dated, high-resolution photos are best for your own records and to protect you in the event of any accidental damage.

Remove Any Accessories

In learning how to prepare your vehicle for transport, many first-time users find out that accessory items such as spoilers, front lips, extended antennas, or roof racks should be removed. The condition of these items cannot be guaranteed during transport if they impede the loading and unloading of the vehicle!

Make Sure the Vehicle is Mechanically Sound

Check the tires are properly inflated, radiator is full of antifreeze, battery is fully charged and engine is free of any issues that may affect the driver’s ability to drive the vehicle safely onto the trailer. Check for fluid leaks and notify us if anything is dripping! If need be schedule a visit to the mechanic before transport. The driver may refuse to pick up the vehicle if it presents a hazard to other cars in the trailer, and special equipment is required if the vehicle doesn’t run and will result in additional charges. So do your best to make sure everything is working before pick up!

Make Sure the Gas Tank is at Least 1/8 Full

Your vehicle needs enough fuel to be driven on and off the trailer. More fuel is more weight, and keeping weight off helps the transporter!

Make Sure to Provide a Set of Keys

A set of keys, including any remotes, will be required to move the vehicle. If your vehicle is an older model, please have a door and ignition key ready for pickup!

Make Sure There is a Valid Insurance Policy on the Vehicle

We require that you have a valid insurance policy in place at the time your vehicle is being transported.

Your vehicle will be covered by the cargo insurance policy if there is any damage caused by the transporter, but if there is damage caused by fire, theft, or by natural causes, or “Acts of God,” such as hail, flooding, lightning, tornadoes, etc., your insurance will be responsible for the repairs. Check with your insurance company to verify whether your car insurance is valid during transport!

Following these simple tips will ensure that you have a safe and worry-free transport!