Anyone who’s ever driven their scooter through rain, snow or sleet knows that these vehicles are not ideal for all conditions. As much as I love the feel of a nice breeze and the sun on me as I ride, I have no problem acknowledging that in some situations it is neither safe nor comfortable to be out in the elements. For this reason, it may be in your best interest to ship your scooter rather than ride it when faced with a cross country relocation or long distance purchase. The following aims to help you prepare a scooter for trailer shipment in order to minimize the chance of damage and help you collect reimbursement should any occur. While this is written in the mindset that you will be contracting a third-party to do the shipping, these steps are also applicable if you are transporting the scooter yourself.

The first step in preparing your scooter for transport is a wash. As you scrub, note any existing exterior damage and document this with both a written account and by taking photos. This will be very helpful should anything happen and you are forced to file an insurance claim. While this is not necessary if you are shipping the scooter yourself, everyone loves a clean scooter so you may want to do it anyway.

Following the scrub, remove any loose items that could possibly be lost while in route. This includes anything you have added which could be shaken off. A carrier’s insurance will not cover any missing or damaged accessories and you don’t want your basket or flag flying off, so double check that you’ve got everything. The best thing to do is to put everything you remove in a labeled box, so nothing can be misplaced during this process.

The final step is a quick mechanical overview. Even though your scooter will probably not be driven during shipment, it may need to be ridden on or off the trailer so it is important that it is in appropriate condition. Check the tire pressure, fluid levels, charge the battery and make sure it has some gas. If you have been dealing with any particular problems, it is important to make the shipper aware of this up front. Also, different shipping companies have varying procedures, so it is always a good idea to speak with the company and find out if there are any additional preparations that they require.

Written by Ben Leffler of uship.com, an online marketplace for Scooter Shipping.

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