Can A Car With Low Ground Clearance Be Shipped?

The short answer is yes, but like the process of shipping a vehicle with low ground clearance, the answer is more complex than it sounds. First, we will take you through what a car with low ground clearance is, then we will explain the process involved. Can A Car With Low Ground Clearance Be Shipped?

What Is Low Ground Clearance?

A vehicle with low ground clearance is one that has a ride height of 6.5 inches or less, this is the distance between the lowest point of the vehicle and the road on which it is, this makes it very easy for the undercarriage of the car to get damaged by snow, debris, speed breakers, or rolled curbs on the road. Low ground clearance is common in vehicles like sedans and sports cars.

Can A Car With Low Ground Clearance Be Shipped?

Why Do Cars Have Low Ground Clearance?

If low-ground clearance cars are more prone to damage, then why do they even exist? Well, this is because a vehicle with low ground clearance is closer to the ground, which gives the car a lower center of gravity. A lower center of gravity gives a car a number of benefits:

  • The car is closer to the ground which means it is less likely to topple over when going around a corner
  • There is an increase in the aerodynamics of the car because a lesser amount of air goes under the car
  • A lower car is easier to board or alight, especially for children or people with disadvantages

These advantages allow the cars to have increased speed and handling, this is why low ground clearance is more common in sports cars and some executive sedans. Sports cars need to be able to go faster without the risk of an accident while traveling on road bends.

Normal cars don’t need this type of enhancement so they tend to have ride heights above 6.5 inches off the ground. Another class of vehicles is High Ground Clearance cars, these cars have ground clearance of over 8 inches, they are this high because they are cars that tend to go off-road or travel on rough terrain. The high ground clearance reduces the risk of damage to the undercarriage. They are also able to carry more load as the reduced ride height is still enough for them to travel. Some examples of high-ground clearance cars are SUVs and Pickup trucks.

Shipping Low Ground Clearance Cars

Shipping Low Ground Clearance Cars

The last thing you would want to do when you need to move a low clearance car is to drive it all the way to your destination, this is inadvisable as the risk of damage to the undercarriage is extremely high, since you will be driving the vehicle over a long distance which might include bad roads. For this reason, you will need the services of a shipping company to move your low-ground clearance car.

Cars with low ground clearance cannot simply be driven into an open trailer for shipping, because the car would bottom out on the uneven ramps and cause damage to the undercarriage. Low-ground clearance cars need to be loaded into an enclosed carrier with the help of an enclosed lift-gate.

Enclosed shipping provides protection for your low-clearance cars, the enclosure reduces the possibilities of damages due to road debris or bad weather, and it also reduces the risk of sustaining damage to the underbelly of your car as enclosed carriers are driven at lower speeds. 

Contact Ship A Car

Conclusion

Shipping a car with low ground clearance can be a challenging task, but it is certainly not impossible, by hiring an experienced company like Ship A Car, you have nothing to worry about. With our enclosed carrier shipping services, you can expect your vehicle to get to you in prime condition, contact us at (866) 821-4555 to get a free quote for your low-clearance car.

FAQs
Is Enclosed Carrier Shipping More Expensive?

Yes, enclosed carriers protect your vehicle from all external factors ensuring that the condition of your car is maintained, this causes them to be generally more expensive than open carrier shipping.

How Can I Raise the Ground Clearance of my Car Before Shipping?

Using larger tires increases the ground clearance of your vehicle by a few centimeters, if you want something more you could look into investing in a Suspension Lift Kit.