A vehicle spends four to five weeks in transit, and a little preparation beforehand makes a real difference in how smoothly that goes — both for the vehicle's condition and for how quickly pickup inspection happens.
Start by cleaning the vehicle, inside and out. This isn't about appearances — a clean vehicle makes it much easier to photograph and document its condition accurately before loading, which protects you if there's ever a dispute about damage. Take your own photos too, from all four angles, with timestamps.
Remove all personal items and loose accessories from the interior and trunk. Shipping companies generally won't take responsibility for personal belongings left inside a vehicle, and loose items can shift and cause damage during transit. Leave the fuel tank around a quarter full — enough to drive the vehicle on and off a container for loading, not so much that it adds unnecessary weight or risk.
Finally, check for and note any existing fluid leaks, and disable any aftermarket alarm systems that could be triggered by the vibration of ocean transit. A vehicle that's clean, documented, and free of surprises moves through pickup inspection in minutes instead of holding up the schedule.