Alaska’s summer temperatures are extremely pleasant. As a result, moving to Alaska in August is one of the best times. The temperatures are not too cold nor too hott; they’re just right. In August, you can expect daytime temperatures to range from 60 to 80 degrees Fahrenheit. Also, the further north you go, the longer the day you have. North of Fairbanks, the day is 24 hours long. In Fairbanks, you can expect to see daylight for 22 hours. Anchorage has 19.5 hours of daylight, and in Juneau you can expect 18.2 hours of daylight. As a result, extended daylight hours with cool to warm temperatures makes moving to Alaska in August the perfect time. You can unpack, organize, and set up your new home without the need for a heavy winter jacket, boots, gloves, scarfs, and hats. This will make it easy to lift, carry, and transport all of your boxes and belongings. Also, with a laundry list of things to do that accompany moving, you will have extra hours in the day to complete it.

Car transport times are often dependent on popular routes and seasons. If a route is popular, such as New York to California, your car will be assigned to a carrier quicker because it is a popular route. August happens to be a busy month for car transport companies with students going back to college, summertime visitors heading back to their primary residents, and busy schedules that don’t allow drivers the time to physically drive a car to its new destination. As a result, there are more carriers on the road. This is beneficial to you because that means your car can be picked up by a carrier quicker.

Considering relocating to Alaska, but not on a time constraint? Why not move now? Moving to Alaska in August has its perks and we are here to help  you get started on your car shipment process.

Buying real estate in Alaska can be an exciting experience, but also nerve wracking, especially if you aren’t familiar with the state and towns. Choosing the perfect place to settle down in can be overwhelming, so where do you start when buying real estate in Alaska? Do you want a real estate agent from your location that can do research on areas in Alaska? Or do you want to deal with a real estate agent in your new area? Do you think seeing homes virtually is enough to make a decision? Or should you plan to spend a week or two in Alaska in order to attend open houses?

Before buying real estate in Alaska, you should know:

1. Property disclosures are required and you are entitled to know the following disclosures: environmental concerns, thermal standards, crimes occurring in the location, lead paint, radon gas, and homeowners association disputes/ insurance claims.

2. Depending where you are moving from, Alaska’s property taxes can be considerably more expensive than other areas. It is a good idea to check out the average cost of property taxes and to figure out your budget prior to seeing homes. You can have your taxes included in the monthly mortgage or you can pay them in a lump sum annual.

3. Inspections should be done after an offer is made and accepted. You are entitled to choose your own independent inspector and it is suggested that you do so rather than going with the real estate’s inspector. This is to keep the home inspector honest rather than going with a real estate’s inspector who could possibly push through some property issues just to close a sale quicker. After your house is inspected, you will get a detailed report on termites, bug or rodent problems, environmental risks due to location, the presences of lead, foundation or structure problems, and/or issues with heating, cooling, electrical, or plumbing.

Interested in buying real estate in Alaska? Contact us today and let us worry about shipping your car to your new home.

Port to port shipment, door to door shipment, door to port shipment, port to door shipment, we offer it all. So what exactly is port to port shipment? Port to port shipment is defined as your car being shipped from one port (location a) to another port (location b). It is usually the basic form of sea freight transportation. When transporting your car across the sea; for example, from New York to Alaska, ports are involved. The reason for this is because there is a body of water between the two lands.

If you are considering shipping your car with a body of water in between, then you are looking at port to port shipment. So, how does it work? Once you select a company for your car shipment needs, you want to secure your placement. Once your car is ready for shipment and assigned to a carrier, your car will be picked up at an agreed upon port. The driver and its carrier will meet you, where your car will be secured to the carrier. If you cannot be present for pick up or drop off, we suggest you leave your keys with a friend or neighbor who is available. The person you do leave your car keys with has to be over the age of 18. In the event that you are unable to leave your keys with someone, you can leave your keys somewhere on the property. However, if you decide to do this, be sure to call us so we can have our dispatch team contact the driver and inform him/her where your keys are located. Once your car is loaded to a carrier, the route to its new port will begin. Upon arrival to its new port, you will be contacted by the driver. When your car arrives, it will be ready to be picked up at the new agreed upon port and you will be on your way. It is really that simple and our team is here to assist you along the way.

Now that you have an understanding about port to port shipment, contact us today to get started on your booking to Alaska.

Are you looking to relocate to Alaska? Are you shipping your car from your current location to Alaska? What do you need to know about registering a car in Alaska? By law, registering a car in Alaska needs to be done within 10 days of entering Alaska or taking employment in the state. In order to register your car, you need to submit the following: current out- of- state registration, proof of title, form 812 which is an application for title and registration form, and associated fees. In addition, when registering a car in Alaska, you need proof of car insurance. Alaska law requires that owners of cars have liability insurance. The liability insurance must cover all of the following: $50,000 for bodily injury or death of any one person, $100,000 for bodily injury or death for any accident, and $25,000 for property damage. Failure to have this insurance in effect can lead to a suspension of a driver’s license. Once you follow the easy steps mentioned above, you will have your registration for two years. When the two year period is up, you will need to renew your registration. Every vehicle is assigned an expiration date when the vehicle is first registered and it forever keeps that month, even when the ownership may change.  If you happen to let your car registration expire for less than a full year, then you will be charged the full biennial fee beginning with the month that the registration expired. There is also a Motor Vehicle Registration Tax or MVRT that is applied to all registrations. The tax rate varies for each location of municipalities and boroughs.

For more information, visit http://doa.alaska.gov/dmv/reg/require.htm.

So interested in registering a car in Alaska because you are relocating? Contact us  today to get started on your car shipment process.

Looking into moving to Alaska? Have you been talking to family and friends about the relocation and unsure of what decision you should make? Moving to Alaska, the largest state in the United States, is a huge decision, and there are many myths about the relocation. Below are some common myths about moving to Alaska. If moving to Alaska is your dream, don’t let these top two myths stop you, after all, they are myths!

It’s Cold All Year Round

If you mention Alaska to someone a topic that is sure to come up in conversation is its climate. Alaska’s climate is associated with cold temperatures. For most of the year, Alaska’s temperatures can reach below freezing, and you can expect to see snowfall anywhere from October to April. However, it is not cold all year round. Summer months in Alaska can reach temperatures well above freezing. In fact, in July and August, you can expect to see temperatures in the 70 degrees Fahrenheit range, specifically in the southern towns. There has also been some state records of high temperatures. Prospect Park has the statewide record of high temperatures with 80 degrees Fahrenheit. Fort Yukon holds the record of highest temperatures for 100 degrees Fahrenheit.

Wild Wildlife

Alaska is known for its wildlife, but don’t let your fear of seeing wildlife out in the everyday world stop you from moving to Alaska. Yes, Alaska is home to polar bears, grizzly bears, and black bears, but they do not run rampant in Alaska. First, polar bears live along Alaska’s arctic coastlines, which is far from human habitats and housings. However, you can expect to see grizzly bears and black bears as they are a bit more common. Due to this, Alaska has set up “bear- proof” metal garbage containers throughout the towns in order to mask any garbage smells that may peak the interest of these bears.

Many parts of Alaska are rural and are located outside the bustling towns and cities. While many who live here enjoy the countryside and its quietness, the rural communities do bring about a challenge. Many rural areas do not have any DMV offices nearby, so where does one get a license? Alaska now offers off highway licenses. The challenge many young adults were running into was finding employment when many jobs require a driver’s license. As a result, the Alaska Division of Motor Vehicles offered an additional service to its rural residents. Off highway licenses allow the driver to drive on roads that are not connected to the Alaska State highway system, and on roads that are not connected to a highway with heavy daily traffic. Best of all, since DMV offices aren’t located near rural communities, individuals can get off- highway licenses through the mail. Although your off-highway license will have no photograph, it is still a valid license for off- roads.

Interested in off highway licenses? In order to get an off- highway license, you will need the following completed, which is all the typical licensing requirements except the road test:

• Pass the written portion and vision test

• Pay the fee

• Provide original legal documents that verify your date of birth, social security number, and identity

• No skills (road) test is required

Alaska also offers an off highway commercial driver’s license. Alaska is the only state that offers this opportunity to its residents. The requirements are pretty much the same, with the addition of passing the commercial motor vehicle driver general knowledge test.

If a resident obtains an off highway license because they live in a rural area, but then decides to move to a more populated city, he/she is able to remove the off highway restriction. In order to do this, the individual would need to complete a road test at the DMV office.

Looking to relocate to a rural area of Alaska? Contact us today for your car shipment needs.

Celebrating Fourth of July in Alaska is a celebration like no other. Alaska is known for its wildlife and outdoor activities, and with July’s temperatures, it makes it a day and experience to remember. Summertime in Alaska is warm, and the sun shines for almost 19 hours a day. If you will be celebrating Fourth of July in Alaska this year, be sure to add visiting Anchorage to your list. Anchorage is Alaska’s largest city, and there is so much to do. Your day here in Anchorage will be packed with fireworks, sport games, food, and fireworks. The parade in Anchorage includes time period costumes from the Revolution and is a family- fun experience for everyone. If you are feeling active on this festive day, you can take part in Mount Marathon annual Fourth of July race. The Mount Marathon Race starts in downtown Anchorage and goes all way up to Seward and then back. Many people come from all over Alaska to take part in this patriotic race, while others travel just to watch. Fourth of July in Alaska wouldn’t be complete without a trip to Fairbanks. A day in Fairbanks will keep you busy all day long. Here, you will have fun with tons of entertainment, food, music, fireworks, baseball games, fishing, hiking, and even an Independence Day 5k run. While you’re in Alaska, why not combine two popular United States holidays- Fourth of July and Christmas? Luckily for you, the North Pole is in Alaska, and it loves to celebrate Fourth of July. Just outside of Fairbanks, Alaska has its very own holiday- themed town. From Christmas theme streets, restaurants, and shops, you can experience Christmas in July. The North Pole sets up a Fourth of July festival that includes many activities such as “The Amazing Race,” a pancake breakfast, a children’s bike decorating contest, and a parade. There are over 50 vendors that have food, games, and entertainment.

Running into your house real quick? Doing a quick errand that will only take a few minutes? Why not just park your car and leave your engine running? Known as idling, what do the experts say about whether to idle or not to idle? Idling your car creates pollution and is not necessary. Idling your car for just ten seconds wastes more gas than shutting off your car and restarting your engine.

To idle or not to idle so that my car can warm up? One of the major misconceptions about your engine is that it needs a warm up. Today’s cars and engines do not need any sort of “warm up”, even in winter months. The best way to “warm up” your car and engine is to ease into your driving. Rather than revving your engine and picking up speed right away, ease into your driving, and within a few seconds, your engine will be warmed and ready to go. Your engine warms up twice as quickly when driving than sitting and idling.

Okay, so your car’s engine doesn’t need to be warmed up, but what about the interior of your car? To idle or not to idle so my seats and interior can become warm? Idling your car so that you can warm up the interior increases pollution and dirty exhaust. Similar to your car’s engine, the best way to warm up the interior of your car is to drive it. If it is crucial that you warm you your interior prior to driving, then it is best to wait inside your house or building until your car is warmed, rather than sitting inside the idling car. However, don’t idle for too long, as idling can actually increase the overall wear and tear of your engine since it is operating longer than necessary.

What Are the Best Months in Alaska?

Alaska’s summer months are from mid- May to mid- September, making peak season mid- June to mid- August. Therefore, June, July, and August fall into the best months in Alaska to visit. Days during these months are considerably longer, which allows you to jam pack your days with activities.

May is considered one of the best months in Alaska because you can experience Alaska and all it has to offer without the huge crowds that occur during peak season. In May, you can explore Alaska with reduced crowds, lower fairs, and better climate to view wildlife. The reason wildlife viewing is better is due to the fact that it is not too hot yet for them. One wildlife you can expect to see in May is the humpback whale.

June 21st is the longest day of the year in Alaska and the sky is lit up all night long. On this day the sun only sleeps for about 4 hours. With that, you can expect warmer temperatures, and a drier climate. June is the driest of all the months in Alaska. Even though the temperatures are on the rise, you can still expect to see lingering snow well into mid- June.

July is considered one of the best months in Alaska due to its temperatures. In July you will experience the warmest temperatures. The water can get up to 64 degrees Fahrenheit. Alaskan King Salmon can be fished well into July and the waters have plentiful because July is peak for the fisheries. Since July is in the middle of peak season, you can expect to pay a bit more for hotels, excursions, and food. Places tend to charge more since they have a short season to make their money.

August is considered one of the best months in Alaska to see wildlife. You can expect to see black bears, grizzlies, and brown bears fishing for salmon in the rivers. In late August, thousands of Sandhill Cranes begin their migrate through Fairbanks. However, if you are going to be in Alaska for August, be sure to pack an umbrella or poncho. August is also known to be the rainiest month of all the summer months.

You think about which of the best months in Alaska works well for you, and let us worry about shipping your car there so you can enjoy all Alaska has to offer in the summer.

You’ve decided to book us to ship your car! Great! Now what? How do you prepare for your car shipment? The idea of car shipment can feel very overwhelming. In order to ensure you have a safe and damage free car shipment, you can take a few extra steps to prepare it.

There are two easy ways to check out the exterior of your car. First, wash it! By taking the time out to wash your car before shipment, you can check to see if there are any dings or scratches on the exterior. Cleaning the inside of your car will allow you to check over the seats. Once your car is freshly cleaned and you’ve taken a close eye to it, document it. Take pictures of the exterior of your car and any existing damage you may have. While you are at it, you should also be documenting the interior of you car. Keep your  pictures for your record and for pick up.

Most cars are very spacious and can fit many personal belongings. So since you are paying for car shipment, why not pack it with your belongings? Wrong! You should not leave any personal belongings in your car. Be sure to remove anything and everything that is valuable to you. Another key thing to remove is your toll tag. Even if you leave your toll tag inside of the glove compartment, there is a chance that the radar can pick up fees at each toll it passes. Also, speaking of emptying your car, it is a good idea to run down your gas tank to only ¼ full. Your car will be loaded onto a bed and gas will not be needed. Plus, a full tank of gas will add weight to the carrier.

What else can you do to prepare your car shipment? Check out the essentials: Is your inspection and registration up to date? Have you changed the oil recently? Do all of your tires have the appropriate amount of air? Do you the spare set of keys?

So, let us worry about getting your car shipped from point A to point B, and you worry about preparing your car for shipment!