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Tried and True Methods for Finding a Great Car Shipping Service Provider

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Home  |  Car Transport   |   Tried and True Methods for Finding a Great Car Shipping Service Provider

Your car is very important to you and is necessary to transport you and your family. That’s why choosing the right auto shipping service provider is such an important decision. There are a number of auto shipping companies out there, all claiming to provide the best service at the best price, so how do you know which one to choose? The truth is, not all auto shipping companies are created equal and finding the right one requires a great deal of research and planning. You want to be sure you are handing your car over to a service provider that is trustworthy and reputable. In order to help you navigate this process, we have compiled a list of features and qualities that you should look for in a car shipping service as well as tips for researching them to find the right one. 

Look for the right qualities. Every car shipping service is essentially selling the same general service, so it is crucial to gain a deeper understanding into the company’s brand to be sure they are who they say they are. You want to look for a company that is reliable, trustworthy, experienced, and qualified. 

Never base your decision on price alone. You have certainly heard the phrase, “You get what you pay for” and this is definitely true when it comes to auto shipping. If you notice a company that is advertising a drastically cheaper price, this could be a red flag that something is not right. Instead of searching for the cheapest price, look for the company that offers the best quality service at the best price. 

Research the company. Most people begin their search for auto shipping companies online. The websites should include basic information about the company as well as customer reviews. If you come across a company that seems to offer the services you need, it’s time to do a little additional research. Check with the Better Business Bureau to see if there have been any complaints about the company. You can also search online for other customer reviews. You should also call and speak to a representative from the company who can answer your questions. This is also a good time to ask for references so you can be sure you are working with a company you can trust. 

Get a quote and compare pricing. While it may be difficult to provide you with an exact price, most reputable companies should be able to give you a quote for the services. Make sure you understand the types of services being offered when you receive your quote. For example, is the quote for enclosed or open transport, terminal or door-to-door to shipping, etc. Once you have a quote, you will be able to compare prices with other companies. 

Verify proper licensing and registration. Before selecting an auto transport company, you want to be sure they have all of the required licensing, registration, and bond information. It is required that all auto transport carriers be registered with the United States Department of Transportation so you should check to be sure they have the proper MC and US-DOT numbers. You can also research the company using the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration. Here you will be able to see a safety record for specific auto transport companies. 

Frequently Asked Questions

Honest Answers to Your Car Shipping Questions

Yes, we always ask for your specific pickup and delivery addresses, if the carrier can get right to the addresses you provide, they will. If the addresses that you give us are not safely accessible for a Multi-car carrier, however, you will need to make arrangements with the driver to meet at a nearby location where the carrier can safely get in and out.

People do it all the time (rarely for free) but the official answer is no.

Not what you wanted to hear, we know, but that is the honest answer.

We are not licensed to broker the shipment of household goods and, likewise, no car carrier that operates in the USA is licensed to transport them from state to state either. Despite what you might be being told by other car shipping companies you may speak with.

Remember, at the end of the day we're all salespeople, and the true answer to this question is not a great selling point.

You will hear a lot of companies tell you that you can put up to 100 pounds of items in the trunk, but that is not entirely true. That fact is that items of that amount are fairly common and the department of transportation is probably not going to split hairs and fine the trucker over items of that amount, provided they are not over their weight limit. They could fine them, however, if they see a vehicle stuffed full of personal items so the car carrier will most likely try to negotiate something with you to cover themselves against any costs they could incur. It's not something we can build into your contract though.

We have a short and helpful video on this topic in our user videos.

Only in rare cases and car carriers will usually charge a premium to make it happen.

All dates given by car carriers are typically estimates and projections.

For this reason (and to keep your cost down) we ask that you build in some flexibility and give us the earliest possible date you would be WILLING to release the vehicle, even though it may not be your preferred date.

We'll put you in direct contact with your car carrier and the driver will also typically call you the afternoon or evening before your pick up and delivery (they won't just show up unannounced, and if they do we want to hear about it). However, car carriers are out on the road battling traffic, weather and any number of other factors that can and do throw them off of their pickup and delivery projections from time to time.

If the projected dates we give you come and you are unable to make contact with your carrier, please call our office immediately so that we may help resolve the situation.

The average transit time from pick up to delivery on any vehicle going coast to coast will average 7 to 10 days. From there you can figure your transit time based on how far your vehicle is traveling, i.e. from either coast to the Midwest might average 3-7 days.

Yes!

Even better, we do not even ask for payment until we have you confirmed for pickup by a safe, reliable, fully insured, direct car carrier. If for any reason you do not ship your car with the carrier that we arrange for you, there is no fee.

The fees paid directly to the carrier however, (in most cases, their fees are not paid until your vehicle is delivered) are not directly controlled by us, so any requests for a refund of the carrier's portion would need to be addressed with the carrier directly.

Of course! And you are always backed by our Damage Free Guarantee policy.

Part of what you pay us for is to verify that the car carrier that we put you on is covered by the proper amount of insurance and that everything is up to date.

There is never any additional cost to you for this coverage, and their insurance is always primary.

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