Vehicle Shipping – What to Look For When Choosing a Vehicle Shipping Company
Vehicle shipping services are a great way to transport your car nationwide. As the population grows, many new auto transport companies have opened up providing car transport to their local markets. With so many new companies entering the field you will need to be careful in selecting the right company for your needs.
This first thing to do is find a list of local auto transport companies in your area. A good place to start is online. There are lots of shipping vehicle directories that provide local listings. You can also do search online of your “city” and the word “auto transport” or “vehicle shipping”. This should help you pull up between three to five companies in your area. If you don’t find any online, you can always fall back on the trusty phone book. Now that you have your list of possible service providers, it’s time to move on to the next step.
As you begin calling your list of car carriers, it is very important to ask the right questions. Start by asking if they are licensed and have insurance. They will usually tell you they are licensed by the State or some local municipality. Any reputable auto transport will have insurance as it is required in most states. This will also let you know what type of outfit you are dealing with. Now that you have verified insurance and licensing, you should ask for a quote and what methods of payment do they accept. Most places will accept cash and all major credit cards. Keep in mind that a lot of vehicle shipping</a companies will require a deposit to reserve your spot on the car carrier and in most cases payment in full before dispatch. Now that you have some quotes and have talked to a few service providers, it's time to choose what company to go with. Usually, most people will go with the cheapest rate but it's a good idea to go online and see if you can look up reviews of the company. Good sites for this are Rip-off Report and the Better Business Bureau. This could save you hundreds of dollars for just 10 minutes of your time.
Finally, be sure to ask where you will need to drop off your car. Usually, it will be at their local business but sometimes they will have a special terminal. Most companies will drop your car off to a second terminal at your point of destination. If you need them to drop the vehicle at a specific location, be sure to clear this with them as every auto shipping company will have it's own unique set of rules and regulations. Be prepared to pay extra for this service as well.