In the US, 91.55% of households have access to at least 1 vehicle. This goes to show how dependent we are as a nation on driving.
After making a considerable investment in a vehicle, you’re likely to hold onto it until it dies. So if you’re relocating, you’re not likely to abandon it.
Shipping your car is the best choice, seeing as you won’t need to make a tiring drive. But you shouldn’t just book the first auto transporter you can find.
Read on for 7 things you need to know before hiring a car shipping service.
1. Companies Need to Be Registered and Licensed
Legally, auto shippers must be registered through the US Department of Transportation (US DOT). This means they should have a valid US DOT number.
When looking at auto shipping companies, ask for their US DOT numbers. If they’re unwilling to give it to you, then this is a huge red flag.
Use this number to look up whether or not they have clean safety reports. Avoid using companies that don’t have a proven track record. You don’t want to trust any random person with your valued vehicle, after all.
2. They Should Provide Free Quotes
Any business worth their salt won’t charge for quotes. If they do, then their service is so lousy they’re resorting to cheap tactics to squeeze money out of people. So you should never pay for an estimate!
Also, in addition to being free, the quotes should have no-obligation ones as well. Again, a reputable company will let its services speak for itself instead of cornering people into them. If they’re going to strongarm you from the start, what else will they pressure you into?
3. Auto Shippers Charge by the Mile
At first glance, this might sound horrible, especially if you’re moving cross-country. However, the cost per mile gets cheaper the farther you go. For example, journeys under 200 miles will cost $2.00/mile while those over 1,500 miles will cost $0.60/mile.
The best way to figure out how much it’ll cost for your situation is to use a cost calculator. That way, you’ll have a ballpark number to work with.
4. No Large Deposits Should Be Required
Unscrupulous companies will charge large deposits so they can just run off with your money. Even worse, they might run off with your car too!
Reputable companies usually won’t require a deposit at all. They’ll only ask for payment when they pick up or drop off your vehicle.
Some trustworthy businesses do require a small deposit though, so don’t write off a company just because they’ve asked for one. Just make sure to weigh them up with the other information you’ve learned in this article to determine if they can be trusted.
5. Make Sure the Transporter Offers Good Insurance
By law, auto transporters need to have cargo insurance. But as you might’ve guessed, the mediocre companies will only have minimal coverage.
So in addition to asking whether they have coverage, you should also ask for details on their policy. Request a copy so you can go over it yourself and they can’t lie about anything.
You should never assume that your own auto insurance policy will cover anything that goes wrong. The best car shipping service will offer excellent coverage so you don’t have to use your own policy.
6. Booking Last-Minute Will Cost You
You know how the post office will charge you more if you want to send a package fast? The same applies to car shipping.
Typically, you can choose between economy, standard, and expedited services. If you wait until the last minute and need your car pronto, then you can get next-day or same-day pickup with expedited shipping, which can help. But this service isn’t cheap at all!
So if you know you’ll need to ship your vehicle in the near future, book as soon as you can. That way, you can pay for just economy or standard shipping and still have your car exactly when you need it at your new home. You’ll save tons!
7. You Need to Prep Your Car Beforehand
Many people are surprised to learn that they can’t just hand their vehicles over to the trucker without preparations. The fact is, there are several steps you need to take before sending yours off for a car delivery service.
For example, you need to completely clean it on the outside and the inside. This makes it easier to spot preexisting damage during the pickup walkthrough. You’ll also want to remove all personal items to minimize the chances of something getting loose and damaging your car in transit.
In addition, you should have your vehicle inspected and fixed if necessary. If your car is inoperable on the pickup date, then you’ll be charged extra for the time and equipment needed to move it on and off the trailer.
Remove all aftermarket parts and accessories, and disable your parking and toll passes. You’ll also want to disable your security system so it doesn’t go off randomly in the driver’s care.
Lastly, you need to leave your gas tank at just 1/4th full, no more than that. It’ll be enough for you to get home (if you’re not doing door-to-door delivery) and it won’t weigh down the trailer as much.
Be Prepared for Car Shipping Service
Using a car shipping service can be fantastic when you have a hectic move. Now that you know a bit more about it, choosing a car shipping service will be a cinch! You’ll be able to avoid scammers and make sure your vehicle gets to your destination without issue.
So book early to avoid disappointment and to get the best prices around. Once you’ve gotten that out of the way, you can look forward to relocating soon!
