10 Factors to Consider When Looking to Ship Your Car

When you are moving to a new place, you will need to decide how you will transport your car. And though you can drive it to the location, this can be a pretty cumbersome process. As such, the best way to get your vehicle shipped to your location is by hiring an auto shipping service. And if you are looking for a reliable service to ship your car, keep the following points in mind.

Open And Enclosed Shipping

When shipping your vehicle, you will have two options how the car will be transported – open or enclosed shipping. In open shipping, the vehicle will be transported without being covered. As such, your car will come into constant contact with dust, sunlight, snow, debris, rain, and other natural elements. In contrast, in enclosed shipping, your car will be completely covered, ensuring that it never comes into contact with outside elements. However, this is a much more expensive option when compared to open shipping. And even though open shipping might seem like a risky affair in the sense that the car remains exposed, the fact of the matter is that vehicles rarely get damaged while being transported using open shipping. In fact, most people do prefer open shipping when transporting their cars.

Deposit and Payment Terms

Payment terms vary by company, so read them carefully before you book. Most reputable brokers don’t charge anything at booking. They collect a deposit or broker fee only once a carrier has been assigned to your shipment, and you pay the balance to the driver at delivery. Be cautious of any company that demands full payment up front before a carrier is even scheduled, and ask whether the deposit is refundable if they fail to find a truck.

Pickup And Delivery

Most auto shipping companies will offer a terminal pickup and drop option in which you can drop off your car at the company’s terminal. They will then transport it to a terminal close to your new location. You can then pick it up from the terminal and drive your vehicle to your new home. Shipping companies also offer door to door pickup and delivery where your car will be picked up from your old home and dropped off at your new home. But this is a more expensive option when compared to the terminal pickup option. As such, if there is a company terminal near to your new home, then choosing a terminal pickup and delivery method will be the best way to save some money on auto shipping.

Insurance

Make sure that the auto shipping service does offer insurance coverage to the vehicle. After all, if the car is damaged while being transported, you should not be the one who ends up suffering because of the fault of the carrier. This is why an insurance cover that will compensate you for such damages is required. Generally, you can expect a company to offer you about $100,000 worth of insurance. And in some cases, it can reach up to $250,000. Whatever be the case, ensure that you do a thorough inspection of the car before the pickup and after the delivery. Take a few digital photos during both times and compare them to see if there has been any damage to the vehicle. Plus, remember to notify the damages at the time of delivery itself. If you notice the damage only after about three days from receiving the car, then it is less likely that you will receive any compensation from the insurance company. If the company does not offer insurance, then you may have to purchase car transport insurance separately. Our Montway review covers how carrier insurance and claims work in practice.

Extra Items

When it comes to storing extra items in your car while it ships, most carriers are licensed to haul vehicles, not household goods, and their insurance does not cover personal belongings. As such, many auto shipping services will limit or refuse personal items in the car. Some allow a small amount, often up to about 100 pounds in the trunk. Ask your shipper about their policy before you pack anything.

Gas

If your car is fully loaded with gas, then it is advisable that you take it out. Only keep the tank about a quarter full so that the person in charge of transporting the vehicle can use it when it is necessary. And remember to hand over your keys to the responsible person at the time of pickup of your car. If there is any problem in the vehicle that might end up surprising the person, then be sure to explain such things to them so that they are not confused when encountering such incidents.

Reviews

Make sure to read up all the reviews about the auto shipping services. Check how people rate their service and take note of any special complaints about them. This will give you a good idea as to which service to pick and which to avoid. As far as possible, pick the shipping service that has the fewest negative reviews and the highest number of positive ratings. However, be realistic and understand that all services, no matter how top-notch, will always have a few negative reviews. Just make sure that the negatives pointed out is not too extreme, like damage to vehicle and such.

Price

You will also have to compare the fees charged by the various auto shipping companies. Decide what you can afford and prepare a list of carriers who can ship your car within your budget. However, never go for a service that offers the cheapest rate since that can be quite risky. Instead, check the reviews of the services as mentioned previously, and then compare the price with the service that has a high number of positive reviews. Doing so will ensure that you hire a top notch service that can ship your vehicle within your desired budget.

Before you request quotes, get a realistic baseline with our car shipping cost calculator. It estimates your price by distance, vehicle size, and open or enclosed transport, so you can spot a quote that is suspiciously low.

Personal Items

Make sure to remove all the personal items in your car before loading it into the carrier’s vehicle. Whether it is CDs, GPS devices, satellite radios, or any other thing, it is better to take it out of your car than leaving it inside. This is because the shipper will have your keys with them to move the car when required. And though chances of them stealing your things are nearly non-existent, it is better to be safe than sorry. After all, the last thing you want when you are delivered the vehicle is to find out that something is missing from it.

Ordering

As a general rule, place your transport order one to two weeks before your pickup date. If you try to book for the very next day, carriers on your route may already be full, and a guaranteed rush pickup costs extra. Book even earlier for summer moves, snowbird season, or enclosed transport, when trucks fill up faster.

So, keep the above auto shipping tips in mind when looking for a reliable service, and you should have a pretty easy time ensuring that your vehicle is shipped to your destination without any complications.