How to Choose Professional Auto Transporters

Getting a car through a long distance can seem challenging to organize as you only have a few options to choose from, such as driving the vehicle yourself or having someone go it for you. But a third option that takes a lot of complications out of the process is to use professional auto transporters. When looking for a company to ship your vehicle, the most crucial question is: which company will do the best job at a reasonable price? Finding the right auto transport company is easy if you follow a few simple steps.

To find professional auto transporters.

A little research goes a long way. Research is the first step in finding the perfect company to ship your vehicle. Find out all you can about the sender and how a business performs when it comes to its customers. Remember, you also need to ask the right questions to understand everything about the submission process.

Step 1: research and explore your options. Thoroughly research the companies that you are potentially interested in using. This includes checking customer reviews because the way they treat their customers and their vehicles can tell you a lot about a business.

You should also check with your local Better Business Bureau to see if there have been any complaints about the company. If you find a complaint, match if there was any follow-up by the company and the follow-up result. Even the best companies can suffer from communication problems, and the way they respond should tell you a lot about their character and trustworthiness.

Step 2: Get a quote online. Next, get an online quote from the companies you've researched and are interested in. Some recommended options include Ship a Car Direct, eShip, and Executive Auto Shippers, to name just a few. Some companies specialize in certain types of vehicles, such as luxury cars for executive vehicle shippers, so be sure to check the kind of cars they sell before requesting a quote from the company.

• Warning: Stay away from auto transport carriers that require an upfront deposit. These types of companies will sometimes take your money and not provide services.

Step 3: Check your choices. Make the first contact with the companies that you are interested in using. Try to contact a company representative by phone. One of the first things to do is verify that the carrier has all required license and bond information on file with the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA). Through the FMCSA, you can investigate the safety record of the auto transport company.

Step 4: Ask about the shipping process. Ask questions about any shipments you plan to do with an auto transport company. Some of the questions that you can ask if the car transport companies that interest you are the following:

• How long does the shipping process take? Car shipments don't happen overnight. Autoship companies typically offer a one-month time interval from the pickup and even longer for overseas deliveries.
• Do you offer covered or uncovered carrier options? While an open carrier is the least expensive option, it also exposes your vehicle to the elements heading to the destination.
• How does scheduling a vehicle pickup work? Very often, a company contacts you when a truck is opened to transport your vehicle. Shipping companies do this to save money by making stops while traveling from point A to point B. To get an exact pickup date, you will probably have to pay more.
• What delivery options do you offer? This includes door-to-door and terminal-to-terminal delivery of vehicles. Door-to-door delivery costs more, but the convenience of having the shipping company pick up and deliver your vehicle directly to you is convenient. If the company uses terminal-to-terminal delivery, you must travel to the terminal where it leaves the car to retrieve it.
• Tip: Make sure you know who is shipping your vehicle. Most of the time, the initial person you contact at the company is a broker and may not even be with the company you are considering using. If possible, select only those brokers and companies that represent themselves and not a third party.

Step 5: Know the terms and conditions. Please read all the terms and conditions of the carrier you plan to use and make sure you understand them. You should also find out what type of liability insurance the company has if your vehicle is damaged in transit. Also, check with your own insurance company to see if they offer any situation coverage.

Step 6: schedule the pickup. Once you are satisfied, choose a carrier and schedule a pickup. Also, make sure you are up-to-date with all shipping-related documentation in case problems arise later.

Shipping a vehicle can be tricky, but if you take the time to research a company, the experience will be less stressful. It would help if you considered having your vehicle inspected by an experienced mechanic before shipping to make sure you don't have any issues before handing it over to a third party. Then, if the vehicle arrives damaged at its final location, you have proof that the damage occurred during the shipping process.