Vehicle Transport Services: Common Questions
Questions You Should Ask About Vehicle Transport Services
If you have to ship a car, it’s a good idea to ask the car shipping company a lot of questions. That’s good, because you are trusting your second biggest investment, next to your house, to vehicle transport services. Here are a few questions for your transporting service…
What length of time will shipment require shipping companies use a mathematical formula to figure the number of days it will take to ship your car?
Divide the miles you’ll travel by 350, and add one to get the length of time your car will be in transit.
Car shipping companies are different, but usually the auto transport quote will use this formula. You do need to remember that your car will be riding on the car carrier with other vehicles, unless you request private car transport service. Part of the formula allows for delays caused by loading and unloading other vehicles on the car carrier.
Does the car shipping company send someone to get my vehicle?
The company will have you meet them somewhere to deliver your vehicle to them. If you are leaving town before the car transport can receive your vehicle, you’ll have to leave it in the company’s yard. If not, you’ll meet the vehicle transport service in a parking lot somewhere to have your car loaded on their car carrier. Your car will be signed over to the person driving the car transport.
How do I make a schedule for the vehicle transport?
First, schedule the vehicle transport services with as much advance warning as possible. The company can work more easily with your schedule with enough warning. If you can schedule with the vehicle transport services at least 5 days in advance, you can pretty much name the day you want to deliver your car to the car shipping company
What payment forms do car shipping companies accept?
They will tell you when they give you the auto transport quote how they prefer to be paid. Car shipping companies, particularly the national auto transports, will want you to leave a credit card number along with a deposit when you get your contract. Many car transport services will ask for full payment at the time you sign a contract, while others will just charge your card once the vehicle transport starts the trip. Some car shipping companies will accept cashier’s checks or cash. If, however, you are not paying the full amount up front, the car transport service will expect a credit card
Is additional insurance necessary?
Federal law requires each car shipping company to carry cargo insurance. However, the insurance the car provides is only according to Kelly Blue Book specifications for factory finished cars. Also, if your car is modified in any way beyond factory specifications, the car shipping company’s insurance will not cover the modifications. This means weather damage, accident, and theft will not be provided for non-factory items, even if your car is on the car carrier at the time of the damage. It may be necessary to find supplemental coverage, either from your own insurance company or from the services. When searching for your auto transport quotes, you will certainly have some services that you will want to investigate further as you search. Don’t hesitate to speak with your car shipping company about any and all issues related to vehicle services and it is always good business practice to get references along with your auto transport quotes.
