One of the first questions put forth probably thousands of times a day by auto dealers, wholesalers, collectors, and just plain folks who are relocating somewhere in the country is "What is the cost to ship my vehicle? Cost is important of course when moving something as large and expensive as a motor vehicle of any type, but is it the MOST important item to consider?
Usually, a person will be dealing with brokers in the car transportation business. These brokerage firms do not operate long-haul trucks of their own. They act as agents of the trucking companies by taking an order to move a vehicle. They make an estimate of what to charge a trucking company, withhold a percentage of this fee, which they will charge you for the task of arranging shipment. They then broker out the job by posting on online load boards that are visible to car haulers that are in the business of operating trucks to move about the country. If this posted quote is too low, it will not attract any of these car hauling truck companies and your vehicle will sit waiting to be relocated for a very long time. Make sure that the price the broker is offering is reasonable enough in the industry to get your car from one place to another in a timely manner. As with so many other costs, the lowest price is not always the way to go.
Insurance coverage on the vehicle and its contents is another very important cost item to consider. Should some unforeseen accident occur that harms your vehicle while in-transit, you want it protected, just as you would any property that belongs to you. The questions to ask of importance here are what coverage does the trucker's insurance provide in case of damage or loss and also, the trucker may have brokered it out at least in part to another trucker and you will want to get a copy of that car hauler's insurance certificate as well. Always make sure, if at all possible, to have the carrier's insurance certificate list you as the certificate holder. Should some harm befall your vehicle and/or its contents, then you can file the claim yourself directly to the insurance company.
One more thing to think about is the quality and reputation of the auto transportation company. If you are not involved daily in the vehicle transportation business, you really have no idea about the companies that are. Ask around. Go to a car dealer that ships vehicles regularly and ask them who they use for car transport. Go online, look at reviews and get as much information as possible before you start calling for bids. There are places like safersys.org where you can look at a company's safety profile. This website is operated Federal Motor Carrier Safety Association and can be a valuable resource when trying to find a company to transport your automobile.
Looking to get your car some distance from A to Z involves several considerations. Not just the least expensive, but the safest and sometimes the timeliest way to get your wheeled friend happily to its new home.
Usually, a person will be dealing with brokers in the car transportation business. These brokerage firms do not operate long-haul trucks of their own. They act as agents of the trucking companies by taking an order to move a vehicle. They make an estimate of what to charge a trucking company, withhold a percentage of this fee, which they will charge you for the task of arranging shipment. They then broker out the job by posting on online load boards that are visible to car haulers that are in the business of operating trucks to move about the country. If this posted quote is too low, it will not attract any of these car hauling truck companies and your vehicle will sit waiting to be relocated for a very long time. Make sure that the price the broker is offering is reasonable enough in the industry to get your car from one place to another in a timely manner. As with so many other costs, the lowest price is not always the way to go.
Insurance coverage on the vehicle and its contents is another very important cost item to consider. Should some unforeseen accident occur that harms your vehicle while in-transit, you want it protected, just as you would any property that belongs to you. The questions to ask of importance here are what coverage does the trucker's insurance provide in case of damage or loss and also, the trucker may have brokered it out at least in part to another trucker and you will want to get a copy of that car hauler's insurance certificate as well. Always make sure, if at all possible, to have the carrier's insurance certificate list you as the certificate holder. Should some harm befall your vehicle and/or its contents, then you can file the claim yourself directly to the insurance company.
One more thing to think about is the quality and reputation of the auto transportation company. If you are not involved daily in the vehicle transportation business, you really have no idea about the companies that are. Ask around. Go to a car dealer that ships vehicles regularly and ask them who they use for car transport. Go online, look at reviews and get as much information as possible before you start calling for bids. There are places like safersys.org where you can look at a company's safety profile. This website is operated Federal Motor Carrier Safety Association and can be a valuable resource when trying to find a company to transport your automobile.
Looking to get your car some distance from A to Z involves several considerations. Not just the least expensive, but the safest and sometimes the timeliest way to get your wheeled friend happily to its new home.
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