Everyone wants a good deal nowadays. No matter the product or service needed, we are all looking for a bargain. But there are times when going for the lowest price can end up costing you more, and with auto shipping that is especially true.

As tempting as a budget shipping quote may be, it may not be such a great deal in the long run.

One common misconception about auto shipping is that the quotes provided are guaranteed set prices from each individual company. However, every quote you receive is from an auto shipping broker who will use that estimate to contract an independent hauler.

Each hauler accepts the jobs they want at the price that they feel is acceptable. Their routes may vary from week to week depending on the jobs available. The drivers themselves are not available to provide quotes for their services to customers, as they are on the road. The haulers go through the brokers listings for ready jobs and always accept the best paying jobs first. (And really, if you were a driver, wouldn’t you prefer the best paying jobs?)

If a potential auto shipper makes an offer to potential haulers that is too low, it will be ignored by the well-rated drivers. No matter how long you wait, if your offer is not acceptable to a driver it will not get set.

Even if you have given your credit card information to a broker, your final auto shipping contract requires hauler acceptance. So even if a broker is willing to make a low offer on your behalf, your final price is dependent on a hauler agreeing to it.

Also - keep in mind that if a low, low price does book a carrier, it’s often a “you get what you pay for” situation. Often, the lowest auto shipping offers only appeal to desperate drivers: those who don’t have a great track record and/or those who aren’t paying insurance premiums.

Is saving $50 – 100 worth risking your transport with a shady hauler?

At Ship a Car Direct, we make sure all of our transports are booked with well-rated and fully insured haulers.

Our auto shipping quotes aren’t always the lowest, but they are realistic for timely bookings. And in our experience, starting with a fair price for a quick and safe transport is actually the best bargain.