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Is it Safe to Ship a Vehicle?

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Home  |  Car Transport   |   Is it Safe to Ship a Vehicle?

Many people are concerned about the safety of auto shipment and understandably so. They are turning one of their most valuable assets over to a complete stranger. However, auto transport companies take extra precautions to ensure your vehicle is safe during transport.  Even so, the safety of your vehicle depends on a few factors including the transport company you choose and the way you prepare your vehicle for shipment. Here are a few things you should do to ensure your vehicle is shipped securely. 

Find the Right Shipping Company

Not all car shipping companies are created equal so it’s important to do your research to find the right one. When you’re shipping something as high value as your vehicle, you want to be sure you find a company that is reputable and reliable. Here are a few things you should to ensure you find the best company:

-Talk to friends and family who have shipped a vehicle and ask about their experience

-Research the company and read their reviews

-Verify their MC and DOT number

-Request a free quote

-Confirm they have liability insurance

-Check the company’s reputation with the Better Business Bureau

Prepare Your Car for Safe Transport

Once you have found a reliable shipping company you still need to take the right steps to prepare your car for shipment. You want to do everything you can to ensure a safe and damage-free transport and delivery. Here are a few things you need to do to properly prepare your vehicle for shipment:

-The first things you need to do is wash your car both inside and out because it’s easier to spot damage on a clean car. 

-Thoroughly inspect your vehicle and make note of any existing scratches, dings, dents, or paint chips. You should also take pictures of your vehicle so you have proof of your vehicle’s condition in case any new damage should occur. 

-Remove all valuables from your vehicle such as stereos, DVD players, GPS systems, etc. Also, do not pack or leave personal belongings inside the vehicle.  

-Remove or secure all loose or removable parts such as an antenna, spoiler, or any other custom parts and fold in your rear view mirrors.

-Do a mechanical check before shipment. Check and top off all fluids and ensure your tires are properly inflated. Make sure the batter has a full charge and make sure the gas tank is only ¼ full.

Frequently Asked Questions

Answers to Your Car Moving Questions

The hardest thing for people researching car moving companies to understand is that the prices they are getting are not hard and fast gaurantees, but rather ESTIMATES of what one company thinks it will take to get a vehicle moved promptly versus another company's opinion of what it will take. Don't be fooled, there are not carriers committed to take your vehicle at these quoted prices, the company you choose will still have to get to work getting a carrier to commit to move it at the price they quote you.

Your total price breaks down into two parts, the broker's fee (or 'deposit' as everyone calls it) and the carriers fee (your COD amount) Make no mistake about this, EVERYONE YOU ARE GETTING SALES CALLS FROM IS GOING TO BROKER YOUR MOVE. In this industry, there are brokers who try to fool you into thinking that they are the actual carriers and there are an equal amount of carriers who sell themselves on the fact that they have a truck or two but are not being honest about the fact that they broker out 90% of the orders they book. Here is a quick easy way to tell, if a company takes an up front fee, whether they call it a deposit or any other name, they are a broker. Carriers do not take any payment until the vehicle is delivered.

In our opinion, you are crazy to do so. Have you ever been paid up front for the work that you perform for your employer? Why would you pay a fee up front when there are reliable and trustworthy companies like ours that won't ask for it until we provide you with your carriers details?

The average transit time from pick up to delivery on any vehicle going coast to coast will be between one and two weeks. From there you can figure your transit time based on how far your vehicle is traveling, i.e. from either coast to the Midwest might average 3-7 days.

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