logo
  • Home
  • FAQs
  • User Videos
  • Quote Calculator
866-221-1664
Get Your Free Quote
logo
866-221-1664
  • Home
  • FAQs
  • User Videos
  • Quote Calculator
Get Your Free Quote
Get Your Free Quote

Signs of a Reliable Car Transport Company

50,000+ Reviews
1,000,000+ Customers Helped
Home  |  Car Transport   |   Signs of a Reliable Car Transport Company

As you prepare to ship your vehicle across the country, you don’t want to hand your car over to just any car shipping company. You want to be sure the company you choose treats your vehicle as if it were their own. That’s why it’s important to do your research so you can find a reliable car transport company. You want to have peace of mind when selecting a company to ship your vehicle, so look for the following signs that the company is reliable.

Proper Registration
Oftentimes people locate a shipper through online services so it’s hard to tell if the company is legitimate. One way you can find out is by looking for the company’s MC Docket Number. This six-digit number should be located somewhere on the website and is required by the Federal Motor Carrier Administration. Any reliable car shipping company will make this number visible on their website and this guarantees that the company is legitimate. When in doubt, you can check the FMCSA website to verify whether the company is registered.

Positive Customer Reviews
Any reliable car transport company should have good reviews and online ratings. Read all reviews and make sure they are informative and tell the good and the bad experiences. Do, however, check more than just the company’s website. They are likely to only post positive reviews on their website, so do plenty of research. It’s also a good idea to check out the company’s rating with the Better Business Bureau.

Pay Attention to the Price
There’s nothing wrong with trying to get a fair price, but if you are receiving a quote that is drastically cheaper than other shipping companies, this could be a red flag. Transportation costs should be pretty similar across the board so be wary if you notice something much lower.

Valid Insurance
Most reliable auto transport companies carry insurance in case the vehicle should be damaged by weather, flying debris, or any other natural incident. Ask to see a copy of the company’s insurance policy so you can verify the coverage.

Upfront Pricing
Any reliable auto transport company should be able to provide you with a fairly accurate quote that includes all costs associated with shipment. You don’t want to work with a company that has hidden fees and charges. To ensure you are getting an accurate quote, make sure it includes the make and model of your vehicle, the distance of the transport, and the type of transport you will be using (open-air or enclosed).

They Have a Clear Policy Regarding Delays
Any auto transport company that guarantees a delivery date is not being honest. There is no such thing as a guarantee with auto transport. Things happen that are out of the company’s control such as weather, traffic jams, and road closures. Therefore, the company should have a clear policy regarding delays.

While most auto transport companies are reliable, you should always do your research just to be sure. Look for these signs when choosing a company to transport your vehicle.

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.

View All FAQs
Ship a Car Direct BBB Business Review
4.9
Over 35,000+ Reviews
TransportReviews.com
4.8
Over 17,000+ Reviews
ShopperApproved.com
4.9
Over 3,500+ Reviews
ConsumerAffairs.com

We’re Loved by Customers

See Reviews by Our Verified Buyers!

shipacardirect.com widget logo
Get Your Free Car Shipping Quote
Get Your Free Quote
  • About Us
  • Quote Calculator
  • User Videos
  • FAQs
  • Resources
  • Blog
  • Contact Us
MC-632461
logo
© 2023 Ship a Car Direct. All Rights Reserved.
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms & Conditions
  • Site Map