Is It Difficult to Get a Car Shipping Quote from an Auto Transport Company?
First, some people may tell you that a car shipping company will not give you a quote until it comes time for you to sign the contract. Supposedly, the cost of shipping a car is so high that car transport companies don’t want to give you an estimate of what it will cost. This isn’t true. Any reputable company will gladly provide you with a free quote if you only give them a few critical pieces of information, such as your personal information, the starting point, the destination, and the make and model of the car you will be shipping with them.
The Car Transport Company Will Pressure You into Signing the Contract
There is a common myth that all auto transport companies will pressure you into signing a contract filled with dense legalese and incomprehensible clauses. This isn’t true of any reputable car shipping company. To find a reputable company, search for “auto transport reviews.” Several comprehensive sites will appear in the search results, such as Transport Reviews or the Better Business Bureau. If a company has excellent reviews from multiple customers, it is safe to trust them with your car. Another indication of auto transport companies’ reputability is their behavior when you ask questions about the contract. Any upstanding company will be happy to answer all of your questions.
Can I Ship A Car If I’m Not Available At The Pickup Or Delivery Location?
The simple answer is Yes; the car shipping carrier will deliver the car to their specific drop-off location with the customer’s permission. In most cases, the customer will inspect the vehicle upon delivery to avoid any new vehicle damage during car transport. If the customer cannot do the inspection, the car transport carrier will take pictures of the vehicle on delivery to complete the inspection for the customer. Ensure you arrange to have a car delivered without you being present. Ensure you have worked out other payment alternatives with the carrier/broker since most carriers are paid COD upon delivery.
How Long Does The Car Transport Service take?
After submitting the auto transport services order from our free car shipping quote page, we will schedule your vehicle for transport according to the first available date. Ninety percent of our orders get assigned within one week of initial contact. Once set, the car is typically picked up within a day or two of the assigned ship date. We’ll send an email to help you prepare for the vehicle shipment. The truck driver also will call your pickup contact to finalize delivery plans.
An essential part of our service is how your auto remains safe and secure throughout transport. Once the driver arrives at the pickup location, a detailed inspection of your vehicle is done. All information is noted on the Bill of Lading before leaving. You will both sign this form and receive a copy. Information recorded includes any dents, scratches, or missing parts. You should take several digital photos of the vehicle before pick up and after delivery.
The estimated time frame below does NOT include the 1-3 or 3-5-day window needed to pick up a car.
- Car transport turnaround time for a destination under 1,000 miles is estimated at 2-3 days.
- 1,000-1,750 miles: estimated car transport process time is 4-6 days.
- 1,750-2,500: the car transport process time is estimated at 7-10 days.
- 2,500+: the car transport time is estimated at 10-14 days.
Should I Ship My Car On An Open Car Transport Carrier or an Enclosed Car Transport Carrier (Covered Car Carrier)?
Shipping your car on an open car transport carrier will be the cheapest way to ship your car, but your vehicle will be exposed to weather and any debris that may fly in the path of the truck. Suppose you are interested in shipping an exotic car, a classic car, or an all-around meticulous car owner. In that case, the enclosed auto transport carriers have high insurance coverage and protect your vehicle if bad weather occurs during the car shipping process.
When Will My Car Be Picked Up and Delivered?
Once the vehicle is assigned to a truck, you will receive the transport carrier’s contact information. Then, the dispatcher will call you no more than 24hrs in advance to schedule the car delivery service pick up or drop off.
When Do I Pay For The Car Shipping Service?
Many different payment options are available depending on the type of customer. Once the vehicle is loaded onto the carrier, a small percentage of the total amount will be charged to the credit/debit card. Then, the remaining balance will be due when the car delivery service is complete. For corporate accounts, for example, dealerships, we will submit an invoice once the car has been delivered, and check, ACH-wire, or credit card can submit payment.
Do I Need to Prepare my Automobile for the Car Shipping Process?
The process of preparing your car for transport is surprisingly simple. Check that all fluids are filled to the level indicated by your owner’s manual. Also, leave only a quarter of the fuel in the tank to avoid unnecessary weight charges.
Don’t forget to remove personal items from the car. Keep in mind that you will not have access to anything in the car for the time the car transport company is shipping it. One item people often forget to remove is toll tags. We ask that you remove toll tags from your vehicle beforehand so the tag does not accidentally get charged during transport.
- Consider cleaning your car before shipping. A clean car will make it easier to spot chips, dings, dents, scratches, and other cosmetic damages.
- Check your gas tank before shipping your car. It would help if you had no more than ¼ of gas left to reduce overall car weight.
- Remove any toll tags from your car or windshield. This prevents unnecessary charges during transport.
