Frequently Asked Questions About Auto Transport
Another option besides door-to-door auto transport is transporting from terminal to terminal. However, this is not the preferred method because there isn’t any insurance liability at these facilities, and your vehicle changes hands more than once. More customers are opting for our “door to door” method for convenience and peace of mind.
If you are planning on shipping your car, we recommended our door to door auto transport services as it will be the quickest and most convenient car transport services we can provide.
Sometimes you can obtain a lower price by offering car shipping drivers a larger window for pickup. If either of your origination or destination locations are away from population centers – in a remote area – then you might consider meeting a driver in a nearby big city or town to increase your chances of shipping in a more timely fashion.
For example, any products or services you purchase the more you buy the cheaper the price. The same thing applies to auto transport services. We have auto transport carriers that have their own clients who ship twice a year with them. Their rate is 200 dollars more than the price we get with our fee included. You ask why? The simplest way to explain it is you’re offering to ship once or twice a year. We ship 100′s of cars a month! This is still a cheaper price then you would be able to negotiate on your own.
Shipping time all depends on the auto transporter – listed below are some very basic ideas to help you along the way. Make sure however you contact your car shipper for their actual scheduled times.
East Coast to West Coast – approx. 7 to 10 days
Midwest to East Coast – approx. 5 to 8 days
South to North – approx. 3 to 5 days
All car shipping times are estimated. Do not base your auto transport on these examples without first contacting your car shipper for assistance
The first thing you should do is make sure the driver understands that the damage is new and was not on the original bill of lading. The damage should clearly be marked and noted, then signed for by the driver. Upon completion of delivery, a call should be placed to your auto transport carrier or broker to inform them of the damage. In most cases, the car shipping carrier will ask for three estimates and will cover one of them.
Number 1 Auto Transport offers a variety of different payment methods for our customers. We offer secure online ordering as well as quick and easy phone support to pay for your auto transport service.
The Bill of Lading serves as a receipt for your vehicle, and it represents the contract of carriage between you, the car shipping company, and the carrier. The driver will give you a copy of the Bill of Lading when the vehicle is picked up. Claims of damage at the destination will be based on the condition of your vehicle, as reported before it was transported.
The Bill of Lading is an important document for you. It must be signed by the driver and by you or your agent. It should show the name of the auto transport company, the origination contact, and location and to whom and where it is delivering, plus all pertinent telephone numbers. Review the Bill of Lading to make sure that the place of delivery is shown correctly. Check that the Bill of Lading contains the name, address, and telephone number where the car shipper or authorized agent can be notified of problems and possible delays while the vehicle is in transit. The Bill of Lading should also have the name, address, and telephone number of the carrier.
Leave only about a 1/4 tank of gas in the vehicle. A full tank of gasoline adds a lot of costly weight to the transport. We have an auto transport checklist that will give you some tips on preparing your car for auto transport.
The vehicle will be picked up/delivered as close to your home as possible. Occasionally, the maneuverability of these large auto transport carriers or your local government regulations will not allow the transporter truck to come directly to your home. In these cases, an alternate site will be selected that contains a large parking lot, such as a shopping mall.
Open car shipping carriers are similar to those you see transporting cars to and from dealerships. These carriers range in size and capacity. Vehicles that are shipped via an open carrier are exposed to inclement weather and road conditions. Enclosed auto transport carriers also range in size and capacity. Since these carriers are covered, the vehicles in transit are not exposed to weather or road conditions. Enclosed carriers are recommended for custom and antique or classic cars. Enclosed auto transport is also more costly than the open carrier because of the high insurance policy.
Vehicles will be transported via multiple auto transport carriers – the same type used to transport new vehicles to and from dealerships.
Once you submit your order either online (very secure) or over the phone, the shipping of your vehicle will be scheduled according to the first date available on your shipping order. Ninety percent of our orders get assigned within one week of that date. Once assigned, the vehicle usually gets picked up in a day or two of the assigned ship date. We automatically email the customer when it gets assigned and then the car shipping driver calls your pickup contact. When the driver picks up your vehicle for car transport, he will do a detailed inspection of your vehicle on the Bill of Lading. You will both sign this form and receive a copy. The car shipping driver will call your destination contact from the road as he gets near the destination. The same Bill of Lading will be present on delivery so you can inspect the vehicle.
Over 90% of our car shipping orders ship inside of one week – anywhere from one to seven days – because about 90% of the U.S. population lives in a major metropolitan area. As one of the best car shipping companies around, we do our best to meet everyone’s requirements. That said, we cannot guarantee auto shipping pickups or delivery dates. Once assigned, the vehicle usually gets picked up in a day or two of the estimated ship date.
Number 1 Auto Transport does not authorize personal belongings in the vehicle nor or these items covered by carrier insurance. If you choose to put items in your vehicle, it is completely at your own risk. You may put up to 100 lbs. of personal items in the trunk of your vehicle.
No. As long as you leave the keys to your vehicles with someone you trust on both the origin and destination for the car shipping driver.
Yes. All of our auto transport carriers are insured to meet State and Federal requirements. The car shipping driver will thoroughly inspect the vehicle at pick-up and delivery. When your vehicle is delivered, it is your responsibility to inspect for any damage that may have occurred during the auto transport process. Document any damage on the Bill of Lading and obtain the driver’s signature. The insurance company will not process claims if damages are not documented at the time of delivery.
