Auto Shipping
How to Get the Best Value When Shipping a Vehicle
Finding the best value when shipping a vehicle is about more than simply finding the lowest affordable price auto transport quote that you can, it is about finding the best value. Anyone can start up an auto transport company and charge you an insanely low price, but that low price may also end up having its own cost if you trust the wrong company. What's worse is that these costs can add up to more than a true, reputable auto transport company would have charged you in the first place to ship your vehicle and you wouldn't have had to deal with the hassle.
There are many ways that a car shipping company can cut costs in order to advertise a lower price, while still pulling in an equal profit. Most of these ways will end up costing the customer in the end. The most dangerous way that an auto transport company can cut costs is by drastically decreasing what they pay their employees. What this does is bring in less qualified applicants and the company has no choice but to hire sub-par auto transport employees with no experience in the industry, if they want to continue bringing in their profit. They may also have to be more lax on their illegal drug requirements in order to keep enough applicants coming through the door.
Another way that companies can cut costs is by reducing their insurance protection or not offering it to their customers at all. Either way, you will end up paying the price and likely have to fight tooth and nail to receive any compensation for the damages. You should review any company's policies, especially their insurance protection policies, before you make your decision about shipping a vehicle with them.
The next time you are getting price quotes for shipping a vehicle, remember that it is all about what you are getting for your money. Would you rather have an experienced and trusted mover handle your vehicle or a young kid with no experience in the industry whatsoever? Would you rather be fully protected if something happens to your vehicle or have little to no protection at all?
Getting an Auto Shipping Quote If you need a vehicle transported from one location to another, then you are likely thinking about collecting auto shipping quotes from various companies for your move. This is a great idea because it will help you compare each company based on price, but there are also a few things you should consider when evaluating those auto shipping quotes.
Below are some of the questions you should be asking about each company, so that you know how to make a decision that will give you the security and peace of mind that you deserve.
What type of hiring requirements do they implement? Do they hire just anyone who has a GED and is over 18 years old? Do they do thorough background checks before they give employees possession of high-value vehicles?
How long has the company been around? Do they have any unresolved complaints filed with the Better Business Bureau? How many resolved complaints have they had?
Are they reliable and stick to the agreed delivery date? Do they have a clause in their contract allowing them to skirt the agreed upon date? Do they have any kind of on-time guarantee?
What types of transport options are available through the company? Open truck transport? Enclosed truck transport? Multi-vehicle transport? Single vehicle transport?
Can you find any customer reviews online? Were most of the customers satisfied? Did any of them give a rave review or say that they would use the company again?
The key is to get the best value that you can. That means not just choosing the company that offers the lowest price, but getting the best service that you can for the price that you are willing to pay. For example, some brokers will use a very low price to bait you into a deal, take your non-refundable deposit, and then have a hard time getting your vehicle shipped with the price that they offered. Your vehicle could sit there for 4-6 weeks before you pick it up and find another transport company, eating the cost of your deposit in the process. By relying on other evaluation factors, other than price, you are sure to receive adequate protection for your vehicle and on-time delivery, without feeling as if you wasted your money.
Montway Auto Transport allows to your get an instant quote using our online calculator and you can even purchase your reservations directly from our website. This is an easy and convenient way to find out what kind of pricing you can expect, right from your own home. What's better is that you can even call a representative to assist you with any questions you may have before you place a shipping request. There is no better way to find what you need.
Just as you would pack any other items for shipping, you also need to prepare your car before a transport. Although you won't be packing it, there are specific things that you need to do to prepare your car for shipment. This article will tell you what those things are and fill you in on the reasons why each step is so important.
Clean out your vehicle - The first thing you should do to prepare you vehicle for shipment is to clean it out. This includes taking out all of your personal belongings (this means everything, even child restraints), papers from the glove compartment, and disposing of any trash that may be lying around. This is important because you want to keep your personal items safe and give the movers "space to work".
Wash your car - Washing your car is another important step, when preparing it for shipment. It is also a good idea to go a step further and vacuum your car out as well. This is important because you want to have your car in excellent condition for the initial inspection report, so that any damages can be spotted easily. Having a dirty car can just cause more issues if a dispute does arise.
Take pictures of your car - Once you have cleaned, washed, and vacuumed, your vehicle, you will then want to take detailed photos of its current condition. Remember to take pictures from the outside and at multiple angles. Although your vehicle will likely arrive without incident, it is important to have these photos for your own protection. You never know if you will be the unlucky one who needs them.
Review your inspection report - Your inspection report, made by the shipping company, will detail their assessment of the current condition of your vehicle. It is important to review this document yourself, to ensure that it is factual and that nothing is overlooked.
Write down the current mileage of your vehicle - This is also a precautionary step for your own protection, so that you know exactly how much your car was driven during transport. Ideally, it will only be driven on and off of the truck and should acquire less than a full mile in the process.
Following all five of these steps will help to ensure that you are protected in a worst case scenario and make you a little bit more comfortable with the idea of shipping your vehicle.
The Importance of Choosing an Insured Vehicle Shipping Company
Although using a vehicle shipping company is generally safe, provided that you choose the selected company carefully and ensure that they are reliable and dependable, there is still the possibility that anything can happen during transit. From a little ding to a totaled car, you don't want to have to fork over money to make repairs that occurred while your vehicle was in the possession of the vehicle shipping company. This is why having your car insured during transport is absolutely vital; however, you should not have to provide this coverage yourself, it should be provided for you through the vehicle shipping company.
Before you even discuss pricing or anything else with a vehicle shipping company, your very first question for them should be regarding adequate insurance protection. If they don't provide insurance protection, then nothing else about their services should matter. After all, saving a few bucks on vehicle shipping costs can end up costing you money in the long run if you have to replace your car or pay for extensive repairs. As mentioned above, using a vehicle shipping company is generally safe, but that safety can decline significantly if you choose a company that doesn't provide adequate protection for your vehicle.
But, just providing some kind of protection is not enough. That protection must be adequate protection. Although adequate protection may mean different things to different people, there are some basics that you should be on the lookout for. One of your biggest considerations about the vehicle shipping company's insurance policy should be to determine if it is primary or secondary to your own car insurance.
This is a way for some vehicle shipping companies to advertise that they provide insurance coverage, while still saving a ton of money on this cost. While it is a good deal for them and helps bring in more business, it can end up costing their customers money. If your insurance company does have to foot a portion of the bill, you can expect to take two financial hits as a result. First, if you have a deductable you may be the only one who ends up paying for repairs, depending on how extensive the damage is. Second, your insurance rates will likely go up due to the claim. These are two expenses that you do not want to pay for because of someone else's negligence.
At Montway Auto Transport, our reputation speaks for itself. Contact one of our sales representatives today to see how we can help you and allow us to answer any questions you may have or use our online calculator to get an instant price quote!
