How to Get the Best Price for Auto Shipping
There are many auto transport companies in the United States, with almost all claiming to offer the best services in the industry. If you need your car shipped, this poses a dilemma. How do you choose an excellent car transportation company from the crowd of mediocre — and some truly terrible — ones? If you want a business that has your best interests at heart, then you need to consider the following factors:
Experience
Looking out for how much experience your shipping company has should be a no-brainer. Conduct a background check and consider how long the company has been in operation.
Experience is an essential factor that molds even an average car shipping company into a great one.
Research
Don’t get caught in the trap of picking the first auto shipping company that you see online. Explore all the available options and narrow down to those with good reviews. Make a list of several highly-rated companies and carry out thorough research to see what exactly makes them stand out from their competitors. At this point, you may call your top picks for quotes.
Analyze Cost vs. Benefit
While you make your list of various car shipping companies, you may be confused as all try to get your business by offering low costs. To establish if hiring a company is worth your money, check out the benefits it provides you, and estimate the costs you will bear to use any extra features.
Cost-Effective
Many people choose the cheapest car shipping company without looking at the quality of services offered. Although it is crucial to get a low shipping price, you should pay for quality services to avoid incurring further costs if your car is damaged in transit. Look for a firm like Guardian Auto Transport that provides stellar customer service along with affordable shipping fees.
Customer Service
Before you make your decision, make a call to your shortlisted companies. Not only will this give you an idea of how the people who will handle your car are like but will reassure you that they can deliver what they promise. A good car shipping company picks up all calls immediately, and the staff is willing to answer any questions you have regarding their shipping process courteously. If they have amazing customer service, then it is fair to expect their delivery service to be great as well.
Testimonials
Reading online testimonials and reviews is time-consuming, but this is an important step that can offer you a significant insight into the auto shipping company that you choose. According to Shopping Kim, you should visit the social media page of your car shipping service and find out if they have positive reviews from past clients.
Transport Carriers
Cars are commonly shipped in two distinct types of trucks: open and enclosed. However, enclosed carrier trucks are not widely used and they may not always be available on demand. Using an enclosed truck to deliver your car could also result in a shipping delay since the company will need to order the truck, especially for you, if you need its services when the vehicles are not available. You should only opt for an enclosed carrier if you need to carry an expensive new car or a vintage car. On the other hand, an open carrier is readily available and more affordable. Open carriers are also safe, despite carrying cars that are not covered.
Quote Calculator
A company that offers you a fixed cost for shipping your vehicle is likely to be unreliable. Auto-shipping rates are constantly changing and depend on many factors, such as the size and weight of your car. The type of carrier truck and the distance moved, accessibility to your location, and even the weather. Pick a car shipping company that has an online quote calculator that will estimate your price based on the factors above.
Carefully Read the Contract
Do not trust any company that will not allow you to read all the car shipping documents while trying to rush you into putting pen to paper. Read all the documentation thoroughly to ensure that you understand the implications of selecting a particular auto shipping company and only sign the documents if you are delighted.
Tracking System
Always work with a car shipping company that provides a tracking system to let you know the status of your vehicle at any time. It would help if you also went over their delivery procedures to ensure their processes are legitimate and that your car is safely delivered.
Conclusion
Do not forget to carry out a thorough pre-pickup and post-delivery inspection to make sure your vehicle is not damaged. If you notice any damage, your car shipping company must accept liability and pay for it, according to Laurie Hunter, a senior account manager at LeasePlan USA. If you follow the steps listed, then you will have a great experience, and your car will be delivered safely.