Automobile Shipping Scams

A scammer will not announce that it is coming at you, and so there’s no way to really prepare for it. This is why you have to be on your guard always. In any category or industry, there will always be people or companies who will try to get quick money at the expense of an unsuspecting customer. So, don’t even think that since this is just car shipping no one is looking to scam you. The fact is, there is.

Here are just a few things to keep in mind to hopefully help you avoid the possibility of being lemoned. According to the Better Business Bureau or BBB, most cases of fraud come from car shipping transactions that began, was negotiated and closed over the Internet. In other words, the customer did not perform any countercheck but completely trusted the company online. In most likelihood, payments were also made online.

Common sense suggests to never close any kind of business deal before personally meeting with the people you are transacting with or unless the vendor is a reliable and well-known on-line company, for instance Amazon.com.

When intending to hire a car shipping company, the Internet is a good place to begin your search. There are thousands of car shippers to choose from within your reach. Also, there are special services offered by car shipping companies online, one of which is the free only car shipping quotation service.

Avail this very important service. Simply visit a car shipping website and request for a free shipping estimate. All you need to do is enter the necessary information such as place of origin and place of destination and the make up of your car. You will get a free quotation in an instant. Obtain three to five quotations from different automobile shipping companies to see which one suits you best.

From this stage you can begin to detect a fraudster. A fake shipping company usually offers a very cheap rate to lure you in. Beware. This why it is helpful to compare quotations so that you know what is the popular and reasonable shipping price.
 

What else should you do to avoid automobile shipping scams?

Avoid shipping companies that will require you to pay the whole amount even before the actual shipping process begins. A scammer will explain that you need to pay 100% down payment to make sure you get a slot on the carrier truck. Legitimate car shipping companies will not tell you anything close to this. Normally, a 50% down payment is required before the transport and the other 50% after the transport.

Also, avoid companies that will not allow you to wire payment through the bank. Almost always they will ask on-line payment.

There are three things you can do to avoid being scammed. One, check with the Federal Department of Transportation (DOT) or the BBB for a list of recommended and authorized car shipping companies; two, make a personal visit to see whether the company is for real. Check their logos, official documents and proper identification; and finally, just be wise and practical in handling any forms of business transaction.