Car Shipping Damage During Transit

After each successful shipment of an automobile, the last important thing a car owner should do is inspect his or her own car before signing off the Bill of Lading. One cannot be too happy to receive his or her car back from the transporter that he or she forgets to check for any car shipping damage.

The Bill of Lading, or more commonly referred to as BOL, is the final document to be signed. It signifies the end of the transaction after paying the driver upon delivery of the shipment. Signing it means the car owner is satisfied with the job and has nothing to complain since the car arrived damage-free. After signing it off, the car owner loses any right to complain damage and ask for any kind of payment.

For obvious reasons, a car shipping company does not want to pay for any kind of damage that it is not responsible for. This is why the driver may intentionally or unintentionally NOT remind the car owner to inspect his or her own car after the delivery. That is the car owner’s personal responsibility, needless to say.

This is why it is necessary for the car owner to thoroughly check the condition of his or her own car before the shipment even begins. It is advised to have the car washed before handing it over for the transport, not really to make it clean but to make dents and marks more identifiable. It is also helpful if the car owner takes a picture of his or her car from all angles in checking and taking note of the car’s original condition before the transit. If, for instance, the car gets dented during the transit, the driver or delivery person cannot argue against a photograph. An un-tampered picture is always a very strong piece of evidence.

If upon inspection a car owner does see a new dent, the first thing he or she can do is note that down on the Bill of Lading. He or she is to describe the car shipping damage, where exactly it is location on the car, and very roughly estimate how much the repair could cost. Write these things down on both the BOL copies for the driver and the car owner.

If it is not really a major dent, both parties can avoid further hassle by simply trying to resolve it right there and then. The car owner should speak with the driver and come up with an estimate. Suppose the dent would not cost more than $200 for repair, the driver can just take that much off from the final payment that the car owner has to make. It is better and less of a hassle for the car owner to have the dent repaired on his or her available time than having to go through the regular procedure of requiring the shipping company to take care of the car shipping damage. An immediate amicable conversation can get the job done right there and then.

If the car owner asked somebody else to receive his or her car, it is necessary for him or her to instruct that person to make a through inspection before paying the driver and signing the BOL.