How to Pick a Car Transporter

With so many car shipping companies available, choosing the best car transporter for you is not an easy task. Here are a few suggestions on how to pick a car transporter that best meets your shipping requirements.

Know your car. Start with your own car by knowing specific details such as its year model, make, brand and so on because these details are necessary when gathering car shipping quotations. It is also important that your car is running properly so that your car transporter will not charge you additional costs for handling.

Wash your car before shipping so that you can identify the tiniest marks, damages or scratches. This knowledge can help you later see if any damages were made during shipping. It is also a good idea to take pictures of your car from all sides and angles. This will come handy when claiming insurance coverage for damages or loss.

Choose which method. There are two main methods employed by a car transporter – the open and enclosed methods of shipping. For the open method, a car transporter serves up to 10 cars following the same route. Cars are hauled onto a huge car transportation truck and multiple deliveries are made in order to lower the costs. On the other hand, enclosed shipping makes use of steel cargo containers where cars are exclusively contained and shipped. This method is most suitable for expensive luxury cars that cannot be dented or scratched the slightest bit.

Choose the shipping services necessary. A car transporter may offer several shipping services such as door-to-door pick up. This service requires additional cost so make sure whether you truly need it or not. Perhaps you can simply drive your car yourself to the shipping port or terminal.

Other services a car transporter might offer

Another service is car shipping insurance. This is something you can not do without. Make sure your car transporter is capable of covering your car bumper to bumper. A car transporter that cannot guarantee insurance policy cannot offer anything much. A sound car shipping insurance provides you peace of mind as your car is being transported from your driveway to its final point of destination. Both methods apply when shipping your car internationally, only, of course, international car shipping is much more expensive.

Check your car transporter’s license. Hiring a car transporter that is not certified by the Department of Transportation (DOT) could do you more damage than good. Verify with DOT whether any car transporter is licensed, capable and reliable. Before choosing the car transporter for you, ask for a car shipping quote.

You do not want to be charged later with undisclosed fees. Gather and match different quotations from at least five car transporters so that you can decide which is most appropriate for you. If still you find it difficult to pick which car transporter to hire, contract an auto transport broker who can negotiate for you and choose the best transporter that is qualified to meeting your shipping requirements. A broker or agent can prove to be your best friend.