Risks of Using Car Transport

Car transportation or shipping is the act of hauling and delivering vehicles from one city to another and is performed by professional car shippers for a fee. Vehicle delivery does not only involve automobiles, but also motorcycles, vans, trucks, SUVs, and boats.

The idea is to move a vehicle from Point A to Point B without any damage or harm to the vehicle. There are, however, risks of using car transport and below are ways to avoid them. The number one risk is getting scammed. There have been several reports of car transportation scams and frauds, according to BBB reports.

The BBB or Better Business Bureau explained that most cases of frauds were due to transactions that were done completely over the Internet. (BBB is a group of private organizations of concerned businesses that have bonded together to educate and protect consumers. The goal is to promote quality business in a number of industries.)

To avoid being scammed, use a car shipping company that is duly accredited and rated by BBB. A BBB Accreditation guarantees that a car shipper is legitimate, reliable and with good track record of satisfied customers. Simply visit the BBB website for a list of accredited car shipping firms in your city.

It is also very helpful to consult with the Federal Department of Transportation (DOT) for a list of authorized and legitimate car shippers in your area. Another risk in car transport is hiring a legitimate company but paying for more than you should. Do not leave anything by chance. Instead, make a personal visit to the car shipping office so that you can personally ask about their services and charges, and negotiate.

Discuss what services you need and how much you can afford to pay. Typically, car shipping from coast to coast is about $1000. Any estimates beyond this amount should get you suspicious. But some car shippers may have good reasons for charging you higher, and so meeting them face to face is necessary.

A personal meeting to their office also allows you to shake hands, exchange smiles, and make friends to people to whom you will entrust your car. And then there are the physical risks to your automobile. Although it is the company’s task to make sure that your car is secured, there are things that you can do before handing over your car to the shipper.

Remove all add-on fixtures or accessories such as the ski or bicycle rack, as well as any items inside your car. Heavy tools and toolboxes can damage your car. Drain your fuel to a fourth of the tank and turn off all alarms. Check for any leaks. Take your car to the carwash. After it’s been cleaned, check for dents and scratches. Take a picture from all angles to make sure you document the original condition of your car.

Read car shipping reviews from review websites. There are a few cases that say their cars have aged considerably and got rusted after the transport, do your best to search for the best car shipper in order to avoid the risks of using car transport.