Vehicle Transport Tips

LOWEST PRICES. Your first question about pricing should be “what is the total cost?” Request quotes from a number of transportation companies so that you can determine an accurate price for your auto move. Be sure to include the destination and origin, the type of vehicle/vehicles, special transport services, the approximate departure date and the type of service desired (e.g., terminal-to-terminal or door-to-door). Use the form on our home page to request multiple, FREE auto transport estimates.

PAYMENT METHOD. A few vehicle transport companies do not require any payments in advance; other companies require that you pay between 10 and 25 percent of the total cost, or even the full payment in advance. If a deposit is asked, the rest is due at time of delivery – often with cash or cashiers check.

CONTRACT. This is the most important aspect of your move. You should always read the contract carefully! Forget all of the verbal promises from your auto transport company, as they mean nothing unless they are stated on your contract. What you should be looking for in a contract is the clause that states that a delivery or pickup date cannot be guaranteed. Most companies will NOT promise a delivery on a specific date. Certain things can be asked to protect you against any verbal promises coming from the company: ask the company for a contract clause and let it state in writing the cancellation fee if the car is not collected by the company on the date given for the pickup. Expect a fee if you decide to cancel any agreement. A cancellation clause should be brought forward at least one week before the pickup date.

INSURANCE. The transport company should be fully licensed and insure your vehicle against theft and damage. You should ask for a copy of the insurance coverage. Ask if the insurance of the transporter is primary or secondary to your insurance in case of damage during transport. Also be aware of any deductible amounts should your vehicle be damaged in transport.

PICKUP AND DROPOFF DATES. An estimated pickup time and delivery time from the company should be asked for. In most cases, a 3-day window should be given during the summer and a larger window should be given during snow bird season, due to the high volume of transportation. The transport company should notify you ahead of time. If necessary inquire about expedited services.

REFERENCES. It is recommended that you receive at least 3 references from your transporter to verify their credibility. In most cases, they will provide you with a list of their most common re-occurring customers.

SAYING GOODBYE. Before leaving your car with a driver or transport company, be sure that you receive an ORIGINAL INSPECTION REPORT. This shows the condition of your car at the time of pick up, current mileage delivery and pickup information. This will protect you if something happens to your vehicle during transport, verifying that the damages occurred while in transit.

ACCEPTING YOUR VEHICLE. Your vehicle should be inspected slowly and carefully. Compare the mileage and condition against the ORIGINAL INSPECTION REPORT. The roof and under the bumpers should not be neglected. Pay close attention to detail! This is extremely important. If you sign off on the inspection report and find damages later on that were overseen on the report. There will be no way of proving that it happened during transport. THE INSPECTION REPORT IS FOR YOUR PROTECTION.

IF DAMAGE OCCURS. It is not often that a vehicle will arrive at it’s destination with damage. But if this does happen, you MUST make sure that you receive a SIGNED copy of the inspection report. After you have received the signed inspection report, contact your transport company, as they should work with you on the process of getting your claim filed properly.

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