So you’re tired of the chaos and cold of New York, and you’re ready for the sun of Florida?
It’s time to jump into your car and drive off. Well, perhaps not. Transporting your car such a long distance isn’t convenient, and there are better ways to do this.
The alternative is to choose a great auto transport company. This guide will show you what to look for when choosing these services.
Here’s what you need to know:
What Are the Costs?
The first thing to consider is how much you’ll have to pay for shipping your car. For example, you can use an online calculator to check the cost to ship a truck.
This calculator will give you an estimated cost for shipping your car or truck. While prices will vary, you want to choose a company that fits this range. The calculator ensures that you never get overcharged for these services.
However, you should never choose a company that deliberately charges below the market rate. This company will usually never provide you with the best services.
The company shouldn’t ever ask you, “How much would you like to pay?” They should always give you a precise estimate of how much they’ll charge. If they don’t, then avoid the company.
This brings us to our next factor for choosing an auto transport service company.
What Makes the Company Great?
Let’s start with a few basic criteria for considering an auto transport service company.
First, the company should offer insurance for your car. If not, they should require you to buy insurance beforehand. This insurance covers the cost of any damage to your car.
But, of course, you want to avoid damage altogether! The next step is to choose a company that offers closed-trailer services. While you can also use open trailer services, closed offers better protection.
This ensures that your car remains in an enclosed trailer and doesn’t fall off the board. It also protects it from any debris or projectiles during the commute.
You also want to assess their customer service. Call them to ask them about their services. Only work with companies who are willing to answer your questions with patience.
Make sure they have extensive knowledge about their services. If they seem confused when you ask questions, then it’s best to avoid them.
How to Find an Auto Transport Company
Now let’s look at the process of finding a great auto transport company. The easiest option is to ask your friends and family.
Ask them to give you honest feedback about a particular company. They might tell you that one company took longer than estimated. Another person might tell you that a company took extra precautions to protect your car.
If you can’t find any testimonials from your friends and family, you want to research the company’s reputation online. Make sure you choose a company that has at least 50 reviews.
At least 90% of these reviews should be positive. Try not to choose a company where most reviews are over a month old. You want to choose a company that’s busy every month.
Any company with a long break between gigs can become “rusty.” It’s a lot of meticulous work to load the car and ship it. You want to choose a service that has mastered this process.
Paying the Company
Never choose a company that requests payment in cash or wire transfer. You should only pay via check or credit card. Make sure you also get a printed or digital receipt for your payment.
You also want to choose a company that allows a payment plan. You should have some flexibility if you can’t afford to pay the full price upfront.
In most cases, you should pay your invoice after the car has been delivered. You might have to make a payment for the initial services. However, you should only pay the full invoice until the entire process is completed.
Only Work with Legitimate Businesses
In practice, almost anyone can transport your car from Point A to Point B. In fact, you could hire a friend to literally drive your car or truck to your new location.
But this isn’t the route you should consider. You must always work with a legitimate business. Check if the company has been registered with your state’s business registry.
Always work with a company that has a designation such as an S-Corp, LLC, or Inc. You shouldn’t work with a registered sole proprietor for such a scenario.
Next, you want to check the company’s reputation online. This will help you decide if you want to work with them.
You’ll be able to check if the company has violated any laws or regulations. Even if they have minor infractions, you should look for another company.
Best Practices
Let’s wrap up with the best practices for choosing a great auto transport company.
Check if the auto transport company offers expedited shipping. This will incur an extra fee, as expected. However, you always want that option available to you.
Make sure you have two car keys at your disposal. Give the second key to the car company rather than the original. Make sure you fill the car with gas and engine fluid shortly before the pickup date.
You must also remove any items from the interior of your car. You shouldn’t expect to lose any items. But you want to always err on the side of caution.
Ensure that there are no maintenance issues with your car. It must be in perfect condition before it’s loaded on the trailer!
Choose Your Auto Transport Company
Now you can find a great auto transport company to ensure a successful vehicle shipping process.
Your first step is to estimate the costs using an online calculator. Never work with a company that isn’t upfront with their pricing.
Research the company’s reputation online. Ask your friends and family to refer you to which companies they recommend. You must also check if the company is legitimate and hasn’t violated any laws. Follow our best practices to ensure the best experience.
Ready to take your car for a ride? First, you might want to check out our other related content on our blog.
