Vehicle shipping or auto transport is the process of moving vehicles from one location to the other. This industry has made it easy and stress free for people to buy cars from anywhere in the country or even the world! You can now source for your exotic or vintage dream car and have it shipped to you wherever you are.
No matter the venture or project that one wants to embark on, having a basic knowledge of the subject matter is very important. You might wonder why one needs any basic knowledge about auto transport; after all, the shipping company are the ones who will handle all the logistics? Click here for information about the auto transport industry.
Well, the truth is that knowledge of what to expect will help you know when/if you are not getting good service or a good bargain. Therefore, in this article, we will discuss some basic facts you need to know are you prepare to send your vehicle for shipment.
Basic Facts about Vehicle Shipping
There are a number of basic things that you need to know about auto transport but we want to start out with the two types of carrier transports that you can use. The two major types of carriers are open carriers and enclosed carriers.
Open Carrier Transport
This is the most common means of shipping vehicles; it does not have a roof or side walls that are enclosed. Common in this category are 6 and 9 car capacity carriers with two levels. So if you choose to use this type of carriers, note that your car can either be on the top level or the bottom.
People often insist on having their vehicle loaded on the top level of the truck so that their vehicle will not be damaged by elements on the road or leaks from cars on top. Companies however assure their clients that proper checks are carried out before any vehicle is loaded to the carrier and proper maintenance is carried out on any vehicle that has issues. This eliminates the issues of any car leaking on the other. Visit this site for tips for routine maintenance of your car: https://www.idrivesafely.com/
The two major advantages of this type of carrier is that it is more affordable and faster because it is more in demand and readily available.
Enclosed Transport Carrier
This type as the name implies are transport trucks that have enclosed sides and a roof. These trucks carry fewer cars than the open ones; the maximum capacity most times is 7 cars. They are mainly used for high end vehicles or vintage cars.
The major advantage of this option is that it is safer than the open carriers; this also means that they are costlier to use.
Other basics to know include the following:-
Cost of Shipping A Car
The cost of shipping a vehicle depends on several factors and they include:-
- The pickup location
- The drop off location
- The distance
- The type of car which determines the type of carrier that should be used
- The condition of the car
- Weather conditions which most often depends on the season.
We will not give you a specific cost because it differs from one company to the next and also the conditions are never the same. But bear in mind that no matter what, the cost of shipping is often cheaper than you driving the car to your desired location.
Just take out enough time to speak to as many service providers as possible. Do not be bashful about negotiating (ask for discounts and other terms and conditions that favour you). That way, you’ll be able to get good value for your money.
How to Find the Best Company to Use
One thing that you must do to get the best option for you is to search for many options. Start online by typing ‘vehicle shipping company near me’ into your browser. The search engine will throw up a number of options. Below are the factors to consider before making a choice:-
Registration and Insurance
No auto transport company is authorized to operate without being registered with the Department of Transport (DOT) and Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA). This ensures that the service provider plays by the rule. So make sure that you get their registration number so that you can check them out.
Additionally, they must be duly insured and bonded; this is to ensure that they are able to bear the liability for any damage incurred in the course of delivery.
Review the Terms and Conditions
Make sure you check the terms and conditions of any company that you are considering. Find out the cost and what that amount covers. Haulage service providers would assure you that the fees you pay covers insurance but you need to be sure of the level of insurance and the limits of the liability covered. It is recommended that you take out additional insurance to be sure that your vehicle has full coverage for the journey.
Read Reviews
Check out reviews dropped by previous customers that the company has worked for. Start out with reviews on their sites and then move on to third party reviews sites such as YELP and BBB (Better Business Bureau).
Conclusion
We know that a short article such as this cannot do justice to the subject of shipping your vehicle. But we have shared some tips to get you started. Bear these tips in mind and you prepare to ship your vehicle.