Shipping a car for the first time can seem intimidating. The good news is that thousands of personal vehicles are shipped every day. Choosing the right auto transport company is crucial to ensure your vehicle will be safely delivered.
Cost
Many people assume that auto transport costs a fortune, but that doesn’t have to be the case. Car shipping companies provide open and enclosed auto carriers to ship cars and other vehicles year-round at affordable rates. The most significant factor in determining the San Diego auto transport cost is the distance between your pickup and delivery destinations. Longer lengths are more expensive and typically cheaper per mile than shorter distances. Larger and heavier vehicles like trucks, SUVs, and vans will cost more to transport because they take up more space in the carrier. Also, fuel prices fluctuate all the time and can affect the price of transport.
Insurance
Luckily, there are plenty of auto transport companies to choose from that offer insurance coverage during transportation. For example, the uShip Protection Plan is available for a flat fee of $50 and provides supplemental damage protection to any shipment you may be a part of. It also helps to check that a company is insured with the Department of Transportation’s FMCSA. You can see their USDOT and MC Docket numbers on their website if they are.
Time
Whether you are moving across the country or going to an exotic car show, knowing how long your car will be in transit is essential. This is one of the most common questions auto transport companies get asked. However, it can be challenging to answer as different factors affect shipping time. For example, some times of the year are busier than others, which can increase the cost and lead to longer wait times. In addition, some companies are brokers rather than carriers, meaning they don’t have their fleet of trucks and rely on other pages to ship vehicles.
Reliability
An auto transport service provides a trusted way to get your car from one location to another. It also helps to ensure that your vehicle is delivered on time and in the condition you expected it to be in. When you work directly with a carrier, they are often single driver owners who focus on their truck driving jobs first and foremost. This may mean that excellent customer service and communications aren’t their top priorities. By working with an auto transport broker, you can be assured that they have an extensive network of carriers and will find suitable carriers to meet your shipping needs. A reputable broker can always provide you with their six-digit MC Docket and seven-digit USDOT numbers.
Security
As a customer, you should always ask about the security measures auto transport companies take when transporting vehicles. Your chosen company should have a USDOT number and be insured and bonded. In addition, the company should offer both open and enclosed transport options. You should also inquire about what type of payment the company accepts. Most carriers are single-driver owners who are truck drivers first and foremost, so providing excellent customer service and communication may be a low priority.
