Auto Transport Guide
Finding and Selecting vendors
• You can find vehicle transport companies advertised in
many different places such as your local papers, phone book and
of course the internet. apartmentsmovers.com is committed to working
with industry professionals only and if you are in need a vehicle
transport company and required unmatched service, simply submit
a request for quote on this site.
• You can also get references from friends or colleagues and this
is an excellent way of finding a reputable auto shipping especially if
they have first hand experience of the company themselves. It
is a good idea to ask your moving company if they have recommendations
as they will often have companies they have partnerships with and you
may be able to get a discount by using one of their preferred vendors.
• Do your own investigation of the companies you are looking at to transport
your vehicle. It is also important to check with the Better Business
Bureau to find out if there have been complaints against any
auto shipping you choose and how these complaints were resolved.
• Do not be concerned if you cannot find an auto shipping in your
local area. Auto transport companies will generally have contract
carriers, terminals or routes that go through your local area and your
vehicle can be dropped off and collected at these locations.
• Some moving companies also ship cars however the cost is usually
higher. Shop around and do not use a company just because
the price is the lowest. If you think the price is too good to
be true it probably is. Good service is critical to a successful move.
Your car may be shipped in the same truck as your household goods.
This can be a very convenient option however there are some things to
look out for. Ask whether the moving company is insured to carry
your vehicle and for how much is the coverage. If your car is
to be stored prior to shipping, ask to see the premises. It’s your
car and you are entitled to know where it is going to be stored.
• Many auto shipping companies use agents to ship vehicles.
Ask the company you are working with if they plan to do this and if the
answer is “yes”, tell them you need to see the “certificate
of insurance” of the agent. Check that the coverage
is satisfactory and that the certificate is current. You should
always ask to see the insurance certificate no matter who is transporting
your car. You need to be comfortable that your car is covered and that
the coverage is adequate.
• You may also need to request supplemental insurance as many
companies specifically exclude some items such as loss or damage to personal
items left in the vehicle, road damage and glass breakage. In1990 the
Department of Transportation ruled that no personal items be left
in a vehicle to be shipped. See apartmentsmovers.com Preparing
your vehicle for a shipment section for more information on what you need
to do to get your car ready to be shipped.
• Brokers can also organize to ship vehicles however they
do not own any carriers or flatbed trailers themselves and depend on the
actual carriers they contract to provide insurance. You will need to see
the certificate of insurance of the actual carrier in this case also.
|
