Anyone who’s ever needed to move a vehicle across the country has probably considered using the services of an interstate car transport company. As well as saving you from endless hours driving from state to state, they’re also usually a lot cheaper than driving the car yourself.
If you need to ship a car, it’s important to pick the right car transport service, so here are a few tips to make sure you choose wisely.
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Decide What Services You Need
First of all, you need to decide exactly what kind of service you need. The majority of movers will ship your car on the back of a transporter, along with several other cars they are also moving. While this is usually the easiest and cheapest way to move your car from one place to another, it doesn’t give it a lot of protection during its long journey. If you’re at all worried about your car, you might want to choose a shipping company that offers enclosed car transport. Also, while most movers offer cross country transportation, if you need to ship your car abroad, you might need to look for a specialist international transporter.
Compare Car Transport Rates
When you’ve found several companies that offer the service you’re looking for, it’s time to start getting some car shipping quotes. Most companies will provide you with a free quote based on the standard weight of your car and the distance it needs moving, so you should be able to compare prices to see which offers the best value for money.
As well as finding out how much each company is going to charge you, it’s also important to understand what’s included in the price. A cheap car transport quote might look good on paper, but if it isn’t offering all the features or level of insurance cover as some of the more expensive services, it could be a false economy. Car transportation is a competitive market, so if you’ve found a service that you like the look of, but their price is a little expensive, ask if they offer any discounts or are prepared to price match another quote.
Check Them Out
There are a range of regulations that cover car transport interstate and both the Department of Transportation and the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration require all car transportation companies to be registered. Any service you are considering should be able to provide you with details of their registrations (often referred to as their DoT and MC numbers), and the websites of these two government organizations will allow you to verify that the company is in fact registered.
You also need to ask for a details of the mover’s insurance coverage, which they also have to have by law. They should be able to provide you with a copy of the documentations so you can check that your car will have the necessary coverage while it’s being moved.
Check Reviews
Offering the service you’re looking for at a reasonable price and being able to provide you with all the relevant documentation is a good start for any shipping company you’re considering, but you also want to find know how they treat their customers.
If they’re good at what they do, they should be able to provide you with references from previous clients so you can make sure their service is as good as they say it is. As well as speaking to the references the company provides, you can also go online and see what other clients have to say about them. You can use Google to find customer reviews and information on many car shipping companies.
Choosing the right car transport company doesn’t have to be difficult, and as long as you follow these simple steps, you should find a company that will safely deliver your car to where it needs to go without too much fuss.
