Car Shipping the Dependable Way

If you need to ship any vehicle a long distance whether it be a sports car, vintage, SUV or golf cart, generally the most economical and smartest way to do that is to hire a service that specializes in this type of service. This service may be by carrier truck or shipment by sea or air. They will save you money, effort, time and wear and tear on the car and your psyche.

When you think of "auto shipping" what comes to mind is a company with some type of transport vehicle to take your car to the destination you specify, in the same condition as when you left it in their care. Most folks take the company's reliability for granted and expect their car to be waiting for them at the end of the journey. Company names can be deceiving. "Reliable Auto Shipping Experts, Inc." doesn't mean a thing. You need to research the historical record of the company to which you entrust your car.

Keep in mind, also that most auto shipping companies are small, independent operations distributed over most large countries by the thousands. They probably own just a few trucks.

The most basic factors of time and money should be your first consideration when looking for a dependable shipping company. If you give the shipper a flexible timeline, the price will be less than if make a specific time demand, and you will have a better chance at dependability of performance. Prices go up the more you are pressed for time.

The deal is generally set up with either a broker or a single carrier itself. You will find that some enterprising shipping company's now act as their own brokers. This being true, make sure that you know that you are dealing with the carrier that also brokers for himself and not a carrier that brokers it out to some unknown company..

The company with whom you sign a contract must have a valid MC license and you must find out about its insurance carrier. Ask for a copy of the Insurance Certificate, then contact that company and find out what they really cover, and maybe more importantly, what they do not cover. The reliable company will not bat an eye at such a request and may in fact welcome the customer who is willing to do his homework. You don't want to give away your precious car to some organization whose insurance policy will lapse as soon as they put it on the carrier.

Research companies. You do not want to deal with one without a track record that satisfies you of their dependability, or refuses to give out basic information on themselves. There is a guide, "Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration," available for you to verify their business ethics as well as determine if they are really a carrier and not an unspoken broker/carrier.

If you are dealing with a broker who knows his stuff, which is a good idea, it becomes the broker's job to do the research before choosing the right company for you. The broker will uncover information on even the most close-mouthed of companies, so you can be sure your car is in for a safe journey.