We often here horror stories about moving and auto transport companies & seeing its October maybe a fitting time to discuss these "
moving horror stories". The scams range from charging more than the agreed price on the contract and than holding your furniture hostage until its paid, not getting you car or household goods delivered on the date promised to damaging your automobile or furniture during transport.
While its never full proff there are several things you can do to prevent this as much as possible Make sure the company you are dealing with is reputable. No
moving company's or
auto transporters record may be super clean unless they are a brand new company but they should also not have a pattern or unresolved complaints.
Review moving companies and do your homework.
2. Know your moving companies or
transporters refund policy! READ the full terms and why and how to get your deposit back!
3.Never pay in full until you have received your vehicle or household goods.
4.
Extra insurance are available for an extra charge if desired, which is discussed in our last post.
Take these precautions & you will be on your way to a much smoother move or car transport!
Is my car insured when its being transported? Its a good question and one that should be asked by you anytime your are hiring a transporter. Remember from our first article if you are using an
auto transport broker the insurance is not under their responsibility but with the
car carrier company they hire.
So be sure to see their insurance information and the amount they are liable for. Your own car insurance also protects your car. For those that would like additional vehicle protection most
auto shippers and auto transport companies do offer more insurance for an additional charge. The federal government does require
licensed transporters to carry a specific amount though.
To Drive or Get it Shipped, that is the question?
Do you drive or pay a
transport company with
today's gas prices? What is cheaper seems to be the question in this industry. No doubt the
auto transporters have had to up their rates to keep up with the price of diesel gas. However what's your car getting for mileage? Think about it...... An automobile that gets lets say 16 MPEG- highway going 1200 miles @ per gallon of gasoline=um...Um = roughly $215 bucks. Now consider this unless your 20 your probably going to want to stop at a
hotel = $150, (1/2 way decent place). Plus food stops say.. Another $150. Your grand total to drive would be around = $515 bucks and 2 days out of your schedule plus the inconvenience of it.
Now of course Im bias but to transport your car depending on the service you choose = enclosed auto shipping or
express transport will cost you anywhere from $700 to $1200 legitimately, plus the cost of airfare. The answer is what's 2 days and your comfort worth to you?
This week has been a prime example of how the weather can slow
auto transport deliveries down throughout the United States. With a large snow storm effecting Colorado this week and flooding in the Northeast, trucking companies its making it difficult for auto carriers to deliver on time. That's why the more time you have to plan your transport the better. Also keep in mind for high end automobiles used an
enclosed auto shipper to protect your vehicle from the weather elements.
With all the excitement on your new automobile its easy to overlook things you can do to protect your self on your purchase. Like, now I won the bid but Im in New York and the car is in California? What if the
vehicle is not in the condition its said to be in by the seller?
Luckily there are a few precautions you can take, that make for a smoother transaction.
1. Make sure you know beforehand who is paying for the auto transport? It can add quite a bit to the total purchase depending on the shipping distance.
2. There are several companies that can help you with auto transport quotes. Its a good idea to get at least 3
car shipping quotes before
choosing a transporter.
2. There are
escrow services that hold the money until you have a chance to inspect your purchase and approve of it before the money is released.
3. Review the sellers history if available and make sure its satisfactory.
Now your on your way to a much safer and happier transaction and enjoying your new automobile!
There are some great old and new sites to check out transport, shipping and moving companies as well as industry news. The newest one is put out by the federal government
http://www.protectyourmove.gov/ .
Other sites include
http://www.movingscam.com/ which gives a complete blacklist of movers and the latest scams.
One of the first questions transport service reps are often asked "how long will it take to
ship my car?"
Several factors determine the length of time for domestic motorcycle and auto shipping delivery. These include weather, traffic, and rules handed down by the
FMCSA for the safety of our roads. These rules require drivers get enough rest and can only drive so many hours per day.
A good rule of thumb from coast to coast would be 7 to 10 days. Up and down the coast is 3 days from the time that the vehicle is picked up.
International car shipping is a bit mor complicated and we will get into in the next post.
