If you are moving to a new location, there are several aspects that must be addressed. One such pertinent aspect is transporting your vehicle, which can be a tedious task, particularly if you are moving across the country. Similarly, if you have sold your car or purchased a new one and want to have it delivered, it may help to enlist the services of an auto transport company.
Car shipping services can save you the trouble of driving countless hours in the car and prevent it from wear and tear while giving you peace of mind that the car is in safe hands. However, if you have not hired such a service before, you may be wondering where to start. This article highlights five tips to steer you in the right direction when choosing an auto transport company.
Check The Company’s License And Insurance
One of the foremost things to check when choosing an auto transport company is ensuring that the company has a good reputation and is licensed, insured, and bonded. This way, the company will provide coverage if your car encounters an accident when being transported. Get details on the coverage that the company provides when the car is being transferred. However, it is important to consider that you may have to pay more to get complete coverage, but you will be content with the knowledge that you will not incur any losses.
Check Company Reviews
Customer reviews provide valuable insights about the car shipping service that you may not find elsewhere. Therefore if you want to get real feedback about the quality of customer services, transportation costs, guarantees, etc., you need to check customer reviews on various platforms like Yelp or Google. This way, you can determine how reliable the company services are and the actual costs of the trip, including fuel expenses, food, hotel stay charges, etc. Once you have a clear idea, you can compare various options to evaluate which one is best suited to your needs.
Check Business Credibility
When choosing a car shipping company, it is wise to opt for an accredited service that is backed by customer reviews and has proper licensing and insurance. If you are unsure where to look, refer to the Better Business Bureau website to search for credible transport companies in your vicinity and where you want to get the car delivered. However, if the business has a negative rating or is graded lower than B and unavailable on the BBB site, you may have to search elsewhere to verify its status.
In most instances, if a business is not listed with the Better Business Bureau, its insurance and license are either inauthentic or not active.
Check The Delivery Timeline
Auto transport companies usually offer different delivery timelines to cater to varying customer preferences. If you want the delivery to be expedited, you may have to pay extra. However, various factors can cause the delivery to take longer, including weather, driving distance, and the delivery driver’s schedule. In any case, it may help to find the right option that caters to all your requirements.
At the same time, many companies commit to fast shipping but do not deliver. It could be poor service, or the company lacks the facilities to ensure speedy shipping. It thus helps to go for a large transport service with an elaborate setup and established reputation so you can get your car transport without any worries.
Compare Your Options
Do not be tempted to try companies offering attractive discounts. They are probably hiding their inauthentic status under the guise of lucrative offers. Instead, research to find reliable companies and shortlist the best options.
Once you have a few names to consider, call the companies or check their sites to learn about their transport charges. You must keep in mind that the transport rates will vary according to the vehicular weight, the trip distance, and the transport time. It is better not to opt for a company offering the lowest rates. Low rates usually reflect poor services, and you are better off avoiding such services.
It is also noteworthy that if you want to transport your car across the country or to a far location, hiring a bigger transport service is better. Small-scale transport services usually do not serve on longer routes, so they may charge extra if the traveling distance is more.
Conclusion
Moving can be taxing as it is, but finding the right car transport service can ease some of the stress and enable you to focus on other aspects of the move. If you manage to find a reliable service provider, you can entrust them with the task of moving your precious car to your new destination safely and securely.
The tips mentioned in this article cover the basics you must consider when choosing an auto transport company. Once you have chosen a credible and reliable service, you do not have to be concerned about the safe transfer of your vehicle and can focus on handling other important tasks.