Mistakes People Make When Choosing a Car Transport Company
Choosing the right car transport company can be tricky. But it needn’t be. We share the biggest mistakes to avoid when choosing a car transport company.
When you’re looking to ship a car across the country, there are plenty of interstate car transport companies to choose from.
While they all serve the same purpose, there can be quite a difference in the quality of their service, and you need to know the most common mistakes to avoid when you’re shipping your car to make sure you don’t get any nasty surprises.
Avoid Paying too Much
Car transport rates vary from company to company,. The same business might charge you different amounts depending on the type of service you need.
Make sure you know how much your shipping company is going to charge you and exactly what the price includes, so there are no hidden costs you hadn’t bargained on.
Most companies will provide you with a car shipping quote free of charge, which will make it easier to compare the costs of different services.
It’s important to bear in mind however, that cheaper isn’t always best. Lower prices usually mean that you will be dependent on the shipping company collecting your car when it suits them, not the other way round.
If you’re in a hurry or want to have your car delivered on a particular date, you may need to pay a little more.
Believing the Cheapest is the Best
The car transport industry as a whole has got a bad reputation from these companies. Many of these non-reputable car transporters will “go low” on theirauto shipping quotes in order to get a customer’s business.
Customers may see these quotes as the best value for their dollar. However, they may be unaware that these types of car transport companies have no real intention of shipping their vehicle at the stated price.
They may have bid the vehicle too low and are having trouble moving it in a timely fashion. After the vehicle has not moved for an extended period of time, you may get a call with some excuse (fuel prices have gone up, driver is asking for more money, we made a mistake on the bid, etc.).
Invariably, they’ll say they need more money to move the vehicle because of some unexpected expenses.
Using companies like these may end up costing you more than a reliable car transport company that might have had a higher starting quote to start with.
A word of caution…
You may encounter corrupt or non trustworthy companies in the car transport industry. Unfortunately, as much as we seek to rid the industry of the bad eggs, it’s not always possible.
Not Comparing Quotes
Take the time to gather as many quotes as possible and compare them for the services and rates. This will help you find the company that offers the transporting services you need for a cost that fits perfectly in your budget.
Don’t ever choose a company without first comparing quotes or you could find that you easily made a big mistake by hiring the wrong company.
Check for Hidden Charges
Usually, if something seems too good to be true, then it probably is.
If the rates of an auto transport company seem unbelievably low, then you should make sure that it doesn’t charge any hidden fees.
This is a tactic that many businesses are using these days.
At first, they offer services at unbelievably low rates to lure customers, but at the time of delivery, many hidden charges are added to the bill.
Good companies try their level best to provide accurate estimates to their clients so that any misunderstandings can be avoided.
Paying a Deposit
If a car transport company is asking for a deposit when you place your order, careful…they may be one of the untrustworthy ones.
These same companies will ask you to sign a contract with them. In the fine print of the contract, it could say the deposit you give them is non-refundable – even if your vehicle is never moved.
There are reputable car transport companies that collect the full vehicle shipping price, not a deposit, when a customer places a booking.
Do the Research
The easiest way to be sure you’re choosing the right car transport company is to become informed and that means do some research of your own.
All good companies get themselves registered with the Department of Transport in each of the states they will be transporting through.
So, before choosing a car transport company, you might want to make sure that it is duly registered. With a few clicks, you can see whether the service is worth your time or not.
Make sure your transport company provides everything in writing. For complete peace of mind, ask for references from previous customers as well.
If you have a friend or family member that has shipped cars before, ask them for a referral.
If you are buying a car from a dealer, they will most likely have a car transporter they use on a regular basis.
If you are moving your home, ask your home movers who they use for vehicle shipping.
All of these referral sources are good methods to help you select a reputable car transport company.
The popularity of interstate car transport services has caused an increase in competition among companies and some are using unconventional means of getting your business – sometimes at your expense.
Hiring a professional vehicle transport company for interstate delivery has been made easy but to avoid pitfalls; you need to take extra care.
Just like any other industry, this one has its share of fraudsters.
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