Shipping a Car: Better Safe than Sorry

April 5, 2010

The fact that the auto shipping industry is expanding rapidly means that the service is growing more accessible, that shipping businesses accumulate valuable experience and develop reliable shipping methods and technologies.

Because of this growth, more entrepreneurs are coming into the business whether or not they have the industry knowledge and resources to offer real competition. Many of these upstarts are entering the shipping business not just because the growth and operating challenges excite them, but because owning your own business, any business is the thing to do in these days of economic downturns and job losses. You don’t want to get involved with a company who has no knowledge or experience in the shipping industry. They are not in it to perform a safe and reliable service to their customers.

The result of this growth then, is not just the ability to offer more and better services, but a growth in businesses with no level of competence. Many of these will blissfully fail before they even get off the ground, but there will remain those whose decline follows a slower path. These are the ones to be wary of. They know they are failing and are trying to cram as much business in as they can before their final, inevitable demise.

It is not always easy to tell when one of these new companies will close. Their sales pitch and competitive pricing can be very convincing as to their reliability and safety. It will not make your day to entrust your vehicle to a company that sends it to the wrong destination with half of the accessories missing and no insurance coverage.

You must take the time to ensure the safety of your vehicle and all that is in it. A careful research of several companies is a must. You should start your analysis months before you intend to ship your auto, and it must be a careful analysis of the market.

If you plan your auto shipping in advance, you can also book the shipment in advance which will save you money. Even the major shipping companies will charge high prices for an urgent order, no matter how simple, because they have to allocate emergency personnel and equipment to your job. Given more time, your job will fit into their standard mode of operation allowing them to quote a more reasonable price for their services.

No matter who the shipping company is, they do not want to deny you services even if they are incapable of meeting your time demands. They will take your business and will probably not complete it to your satisfaction. The immediacy of your requirements increase the perils of delayed shipment and a damaged automobile.

Do not deal with any shipping company that cannot show you their MC license and Certificate of Insurance. Make a careful review of the insurance policy to make sure it sufficiently covers your vehicles every need

A sure sign of the competence of any company is their customer service attitude. They should show eagerness to satisfy you and initiative in bringing out what is most important to you. The dependable, quality company will have no reticence in showing and explaining their insurance coverage or their licensing to you. If they see that their standard insurance coverage is inadequate for your needs, they will advise you to purchase extra. If these points are not covered in your discussions with them, find another company.