Car shipping companies’ services have made transporting vehicles across long distances easier and stress-free. Another notable benefit is that their services allow for this without increasing the vehicle’s mileage.
However, some consumers have had horror stories after engaging them. You can click here for more on this.
While this does not negate the benefits of hiring these companies when the need arises, it buttresses the need to make an informed choice. To this end, knowledge of some common mistakes to avoid would help and thankfully this article shares some of them.
Car Shipping Mistakes You Should Not Make
Having a great experience with car shipping companies is a huge possibility. This is the experience of many industry consumers but you know what they say about bad news spreading faster. Having made this point clear, knowing car shipping mistakes to avoid is crucial, and here are a few common ones to avoid:
Not Doing Your Due Diligence
The task of shipping your vehicle nationally or internationally should never be entrusted to a company that you have not thoroughly researched. To this end, some of the things to do include:
- License Verification – For example, being licensed by the FMCSA (Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration) should be considered a non-negotiable
- Insurance Verification
- Checking Reviews & Ratings on Credible Platforms
The point is to be certain of the company’s expertise, experience, and reputation. So, make sure to do your due diligence.
Not Going Over the Contract
Consumers are fond of making their decisions based on the verbal and informal claims of these companies. While the right company should be integrity-driven enough not to make false claims, the truth is that not every company in this line of work is that way.
As a result, you need to thoroughly go through every piece of information on the contract presented by the company. Some of the things you should be particular about are:
- Insurance Coverage Extent
- Cancellation Policies
- Hidden and/or Additional Charges (If Applicable)
Never make your decision solely based on what you read online or verbal statements made by someone from the company. Ensure that whatever is claimed or otherwise is accurately reflected in the contract.
Ignoring Insurance Coverage
Frankly, this is one of the most common mistakes by consumers in this industry as their choices are mostly influenced by service charges, rather than important details such as this. Well, you should not make that mistake because of how costly it could be.
Besides knowing that you are entitled to liability coverage if the need ever arises, you also need to verify the extent and conditions. If you would like to find out what makes insurance important to consumers at large, you can see: https://www.scribd.com/.
Little or No Vehicle Preparation
Some consumers are under the impression that their responsibilities are only to provide the vehicle for auto transport and make payment for this service. Well, it is also about providing the vehicle in a prepared state and shape. Overall, this implies delivering it in a condition that:
- Minimizes Service Charges
- Significantly Reduces the Chances of Damages during Delivery
- Makes Documentation Easy
To this end, several measures must be taken. Some of them are detailed below:
- Thorough Washing for Easy Inspection
- Removal of Personal Belongings – This is to avoid theft and damage
- Visual Documentation of the Vehicle’s State and Shape before Shipment
- Inspections – Such as the inspection of battery state, fuel level, and fluid leaks
By the way, fluid levels had better be low to reduce the vehicle’s weight. This is because the vehicle’s weight also impacts auto shipment costs.
Selecting the Wrong Service
There is no one-size-fits-all auto transport service. As a result, know all the available service options and choose what best suits you based on your needs, preferences, as well as budget. By the way, some of the service options include:
- Open shipment
- Enclosed Shipment
- Terminal-to-Terminal Shipment
- Door-to-Door Shipment
- Expedited Delivery
By the way, some of the above-listed are not contrary to each other. For example, you can order an auto shipment service that entails enclosed, door-to-door, and expedited delivery all at once.
Misjudging Delivery Timeline
You should seek clarity regarding the expected delivery of your vehicle. However, know that this service is not instantaneous, and that includes expedited delivery, although it is quicker than regular services. Bearing this in mind is important for avoiding scheduling conflicts.
Not Conducting Inspection Upon Delivery
Any shipped vehicle is supposed to be thoroughly inspected upon delivery. Once again, this buttresses the need for proper and adequate vehicle documentation before shipment.
Conclusion
Another mistake that consumers make is acting like their options are limited, which is not true. For example, auto shipping quotes from various companies should be compared. Doing this and other forms of comparisons increases the chances of making an informed choice.
This is important as choosing the right company does a lot for ensuring that you have a positive experience before, during, and after your car shipping experience. So, make sure you do not make light of the need to choose the right company.