The vehicle shipment industry has become a big business. It all depends on your needs as to whether you want to drive your car to another state or across the country or if you could benefit from having a shipper move your car for you.
Should you decide that you’d like to have your car shipped to a destination, there are some pitfalls that you’ll need to look out for so that you don’t get taken to the cleaners.
The vehicle shipment industry isn’t regulated by the Department of Transportation anymore as it once was. This allows unscrupulous people to work to take advantage of you without the repercussions that they might normally face in a more regulated industry.
Here are a few tips and things to look out for when choosing a shipper. Look into how long the company has been in business. With the advent of the internet, businesses are able to pop up in a day and have virtually no history at all.
Do a search for the name of the company and see if you can find out what others have had to say about this particular company and if they have a good track record with their customers or not.
Watch out for the dreaded loss of deposit. Many times the shadier vehicle shipping company will charge a deposit to schedule a pickup for the vehicle. Then they won’t show up to pick up your vehicle and you’ll find that the deposit was non-refundable. In that case, you’re just out the deposit and typically have to start the process all over again. Instead, see if you can find a company that doesn’t require a deposit…they’re out there.
Ask the person that you talk to about extra fees. Make sure that the price they’re quoting you is exactly that…a quote. They’ll often trick you by calling it an estimate and that frees them up to tack on other charges. Some of the charges that you’ll want to look out for and ask about are our insurance, taxes, and tolls.
Make sure the company you choose has a physical address. This will give them credibility and show that they are an established company rather than a fly-by-night scam. Ask friends and coworkers if they can provide you with a reference.
Again, don’t forget how much the internet is your friend. If you don’t know anybody who’s hired such a company, I guarantee you can find somebody online who will steer you away from the scam artists out there.
