Are you planning a move? If so, you definitely aren’t alone. In fact, more than 40 million people in the U.S. alone move each year.
Planning a move can be quite a bit of work, that’s a given. However, when you are consumed with making plans, hiring movers, and getting everything ready to go, you may forget about a crucial factor – your vehicle.
What are your plans to get your vehicle to the new location? If you are moving nearby, this is going to be a non-issue. But for long-distance moves, like across the country, you may need a better option. After all, you don’t want to put all those miles on your vehicle, right?
If this is the case, hiring a car transport service is a good option. Read about the mistakes to avoid when hiring them here.
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1. Paying too Much
The transport rates for your vehicle vary from one company to another. What a single company charges you may depend on the type of service needed. Be sure you know what the shipping company plans to charge, and what all that price includes.
The majority of legitimate companies are going to provide you with a free quote, so you know what to expect to pay. Take some time to get several quotes before making a decision so you can find the company that offers the most value. Inclement weather can also affect auto shipping rates, according to ExecutiveAutoShippers.com, so take that into account as well.
2. Not Researching All Potential Companies
Pointed out by nationwideautotransportation.com, any company that provides car transport services is going to be registered with the Department of Transportation. If the company ships cars from one state to another, they also have to be registered with another agency – the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration.
When a company is registered with these organizations, they will receive a registration number. You can use this to see if it is valid on the appropriate website. It’s never a good idea to try and ship your vehicle with transport companies that aren’t registered or that won’t give you their MC or DoT number.
3. Not Enough Insurance Coverage
If you find a company offering vehicle transport services, you need to make sure your vehicle is properly insured to cover it as it’s being moved. Be sure that you see a copy of the company’s insurance certificate and make sure you know what coverage you have for your vehicle while it’s being moved.
When you don’t have enough insurance, then you have to increase it. In some cases, you can pay the transport company a certain fee to do this for you, or you could purchase additional coverage from your insurance broker.
4. Not Emptying Your Vehicle
Even though you may think it is smart to fill your car up with all of your personal items to keep from having to move them on your own, this isn’t a good idea. In fact, transport companies, by law, aren’t allowed to move household items that are inside of your vehicle.
While there are some companies that will allow you up to 100 pounds of personal property in your vehicle, they aren’t going to accept responsibility if something goes missing.
Finding the Right Transport Company: Now You Know
If you are planning to ship your car to your new location, then it is a good idea to use the information here to ensure you don’t make some of the most common mistakes. By doing this, you can have the best possible experience with the transport company you ultimately decide to work with.