Moving your vehicle from one place to the other may seem like an easy task until you have to do it. If you have had to move houses or relocate whether interstate or internationally, you can testify that moving in any form isn’t easy.
A simple search on Google for vehicle shipping near me will throw up a lot of results. You will see a long list of companies that provide shipping services for vehicles of all types. Go through their websites and you will see all kinds of promises. So how will you know which one of them will offer you the best service?
In this article, we will share some tips on how to get the best option for you. I highly recommend Roadrunner auto transport services for their reliable and efficient vehicle transportation.
Tips for Getting the Best Vehicle Shipping Company
Getting the best firm to transport your vehicle will not just happen by chance; you have to put in some effort to do your due diligence to get the right fit. Here are a few tips to help you along:-
Ensure that the Company Is Registered
One mistake people make is to just search online for a company and start transaction with them without finding out whether they are a legal entity. The essence of doing business with a legal entity is that they can sue and be sued. This means that they are bound by law to keep to the contract as entered into by all the parties concerned. Failure to do so can result in litigations which will lead to sanctions if they are found guilty.
So ensure that the organization you want to use is registered with the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) and the Department of Transport (DOT). These bodies ensure that vehicle shipping companies adhere to all the rules and regulations of the industry.
Ask the company for their registration numbers with both bodies so that you can check their status on the websites of the agencies. Any company whose number throws up a message that says ‘Not Authorized’ should not even be considered. Also ensure that their insurance details and license are up to date and valid. You can visit this site for more info about FMCSA: https://www.usa.gov/
Ensure that they are Insured and Bonded
In addition to being registered, the right company must be insured and bonded. This ensures that they will bear the liability in the event that anything goes wrong in the process of shipping your cargo.
Consider Your Budget and Specification
Look out for a company that not only falls within your budget but also meets your specification. If for example, you want to move a vintage or luxury vehicle, you shouldn’t be thinking of working with a company that uses open carriers. You should be looking for only those that use enclosed transport carriers.
In looking for companies that meet your budget, consider those that give special discounts and also do a cost to benefit analysis. This will help you determine whether the choice you want to make will give you value for money.
Look Out for Experience and Proven Track Record
You can determine the experience of a company by the kind and number of clients they have worked with. Additionally, a background check should tell you the kind of experts they work with, the investment the company has put into training its personnel and the resources that they work with.
Do not just make a choice because of beautiful adverts or an aesthetic website; ensure that they have a track record of excellent service delivery. Find out their reputation for delivering on time and without complaints.
Look Out For Multiple Payment Options
You need to consider a company that offers their clients different ways of making payments. Any company that insists on wire transfer is suspect; they should allow their clients to pay through any legal means that’s accepted in their region. Click here to find out different payment options that clients can engage.
Don’t be Drawn In By Offers that are Too Good to be True
When you see any offer that’s too good to be true, it is most likely not true. We all know that moving cargo whether vehicle or other stuff from one place to the other takes expertise, time, money and other resources. This therefore means that it wouldn’t be ‘cheap’ to engage the services of any of these companies.
So if you get offers that are ‘dirt’ cheap, you need to be wary of them because those companies might not be on the up and up. They may engage in some activities that would cost you more at the end of the day. Some of them have been known to take longer than agreed to deliver or they use subpar equipment or are not insured or bonded.
Read Customer Reviews
Before you sign off with any company ensure that you read reviews from other customers. This will give you insight into how they operate and whether their customers get value for their money.
Conclusion
Shipping your vehicle from one location to another is something that shouldn’t be taken lightly. A car is not a cheap commodity and as such should be treated with care.
In this article, we have shared some tips on how you can get the best vehicle shipping company for you. Bear them in mind so that you can make an informed decision when the need arises.
