Whether you are moving for college, work, or vacations, moving is a hassle. Add to this the worry of shipping your car safely to your new location and it becomes downright stressful. Choosing the right automobile shipping company can look like a humongous task requiring a lot of research.
How can you then find the best shipping car service? We have tailor-made a list of factors you should consider when choosing a reliable automobile transport company. Through this, you can compare different automobile transport carriers and choose the one that best suits your needs!
What to Look for in a Shipping Car Service
There are various factors you need to consider when opting for the right automobile transport carriers. Not only do you need a reliable automobile transport company but also a shipping car service that is easy on the pocket. Here’s a list of what you should look for:
Experience
In a highly competitive industry like auto shipping, experience is what sets a quality automobile shipping company apart. Companies operating for several years have an in-depth understanding of the industry trends. Moreover, they also have a larger consumer base and know their way around the legal requirements.
Insurance
Insurance is one of the most important factors that you need to consider when deciding on a shipping car service. A company with insurance means that any damages to your vehicle are covered by the company. In case the company is uninsured, and your vehicle is damaged, you will need to cover the expenses from your pocket.
Pro-tip: It is also a good idea to look at the company’s cancellation policy. Sometimes things spin out of control a bit too quickly and having a cancellation policy can help you save a considerable amount.
Registration
Just like with any other reputed business service, a reliable auto transport company would be registered with the U.S. Department of Transportation. You can check the registration details from the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA). This can lend credibility to the automobile transport carriers and their services.
Reputation
In today’s competitive world, many companies use their reputation to differentiate themselves. When choosing a reliable auto transport company, always evaluate its reputation. You can do this by the quality of its website and customer feedback. Moreover, it is also a good idea to explore the transparency and truthfulness of the brand voice the automobile shipping company uses.
Pro-tip: Even small indicators like grammatical errors on the website, can help you differentiate great shipping car services from the average ones.
Footprint
Many vehicle owners overlook the importance of the shipping car service’s footprint. This covers the number of locations the companies operate from and within. For example, an automobile shipping company operating from only one location would have somewhat restricted services. However, a reliable automobile transport company with a larger footprint can provide quicker and cheaper services.
Planet Auto Transport is proud to have operations in New York, Dallas, San Fransisco, and Boise. This helps in seamless and timely shipment across the U.S. and the globe with efficient operations.
Payment Options
In today’s world of technology, it is common for automobile shipping companies to have several payment options. The most common ones include cashier’s checks, debit/credit cards, and wire transfers. If a car shipping company doesn’t provide your preferred payment option, it may end up becoming a hassle to make the payment. Therefore, it’s a good idea to check what payment options are available; the more, the merrier!
Feedback
Quality service translates to positive feedback and long-term clients. Always check out the feedback and review section of the automobile shipping service you are choosing. You can check their website testimonials, reviews on social media, or feedback on Google.
Pro-tip: It is always a good idea to reach out directly to reviewers to understand their perspectives. This can help you decide on the best service provider and also clear any doubts you may have.
Zeroing In: Choosing the Right Automobile Shipping Company
After evaluating the above-mentioned factors, you need to make a final decision. The following steps can further help you in choosing the right automobile shipping company.
Get A Quote
Price can vary significantly between automobile transport carriers given their reputation and your requirements. It is a good idea to request for a quote, mostly accessible through the company’s website. You can narrow down your research to 2-3 companies and finally. decide through an auto transport comparison.
Pro-tip: You can get a free quote at Planet Auto Transport only with a few clicks. Just select the to and from locations, type of vehicle, and vehicle size. It is that easy!
Pricing
Affordability is high on the list of many vehicle owners looking to transport their vehicles. The pricing may vary depending on your needs such as location, season, and distance. While a cheaper option always looks more attractive, it is important to evaluate the quality as well. The best company would strike a balance between price and quality subject to your requirements.
Pro-tip: You should avoid shipping car services that are charging too low. This can be a red flag in terms of service quality and vehicle handling and should be avoided.
Reach Out
Another way to narrow down your search is to talk directly to the shipping car service agents. This way you can ask any potential questions you may have to better understand the company’s service. Most automobile shipping companies including Plane Auto Transport, can be reached via call or message depending on your preference.
Pro-tip: It is a good idea to make a list of questions that you want to ask the auto transport carrier. This can save you time and help make the conversation more productive.
Wrapping It Up
Choosing the right automobile shipping company can be a difficult task with so many competitors available. By looking at different factors such as reputation, experience, and footprint among others you can choose a company that is the right fit for you. Moreover, you can also narrow down your search criteria by getting a quote and reaching out to the shipping car service. Through this comprehensive guide, you can choose the best company for yourself with the right mix of price and quality.
Being an experienced player with a large footprint and impeccable service in the auto shipping industry, Planet Auto Transport is proud of its service. With our dedicated customer service and history of long-term clients, we provide a tailor-made solution to each of our customers.