1. Can I
pack things in my car? quote
It is not advisable to leave items in your vehicle,
especially items of high value. However, no one will object
to some personal items such as clothes, blankets and bedding
as long as it is confined to the trunk. The rule of thumb is
to keep it under 100 lbs. This is important because
excessive weight could cause damage to your car and the
driver could end up with a fine. Also, remember - if the
truck gets held up due to bad weather and you have important
items for work or such - it would be a good idea to not
leave them in the car.
2. What about insurance coverage? quote
The car is fully insured for the replacement value of the
vehicle by our carrier. All trucks are required to maintain
general liability, auto liability, physical damage and cargo
insurance coverage. As part of our service, we keep the
certificate of liability insurance on file to insure the
protection of your vehicle.
3. What if the car is damaged? Car Shipping Quote
The car is fully insured for the replacement value of the
vehicle by our carrier. All trucks are required to maintain
general liability, auto liability, physical damage and cargo
insurance coverage. As part of our service, we keep the
certificate of liability insurance on file to insure the
protection of your vehicle.
4. Do you come to my door? Car Shipping Quote
We try our best. But sometimes it is necessary to meet
the truck at a prearranged location such as a parking lot.
Low hanging branches, weight restrictions, local laws and no
way out may require an alternative meeting place. The driver
and/or his dispatcher will call you ahead of time to make
these arrangements.
5. Can I drop my car off at a terminal? Is it
cheaper? Car Shipping Quote
No. And unless you are willing to allow you car to sit at
a terminal until an entire truck load can be routed to your
destination terminal – it is NOT cheaper. A terminal drop
off fee, (usually 25.00 minimum) and possible storage fees
may apply. And you lose total control of when your vehicle
actually ships.
6. What if I am not home when you are picking
up/delivering?
When picking up at origin, a shipper’s agent (friend,
relative, etc) must be present to sign the BOL (Bill of
Lading) upon pick up. If you are unable to entrust the
responsibility of your vehicle to someone else, it may be
worthwhile to incur the additional expense to use the
nearest storage facility. When delivering, if you or your
agent cannot be contacted or are unavailable to receive the
vehicle, it will be taken to the nearest storage facility.
The nearest storage facility could be several miles away –
in which case you will have to either pick it up or pay to
have it transported to your exact location. Car Shipping Quote
7. What if my vehicle is inoperable? Car Shipping Quote
The vehicle must run, roll, brake and steer at the time
of pick up and while in the custody of the Carrier.
Otherwise, it is considered an inoperable vehicle and
additional fees will apply. Inoperable vehicles usually
cause considerably more physical labor and require more time
to load therefore causing logistical delays. In order to
transport inoperable vehicles, it is best to arrange a
specific Carrier with the necessary equipment and labor to
accommodate the load. More importantly, it is advisable to
repair the vehicle before shipping to insure it does run,
roll, brake and steer before the Carrier arrives to avoid
additional charges.
8. Will my vehicle be driven? Car Shipping Quote
We do not offer a “drive-away-service” however the
vehicle will be driven at both origin/destination for
loading/unloading to and from the Carrier. At times, the
driver may have to drive your vehicle to a designated point
for pick up and/or delivery depending on the circumstances
of local restrictions and/or accessibility of the Carrier.
Remember to record the odometer mileage at both origin and
destination. Any discrepancies should be noted and signed by
the driver.
9. How do I prepare my vehicle? Car Shipping Quote
We will send you more condensed “pre-ship checklist” to
remind you of the following information however the better
you prepare– the better we may serve you.
- Insure your vehicle has no obvious fluid leaks.
- Be sure that the battery is secure, has no
leaks, and that the fluid levels are low enough to
accommodate expansion.
- Make sure that your vehicle is clean enough to
ensure an accurate pickup inspection.
- Leave only about ¼ tank of gas in the vehicle,
as a full tank of gasoline adds a lot of costly weight
to the transport.
- Disable or disconnect anti-theft devices or
alarms.
- There can be serious problems and unnecessary
expenses if the driver is locked out or if the alarm
goes off during the auto shipping process or the car
transport.
- Remove all personal belongings except standard
vehicle items such as jack and spare tire.
- Remove after-market or not built-in radios,
cassette decks, CD/DVD players and/or toll passes/tags
and garage openers.
- Secure or remove any loose parts or specialty
items such as ground effects, spoilers, fog lights, bike
racks, grill covers or wide mirrors, and lower or remove
the antenna if possible.
- Repair or seal any tears or open seams on
convertible tops to prevent fast-moving air from causing
further damage.
- Make sure the radiator has adequate levels of
fresh antifreeze and prepared for new climates.
- *** Please very slightly open one window to
relieve pressure due to temperature and elevation
changes. This will allow for your vehicle(s) to breath
and protect window(s) from blowing out because of the
temperature and pressure changes during transport. Car Shipping Quote
10. What type of Auto Transporter will my vehicle be shipped
on?
Most of the time, your vehicle will be transported on an
OPEN car hauler that may fit 8-10 cars. These are the types
of trailers used to transport new cars to automotive
dealerships. The trucks are much larger than cargo moving
vans or semi trailers. They are only allowed 80,000 lbs
weight limit including truck, trailer and cargo by DOT
regulations. So it is important to note that average car
weight of (2,500) lbs (not including SUV’s) combined with
the average weight of the truck/trailer (45,000) lbs is
almost always at capacity. Therefore personal items that add
additional weight should never be left in your vehicle.
An ENCLOSED Carrier is quite different and always much safer
and usually more costly. An enclosed hauler may only fit 4-6
cars depending height/length and is also much larger than
moving vans and semi trailers. They are equipped with a
hydraulic lift gate for ease of loading/unloading. The
vehicle is held in place by a nylon wheel strap (soft-tie
down) while transported on air-ride suspension trailers to
cushion the ride through rough roads. Keep in mind because
of the height of these trucks, and lack of maneuverability,
they may not travel onto rural streets or areas that may
have low hanging streets or low clearance bridges. It may be
possible for you to meet the driver at a designated place or
utilize a local service with a flat-bed to reach your exact
location for pick-up or drop-off. |
