When it comes to shipping your car across the state or across the country, it pays to know what to look for in a car shipping company. This will allow you to make the best decision both for the safety of your car and for your own financial well-being. There are many things to consider, so let’s go over some of the ways you can choose the best car shipping company for your specific needs.
Budget
The first thing you want to consider when choosing a car shipping company is your budget. Do you want the absolute cheapest option available? Or do you want to spend more money on a more secure method of transportation? Generally speaking, open car transport on a multicar carrier is the cheapest option. On the other hand, an enclosed container will cost more but provide more protection. Depending on how much you want to spend, one option may be more appealing than the other.
Protection
Speaking of protection, this is an important factor when it comes to choosing a car shipping company. If you own a luxury car, supercar, classic car, or some other type of car that can’t afford to take any damage whatsoever, then a closed-car shipping option would be your best bet. This will make sure that your car isn’t exposed to the elements or road debris during transport and will keep your car out of sight from would-be vandals or car thieves. Keep in mind that this method does cost more than open car transportation, sometimes up to 30 to 40%. However, if your car is important enough that you want as much protection as you can afford, this is your best option.
Tracking
In some cases, tracking may not be important to you, such as if your car is only making a short trip. On the other hand, if your car needs to travel a long distance for a lengthy period of time, tracking might be something you’ll want to have. For example, if you hire an Ohio car shipping company to ship your car to Alaska, then you’ll want to be able to know where it is.
Tracking comes in many different forms, and many car shipping companies will have GPS so they can know where your car is at all times. That said, getting an update on your car’s location is typically done by phone, email, or by using the chat option on the company’s website. Tracking is good for having extra peace of mind and for getting an update if your car is late for some reason.
Reputation
Your car is probably one of your most important assets, and this makes it important to take care of. This being the case, you want to make sure that you are hiring a car shipping company that you trust. To verify this, you can look at the company’s reviews and testimonials and check the BBB to see what their rating is. You can also see if they have any feedback on sites like Trustpilot or Google. Remember, one or two bad reviews aren’t abnormal since things can go wrong in very rare instances. However, if a company has mostly good reviews, that is a good indicator that they take their job seriously and will take care of your car.
Speed
If you need your car delivered within a certain timeframe, you need to make this clear upfront with the company that you’re considering for the job. Generally speaking, open car shipments will take slightly longer than closed. This is because there are more cars to deliver and yours may not be at the front of the line. With closed car shipping, your car may be the only one in the trailer so that the company can deliver it straight to your destination.
Knowing Your Needs Beforehand
The key to choosing a car shipping company that fits your needs is to have a good understanding of your needs before you even speak with them. This will allow you to communicate these needs to the company and get their response on how they plan on meeting them. Price, transit time, protection, and more are things you should bring up to see how the company handles each concern. If you can do this, then you’ll have no trouble choosing a car shipping company that will meet your needs.