Experienced

A good car shipping company is experienced. With over 6 years in business we are an experienced. Newer companies will tend to have more problems with shipping issues, and they cannot provide as many references as a more experience shipping company.

Dependable

When it comes to earning a five-star rating, the car shipping company must be dependable. They will show up when they said they will be there, and if any issues arise, they will re-arrange things ahead of time. They also will over-deliver. An undependable shipping company usually over-promises, and under delivers, which can lead to many issues for you when your car doesn’t arrive on time.

Fully Insured

Along with experience and dependability, the five-star car shipper, must be fully insured. Without the right liability and damage insurances, your vehicle may not be protected while it is being carried across the country.

Safety Matters

The next thing on the list to earn a top rating, as a car shipping company, is safety. A good transport company will be aware of all safety regulations, and they will be registered with the proper safety authorities.

Honest

Finally a top rated car shipping company needs to be honest. With all of the other aspects of their business, they do everything in their power to avoid problems. Unfortunately the occasional problem is inevitable. An honest car transport agent will be open and honest, when problems do occur, and they will do everything they can to rectify the situation.

1. Check Insurance: Before you hire a shipper, check their insurance. Ask for proof of insurance before getting them to haul your car. Also ensure that the contract you sign states that your vehicle is insured while on the back of a truck.
2. Check References: Another important measure in choosing the right transport company is checking their references. Most companies will give you references upon request. This is an easy way to find out about other’s experiences with the company.
3. Confirm the Price: You were likely quoted a price prior to dropping off your car. Confirm that price on the bill of lading, or have a contract signed. This can protect you from dishonest auto shippers.
4. Inspect Your Vehicle: When it comes to car shipping, it is important that you get your vehicle in the same condition it was in when it left. To enable yourself better, inspect the vehicle. Mark down any scratches or dents, so that you have a record of the vehicle condition. You may even want to take a few pictures with your digital camera.
5. Share Your Inspection: The driver will likely inspect your vehicle before loading it on the truck. Bring your inspection with you, and inspect it with them. This will ensure you are both aware of the condition of the vehicle prior to your car shipping.
6. Remove Accessories: Some accessories, such as that light rack on top of your jeep, or that fancy spoiler, increase the chances of damage to your vehicle. Most times these types of accessories can easily be removed. If this is the case, take them off prior to sending your vehicle.
7. Check the Tires: Prior to shipping your care, ensure the tires are properly inflated. If any of the tires have a slow leak, spend the $20 to have it fixed before handing your keys to the auto transport company.
8. Test the Battery: Another issue that can lead to delays is a vehicle that won’t start. Make sure your battery is strong enough to start your car a few times without the alternator charging it for a long period of time.
9. Don’t Fill the Tank: It isn’t legal to carry a vehicle with a full tank of fuel. Make sure your have around 1/4 of a tank of gas, but don’t fill it up. It will likely lead to delays as the transport company will either run the car, or drain the tank, prior to car shipping.
10. Re-Inspect on Pick-up: When you pick up the vehicle, inspect it again. Check to ensure there are no new dings or scratches in the car.

When you’re hiring an auto transport company, and you’ve gotten quotes from several car mover, the cheapest quote isn’t always the best. There is usually a reason that the transport company is cheaper, and it may very well be a reason that puts your car at risk. We suggest that you choose your car mover based on service and recommendations. By getting a few quotes you’ll enable yourself to ensure your getting a fair price, but choosing the cheapest may leave you disappointed.

Five things to consider when choosing a car mover:

To put it simple there are things to look out for. Paying attention before contracting a car moving service, can save you much time and frustration, and possibly even your car.

• Unusually Cheap Rates: The first thing that may indicate a poor car moving service is that cheap rate. To put it simply, expenses for hauling don’t really vary. That cheap rate may be a good indicator that the car mover doesn’t carry enough insurance, or that they use old equipment that may breakdown unexpectedly.
• Inexperienced: You should also look out for car movers that are just starting out. If you do hire a company that just opened up at least find out that they carry the right coverage’s, and have equipment capable of moving your vehicle safely.
• Insurance Issues: One thing that you need to check is the car movers insurance coverage’s. Don’t just take their word for it, get their coverage’s in writing, and ensure you have a formal contract for the car moving itself. You don’t want to end up with your vehicle broken, and be left to foot the bill yourself.
• Cancellation Fees: Another thing to watch out for is cancellation fees. Don’t put your money on the line, with any car mover, unless you fully understand the terms of the contract. That $500 bill that comes with a $300 cancellation fee when you decide to move the car yourself, isn’t really fair.
• Short than Average Delivery Times: If you received 4 quotes and and 3 of them said they could deliver your car in three weeks, and the other one says three days, you should find out why. You may be dealing with a company that has a habit of over promising and under delivering, and you’ll likely end up disappointed.

Using a car mover to have your automobile hauled, is both convenient and time saving. By learning what to look out for you should now be ready to choose a transport service that will provide the service you expect.

When it comes to car moving, there are many questions that we get asked on a regular basis. If you have questions you can always call us at (858)-488-8485. But, to help you get started, here are the five most common questions we answer.

Top Five Car Moving Questions:

Won’t moving my car cost less if I drive it?

Most likely not. Of course this depends on how far you need to move the car, and other factors; but if you are making a large move, the cheaper route is often to have your car shipped. For a closer look, please see our Automobile Shipping vs The Costs of Driving article.

How long will moving my car take?

This largely depends on how far you have your are moving, and a few other factors. Your best bet is to call a few weeks ahead of time so that definite pick up and drop off dates may be arranged.

Is there anything I need to know before selecting a company for my car moving job?

Yes. You need to know where the company goes (obviously) to ensure there routes match your destination. You will also want to do a few background checks on the company before you hand them your keys. For more information, please see the article Protecting Yourself when Hiring Auto Shippers.

When it comes to car moving, is there anything I need to do to get my vehicle ready?

Before the day that your car gets dropped off (or picked up) there are a few things you should do. You will want to ensure that your car is in decent running condition, that the tires and battery are okay, and that the gas tank isn’t full. You should also make a list of any current damage on your vehicle.

How much will moving my car cost?

The cost of your car moving job will depend on a few factors. The vehicle itself, the distance, and a few other factors. It also costs more to ship a vehicle that isn’t in good running condition. Your best bet is to see our quote page, and request a quote for your move.

Things You should Check

There are a few things you need to know before you hire a shipper for your auto transport needs. It doesn’t matter whether you’re a family moving across the country, and just need a single vehicle mover, or a dealership with extensive auto shipping needs; without knowing about insurance, authority, and business records you may be putting your car at risk.

1. Insurance: The first thing you are going to want to check is the shippers insurance. There are two ways to confirm a transporters insurance coverage. You can go to the FMCSA’s web site (Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration)and search by authority number. You can also call the carriers insurance provider directly. What you need to ensure is that they have liability coverage, and damage insurance that would cover the cost of your auto(s).
2. Authority: You should also check the carriers qualifications. Are they registered with the FMCSA? Is there any local or state authority’s that they must be registered with where they work? Finding this out, helps you to ensure that you are choosing a carrier that takes regulations and safety seriously.
3. History: The last thing you can check is the auto shippers business history. Do they have claims with the better business bureau, for example? If they do, were they satisfied promptly? Another way to check is to ask for references and then actually take the time to call those references. In doing so you will quickly learn about any past problems, and how they were resolved.

Conclusion

Choosing an auto shipper doesn’t need to be difficult. Taking a few minutes of your time, to check a company’s qualifications, can go a long way in protecting yourself, and your car(s). If you are in need of auto transport, we highly recommend that you take the time to make sure you pick a company that works for you.

• Arrange the Drop-Off/Pick-Up Dates and Locations: The first thing you need to do is know where you are supposed to be and when. Are you dropping your auto off at the moving companies yard? Will they pick it up at your home? Arrange a date and time and stick to it. The biggest delay in most car transports is the customers failure to arrive on time.
• Ensure Your Vehicle is in Shippable Condition: The next thing you need to do is make sure your vehicle is ready for shipping. Does it start right away? Is the battery strong enough to handle a few start and stops without charging for a longer period of time? Are the tires in good condition, and do they keep air? By making sure your car is ready you will ensure that there are no further delays.
• Make a written inspection and go over it with the auto mover: To protect yourself you should also mark down all current damages to the vehicle. When you drop off your most auto moving companies will do this anyway. With your list in hand, however, you can go through it with the shipper to ensure everything is listed correctly. If any damages do occur, in the shipping process, this list will make it easier for you to deal with the problem.
• Don’t fill your tank: A transport agent usually won’t carry a vehicle that is completely full of fuel. It’s against the law. There needs to be enough fuel in the vehicle for the auto moving company to load and unload the vehicle a few times, and that’s it.

Hiring an auto moving company is both convenient, and it will likely save you money over moving a car yourself. With a few steps to get your car ready, and protect yourself, you can ensure the whole process goes as expected and your vehicle arrives without delay.

It is unfortunate, but also inevitable that, sometimes things happen. Driving on any road there is always the chance of accident, or damage from external sources. Rocks turn up by the tires of passing vehicles, flying debris, or a plethora of other sources can damage your vehicle. When it happens in the auto moving process there are a few things you should do. There was a reason you did your homework before hiring a transport agent, and part of that reason is the ability to deal with the situation you are in right now.
Mark Down the Damage

When the transport agent picked up your vehicle you should have made a list of any current damage to the vehicle. With a copy of this list compare the damage, that is on your car now, to the items that you marked down before. Mark down all inconsistencies. This should be done when you are picking up your vehicle (or having it dropped off), and not 2 or 3 days later.
Report Damage to The Company

After you have your list of inconsistencies, report them to the shipping company immediately. Reputable auto shipping companies will reimburse you for any damages, and usually fairly quickly. As long as the vehicle was inspected on pick up, and on drop off, it is difficult to argue where the damage occurred (in the moving process obviously).
Should Issues Arise

If you did your homework before hiring a company to move your car, then there likely won’t be any issues. However, sometimes they do occur. If you have any problems getting reimbursed for the damage to your car, the BBB is one place that can help. Unfortunately most issues arise because of failing to do proper inspection, and in this case it can be difficult to deal with. From the shippers point of view the damage could have occurred before or after the auto moving process. The best way to avoid any issues is to go through the inspections with your driver or agent when you are picking up and dropping off the vehicle.

As long as you hired a dependable, and reputable auto moving company the process should go fairly smoothly. Most companies are extremely careful with your car, but it is inevitable that on occasion damages do occur. Protect yourself by including yourself in the inspection process.

5369 La Jolla Blvd. Unit 15
La Jolla, CA 92037

Contact: Walter
Main Phone: 858-488-8485
Local Phone: 619-248-3496
Fax Number: 858-488-8908
Hours: M-F 10-5 S 10-3 PST