How to Choose the Right Car Shipping Company: A Comprehensive Guide
Shipping a car may sound like an easy task, but it’s actually a process that requires careful consideration in order to ensure your vehicle reaches the final destination safely and without any additional costs. Understanding the pricing structure and asking for a detailed breakdown is essential.
There are many car shipping companies with many shipping options offering a variety of services; you need to consider how to choose wisely and ensure you’ve made the right decision and that the chosen company will best fit your needs.
Understanding all of the services a car shipping company offers can really help you select the right company and avoid any additional, unexpected car shipping costs. Your choice should be based on what type of vehicle shipping services you require, which company is more reputable and reliable and the delivery locations for the pickup and drop-off of your vehicle.
Additionally, pay attention to customer service – a reliable company will most often have friendly, accessible representatives who can answer any questions that you might have throughout the shipping process. Just knowing you can easily reach out to your shipping provider can offer you a valuable peace of mind. Your choice of a shipping company can ultimately make a world of difference in the safety and the security of your vehicle.
In order to help you out, we created a step-by-step guide to make this decision-making process easier and less stressful. From understanding your shipping options to recognizing red flags, this guide covers everything you need, so buckle up and read on for the complete road-map to choosing the best car shipping company!
Step 1: Fully understand your shipping options
The first decision you will face is choosing the type of the transport method. This decision has a direct impact on the cost and the level of safety of your vehicle. Here are the most common options:
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Open vs. Enclosed Transport
Open transport is a classic and the most common, cost-effective option. With this option cars are shipped on an open carrier and this method leaves the vehicle exposed to outside elements like weather, road debris and so on. Open transport is affordable and ideal for everyday vehicles or for the owners that have budget as a primary concern. It is a safe way of transport but if you would like an additional safety, you should look for enclosed transport.
In contrast, enclosed transport protects your vehicle in many ways. Enclosed transport means your vehicle would be in a covered trailer, shielded from weather, dust and road hazards. This transport method costs more but is highly recommended for high-value, luxury or classic cars. Enclosed car shipping is often chosen by owners of exotic cars or same rare vehicles in order to ensure the safest car transport service available. With this option your car carrier will provide extra protection for your valuable asset, but have in mind that this shipping method may increase the cost to ship.
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Door-to-door vs. Terminal-to-terminal
Exactly as it sounds, door-to-door shipping means the company picks up and delivers the car directly to the desired location, which is always convenient but may be more expensive option if the pickup or drop – off location is hard to access. The other option, terminal-to-terminal shipping requires you to drop off and pick up your car at designated terminal locations. This option is usually less costly but it may be inconvenient if you are located far from the terminal.
The convenience and ease of door-to-door service are worth the added cost for many customers. However. If you are comfortable dropping off and retrieving your vehicle from specific delivery locations, terminal-to-terminal can be a perfect option as it will most likely reduce the cost and it can be an affordable alternative. Whether you choose door-to-door or terminal-to-terminal, make sure to ask for a car transport quote to help you compare the costs.
Step 2: Verify the company’s licensing and credentials
Another highly important step is to choose a company that is properly licensed and insured. This step is essential if you want to avoid working with unlicensed and unreliable companies. Reputable car shipping companies are registered with the United States Department of Transportation (DOT) and with the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA). You should always ask for the DOT and Motor Carrier (MC) numbers of the company and verify these numbers on the FMCSA website to confirm their compliance with safety and operational regulations. As you might guess, Rivalane is one of the reliable companies. that owns all the required documentation. Please contact us for detailed information.
Cargo insurance is another essential factor to verify. If the car shipping company has its own carriers – it should have proper insurance in place to protect your vehicle throughout the shipping process. If a company cannot provide evidence of cargo insurance or is vague about the info on what’s actually covered – this may be a red flag.
Step 3: Research Company reputation and customer reviews
We at Rivalane appreciate all reviews, both good and bad, and can proudly say that our customers are very satisfied. Customer feedback can offer valuable insight into a company’s reliability, professionalism and of course – the quality of service.
You can check for these reviews on multiple third-party sites like Better Business Bureau (BBB), Trust Pilot, Google etc. Pay attention to themes in the feedback, particularly about delivery times, customer service and possible complaints.
Reading the reviews can also reveal information about some hidden costs, whether the car shipping calculator on their website provided accurate quotes, and also how well the communicate with the customers. Sometimes, customer reviews can mention whether a company was actually transparent in it’s car transport quotes or if they charged additional fees during the shipping process. This is why this step can be a very important one.
Step 4: Look for any additional services that may be a better option for you
Another option that may be helpful is a White Glove Service. Rivalane offers this service among he other services and if you need some special handling you may want to consider this option.
White glove service may include:
- Different types of enclosed delivery
- Vehicle placement in the trailer in place which you require
- Double soft wheel straps for double security
- Delivery anywhere and anytime you need
- Pick-up and delivery with door-to-door service, even in New York
This specialized service can definitely add to the overall car shipping experience but also it can add to the shipping costs. But for those looking for the highest level of care, it is often worth the extra couple of bucks. White Glove Service is an ideal option for those who need flexible delivery locations and want to ensure their vehicle arrives in perfect condition.
Step 5: Be cautious of scams and red flags
Unfortunately, car shipping scams do exist. You should definitely protect yourself and your vehicle by avoiding the companies with suspicious behaviors. One of those would be asking a large upfront deposits or cash payments as legitimate carriers typically request payment only upon delivery. If a company seems overly eager for a down payment or if it is difficult to reach them after securing your business, you should consider looking for another company.
Some red flags to look out for include:
- No online presence: You can’t seem to find this company after a long google search; there are no customer reviews; no info given.. Or they might have a website but the design is poorly made and that can also indicate a less reputable company.
- Unclear terms: If the company is refusing or avoiding to provide you a written agreement or if they are vague about insurance and delivery details, that is a clear sign that the company is up to no good.
- Aggressive sales tactics: If the representatives of the company are too pushy and they are rushing you to make a decision, this can also be a warning sign. A professional company will always give you the time you need to make an informed choice.
It’s always wise to compare quotes from multiple auto transport companies to ensure you are receiving fair pricing. By obtaining a shipping quote from different companies, you can better understand the average shipping cost and identify companies with unusually high or suspiciously low rates. Reliable companies should offer clear quotes without any additional fees. If you need a quote from Rivalane, feel free to contact us for more information.
Conclusion: Making the right choice for peace of mind
Choosing the right car shipping company requires careful, detailed research and a clear understanding of your options. By evaluating companies, using the steps mentioned above; evaluating companies based on licensing, reviews etc., you will be able to make a perfect choice for your vehicle. If Rivalane is your company to go, feel free to rely on our customer support and we will make sure that all of your worries are cleared and all of your requests are fulfilled.
