FAQ

Frequently Asked Questions

1. How far in advance should I schedule my vehicle transport with you?

We advise that you schedule your transport as soon as possible to assure that your car is moved within the time frame which best meets your needs. Generally we are able to have a truck assigned and scheduled toB pick-up your vehicles 1 to 3 days from the date the vehicle is first accessible for pick-up. If your vehicle is available for pick up instantly, we will work with you on getting your vehicle scheduled

Types of Auto Transporters: 
There are several types of auto transport companies in the auto transport industry? There are brokers, carriers and companies that do both.

Brokers – You can call brokers the “middle man“, carrier head hunter or transport travel agent and the type of company you will have the most communication with while shipping your car. The basics of a brokers responsibility is to find a legal carrier to handle the actual transporting of the vehicle. After the vehicle is assigned to a carrier the brokers legal responsibility ends as you are then doing business with the carrier. Brokers keep track of a carrier’s insurance and license and most brokers go beyond simply finding a carrier and offer services far beyond what they are required to. For example from most brokers you can expect them to keep you up to date on the status of the vehicle move.

Most brokers maintain relationship with carriers that handle most routes and they handle separating the good carriers from the bad ones. A common question is why can’t I go directly to the carrier? You can. That is if you are lucky enough to find a carrier that is able to handle your specific origin to destination and vehicle. Did we mention there are likely around 10,000 trucks operating in the auto transporter industry making finding the needle in a hay stack very difficult.

Carriers – Carriers are the driving force of the car shipping industry, quite literally. The carrier is the trucking company that will actually pick-up, transport and deliver the vehicle. Carriers in the auto transport industry must be licensed to transport vehicles and they must carry cargo insurance. Brokers are responsible for making sure the carrier they use meet these requirements.

Broker/Carriers – The hybrid of the industry are brokers that also own trucks and operate as carriers. The key thing to remember with auto transport broker/carriers is that by using these companies you are in no way guaranteeing that they are using their own company own trucks. Most companies still broker out a majority of their loads. The nice benefit to the broker/carrier is that if things are taking too long they may be able to speed things up by using one of their own trucks.

Open Transport – Door to Door
Your vehicle is transported on an open car carrier much like the ones used to deliver new cars from the manufacturer to the dealers. Your vehicle will be picked up at your door (or as close as possible) and will be delivered to the door (or as close as possible) at your specified destination.
Open Transport usually costs less than Enclosed Transport.

Enclosed Transport – Door to Door

Your vehicle will be transported on a completely enclosed trailer designed to transport classic automobiles, prototypes or vehicles that cannot be exposed to inclement weather. Your vehicle will be picked up at your door (or as close as possible) and will be delivered to the door (or as close as possible) at your specified destination.

2. Is my vehicle insured?

Yes, all carriers are fully insured to meet all State and Federal requirements. The transport driver will thoroughly inspect the vehicle at pick up and delivery. When your vehicle is delivered, it is your responsibility to inspect for any damage that may have occurred during transport. Document any damage on the Bill of Lading and obtain the driver’s signature. The insurance company will not process claims if damages are not documented at the time of delivery.

3. What is a condition report?

The Condition Report is a part of the Bill of Lading. The Condition Report documents the condition of your vehicle at the time the Driver takes custody of it. Before the Driver loads your vehicle, he will fill out a Condition Report that will note the condition of the vehicle at the time he receives it. The Shipper or authorized agent will need to verify the notations made and sign that you are in agreement with them. The Shipper should receive a copy of this Condition Report before the vehicle leaves the point of origin. Claims of damage at destination will be based on the condition of your vehicle, as reported, before it was transported.

4. What kind of auto transporter will move my vehicle?

Vehicles will be transported via multiple car carriers, the same type used to transport new vehicles to dealerships.

5. What is the difference between an open and an enclosed carrier?

Open Carrier is similar to those you see transporting cars to and from dealerships. These carriers range in size and capacity. Vehicles that are moved via an open carrier are exposed to inclement weather and road conditions. Enclosed Carriers also range in size and capacity. Since these carriers are covered, the vehicles in transit are not exposed to weather or road conditions. Enclosed carriers are recommended for custom and antique/classic cars. This mode of transport is more costly than the open carrier.

6. Do I have to be present when my vehicle is picked up and delivered?

Yes. You must be present at both the pickup and delivery of the vehicle or you may designate a person to act as your agent in your absence to complete the auto transporting process.

7. Where will my vehicle be picked up and delivered?

The vehicle will be picked up/delivered as close to your home as possible. Occasionally, the maneuverability of these large transport carriers or local government regulations will not allow the transporter truck to come directly to your home. In these cases, an alternate site will be selected that contains a large parking lot, such as a shopping mall.

8. How long will it take to pick up and deliver my vehicle?

A coast to coast vehicle transport trip usually takes from 7 to 14 days. Shorter auto shipping trips can take from 1 to 7 days, depending on the distance. Traffic, inclement weather, truck breakdowns, seasonal fluctuations and other unforeseen events may delay the auto shipping of your vehicle. Pickup and delivery dates are estimated but are not guaranteed. If either your origination or destination locations are away from population centers, in other words in a remote area, then you might consider meeting a driver in a nearby big city or town to increase you