What’s the hardest part about moving?
Figuring out how to get your car from point A to point B.
You might have heard some horror stories about people who had their cars broken into or damaged during shipping, but don’t worry! There’s a ton of myths about car shipping that are completely false.
For instance, there are rumors, like “It’s hard to find the best car shipping services”. Or, “shipping companies always deny people with bad credit”. Luckily for you, we’ve created this short guide to bust those myths once and for all!
Read on to learn the truth about what car shipping is all about.
Car Shipping Is Expensive
Car shipping myths surrounding money are one of the most common kinds. After all, figuring out the cost of driving your car vs. shipping, is one of the biggest considerations. Unfortunately, a lot of drivers mistakenly believe that car shipping is costly and unaffordable.
The truth is that you can ship a car direct, without breaking the bank. What’s even better is that you can afford these services, without sacrificing quality. Oftentimes, the best car shipping company’s will offer lower rates to keep up with the competition in the auto transport business.
Car shipping rates vary based on a variety of factors. Factors such as the type and size of the vehicle, where you’re located, and who you use for your car transport service.
However, as long as you compare quotes from reliable companies before choosing one for yourself, there’s no reason why you shouldn’t be able to afford this cost-effective alternative.
You Only Need 1 Shipping Quote
Another myth is that you should go with the first shipping quote you receive. However, this simply isn’t true. Instead, the best way to get an idea of how much you’ll need to pay for shipping your car is by requesting a quote from at least 3 different companies.
Sure, the first company that you call may offer you the cheapest rate. However, that doesn’t mean that it’s necessarily the most affordable. You see, all reputable auto transport companies will use the same set of factors when calculating their rates.
The only thing that could change is how they prioritize these and weigh each one up against the other. Getting multiple quotes not only ensures affordability but also helps you compare apples with apples when making your choice.
But remember: Don’t choose based on price alone! Instead, make sure that you’re choosing the best car shipping company around. You may even be able to find the right shipping services in places you never thought to look before, like moving companies.
Moving Companies Won’t Ship Cars
Many people also mistakenly believe that moving companies don’t offer car shipping services. However, this couldn’t be further from the truth.
The truth is that moving companies are likely to ship cars for you. They have an understanding of how fragile these vehicles can be during transport. Since many of them already offer auto shipping services, you don’t even need to look elsewhere for your needs.
How can you find a moving company that doubles as a car shipping service? It helps if you know what to look for. For starters, ask the company if they have experience with auto shipping. You may also want to check out their website and see for yourself if they mention anything about shipping vehicles in their services or not.
Another way of identifying a provider that can handle your car transport needs is by looking at how many years they’ve been in service. After all, more years should equate to more practice and expertise!
Car Shipping Companies Don’t Care About Your Vehicle
Another common misconception involves the notion that car shipping companies don’t care about your car. Or at least, they don’t care as much you do. Some even believe that providers would deliberately damage or break the vehicle during transportation.
However, if you ask us, this couldn’t be further from the truth. After all, reputable companies have a reputation to maintain and there’s no way that they’ll jeopardize it by damaging your car!
Most of these carriers go above and beyond their agreement with clients. They care about ensuring that the vehicle arrives safely and without any issues. This includes providing documentation such as affidavits or certificates. It also involves bearing witness to the condition of the car before shipping.
Car Shipping Companies Are Hard to Reach
Are you afraid that you’ll have difficulty getting ahold of a car shipping company? Some people do. With the millions of moves happening during the pandemic, a lot of car owners think that reserving shipping services is impossible. Again, this simply isn’t true!
The truth is that most moving companies maintain a 24/7 call center where you can reach them at any time of the day. This makes their services very accessible to everyone, even if they need their car shipped last minute!
You Can Only Ship Running Cars
Next, on our list of car shipping myths, we have the classic misconception about shipping cars that don’t run. Some people think that to take advantage of car shipping services, your car has to run. After all, how else will the transporters get your vehicle off and on the transport rig?
Luckily for you, shipping companies are happy to accept cars that are in all sorts of conditions. The only requirement is that your car has to be towable. That way, you can rest easy knowing that your vehicle will be transported from point A to point B no matter what its condition is at the time.
Second-hand cars? Broken cars? Wrecked cars? You name it. Moving companies are more than happy to take them off your hands.
Not only do they have the trucks for it, but they also have their own set of procedures in place for handling these vehicles during transport. Another myth down!
You Always Need Your Title
Do you need the title to ship your car? The answer to this question is a yes and a no. The truth is that you need the title if you’re shipping your vehicle via land transport. If, on the other hand, you want to ship your car overseas by sea freight, then it might not matter if you have your title or not.
As for where to get a duplicate of your vehicle’s title, please refer to your local DMV. They should be able to give you one upon request without any trouble at all. It’s also important that the document is free from errors and other discrepancies because this can affect the safety and security of your shipment in general.
Full Insurance Coverage Is Mandatory
Next myth, you have to carry full car insurance coverage to ship your car. Wrong! While it’s true that to ship your vehicle, you have to carry at least third-party liability insurance coverage at all times, this doesn’t mean that full coverage is required.
To be safe and on the right side of the law, always ensure that you know exactly what type of car shipping policy you’re getting before committing to anything. Next, reach out to your car insurance agent to review your policy. Find out if there are any added on coverages or adjustments they’d suggest you make, before shipping your vehicle.
Bad Credit Is an Issue
If you’ve been worried that your bad credit could get in the way of shipping a vehicle, think again. As we mentioned earlier in this article, most reputable car shipping companies are willing to accept any cars. Your credit isn’t going to be an issue, as long as you can supply the full payment.
In some cases, you might have to pay upfront for shipping costs. This is especially possible if you have below-average credit. However, paying ahead gives you the added advantage of not having to budget the expense down the road.
Of course, some companies may still require you to have an established line of credit before they can move forward with the transaction. For these cases, you should call them ahead of time so that you know exactly what your options are when it comes to transacting with them.
If paying upfront is going to be difficult, ask about possible payment plans. You might be able to work out a quarterly payment plan, or something of similar nature. Even if a company doesn’t advertise any type of payment plan, it doesn’t hurt to ask. They might be willing to make an exception for you, simply to earn a great review!
It’s easy to let things, like payments, fall through the cracks when you’re moving. If you’re going to split up the car payments, then you want to brush up on your budgeting know-how. That way, you’re not caught off guard when the payments start coming due.
Car Shipping Always Takes Too Long
Another myth on our list: Shipping a car takes longer than you think it will. There are situations where your car will arrive later than expected. However, that’s not to say that late arrivals are the norm. Remember, shipping companies have a reputation to uphold.
Competition is fierce in the auto transport industry. It’s in each company’s best interest to exceed the customer’s expectations, whenever possible. This includes delivering vehicles early, keeping cars safe, and more.
With that being said, there’s so much involved in making sure that everything goes according to plan. From coordinating with different moving companies to determining how much money it will cost. It isn’t an easy task.
If there is a delay with your vehicle, and you’re working with a reputable company, you shouldn’t worry. Simply ask for clarification from the company as to why the delay is occurring. Rather than it being poor customer service, the delay will likely be the cause of something outside of the company’s control.
It’s Expensive Preparing Your Car for Transport
Next, another myth we need to bust has to do with what happens before you ship your car. We’re talking about the preparation stage. This is where you have to follow the s shipping company’s directions, to fully prepare your car for pick up.
The common myth is that preparing your car is a hidden cost, that shipping companies spring on you. However, this is one big myth! Most reputable companies offer free preparation for a limited number of vehicles at their facilities.
It’s Hard Getting Ready to Ship Your Car
Does it take a long time to prepare your car to ship? Nope!
As long as you follow instructions, everything will go smoothly. If you decide to prepare everything yourself, it helps if you know what to expect. For instance, you’ll need to clear the car of any of your items.
Be sure to check the seats, glove box, and entire floor area. Those items that you cannot remove should be covered with tarps or blankets.
Next on the list is filling up your fuel tank to maximum capacity. This will help reduce spills and/or leaks, which could cause damage to your vehicle in transit. Of course, this is especially important if you’re shipping a car to another state, as it becomes more difficult to get gas along the way.
Want to make sure your car arrives smelling fresh? Then check out these tips for creating an inviting aroma in your car. Doing a few simple things, such as using dryer sheets, can completely transform the way your car smells.
Enjoy the Best Car Shipping Services
There are a lot of myths surrounding shipping cars, trucks, and even motorcycles. However, now you know how to tell the facts from the rumors. We must emphasize one point: The best way to ensure a good shipping experience is by finding the best car shipping company near you.
Without any potential trust issues to worry about, everything should run smoothly once your vehicle leaves port! Start looking for customer reviews for shipping company’s near you today. For more advice, explore the rest of our site.
