Car shipping companies today are as numerous and varied as cars themselves. There are international and national companies, there are some that specialize in particular types of shipping and others that aim to do it all, there are ones with concierge services and others that simply ship cars from points A to B, and many others.
Variety is always good, but it does bring the question of how to choose a reliable car shipping company for your vehicle? Naturally, a part of it will depend on your vehicle and your particular needs. However, there are also quite a few broader objective points you should always look for if you want a good experience.
First things first – figure out what exactly you need
There are near-countless factors that can be considered when figuring out what you need from a car shipping company, but the few key ones are usually these:
- Do you need an open or enclosed carrier? Open carriers are much more affordable and time-efficient, as they can transport numerous vehicles at the same time. Enclosed carriers, on the other hand, offer much more protection, but for a higher price. The rule of thumb here is that enclosed carriers are recommended for vehicles over $60,000 and for antique or luxury cars.
- Do you need international shipping? Not every national car shipping company operates abroad, so if you want your vehicle transported across the border, your list of viable car shipping companies will be shorter.
- Do you need your vehicle shipped to a remote location? Even inside the country, some locations are too remote for certain car shipping companies, and they will either ask for a much higher price or refuse to ship your car there.
- Do you need this service just once or as a recurring thing? Different car shippers offer different prices, and some offer 25% off for first time shippers, tempting long-term plans, and other benefits.
- Do you need the car shipper to have any particular equipment? This goes beyond just open or enclosed carriers and can include things such as winter mountain equipment, bad weather protection, and so on.
Overall, it’s strongly advised to write down all the specific things you want your car shipping company to have before you start looking around.
What to look for in a reliable car shipping company?
Once you know what you want and you start browsing for a good car shipper, here are the broader and more objective factors you should also keep in mind:
1. Fully insured and licensed carriers
Many customers are often surprised to find out that not every car shipping company is fully licensed and insured. This can seem like a no-brainer, but it’s important to check if your future carrier is fully insured and licensed. Don’t forget to also check for their Motor Carrier (MC) number issued by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) and their United States Department of Transportation (USDOT) number.
2. History of on-time deliveries
This can be a bit tricky, as virtually every car shipping company has a history that includes the occasional delayed delivery. This isn’t an excuse, but a reality of the business – things happen sometimes. However, “things” tend to happen a lot more often to some carriers than to others, which speaks of problems within the company, too, not just the occasional unrelated delay.
3. The right equipment
As we alluded to above, some shipping destinations require much more specialized equipment. Depending on the climate, final destination, terrain, the types of road, and other factors, you may need your future carrier to have much more than just a car-towing truck.
4. A team of experienced drivers
The men and women behind the wheels are a huge determining factor of how safe, successful, and on-time your delivery is going to be.
5. Full vehicle inspections
A key factor many customers overlook is whether the carrier offers full vehicle inspections before loading and unloading it. This is hugely important, especially for open carriers, as it guarantees that your vehicle will either be 1) delivered in the exact same condition as when it was picked up, or 2) it will be clear that any present irregularities have occurred during transit and didn’t exist before.
6. Fair prices
Even if you’re looking for car shipping as a one-time thing, it’s still worth it to look around for the best possible price. Especially for long-distance shipping, a price difference of ~20% between different carriers can be quite significant.
7. Top-notch communication and customer service
Communication is key in many areas of life, including car shipping. This includes communication before the shipping, when discussing the exact price details, in-transit communication, such as car tracking systems, and good old customer service.
As with anything else, there is always a bit of luck involved, both in choosing a car shipping company and in how well things will go after that. Things can be tricky and sometimes unexpected on the roads and highways, but that’s all the more reason to try and find the best possible and most reliable car shipping company, if you want to maximize your chances of everything going as smoothly as possible.
