Choosing a Car Moving Company
If you’re moving a long distance and have to find a way to get your car there, too, you’re probably going to want to investigate car transport services. There are two ways a car moving company can get your vehicle where it needs to go: by driving it or shipping it by truck or even boat or air, depending on the destination. Here are some things to keep in mind when hiring a car transport carrier:
- Begin by making a list of five car moving companies. You can find these by asking friends, family and your moving company for referrals or by looking on the Internet or in your local paper. Don’t worry if a company isn’t based locally. Most car transport services have a network of contract carriers, terminals and routes that cover local areas.
- Check to see if all the companies on your list are licensed and bonded and have U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) license numbers. Then check with the Better Business Bureau to see if there have been grievances filed against any of the companies, and if so, whether they were resolved satisfactorily. Don’t necessarily reject companies that have grievances, because the way grievances are resolved can sometimes tell you more about a company’s integrity and customer service than a lack of complaints.
- Choose the top three candidates so you can get written estimates from them. If you’re not sure whether you need driving or shipping services, request quotes for both.
- When you get the quotes, inquire about the type of insurance each company offers, how much the deductible would be if your car were stolen or damaged and whether the car moving company’s coverage is primary or secondary. If it's secondary, that means your insurance company would pay first and you need to find out what kind of coverage they offer. Also, many auto shipping companies use agents to ship vehicles. If the company you decide to work with plans to do this, request to see the agent’s certificate of insurance.
- Most car transport services will give you a window when they’ll be able to pick up your car and will store it if those dates don’t work for you. But it’s a good idea to book early so you have the widest range of options available.
Once you’ve chosen a car moving company, you’ll want to prepare your vehicle well for the move. Make sure to remove all personal items, as well as E-Z passes, roof racks, and car and spare tire covers. Also, have the car serviced and cleaned thoroughly, remove or retract the antenna, disable the alarm and add coolant or other protective fluids if the move will involve a climate change. These are just the basics, though, so make sure to ask your car transport service representative if there are any other preparations you need to make.
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