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Beware The Auto Transport Quote Rip off

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Beware the Auto Transport Quote Rip-off

Here are a few things to look out for when shipping your car:

1.  Beware the ultra low quote and things that sound to good to be true. Dishonest companies will do anything to get their hands on your credit card numbers and you could face big problems. Ask yourself…would I haul somebody’s car for .25 cents a mile? Not unless you are desperate! Good transports don’t need to work for low pay but poor quality transports will take almost anything they can get their hands on and if you go with ultra low quotes THAT is who will be carrying your car. BAD BAD news… 

 

2.  Giving a deposit before a truck is assigned to your vehicle is a big NO-NO. Booking your car weeks in advance is another. Some dishonest trucking companies will gladly take your money upfront and then ignore your car. It happens EVERYDAY somewhere in the USA. Loads get cancelled and delayed constantly in this industry and the further out you book the more likely it is that your car will sit and you won’t get it picked up or delivered when you expected. It’s as simple as that.

 

3.  So you call for a quote and the price is just soooo low and you’re liking it and eager to book your car at that price and then comes the CONTRACT. Yes, the dreaded contract MUST be signed, so they say. Yes, they do need it signed and returned but not for the reasons you think. Many of those auto shipping companies use contracts to protect themselves, not you OR your car. Take a very very close look at the terms you are agreeing to. Often times the contracts are written in a way for the dishonest transport to keep your credit card deposit. Their car shipping quote suddenly needs “priority” upgrading or other nonsense which forces you to spend more money. Or you cancel with them and they get to keep your deposit. Then you decide to hire a lawyer to get some fair treatment and the lawyer informs you all disputes must be held in their local court system forcing you to travel. These are just a few tricks they use to get your money. They can’t wait for you to just go away and not bother them about moving your car. Many people actually do. They give up. Some even go to the next company and cross their fingers it doesn’t happen again. One way to find honest brokers and dispatchers is to visit the Better Business Bureau. Avoid the online transport reviews websites. Most are surviving by accepting advertising money from transport companies. Does that tell you anything? The information they offer is custom tailored and often tainted to hurt the transport companies that DON’T give them ad dollars.

Will my vehicle be moved from one truck to another?

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No and Yes. Once your vehicle is on the auto truck, it stays on that truck during the entire process. There are rare circumstances when your vehicle will have to be moved to a different car transport truck, but that usually is only when the truck breaks down. Your car shipping company will always inform you of any changes during your vehicle transport, and you can call your driver any time to find out the status of your transport. Also, it may switch from one carrier to other do to a long haul and one carrier doesn’t go that far and will switch to a carrier that does. The customer would be advised of switching vehicle also. This happens a lot with the long hauls these big trucks get about 5 miles to the gallon.

 

 

Insurance Coverage During Transport

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auto insuranceTo make this process as uncomplicated as possible we provide the following information. Here are some helpful tips you may not be aware of when it comes to coverage for your vehicle:

  • The cargo insurance policy in effect during transportation covers damage to the vehicle in the way of scratches, dings, dents, and gouges. It also covers neglect in loading, unloading and transportation of the vehicle by the driver. Any resulting damage would be addressed to the cargo policy in effect by the carrier.
  • Before your car is shipped we provide you with detailed instructions on how to prepare it — the insurance does not cover personal items left in the vehicle.
  • The driver inspects the vehicle for any pre-existing damage before loading you’re more than welcome to make a list of anything you are aware of or even take a couple of pictures of something in particular
  • The driver will perform the same inspection process when he delivers the vehicle. His condition report (bill of lading) will provide you with an opportunity to make note of anything that may have occurred during shipping. If damage occurs he will do our best to rectify the situation or reimburse you for any repairs that your vehicle may need.

Higher Barriers to Entry for Auto Transport Brokers

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freight If you’ve ever tried getting your car shipped, then you know that the competition is fierce. And while competition isn’t a bad thing per se, it certainly can be in some contexts. Case in point is the auto transport industry. There are over 1,000 active auto transport brokers in the US, and the vast majority of them are less than a year old. The reason why there are so many brokers is because the barriers to entry in this field (namely a $10,00 surety bond) are relatively low. But changes in the regulation of freight brokeraging now require brokers to hold  a substantially higher bond, which should have the effect of pushing out some of the smaller, less experienced, and, dare I say, less professional brokers. Other costs of operation will increase as well, putting the squeeze on the smaller guys. So as a customer, you can expect a more friendly and professional sales experience, which is certainly a welcome change. The change was made Oct 1, 2013. However, FMCSA gave a 2 month grace period so as of Dec 1, 2013 everyone had to have the 75K bond in place. This was do to the massive fraud that was happening in the industry to customers and also carriers. American Transport is both a carrier and broker.

 

Higher Barriers to Entry for Auto Transport Brokers

Basic Auto Transport Industry Rules

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1. NEVER choose a company based only on having the lowest quote (a quote is not always the price)

2. IGNORE companies who tell you that they “Have a driver or truck in your area” or “One spot left on the truck due to a last-minute cancellation” when you have no official order with them (these are just gimmicks to get you to call them and it is not an honest statement. Does it make sense that a broker really looked for a driver for your car already, before ever talking to you or getting your information? or that truck drivers are just standing by waiting around the corner?)

3. AVOID companies that claim to have their own trucks or say that they are “Family Owned and Operated” (Those are just ploys and if they offer “Nationwide” shipping they are ALWAYS a Broker and contracting carriers for you exactly like the next company, the key is to hire an honest one who protects your interests!)

4. AVOID companies that have “NO UPFRONT DEPOSIT REQUIRED” (NO DEPOSIT = NO CONTRACT)

5. DO YOUR RESEARCH by checking www.BBB.org and CAREFULLY.

 

These are Basic Auto Transport Industry Rules

Where to Find Home Relocation and Auto Transport

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Where to Find Home Relocation and Auto Transport

American Transport doesn’t support any particular relocation service, but there are several places on the net where you can evaluate companies for yourself. If your employer does not endorse a particular firm, we recommend that you use a site like Mover Reviews. But when it comes to auto transport, of course you’ll find that  American transport is simply the best!

If you’re interested in moving a car in conjunction with a home relocation, give us a call at (508) 450-5564 today and mention this post for a discounted rate!

Newenglandtoflorida.com how do I pay, and what types of payments do you accept

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credit card and newenglandtofloridaHere at NewEnglandtoFlorida.com we take all kinds of payments. Usually we take a credit card(visa, master card and american express) or check via phone for the deposit once the vehicle is loaded on the truck and secure. This amount is usually between 75-150. The balance us usually paid at drop off in the form of a money order, bank check or cash sorry no personal checks accept. Also, you can pay in full at the time of pick up instead of drop off to you are the one paying for the transport.

 

All other forms of payment must be approved by Newenglandtoflorida.com first.

What is a Snowbird Person

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A snowbird is someone from the U.S. Northeast, U.S. Midwest, Pacific Northwest, or Canada who spends a large portion of winter in warmer locales such as California, Arizona, Florida, Texas, the Carolinas, or elsewhere along the Sun Belt region of the southern and southwest United States, Mexico, and areas of the Caribbean.

The season usually start right around Oct 15th and runs up until April 15th or so. During this time car carriers are very busy and the best price cars get picked up first.

 

Snow

Upstate Vermont

Auto Transport and Snowbird Prices

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Snow

snowbird auto shipping

Please keep in mind that during the winter moving season snowbird auto transport shipment prices on snowbird routes are higher. American Transport advice to all customers is not to fall for the lowest price. The truckers have too many cars to choose from and they usually go by the highest price tag, thus a really low car shipping rate raises a red flag and vehicle could sit 3 or 4 weeks. Auto tranports Snowbird prices are usually from Oct 15th until Jan 15th