There are two categories of clients that use auto shipping services, more often than not. The first and quite frequent option is those that need interstate auto shipment services. The second is those who need international auto shipment services.
Quite frankly, this article is not so tailored for those in the latter category. There are even fewer companies that offer this service compared to those that offer interstate auto shipment services. However, you can check here for more information about shipping vehicles across countries.
The fact that more people use interstate auto shipment services has not stopped some people from making costly mistakes when using these services. This article intends to expose some of such mistakes to avoid them. So, ensure that you keep reading to find out about them.
Shipping Your Car to another State without Any Hassle
The sort of services rendered by car shipping companies can pass for sensitive services. As a result, you need to get the process right to avoid issues at any point. In light of this, discussed below are a few common mistakes people make in the process and how to avoid them:
Choosing Randomly
You cannot just randomly choose a company in this line of business and always expect to get value for money. In other words, due diligence is of the essence.
You need to spend enough time researching available local options. At the end of it all, the best option for the task should be chosen. By the way, some tips for choosing the right company include reading reviews and asking for recommendations.
Not Getting Things in Writing
Making decisions only based on verbal statements and agreements is a common mistake and could be a very huge one. The reason is that it is your word against the company’s and clients in this position mostly do not always have the advantage.
For this reason, make sure you have everything in writing. That includes the quote (detailing the service charge) and the bill of lading (detailing the condition of the vehicle). For more on this subject, you can visit: https://www.theladders.com/.
Taking Insurance Coverage Lightly
Most people make their choices based on options that offer cheaper prices. While using this service does not have to eat too deep into your wallet, other important factors have to be considered.
One such is the extent of insurance coverage that clients are entitled to if things go wrong. For example, this could be in cases of road accidents or mishaps of any kind.
The irony is that a lot of ridiculously cheap companies are only able to offer cheap services because their clients are not entitled to insurance coverage or sufficient insurance coverage. This is not worth it regardless of how cheap the service is. So, you should avoid such companies.
Not Verifying Credentials and Licenses
All of the mistakes discussed here should be avoided. However, making this particular one can be very costly. For example, some people have unfortunately become victims of scammers who profess to be auto transport companies.
The refusal to verify the credentials and licenses of companies that claim to render these services is one of the reasons for this. So, this mistake should be avoided (particularly) for this reason.
Not Planning Ahead
A lot of people wait until the last minute to schedule car shipment services. This can be disadvantageous for several reasons including the following reasons:
Possibility of Not Getting a Spot
There are peak periods for car shipping companies. These are periods when demand for these services far exceeds supply. This simply means that many of these companies are stretched beyond their limit. As a result, they may be unable to service the needs of people who do not schedule for auto shipment well ahead of time.
Costly
The cost of shipping vehicles across states is not static. This is because the cost of transporting cars to another state is affected by several variable factors. Some of these factors include:
- Fuel price
- Weather and climatic conditions
- Vehicle type and weight
However, experience has shown how people who schedule these services well ahead of time are more likely to pay less. This cost-saving benefit could be enough reason to schedule auto shipment services well ahead of time.
Little time for Well-Grounded Research
Several companies render auto shipment services. This is even though there are more companies in certain places than in other places. It takes a while to research the several local companies in this line of business and compare them.
Unfortunately, people who make emergency bookings do not have the luxury of time. As a result, they are more likely to make a random choice, which leads us back to the first discussed common mistake.
Final Note
There is a very long list of mistakes that some people who use interstate car shipping services make. However, some are indeed more common than others and 5 of these very common mistakes have been exposed here. These mistakes should be avoided considering how costly they can be.