Frequently Asked Questions Related Vehicle Shipping

Nowadays, many people are inclined towards vehicle shipping services for importing/exporting vehicles. However, not many people are familiarized with auto transport process, which is why they especially those looking for vehicle shipping for first time, often get confused while acquiring vehicle-shipping services. In order to educate such people regarding auto transport process, question and answers are the best way. Here are some of frequently asked questions regarding the vehicle shipping process that can help people to have an understanding with process:

What points should be considered while hiring an auto shipping company?

The safety of your vehicle during its relocation mainly depends on car shipping company. Therefore, it is imperative to hire the one, which is licensed, insured, and experienced.

How can you determine reliability of an auto shipping company?

A number of ways can help customers to determine expertise of an auto shipping company. However, the best way is to check it with federal agencies such as the US Department of Transportation (USDOT), Federal Moving Carrier and Safety Administration (FMCSA), and Federal Maritime Commission (FMC) that regulate interstate and overseas auto transportation.

Moreover, verifying auto shipper with Better Business Bureau (BBB) can help people to know how company deals with its customers. Reading vehicle-shipping reviews and requesting auto-shipping quote are also useful to compare its services with other well-known companies.

Which is the best method for transporting vehicle safely?

All methods are secure and safe ways of relocating vehicles. It generally depends on the type of vehicle required to move. For transporting a classic car, enclosed transportation and RoRo auto shipping are considered best for domestic and international auto shipping respectively. Both are safe, secure, and cost effective as compared to any other method of vehicle shipping.

Can I ship my car, if it does not run?

Well, no for international vehicle shipping because companies do not like transporting out of order cars overseas. However, for domestic transportation you can ship an out of order vehicle, if you inform the shipper about its running condition.

How can I ensure safety of my vehicle?

When you choose auto transportation method like enclosed and RoRo for your vehicle shipping, vehicle is shipped at the destination safely. However, if you are much concerned about safety of vehicle, you must get your vehicle shipping insured by getting a vehicle shipping insurance. Means, if your vehicle crashes or gets any damage during its transportation, you will be able to claim it.

Federal Motor Carrier and Safety Administration-Avoid Fake Auto Shipping Companies

Auto transport services are very popular nowadays. People, who want to transport vehicles to distant cities, hire vehicle transporters for shipping their vehicles to desired area. In addition, people who purchase cars from automotive dealers in other cities also choose to ship their vehicles with the help of auto transporters. Vehicle shipping services are preferred because they relieve of people from hassles of relocating car on their own. Therefore, if you want to relocate a vehicle, you should hire a car shipping company for transporting it because it is cost effective.

When looking for an auto transport company, one of major thing you will need is to avoid vehicle shipping scams. Auto transport industry comprises of both licensed and illegal car shipping companies because of which it becomes hard to find out a reputable network of auto transporters for shipping vehicle. A number of ways can help you to check if it is legitimate or fraud. If you are hiring a company for transporting your vehicle, you should verify it with following federal agency to make sure it is not a scam:

Federal Motor Carrier and Safety Administration (FMCSA)

It is subsidiary of U.SDepartment of Transportation, which particularly deals with interstate moving companies. In order to verify your auto mover, you should contact Federal Moving Carrier and Safety Administration (FMCSA). It holds record of all legitimate vehicle shipping companies. In order to verify company with FMCSA, you should log onto agency’s website and visit Safety and Search.

The safety and search allows citizens to access safety record of an auto shipping company. You can check your car transporter by entering its official name or US DOT number. When you will enter name of vehicle shipper, it will possibly come with following results:

1.  Does not exist, means the vehicle shipper is not registered with Federal Department of Transportation. Hence, it is not legitimate..

2.      Inactive DOT number means the company has been asked by DOT to shut its operations due to violation of rules and regulations. Thus, it is an unprofessional and inexperienced vehicle shipping company.

3.      Record exist means the car shipper is registered with DOT. Check its safety record and make sure it is insured as well.

You must also check rating of auto shipper with Federal Motor Carrier and Safety Administration. It will enable you to see whether it meets standards of vehicle shipping as well as where it stands among reputable companies.