Shipping Your Auto Can Save You Money

By Tom Kearns

Nowadays it becomes more and more of a necessity for any adult to own a car. While in big bustling cities it may be increasingly more convenient to get by on foot or by means of public transport, many prosperous towns have wretched bus service and are generally so planned that without a car it is near impossible to do even your essential shopping. As a result the average family owns at least two cars.

If you or a member of your family is planning to relocate, driving your car(s) yourself to your far off new home may seem convenient, but oh my, what a hassle. Think auto transport company. These companies exist to transport many vehicles at once over long distances, saving stress on both you and your car as well as being economical. Your car will be provided with some protection against bad weather, bad road conditions, and vandalism or theft. Auto shipping companies offer many services for any type of vehicle and are specialists in what they do.

If you are not naturally a planner, this is the time you need to change that. You need to make careful preparations based on your circumstances. Figure the cost of driving those vehicles yourself including fuel, wear and tear on the car and you (and quite possibly other drivers in other vehicles) and the cost of food and lodging on the road, especially over long distances. Compare this total with an estimate from a reliable auto shipper and you will undoubtedly hire the carrier.

There are further considerations that affect the pricing. The date you want your car(s) to be delivered as well as condition and type of vehicle all play into the charges. However, if the destination is far, far away, whether your car is an old clunker or a sleek, sexy new one, hiring a professional, reliable auto shipper is the wise and budget-friendly way to go.

Standard transport companies will offer various plans of shipment services at various prices. The cheapest being the "economy guide". This is something of a crap shoot, though, because your vehicle will only be loaded if there is enough room for it on the carrier - first come first served. To get your car into a priority shipping time slot, you will have to pay more. The "economy guide" plan is only for the truly financially strapped and/or those who really don't give a hoot when their vehicle arrives at its destination.

Next to "economy guide" in price is shipment by open carrier, which leaves the car open to inclement weather conditions, road conditions, flying debris, and possible damage by other vehicles on the carrier. A safer choice and more expensive one is the closed carrier which avoids the aforementioned hazards. There is also "Full Service" available with both open and closed shipment that guarantees door-to-door service of pick up and delivery on specific dates. You can minimize costs somewhat by reducing the weight of the vehicle. Remove any objects that can be removed from the car, do not load any personal belongings and make sure the tank is as low as is reasonable -these are some ways to lower the car's weight and thereby the price. - 30242

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Auto Shippers May Be A Great Alternative To Driving Across Country

By Tom Kearns

Many occasions arise when it is more feasible to use a professional service to transport a vehicle form one state to another. You may need to move and you are pressed on time, so you fly and then have the vehicle transported by an auto shipper. Auto shippers are in business for this very reason.

Shipping an automobile can be a good way to limit the wear and tear on a vehicle. They can also be a great way to get a car from one destination or another when you need to fly. No matter what the reason you can be assured that chances are there are several auto shippers in your area that can provide expert shipping service.

Not only can traveling long distance place unnecessary wear on a vehicle it can also be time consuming and cost you additional expenses. When you calculate the expense for lodging in food as you travel from A to b you may determine that it is actually more economical for you to have the auto transport move the vehicle for you.

All of these factors can make using auto shippers a more feasible and practical choice than driving the vehicle from one point to another yourself. There are many auto shippers who are reputable and economical.

Auto shippers use many different methods to transport a vehicle from A to B. One way that is becoming increasingly more popular is to use a train to transport your vehicle. Trains can often transport faster and for a smaller fee.

While most auto shippers will use tractor trailers or car carriers there are also trains that provide these services. Transporting of a vehicle using a train can often be a quicker and more affordable way to transport a vehicle. To check out the availability of a train auto transporter in your area you can reference autos by train on the internet.

It is also a good idea to know what type of carrier your auto transporter will be using. Many auto shippers will use flat beds, these are great if you have a vehicle that you do not need to have cover and you are not concerned about getting dirty or possibly hit by small objects that get lifted off the road.

When transporting a rare or exotic automobile it is a good idea to find auto shippers that will provide an enclosed carrier. If you are not concerned with the vehicle being exposed to the elements and dirt and other debris that may come in to contact with the vehicle during transport then you may want to find a small auto shipper who will use a flat bed. These independents can often be the most economical choice. - 30242

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Brokers and Customer Responsiveness in Auto Shipping

By Tom Kearns

When dealing with a company yourself, you may get that feeling that all is not right but don't have enough knowledge of the industry to ask the right questions in order to satisfy yourself of the company's reliability. This is where the broker steps in. Brokers have the whereabouts to check out a company's insurance, reliability record, the reputation within the industry as well as with past customers. They can also verify that they are licensed in order to do what they do.

A broker will select from a sea of companies, reputable companies of all sizes and with varying services and show them to you for a final decision. It would not be good business sense for a broker to offer you a company to contract with that would not lead to your satisfaction. The broker has better access to the information that concerns you most.

A website worth noting is Transportreviews.com. You can research brokers and companies on the site and aside from what the broker tells you about the company, this site allows to look into customer reviews. You can determine from the site how many cars are shipped per month and compare the number of positive responses with the negative. You will undoubtedly uncover way more positive reviews than negative, because human nature is such that if they have a negative experience, they will deal directly with the company and/or broker to come to a solution. But, at any rate, you can compare the magnitude of the company's business with the rate of happy customers.

Full customer satisfaction is the goal of any worthy enterprise and the heart and soul of his business. But while 100% positive responses are not a sign of total reliability, neither are 100% negative responses significant proof a company is completely undependable. You should pay the most attention to whether the nature of the complaint is major or minor and if it reoccurs with any degree of consistency. You will have to perform this analysis yourself, the website won't do it for you. Remember any negative comments could be coming from someone for whom the company bent over backward to please, and there was just no pleasing this irrational hothead.

A wide variety of complaints may be as bad or worse. A company might not have one particular tricky angle figured out, but be otherwise competent. But a company which dissatisfy in a number of related fields is probably badly run or hasn't the budget to cope with basic requirements, or both.

Nonetheless, customer response is only an early phase of your investigation and one of the very few you can research yourself without a broker. By hiring a broker, you will be able to take advantage of the information he can uncover that you can't, not just cryptic customer reviews but official documents and records as well as professional experience, industry knowledge and advice. You will avoid the tedious details involved in industry bureaucracy and endless negotiations to set a price. A good broker is an effective negotiator who will save you money while charging a nominal fee, usually between $100 and $200 dollars for their services depending on the complexity and time restrictions your particular job entails. - 30242

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