Many of us simply do not have the time or patience to stop and read every single line that’s printed in a contract. We just want things over and done with a.s.a.p. Remember, in shipping your prized possession (your car), there is no such thing as a “verbal contract”. Get your shipping agreement in writing!

One thing that you should look for when reading over your contract is the statement about “no guarantee” for exact delivery or pick-up dates. This is very important because many transport companies do not guarantee this. Another thing to look out for is the cancellation fee. Don’t rely on your car shipping representative’s word. Car shipping companies, however, do charge a cancellation fee that can cost you anywhere from $49 to over $200.

Additionally, an auto shipping service will often advertise that they offer car rental services if your delivery is late (1 to 2 weeks). Make certain that you know all the costs involved and get it in writing. This will help you to avoid unnecessary confusion and misunderstanding.

After you have placed your order via the Internet, your order is assigned to a representative from the auto shipping company that you’ve selected. You will then be emailed during their business hours. The auto shipping company representative will contact you through the phone to go over your transporting needs. You will be able to contact you will be able to contact the transporting company to check the status of your order and any other concerns that you may have during shipment. The next step will be to schedule your pick up and delivery. The majority of the auto shipping companies will give you an estimated time frame of shipping. Keep in mind that uncontrollable weather and traffic conditions may cause delay.

You will then receive a phone call from the driver within 24 hours before deliver or pick up of your car. At this point, the driver will be able to calculate a more precise timeframe. When the driver arrives, he will inspect your vehicle on what is called a Bill of Lading. Make sure that you fully inspect your car as well and it wouldn’t hurt to take good photos of your car at that very moment. When your car is delivered, the driver will present you with the same Bill of Lading. Make sure that you fully re-inspect inspect your car after it is delivered. It will be easier for you to be compensated if you notice damage to your vehicle at the moment it is delivered rather than 2 or 3 days later.

If the regular timeframes for shipping a vehicle is too long for you, express auto transport is a great option. Express auto transporting timeframes may seem too good to be true so there must be a catch, right? There is no catch. Many people are unaware that when you choose express auto transport to ship your vehicle that your car is not covered. Auto transport companies do provide insurance coverage if your regular insurance does not cover auto shipping.

Most companies’ coverage is generally $1,000,000. If your car is damaged during transport, cargo insurance will actually protect your car up to the companies’ coverage amount or equal to the value of your car. So, now you can breathe and relax a little.

If you need expedited service for your vehicle, it will cost you more …but its worth it if you need your vehicle transported immediately. With express transport, depending upon the company, it will pick up and deliver your car within a 10 day time frame. Express service can cost up to $600. Car shipping companies charge more with expedited car shipping because they carry less vehicles on the truck. This is one of the reasons why they are capable of providing fast delivery.

Always read the terms and conditions of an vehicle shipping company. A reputable auto transporter will make your car their top priority. A legitimate auto carrier will have a Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration MC number or a US DOT number. This proves that a transport carrier is licensed and bonded.

It can take between 3 to 15 days depending on where you are shipping your motorcycle to. For example: if you are shipping your bike from coast-to-coast it normally takes up to 15 days. And if you it’s being transported up and down the coast, it can take anywhere between 3 to 10 days on average. To get a more accurate estimation, simply contact your motorcycle transporter and they will be able to give you a delivery time frame.

How much will all of this cost you? It all depends. You can get a motorcycle shipping quote by simply calling your local shipping company or better yet, search on the Internet. Most shipping companies offer instant quotes by filling out online form. You will be asked the following:

1. Vehicle pick up and destination & dates
2. Year, make and model
3. Cycle condition (operational, rolling or non-operational)

Giving your motorcycle transporter accurate information will help you expedite time and money. If you have any questions feel free to leave a comment or ask a quest in our motorcycle shipping forum.