Aside from the standard full coverage insurance that protects your vehicle against dents or damages that occur during the shipping and delivery of your vehicle, there is also an additional type of coverage offered to water-shipped cars: total loss. Total loss insurance pays you back in case the boat sinks or your vehicle is stolen at the destination port. Total loss is optional and it will cost 1.5 percent of the total cost of the vehicle. There is no deductible here, though, if you need to cash in.

Full coverage insurance is needed if you want protection against smaller damage, such as scratches, dents and other small issues. Most companies shipping internationally will not include this in the price of the shipping and will require an additional payment of 2.5 percent of the cost of the vehicle in order to cover it. There is a small deductible for this type of insurance, usually between $500-1,000.

When contracting an auto shipping service, make sure you read the small print to find out what are you being offered and what is optional, so you can choose wisely based on the cost of your vehicle and the risks up ahead.

If you’re shipping your car internationally, there is a chance you may need to keep the vehicle in storage for a period of time. This can mean a nice, climate-controlled place in a storage unit, or it can mean a metal container on the dock. To make sure your car survives the storage process with no problems, there are some things you can do in advance:

1. Make sure the gas tank is not empty. That can cause condensation and lead to engine problems.

2. Find out where vehicles are stored and whether there is high humidity in the area. If so, ask if you can disengage the parking brake. Some companies may refuse, but if they don’t, this can help you avoid corrosion.

3. Make sure the car is clean. Wash it and wax it before shipping. This will protect the paint more than any other thing you do.

4. Ask whether the company can disconnect the battery for you at the destination port. Only do this if you expect the car to be in storage for over a month. It will keep the battery from draining.

5. Don’t put things in the trunk. Many companies will not allow this anyway, but even if they do, avoid storing things that can break, freeze or otherwise cause damage to your car.

If you are shopping for the right car shipping company, locating and comparing prices can be the biggest challenge. Rather than going around calling every single company in the phone book, you can search online for price comparison sites and tables to help you get a better idea of what is available.

A good place to get started is ProAutoTransport.com, which offers comparison tables for companies that ship within the US and Canada. Keep in mind that international movers are not included here, so if you’re looking to ship your car overseas, you need to look elsewhere. Also, the prices offered in sites like this should be considered general guidelines, not exact, billable totals.

If you want something more specific, you can look into www.autoshippingfinder.com, which allows you to specify your needs and car details and then sends your request to companies, which will then contact you directly with a price quote. While this is a lot more specific, it can also get confusing eventually, as there as many as 50 companies listed in their directories, and trying to remember what all of them said in separate emails can get overwhelming.

In the end, remember that taking your time to compare prices and services is essential to a safe and successful shipping, so research your options well, not matter how you do it.

When searching for a car shipping company, price is only one of the many things you need to keep in mind. This is especially true if you are shipping an exotic or one-of-a-kind vehicle or if you have special circumstances that need to be addressed, such as the need for storage (rather than immediate delivery) once the car makes it to its destination.

If you’re searching online for a car shipping company, your best bet is to look into directories, which will list several companies and most likely offer comparison tables. Many directories are also arranged by state or city, so you can find a local company. This can help you cut costs and make things easier by dealing with an organization that knows your area and can arrange pick-ups faster.

If you have a special vehicle that you need shipped, such as a motorcycle or a boat, you want a company that specializes in that or that at least has a specific department or division that can deal with the particularities of shipping that. Large companies are not necessarily better than local ones, but they may have more manpower and experience, especially when it comes to special cases or shipping to particular destinations.

When it comes to international car shipping, unfortunately, many people choose international companies with blind folds on.  Like children playing with a piñata, when all the candy falls out, they grab the first piece of candy that falls to the ground. 

When googling for a car transporter, don’t chose the first company that pops up in your Google search engine …just because a car shipping company has high rankings in the search engines doesn’t mean that it offers quality service.   

A great way to rate an International car shipping company’s service is by reading the company reviews online.  Another great way to find out if a company is up to par is by asking the international shipping company for references from previous customers.