We have put together a video that informs some preparations that should be made to protect your vehicle during transport. If you have any questions please comment or post on the forum and you will receive a speedy response from a car shipping expert.

Scenario: Your car is delivered; you notice a graffiti tag or broken window on the side of your car. While the driver went in at a rest stop during transit, a group of thugs decided it would be nice to scribble their tag on the side of your mid-night blue 1968 Ford Mustang in white lettering. The driver was unaware of the whole incident. So what do you do now? Let me tell you what NOT to do.

Don’t scream from the top of your lungs at the driver. Just take a breath and remain as calm as humanly possible. Yes, I know it’s difficult. The graffiti tag will probably cost you more than the entire car shipping order to remove. But ranting and raving will get you no where. A reputable company will work with you as fast as possible to resolve any problems. Simply, contact the office (during office hours) and explain your issue as nicely as possible – yet firm. If the company refuses to hear you out and work with you -that’s okay – do the next best thing and contact the Better Business Bureau and The U.S. Dept. of Transportation located at www.dot.gov). I’m sure after they have been contacted by the BBB and DOT regarding your dispute, they will be more than willing to hear you out.

Door-to-Door shipping is not just for cars. If you own a motorcycle, you can have it shipped to your place of business, office or another location. So, that means that the truck driver will travel as close to your requested pick-up or delivery location as possible. If you live in a rural, suburban or urban area that prohibits large trucks from entering, the driver will make arrangements with you for other pick-up and delivery locations.

Motorcycle shipping companies have easy payment terms. Keep in mind that it’s not unusual for a shipping company to ask for a payment in advance with the remaining balance due upon delivery. Some companies require a percentage of the total cost of your shipping order such as 15-25%. Remember, if you are paying the remaining balance upon delivery, you will have to present the driver with a cashiers check (not a personal check) or hard money (cash). Some trucks come equipped with credit card terminals and some are not. Most car transport companies accept major credit cards such as: Visa, MasterCard, Discover and American Express. Make sure you contact the vehicle shipping company in advance if you are paying via credit card.

So, you’re finally ready for your car to be picked up and delivered to your requested destination. One of the most important things that you will want to do is be on time to meet the car transport driver. As mentioned in my previous articles about truck maneuvering restrictions, if you live in a residential area that restricts trucks from entering, your car will have to be picked up in another location. Hopefully, you live close to a shopping center or vacant parking lot where trucks can easily load up your vehicle. But, if your car is inoperable, this could present a problem for you. You will have to make arrangements to have your car towed to a location that will allow large commercial vehicles to enter.

And lastly, make sure the car transport company gives you all the paperwork that you need such as an original inspection report. This type of report contains vital information such as your car’s current mileage and info about the condition of your car at the time the driver picked up your car. Remember to keep this document because you will need to use it when your car is delivered. If someone else will be picking up your car, simply fax or mail them a copy of the report prior to the day of arrival.

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In other words: Should you hire a professional car shipping company or Joe Schmoe’s Car Shipping Company?

An amateur car shipping company may have the best prices in town but you know the old warn-out adage …you get what you pay for. Perfect example, my father in-law hired a Joe Schmoe car shipping company; someone that he thought would be reliable because he was the neighborhood handyman - a Jack of all trades. My father in-law hired him to ship his car from his home to another state. He offered to do it next to nothing.

On the day of pick-up, my father in-law called to confirm. Joe Schmoe, the driver said: “Cool, let me splash some water on my face and I’ll be there in 60 seconds.” Well, Mr. Schmoe never showed up. After calling him several times, he finally answered the phone and my father in-law rescheduled for the next day.

During pickup, Schmoe actually did a good job of loading up the vehicle. My father paid him the car shipping fee and Schmoe was on his way. Transit time should have taken only 2-3 hours. Ten hours later, Schmoe-Ann, Joe Schmoe’s wife called. She told my father in-law that her husband got arrested for DUI and they impounded his truck, and yes, you guessed correctly – along with my father in-law’s car.

$250 down the drain. My father in-law had to wait a whole week to get his car back. I asked him was it worth the hassle – absolutely not was his answer. He was better off hiring a professional car shipping company. It may have cost him $600 - $800 but at least his car would have arrived to his point of destination safely.