Car shipping scams are everywhere, and they’re costing many consumers money and time every year, which can be catastrophic if you need to get your car or boat from one coast to another quickly. To help you avoid this issue in the future, we’ve put together a list of five ways to avoid shipping scams in 2022.
Always use a licensed car transport company
Many people think they can save money by using an unlicensed company. However, these companies often fail to deliver their customers’ cars and disappear without a trace, causing customers significant inconvenience and loss of time. And even if your car does get delivered on time, there’s no guarantee that it won’t be damaged along the way.
By using a licensed car transport company, you can rest assured that your vehicle will arrive on time and in perfect condition. If you’re not sure whether or not a company is licensed, simply check with your state department of transportation for more information. Also keep in mind that some companies require you to buy auto insurance through them before transporting your car; always do research before committing to any policy.
Insurance:
Not all shipping companies offer insurance coverage. This means that if something happens to your car during transit, you may have no recourse when trying to recover damages from either party involved. For example, if you ship your car with a trucking company and it crashes into another vehicle, who is responsible? Is it your responsibility to pay for repairs because you shipped with a non-insured carrier? Or are you going to file suit against both parties involved? A little due diligence goes a long way here.
Documentation:
Ask about the documentation. What kind of paperwork needs to fill out prior to shipping (i.e., bill of lading, etc.)? Are copies provided at pickup and delivery locations? Will someone call ahead to make arrangements for pick-up and delivery?
Reliability:
Do you know anyone who has used a particular shipper? Are they happy with their service? Have they had any problems in recent years? How quickly did they respond to requests for service? These are just a few questions that should be asked.
Prices:
Find out what other companies charge for similar services. You don’t want to overpay, but you also don’t want to go with a company that charges significantly less than everyone else.
Reputation:
Check online reviews and ratings. Some sites include testimonials from past customers regarding their experiences working with various carriers.
Customer Service:
When choosing a car transport company, you must decide between dedicated and non-dedicated vehicles. Dedicated vehicles are trucks that only carry one type of cargo, such as automobiles. Non-dedicated vehicles are trucks that haul multiple types of cargo, such as moving vans. Non-dedicated vehicles may seem like a good idea initially because they tend to cost less per mile. However, they are can not handle large loads and could potentially damage your vehicle.
Price Comparison:
Once you’ve narrowed down your list of potential car transport companies, it’s time to compare prices. Make sure that you’re comparing apples to apples in terms of distance, number of miles per load, weight capacity, fuel surcharges, and so on.
Insurance
Don’t assume that a car transport company is insured unless you specifically ask if they are. Each state sets its own requirements for insurance, so it’s important to ask if your car will cover in case of accident or theft.
Reviews:
Look for companies that provide detailed, descriptive reviews from past customers. Pay attention to negative feedback as well as positive feedback.
The shipper should have experience handling your type of vehicle
Make sure that you find a shipper who’s worked with cars like yours before, since shipping processes and options vary by vehicle type. Look for photos of similar vehicles on their website, ask for references from customers with cars similar to yours, or check out other ways they can prove they have experience handling your specific car. You should also make sure that you understand how much it will cost to ship your car based off its year, make, model, and mileage; if you don’t understand what something costs or why it costs that amount (like gate fees), ask them to explain. The more you know about everything involved in shipping your car, the better prepared you’ll be when it comes time to pay.
Get a copy of your carrier’s insurance policy
You can find these policies on your carrier’s website. It should outline exactly what they cover and where they fall short. If you’re not sure if your policy will protect you in case of a loss, be sure to ask an agent at your carrier directly. A clear set of rules will help cut down on any confusion or conflicts later on. If you aren’t satisfied with their answer, look for another carrier with a more detailed policy that suits your needs better.
Notify your bank that you will be shipping your car
If you’re planning on shipping your car, make sure you notify your bank beforehand. If a bank receives a fraudulent order, it will be credited back to you. However, if they don’t receive any communication from you about your order, they are unlikely to honor that same refund after scammed out of money by an auto shipper. Instead, notify them early and then take steps on how notifying banks before shipping a car.
Always get proof of delivery
Never hand over your car without proof that it’s been delivered. Ask for a picture of your car on a truck. It doesn’t matter if you have no intention of taking legal action; you need evidence that you handed over your vehicle and when. If something goes wrong and you can prove that it happened, then at least there’s some sort of recourse for justice. A receipt is not enough—that could be faked or manipulated. A photo is much more difficult to dispute. You don’t even need to show your face, but ask for a clear shot of your license plate. That way, you know that nobody else has access to those photos except for yourself. And they can’t alter them either. Make sure they include any extra fees as well so you know exactly what you paid for. As an added precaution, write down all details about who you spoke with and how to contact them. These details will be invaluable if anything does go wrong later on. This may seem like overkill, but you should never underestimate people trying to scam others out of their hard-earned money.