6 Tips for Choosing the Right Auto Transport Company

Key Takeaways:

  • Tackling long-distance drives by yourself can be dangerous and expensive
  • Hiring a private car transport company reduces dangers for you and your vehicle
  • Five key things differentiate good auto carriers from bad, including price transparency, licensing, and insurance
  • There are financial risks associated with insufficient carrier research

There are many reasons you should use an auto transport company to ship your vehicle. Greater fuel economy. Lower insurance costs. Increased personal safety. Those are just three of the top ten benefits that will tell you why you should hire a professional for Florida vehicle transport. The next thing you need to know is how.

Florida is one of the most popular destinations in America for tourism, relocation, and retirement, and many of the carrier rigs you see on the East Coast are headed to or from the Sunshine State. Hiring a car transport company to get your vehicle to Florida can go one of two ways: you’ll either greatly reduce your stress and optimize your budget or generate unnecessary worry and expense.

This guide will tell you everything you need to know to select an operator you can count on. It will cover what you should expect from auto transport companies in Florida, spotlight some of the most common and costly concerns, and tell you who to call for quality, cost-effective car hauling.

Basic Considerations in the Auto Transport Process

An auto transport company must get your vehicle to and from its pick-up and drop-off points with a minimum of delays and a great deal of care. At the very least this involves getting your vehicle safely and efficiently onto the truck, securing it for transit, and taking it off carefully at the other side. This seems simple enough, right?

This is where the biggest problem in the shipping sector lies. The process is so essentially uncomplicated that anybody with a rig could go into business as an auto carrier, offer rates that look attractive initially, and make a lot of boastful claims while supplying no proof they’re even true. The next thing you know you’re waving your car off while still having the apprehensive feeling that something isn’t quite right.

Not every vehicle owner appreciates that they – not the auto carrier – are the most important force in creating a positive and successful shipping experience. It doesn’t matter if it’s your first time shipping a car to or from Florida or anywhere else: the power rests with you. Use some of these insider tips and develop a little healthy cynicism so you’ll be positioned to confidently select an auto carrier and better assess any company that claims to be one you can trust.

6 Essential Tips in Finding a Trustworthy Auto Transport Company

A great many auto transport companies are working in and around Florida, which can make it difficult to know where to start. The companies worth your time and money can be chosen based on six key factors, just like their peers nationwide:

Their Licenses Are in Order

There are two main things to look for when considering auto transport companies in Florida: licensing and registration with the U.S. Department of Transport (USDOT) and the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA). Good auto transport companies will display their USDOT number and FMCSA status clearly on their website or supply them when asked.

Their Reviews and Their Responses to Them Are Positive

Licenses and certifications are ultimately just words and numbers (albeit especially important ones). How private car transport companies treat their customers matters just as much. Take some time to read an auto carrier’s customer reviews to see how courteously they behave as people as well as to check into their professional performance. Take special note of how they respond to both positive and negative feedback; ignoring or being hostile with negative comments is cause for concern.

They Have Insurance to Offer Financial Protection for Your Vehicle

Florida vehicle transport companies are legally required to have carrier insurance to protect your vehicle while it’s in transit. Even when a carrier does supply coverage you may want to supplement it, especially if you need exotic car transport or are moving a classic or collectible. Ask about the carrier’s coverage limit as well. It may be too low, in which case you should speak to your insurance company about auto transport policies.

They Provide a Choice Between Open and Enclosed Transport

The better auto transport companies will supply both open and enclosed shipping methods. Each comes with pros and cons relating to transit exposure and how long shipping might take. Open transport is cheaper and more readily available, with the caveat of greater exposure to the elements and on-road debris. Enclosed carriers remove those disadvantages but will cost more and tend to take longer. You should explore both options before deciding.

You Get Honest Answers About Pricing

The final cost of shipping a car anywhere has plenty of variables, including the type and dimensions of the vehicle, the method of shipping, and the time of year. The ballpark figure to ship a vehicle to Florida is between $500 and $2,000, which fluctuates with each customer’s needs.

You’re Not Promised a Guaranteed Delivery Time

This is a good sign, believe it or not! How long the auto shipping process takes from A to B depends on several factors, including driving limits set by the FMCSA. The time of the year can influence traffic levels and weather patterns, both of which can depend on the season and may cause delays. Customer flexibility and timing shipping right also matter. It’s important to understand the variables that impact the carrier’s schedule and adjust your expectations accordingly.

You are now well on your way to understanding more about the shipping process and how to check all the key points of various car hauling companies. Now it’s time to get real about the other risks you might run into if you move too fast when choosing Florida vehicle transport or if you decide to drive those long distances on your own.

Some of the Common Pitfalls Associated with Auto Transport

Some motorists think paying private car transport companies for a job they can do by themselves is a waste of money. Others who are open to the idea can fall victim to towing scams and shady operators. Here is some cautionary advice to help keep everyone safer:

Solo Trips Are Expensive and Risky

Your car/truck/bike will guzzle fuel every mile of the journey while you and any passengers must eat and drink. Tolls will mount up. You may have to stop overnight and pay to repair on-road damage. Road trips are exhausting, expensive, and potentially dangerous, so think twice before tackling that long-distance drive alone (or at least take our safety guide with you).

Not All Private Car Transport Companies are Trustworthy

Auto transport swindles and clumsy auto handling are sadly common. A lack of research on the customer’s part through inexperience or haste can result in hiring a careless company that will damage the vehicle. Some carriers with no trustworthy service record and reviews might continuously escalate their shipping price from the first quote. Other criminal operators will simply steal your vehicle and disappear.

The Numbers Don’t Always Check Out

Unscrupulous auto carriers can easily fake USDOT and FMCSA credentials, hoping customers won’t know what they are or will just accept them at face value. Never take anything for granted when interacting with auto transport companies in Florida! We recommend checking every carrier using the SAFER system. This is free of charge and will tell you everything you need to know about the company’s performance record and other important information.

Rushing the selection process or being too trusting can mean disaster for you and your vehicle. Geyers Towing and Transport can deliver a friendly, knowledgeable, and verifiable service that removes all the above risks and lets you ship your car safely at the best possible price.

Contact the Experts in Florida Vehicle Transport

Geyers Towing and Transport proudly serves Maryland, Florida, and places in between. You will find us working with individuals and families up and down the East Coast, getting their vehicles where they need to go and providing transparent, competitive auto transport quotes they can understand.

Our team picks up and delivers vehicles of all types, from trail bikes to tractor-trailers. We safely move anything you drive from point A to point B as quickly as on-road conditions allow, and you can be assured of the most considerate and careful treatment.

We have over 20 years of experience with hauling cars and exotic car transport, are registered with the USDOT and the FMCSA, and employ only fully licensed and insured staff. Why wait and wonder if you can ship your vehicle to Florida this year without worry? Contact us for a free, same-day quote!

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