If you have to ship your classic car for any reason, make sure you choose a transport company that actually specializes in this type of vehicle. What’s great is that this service is rather easy to find today, but with all providers being unique, how do you know which one to choose?
To get started, you can ask friends, relatives, coworkers, and so on. Major auction companies, local car club members and museums will be great sources of leads. Again, you need to hire a classic vehicle specialist, if only to ensure that any damages are prevented, especially to the chassis. And if you don’t want to compromise on the quality of this service, don’t decide based purely on price. Reputable carriers usually have similar cost structures and if you find an unusually low offer, that is probably a bad sign. Among the simplest ways of sizing up a transport company is to ask about the length of their experience in the business. You can also research their safety and insurance status at the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration’s website.
One of the decisions you need to make when this service is whether you want your car shipped in an open or enclosed trailer. Open transport cost less, but unless your car is due for restoration, closed transport is preferable because this service has less associated risks. And remember that most open trailers don’t have a winch for non-running vehicles, and there are some carriers that charge ridiculously high fees for unserviceable cars. In any case, do not commit to a carrier until you have understood all fees.
As to insurance, a carrier will only be responsible for issues arising from its own acts of negligence and not from any undeterminable acts of nature. Hence, before transporting your car, ensure that it is is covered with agreed value coverage from a collector car insurance provider.
Also remember that auto transport is unique from airplane or train travel in that it is not as frequently or regularly scheduled. After you place e an order for this service, the transport company still has to gather a minimum number of cars before routing moving on with the shipment. Depending on the time of year and your location, this can take up to several weeks. Once you hear of a coming storm, start talking to the transporters you have listed early on. In that case, a smaller local company may be best for you and will be be able to get you in immediately. It’s also smart to consider two or three different carriers and compare their reviews and ratings, prices, etc.before making a choice.
