Choosing an Auto Transport Company

paulo57509 · Oct 15, 2009

I need to have my recovered stolen vehicle shipped from Denver, CO to Stockton, CA and I'm wondering how to go about sizing up a transport company.

For those of you that have shipped cars before, what did you look for in a company?

I have quotes from 8 different transport companies; all their prices are around the $500 mark with the lowest at $450 and the highest at $775.

My next step is the BBB, review complaints, raves, etc.

I'm not shipping a concourse type vehicle; an open trailer would be fine.

What about deposits, etc? I have heard you shouldn't use a company that requires a deposit. I guess I would like to know how this transportation business works.

Thanks.

greenaccord02 · Oct 16, 2009

I'd get a one-way plane ticket there and rent a truck to tow it back myself. ROADTRIP!

TooManyWheels · Oct 16, 2009

Here are the basic options -

Tight schedule, or when trucks are available?

Door to door delivery, or depot to depot?

Open truck or covered truck?

Is the company a broker, or an actual trucking company?

And finally, reputation of the shipper re cost, care of the vehicle, ease of dealing with, and adherence to promises/schedule.

There are various auto transport rating sites out there, and there used to be a page that described the business in detail. I will try to find some good links for you.

Meanwhile, I have used, and recommended that friends use DAS - Dependable Auto Shipping. They are usually one of the most recommended, although someone has a horror story about EVERY shipper.

TooManyWheels · Oct 16, 2009

Another factor is insurance coverage. My experience was that some companies would imply a certain amount of coverage, but the specifics of what was actually covered, and under what conditions, was very fuzzy. Since your insurance company may be reimbursing you for this, bring them into the conversation.

mrsilv04 · Oct 16, 2009

Shouldn't your insurance company be coordinating this?

CROWNVIC4LIFE · Oct 16, 2009

Originally Posted By: greenaccord02
I'd get a one-way plane ticket there and rent a truck to tow it back myself. ROADTRIP!

+1
Down here in South Florida I see how the cars are taken care of once the trucking company gets them...The cars come down hard off the the ramps...What I don't understand is why a lot of the companies leave all the windows down on the cars after the they load them in the truck letting the rain,dirt and everything get into the interior...I see that all the time out on the interstate down here..

TooManyWheels · Oct 16, 2009

Here is an auto shipper rating site

http://www.transportreviews.com/directory/reports/pasttwoyears.asp

levi · Oct 16, 2009

Originally Posted By: TooManyWheels
Here is an auto shipper rating site

http://www.transportreviews.com/directory/reports/pasttwoyears.asp

Great link, TooMany. Bookmarking for any future need. Thanks.

tonycarguy · Oct 17, 2009

Only deal with the shipping company directly. Most of the problems I've heard of were with brokers.

I had my car shipped door to door in an enclosed trailer. They treated the car very well, cost was about $0.95 per mile but this was back when gas was $4/gal. They did not require a deposit.

Ensure that the truck has adequate insurance. Typically they have $100k or 250k for the entire load.

For references, I would ask dealerships who they use. Fedex Auto is good but they may be out of your price range.

JustinH · Oct 17, 2009

I used Carmoves.com twice.

No issues, once was from Buffalo to Texas, the other was Texas back to Buffalo.

It was much cheaper than buying a plane ticket, and driving a full sized truck back, plus the cost of my time..

Just make sure you are fully insured. If it is a real nice car I would consider enclosed trailer, but honestly most cars arrive on open car trailers new to the dealer, so I chose to save the money.

I would also put your regular car insurance on the car just in case, and call them to see if they will cover while in transport.

Car moves is definitely a broker. I had my car arrive from Texas on a full car trailer, with several other cars on it. Mine was in the middle.

When I sold my truck to a fellow in Texas, a f450 showed up with a 5th wheel trailer, that held 4 vehicles on it.

It was owned by a guy who had a very small business. (2 trucks).

Both times, I was surprised how fast the vehicle was delivered. These guys do not waste any time.

paulo57509 · Oct 21, 2009

Thanks for the responses, everyone. Thanks to TooManyWheels for the ratings link. I seen that site while doing my homework.

I initially used one of those sites that blanket a bunch of brokers/carriers. After getting 8 quotes, I based my choice on BBB ratings.

The link that TooManyWheels provided had my choice rated at 5 stars.

We'll see how it goes. Honestly, the car is in decent shape for having +400k miles. But it's no jewel by any stretch. It has more sentimental value than anything. I'm not in a real hurry to get it other than I need to get it out of the impound lot. $550 isn't too bad. It would cost me way more in time and money if I was to go get it myself.

Of course, I also have to pay the $20/day impound fee.

Now I know why they used to hang horse thieves back in the day. Now THIS I would do myself.

paulo57509 · Oct 31, 2009

The car was delivered last Wednesday evening (28-Oct).

Other than the hassle and frustration that goes with being ripped-off, the recovery process was pretty hassle free as far arranging for transport.

I got more flak from the people at the Denver Sheriff Department Impound than anyone else. Totally unhelpful people. If your question requires more than a yes or no answer, you'll have a more engaging conversation with the squirrels in the park.

They wouldn't release the car until I paid the impound fees. Sure, they accept cash and major credit cards, but I had to pay in person. "We're not setup to take credit cards over the phone..." Dang, get into the 20th Century, OK?

They even hassled the driver of the transport truck over his ID, business license and manifest so much that he had to return the next day to try to get them to release the car.

Wise Auto Shipping (broker) and Fastlane Auto Carriers (transporter) got the car back to me in a timely manner and were really helpful in dealing with the Impound Nazis. Fastlane even fronted me the impound fees because the sheriff wouldn't take a credit card over the phone.

Oh yeah...I know you guys like photos. It was late afternoon and the interior shots are underexposed. The thieves (what trash was left in the car tells me that more than one person was in it) took parts off the car, but what they took makes no sense to me.

Thanks again for all your helpful advice. Now I have to get busy putting the car back together.

mrsilv04 · Oct 31, 2009

Good to see that your car is back home.

They stole the headrests?

paulo57509 · Oct 31, 2009

Originally Posted By: mrsilv04
Good to see that your car is back home.

They stole the headrests?

Yes, they stole the head rests among other things. I had some old sheepskin seat covers; they took them, but they sliced the straps to get them off.

They took the floor mats; but only the ones on the passenger side.

They took the tool kit that was in the trunk (jack handle, lug wrench, sunroof opener, pouch). But left the jack.

At one point, they put on the spare tire. The flat was in the trunk along with the hold down hardware for the spare.

They took the cigarette lighter and the ashtray.

They left my battery carrier strap in the trunk, but took the shop towel it was wrapped in.

It's pretty common for the wheel covers to be stolen. All mine are present and accounted for.

greenaccord02 · Oct 31, 2009

That's weird - shouldn't cost too much to replace that stuff. Junkyard FTW.

mrsilv04 · Oct 31, 2009

Originally Posted By: paulo57509
Originally Posted By: mrsilv04
Good to see that your car is back home.

They stole the headrests?

Yes, they stole the head rests among other things. I had some old sheepskin seat covers; they took them, but they sliced the straps to get them off.