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Door To Door Vs. Terminal To Terminal Car Shipping
Read definitive info on Door to Door vs. Terminal to Terminal Car Shipping from the pros. Have any questions? Feel free to contact us.
If you are looking into shipping your vehicle you probably have heard about terminal-to-terminal and door-to-door car shipping. These are two common ways of shipping a vehicle and many people have questions about both. It is good to get these questions answered clearly because there are some misconceptions about both. With these two options, you have to make a decision as to how, where, and when you want to get your vehicle transported. In recent years, Door to Door car shipping has become the preferred method of car transporting. This method has proven to be much more convenient than terminal-to-terminal car shipping.
Door To Door Car Shipping
Door-to-door shipping is pretty easy to understand. Your vehicle is picked up at home or at another nearby location and is then dropped off at another location of your choosing. The great part about Door to Door car shipping is that you do not need to drive your vehicle very far in order for it to be picked up. You also do not need to pay to have it spend time in a car terminal. Door to Door car shipping is very convenient and transport companies actually prefer this method.
However, Door to Door shipping requires that you, or another adult, be there when the vehicle is picked up. This can be difficult in some situations. One such example would be a situation where you have to move ahead of your vehicle transport and live in the drop-off location. A situation like this will make Door to Door shipping much more difficult. This can be fixed with careful planning. There are also other options that we can use when picking up your vehicle. You can always leave the keys with a neighbor or place them in a secure location so that the driver can retrieve them if the customer is not available.
Many people think Door to Door shipping is more expensive because the carrier has to come to your home to pick up the car. This may be true if you live far away from the closest highway, but, more often than not, Door to Door shipping pays for itself. Also, it narrows the chain of custody for the vehicle during transit. When we pick up your vehicle, the same driver that is there on pickup will be the same driver that will deliver it. We do not change drivers or trucks during transit. Therefore the pre-transport inspection and the delivery inspection will be done by the same person, with you the customer being a part of both inspections.
Terminal To Terminal Car Shipping
Terminal-to-terminal car shipping is another shipping option many clients consider. In terminal-to-terminal car shipping, you drop your car off at a car storage terminal and then the transport company goes to the terminal to pick up your vehicle. Most of the time, car terminals are placed on common routes of travel so that carriers do not have to travel far to pick up your car. This is what makes them so attractive to most.
If you cannot be around when your vehicle needs to be picked up, a car terminal may be just what you need. They will keep your car safe and have it ready for the carrier. However, the money people think they might save with terminal-to-terminal shipping often disappears with fees most car terminals charge. Most people do not understand that car terminals charge an upfront fee and then additional charges for each day. Thus, if your car is at the terminal for a long period of time, terminal-to-terminal shipping can easily become more expensive than Door to Door shipping. This is why most transport companies suggest Door to Door shipping over the terminal to terminal shipping.
Also, keep in mind that when the customer drops off their vehicle at the terminal, the terminal is responsible for the vehicle until it is picked up by the transport company. This is the grey area of the chain of custody for your vehicle. While the vehicle is at the terminal, the terminal is responsible for any damage if it occurs. The issue is that there is usually no inspection sheet provided by the terminal to the customer at drop off and therefore there is no inspection sheet provided to the driver when the car is picked up. In many cases, because of that, drivers usually get blamed for the damages that happened while the car was at the terminal.
There is one simple thing you can do to make sure Door to Door shipping is an option you can use. All you need to do is plan ahead. Try to plan your vehicle transport at a time when you can be with your vehicle. It is also possible to find a friend or family member who can be there with your car if you cannot be. This will save you the hassle and expense of terminal-to-terminal shipping.
Although there are pros and cons to both Door to Door transporting services versus terminal-to-terminal transport services, at the end of the day, you have to determine what will work best for you. As you can see, the most important part of the transportation process is to make sure it works for you. Makes no sense for you to pay for a service, rather it is the door to door or terminal to terminal and it becomes more of a headache instead of the smooth transition that it should be.
What is terminal-to-terminal car shipping?
Terminal-to-terminal car shipping starts and ends at a terminal. Most of these terminals are located at a large open facility that can accommodate storage for several hundred cars. These facilities usually are located in easy-to-get areas near heavily populated areas. This is the alternative to Door to Door shipping.
What is door-to-door auto transport?
Door to Door auto transport is when your vehicle is picked up at home or at another nearby location and is then dropped off at another location of your choosing. The great part about Door to Door car shipping is that you do not need to drive your vehicle very far in order for it to be picked up. We will make every effort to arrive exactly at your desired location.
What is the safest way to ship a car?
The safest way to ship a car is to find a reputable and knowledgeable company with experience in transporting vehicles. Most of these companies will give you the best options available, rather it is door-to-door or terminal-to-terminal.
What is terminal shipping?
Terminal-to-terminal car shipping starts and ends at a terminal. Most of these terminals are located at a large open facility that can accommodate storage for several hundred cars. These facilities usually are located in easy-to-get areas near heavily populated areas. This is the alternative to Door to Door shipping.
Door-to-Door vs. Terminal-to-Terminal Car Shipping Suggested Links
- How to Choose the Best Auto Transport Company?
- Scheduled Pickup vs. Open Car Transport
- Door-to-Door Auto Transport Company
- Door-to-Door Auto Transport Tips
- Car Shipping Florida
