Vehicle Transportation Myths

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Myths About Vehicle Transportation Services

Vehicle transportation myths are a common reason why most people spend more than they need to when shipping their car. Maybe you heard these so-called vehicle transportation facts from a friend or maybe you read them online. However, the fact of the matter is that there are many falsehoods out there about how to transport your car for cheap.

At the end of the day, the car transport industry is a service industry and although we are all looking for a great rate for car shipping, you will always get what you pay for. There is a reason why different companies have different ratings. Just like there is a difference in the type of service that you should expect when eating at different restaurants, the same holds true when dealing with transport companies.

There is a difference between a fair price and a cheap price. There are ways to make sure that you get a fair price, but listening to the many myths of the car transport industry will always have you at a disadvantage when shipping your vehicle. We will debunk some of these myths for you now.

Door To Door Service Is Always More Expensive Than Terminal To Terminal Service

This is a common misconception among people looking to transport their vehicles. It may seem like common sense that terminal to terminal is cheaper because of the extra cost associated with delivering your car directly to your door, but there are also terminal fees to consider. Unless you live in a hard-to-reach area, it is generally less expensive to have your car transported to your home.

To be honest with you, as a transport company we actually prefer to deliver directly to your front door. We have found that it is not always convenient to get in and out of terminals with our trucks. Also, there have been many occasions where the terminal staff will damage the vehicles once we have dropped them off and tell the customer that the damage occurred when the vehicle was in our possession. In almost every case once you consider the costs associated with terminal and storage fees you will find out that door-to-door service is much cheaper.

Auto Transport Brokers Increase Transport Costs

Many people believe the fees charged by auto transport brokers are not worth it. They believe it is less expensive to deal with the transport companies directly. This may be true, but it is far more difficult to work directly with a transport company. Most transportation companies have no customer service and they will not give you a contract until they come to pick up the car. Many transportation companies only work in a select area, so finding one that can move your car along the route you need is harder than you might think.

At the end of the day, the broker is the glue that connects you the transport customer to the transport driver. Most transport drivers have no desire to work directly with customers. This is because drivers are being paid when their wheels are turning. If a driver has to schedule pickups and drop-offs and work with the customer directly then they are losing money. Brokers actually give you an advantage by working directly with you versus you trying to work with a driver whose first priority has nothing to do with you the customer.

Auto transport brokers have contracts with many large auto transport companies and can easily find you a transport company that will meet all your needs. They also provide discounts for certain services like terminal stay.

Remove Hubcaps To Save Money

This is one of the stranger vehicle transportation myths, but it is a common one amongst new automotive shippers. Many people believe that removing the hubcaps will reduce shipping costs, but this is not true. However, removing loose car items and storing them in the trunk is a good way to ensure everything is safe. Although we have no idea where this myth was started or even the rationale behind it, it is simply not sure.

When we transport vehicles there is an expectation that the vehicle will be equipped with what the vehicle should be equipped with. For example, when we transport your vehicle, we would not expect you as the customer to have the engine removed before we transport it. The same holds true for hubcaps, leave them in the car, we will make sure nothing happens to them during transport.

Shopping For The Cheapest Price Is Best

Many people who wish to transport their vehicles will jump on the least expensive quote they receive. However, it is common practice for some auto transportation companies to not include surcharges in the original quote they offer. Look for offers that guarantee safe and on-time delivery. Do not risk the safety of your vehicle for a low shipping price. When you are receiving quotes for vehicle transportation make sure you read the fine print and or make sure the quote is all-inclusive. All reputable companies will have pricing that is competitive and similar. If you get 10 quotes, then the majority of the quotes should be similar.

If you see quotes that are well below or extremely higher than the majority of the other quotes then you should probably not even consider them. Because this is a regulated industry, pricing across companies should always be similar. It’s just like gas prices, although they may differ from gas station to gas station; they are still basically still competitive with one another.

All Quotes Are Correct

It is always a good idea to calculate human error into any quote you receive. Maybe you wrote down the zip code wrong and they think you want to transport your car someplace else entirely. It is good practice to double-check all information provided with the quote before you accept it as truth. Small mistakes can mean a difference of hundreds of dollars. This is a basic common practice for reviewing transport quotes.

You will be amazed how many cities within different states have the same names. For example, according to the U.S. Geological Survey, there are currently 41 populated places named Springfield. That is literally 40 different opportunities for your car to end up in the wrong Springfield.

Also, if you use a quote calculator that is often offered on transportation company websites, it is important to remember that the quote it gives you is only an estimate. Quote calculators are very limited in what external factors can be considered when providing you with an auto-generated quote. It is always best to follow up with a company and speak to an actual rep before you accept some random quote from a company’s website.

Distance Is The Only Factor Included In Shipping Costs

Many people think shipping costs are dependent only on the distance the car travels. This is not the truth. There are many different variables to consider when your auto transportation costs are calculated. The cost of shipping is based on distance, accessibility, and flexibility.

If you or your delivery location is in a hard-to-reach location, there will be an extra cost added to the shipping quote. Also, if your transportation dates are more flexible, you will be able to receive a lower shipping price. There is no cookie-cutter factor or group of factors that can zero in on exactly how pricing is calculated.

Some other factors that also have an effect on pricing are the cost of diesel fuel and the demand on the route. These two factors play a bigger role than you would think. These are considered direct and immediate costs. That means that these two factors affect costs immediately if there are unexpected changes that occur with them.

We Will Transport It can help you sift through all the vehicle transportation myths out there. Contact us to see what we can do for you.