Are you thinking of having your car shipped to your planned destination?
Well, before you decide to deliver your own vehicle , there are several things you have to consider in making sure your treasured asset is safely shipped, especially for interstate car transport and international shipping from Australia as well. This article applies to all types of car transfers, whether you deliver an antique, unused, or those expensive one. You must understand the nature of such services and be familiar with the car transport process.
1. Be mindful of the potential risks that may occur before, during, and after your car transportation
You have the option of having your car delivered using open or closed trailers, but if you’re looking to get a cheap car transport service, you will need a cheap car shipping company and to choose the open. Open trailers are more affordable than the enclosed ones since they are less protected. Although both are shipped with a specific number of cars, the open trailer has no walls, unlike enclosed trailers. Keeping the vehicles in places is large chains, while enclosed ones use nylon straps or wheel nets.
Look out for those removal companies that utilize chains to put the cars in place inside their trailers. Since these are usually placed over the cars’ axle, this could apply some strain and, worst if it’s overtightened. Once the chains have loosened, these will be ruining the car’s surface throughout the shipping. It will be a total horror if the truck holding the trailer passes by very rocky roads with multiple humps. On the other hand, enclosed trailers contain lifting equipment for those low clearance vehicles and avoid the possibility of theft and car damage.
2. Checking car transport feedbacks are worth your every minute
If you want your car shipped, remember that you are investing lots of time and money. This only means that it is your responsibility to look for a company that offers budget car transport interstate and is reliable and trusted by many. This calls for the opinions of those you know who have tried such services . Ask for their unbiased opinions on their suggestions and recommendations.
Make time to research comparisons and check the factuality of the feedback posted online. This could help you save time searching for companies area by area when you can opt for those businesses that offer the best car express services.
3. Look out for car transport brokers
You may not be familiar with car transport brokers. Technically, they are representatives that handle your car shipment. They may be referred to as middlemen as they are mainly in-charge in dealing with the transactions between you and the moving company for vehicles. However, not everybody that claims themselves as a broker is an actual broker. Others would take advantage of the customer’s time and money, tricking them into transactions with companies that never happened. Such unfortunate situations are difficult to avoid since those brokers are left a customer to manage the transactions themselves. It’s either the customer’s cars are delivered by companies with poor services, or the brokers have gotten away using the money of the customer .
4. Don’t immediately give out your deposit
You have to cease your communication with companies that quickly ask for deposits when you’ve informed them about availing of their moving services. It is advisable to request that the companies not collect any payment unless your car has been picked up or delivered to its destination. You deserve the quality of service for the price you have initially agreed to pay. Even if you have agreed to a cheap car transport quote , the company is accountable for providing the correct and reliable service . Regardless of whether it’s a local or interstate car transport, the cost should be reasonable and the quality of services they should give.
5. There are other factors you have to consider when deciding the final car transport quote
In availing services like car transport, you will have to consider that the lowest prices do not equate to the best quality in terms of services. By that alone, you will have to invest in companies with car express services priced higher. The way they price their services will significantly determine how they handle their car transport duties.
Brand new enclosed trailers with guaranteed high-quality safety tools are priced higher than $450,000. Meanwhile, drivers of car transport and enclosed trailers are well-trained, which means they are paid high since delivering objects like vehicles would require extreme care.
On the contrary, open trailers are priced less similarly to semi-trucks and secondhand vehicles used for transfer. So, once you’ve observed companies advertising their relatively cheap rates, they most likely have substandard equipment and lack personnel.
There are also cases where companies offering cheap services utilize terminals in transit to have your car shipped. Instead, if only one truck delivers the vehicle, your vehicle is sent to terminals, and another car is used to deliver it, quite similar to how our online packages are sent to us. This is alarming because you are not aware of how different drivers handle the unloading and loading of the car into the trucks and their method of driving.
6. Learn about the company’s insurance policies
As much as possible, ask for the company’s insurance certification. This is necessary since the insurance covers several aspects such as liability, compensation for the workers, cargo limitations, and deductibles when accidents or unfortunate events happen on, before, or during the shipment.
7. Inform the company ahead of your requests about the shipment schedule
Some companies are pretty strict about the booking period since they accommodate several requests in a day. It is much easier for them to set the perfect schedule to have your shipment done if you’ve informed them a week or several days in advance. They also have to consider many factors like equipment availability, traffic, weather, holidays, and many more. Moreover, if you have special requests, for example, you want the car shipped on the graduation day of your daughter as a gift to her, you have to inform the company early. But, do note that strict scheduling or special requests may entail additional charges.
8. Ready your vehicle for shipment
As soon as you have finalized your car transport company choice, ensure that your vehicle is ready for delivery. This is because companies may have to check your car personally to account for the physical details of the vehicle providing and make adjustments. This will help them decide on the truck size and the lifting equipment needed to load and unload your car to the trailer. Usually, they do not ask for additional fees when the car can be driven on or off the truck alone. Be reminded that you are not permitted to deliver other items with the car, or you will have to request it but given that you’re willing to pay for additional charges.
9. Inform the car transporter of the irregularities your car may have
Is your car motor engine typically loud when switched on? Are the brakes quite loose? Inform the company of all the oddities that your car and its motor may have to be aware of how to address such concerns and make adjustments to ensure that the shipment goes smoothly. For car transport services done interstate or international, the driver should be knowledgeable about the irregularities in cases that those unusual factors manifest themselves during the delivery.
Once your car is picked up, the driver itself must inspect it personally and observe the unusual things and the condition of the surfaces before, during, and after the shipment. It would also be better if a representative could inspect the vehicle’s loading vehicles to check if there are damages on the car to ensure the company’s accountability once there are indeed any irregularities that were not present during the vehicle’s loading.
Wrapping up
If choosing a car is not challenging enough, the same goes for availing car transport services in Australia or elsewhere. There are just too many things to consider, like setting a reasonable car transport quote in New Zealand for example, or comparing the prices and quality of services in Australia, and ensuring that availing cheap car transport should depend on the standard of services they offer since the principle of quality over quantity must be applicable to any mover.
