Whether you’re shipping a car, shipping a motorcycle or any other vehicle that is usually transported with carrier companies and/or brokers, there are some guidelines you should follow when asking for a auto shipping quote to make sure your shipment goes smoothly. If you’re an experienced shipper and have done this a few times already, you might find these familiar. But if this is your first time doing this and you can’t really tell an overpriced quote from a reasonable one, here are some tips that might come in handy and make your experience successful.
Starting from the basics, there are 5 things the company you might work with will ask about your shipment in order to be able to give a quote.
1. The pickup address
2. The delivery address
3. The year, make and model of the vehicle(s)
4. The condition of the vehicle (including modification(s) and if it’s operable)
5. The chosen trailer type (open or enclosed)
Going further into these points, if the pickup or the delivery location is from a port or somewhere else that would require paperwork or any credentials, say an auction or a dealer, you have to make sure that you forward the needed paperwork before the driver arrives at the location. Also make sure to let the company know if you need any paperwork or the title signed, as well as anything else that might be important to take with the shipment.
The year, make and model of the car is pretty self-explanatory and doesn’t require any specifications, other than a specific edition that would differ from the stock version, which brings us to the modifications and what could potentially affect the price of the shipment. Here you should pay attention to the ground clearance of the vehicle, and if it’s lower or higher than usual you should definitely disclose so. The width of the wheels should be disclosed as well to make sure that the vehicle will fit in the trailer without being too close to the sides to avoid any damages. If the vehicle isn’t operable, as well as doesn’t roll, you’ll have to assist both the loading and unloading part of the shipment, as that case usually requires a forklift. Assuming the company will take care of that all and finding out that they actually aren’t able to provide you with the assistance will save you a lot of time. And if the vehicle does roll, brake and steer, all you have to do is disclose that and just request for a truck that’ll have a winch which is the most common way of handling such shipments.
And lastly coming to the more pricey option, enclosed trailer usually are a bit more expensive than a regular open one, but ensure much more safety and it really comes down to what vehicle you’re shipping and how well do you need it taken care of.
