If you’re heading to South Dakota and want to skip the long drive, hotel and gas bills, and weary, hiring a South Dakota auto transport company is the smartest move.
But before hiring one, there’re many things to keep in mind. Here, we’ve gathered the top dos and don’ts for shipping your car to South Dakota.
Do Ask for Recommendations
Finding the best South Dakota auto transport company, among many others, will be daunting. However, the best shortcut is to ask your acquaintances for recommendations. Someone must have previously hired an auto transport company among your friends and relatives.
So, they might be of help to you and assist you through the journey of finding a trustworthy South Dakota auto transport company. However, if no one of your acquaintances has ever shipped their car with the help of an auto transport company, Google will be of great help. You must search for “South Dakota auto transport companies near me,” which will provide you with many options. To make the best call, read clients’ reviews, talk to carriers’ drivers, and confirm the company’s authorization on the FMCSA’s website.
Tempus Logix has over 1000 online reviews from happy clients who shipped their vehicles with the company across the United States, including South Dakota.
Don’t Hesitate to Ask Questions
Having many concerns and a lot of questions about the shipping process is normal, especially if you’re transporting your car for the first time. So, no matter how silly or basic the questions roaming your mind are, don’t hesitate to ask. It’s your right as a client to be fully informed by the drivers or customer service about all the shipping steps and procedures.
So, if the South Dakota auto transport company you want to hire has a local office, go there, and talk to a representative. This visit will not only help you eliminate your concerns but have a clear idea about how knowledgeable and receptive the rep is. Consequently, you will be able to determine whether this South Dakota auto transport company is worth the trust or not.
Otherwise, utilize the internet and talk to their online agents, check how responsive they are and what level of customer service they offer. It will lead you to choose the best service provider and help eliminate some bad options from the beginning.
Do Schedule Your Shipping Service in Advance.
No one knows when auto transport companies might get busy. So, make sure you place your shipping order as soon as possible to guarantee that they will pick it up and return it at the exact time you want.
Calling a few weeks in advance will ensure enough time for you and the South Dakota auto transport company. You will have the chance to prepare your car, and the company will be able to fit your order into the schedule in advance.
Read about How to Prepare Your Car for Shipping
Don’t Ship Your Car in Peak Seasons
Between the summer and mid-fall end, witnesses a tremendous demand for the auto shipping service. This increase is attributed to many reasons, including Cyber Monday, Black Friday, Thanksgiving and Christmas holidays, back to school, etc. Due to this enormous demand, carriers raise their prices. As a result, the only option you will have is to pay the peak season surcharge (PSS.)
Moving on from the increased fee, all South Dakota auto transport companies will have a very crowded schedule. So, finding one willing to respond to your shipping order will be “mission impossible.”
So, to avoid such unpleasant experiences, it would be better not to book a transport service at these times, but schedule it a long time in advance.
Do Check the Insurance Coverage
Most auto transport companies insure your car against accidents and thefts. However, the insurance coverage differs from one company to another; it ranges from $50,000 to $1,000,000. So, you must ensure everything regarding insurance before hiring the company. In addition, you must ask the probable company about the insurance certificate to confirm that they’re not scammers.
But you must remember that auto shipping companies don’t cover interior damage to the car; they only cover the damages caused by drivers. So, you must remove all loose items from the car’s interior.
Don’t Forget to Clean Your Car
Some people neglect and underestimate the significance of this step as the car will get dirty during the shipment, so why bother themselves?
But washing your car is one of the essential pre-shipping preparations. Because when you wash your vehicle and remove dirt and dust, all current scratches, dents, and dings will appear. So, suppose new damage occurred, you can spot it and claim for the insurance coverage.
Do Take Pictures of Existing Damage
Once you clean your car and all the existing damages are noted, it’s time to document them. You must take clear photos of every dent, scratch, or damage. What you’re going to do with these pictures is that you will give them to the driver when they arrive to pick up your car for shipping. The photos will help you check if the pickup inspection matches the drop-off inspection.
The Bottom Line
These instructions might seem tedious. But the truth is they’re all critical to guarantee a safe and secure shipping journey for your car. And remember that it’s all about the shipping company; once it’s reliable and trustworthy, you can rest assured and not worry about your car’s safety. So, take your time and choose your South Dakota auto transport company wisely and thoroughly.
