The idea of using an auto transport service can be very stressful. You want to go with a reputable company that will take your vehicle from point a to point b safely. You also want to be sure that they will actually deliver your car and not abscond with it. In a market rife with fraud finding honest service can be quite the chore. However, knowing what to look for is half the battle. Here are some key steps that properly vet auto transport services.
Ratings and Reviews
The first thing to do when vetting a service is check its ratings and reviews. This can be done with a simple web search for car shipping to Florida. A reliable company is easy to spot because they are surrounded by happy consumers and high ratings. These accolades prove that the company in question offers quality work. A bad company is surrounded by unhappy consumers and low ratings. Never go with subpar reviews. Always choose the company everyone says you can trust.
Look for Experience
The more experience a company has the better. A veteran auto shipper is not only reliable but dependable. Bad companies tend to go out of business relatively fast so any auto shipper who has been around for more than two years is a solid choice. Not only that but they offer quality service and are less likely to damage your vehicle. Rookie companies have yet to make the mistakes they ultimately learn from. So if you do not want to become a learning experience make sure you go with service that already has an education.
Check Their Background
When looking at a company it is a wise move to look for complaints. If a consumer has filed a formal complaint against the company find out what it was for. In many cases they are isolated incidents, but if the company has a number of complaints that is a bad sign. Complaints about damaged property mean they are clumsy. This puts you at risk of having your car damaged. If they have complaints about late delivery this means you should not expect your car delivered on time. Complaints are not necessarily a deal-breaker unless they happen with too much frequency.
Check their Credentials
An auto shipper service has to have the proper paperwork to legally operate. As they are regulated by the FMCSA or Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration, it means they have to possess a Motor Carrier Number. The lack of one means they are not a legitimate business and should not be used. The MC number of a company is always prominently displayed. It should never be hard to find.
Look For Proper Payment Channels
A reliable business operates in a traditional way. This means that a legitimate auto shipper receives payment like any other business. They can be paid with a check, credit or debit card, or even cash. Any service that requires an unusual method of pay is probably hiding something. There is no reason for payments to be sent through Western Union except for fraud.