Questions to Ask an Auto Transport Company
For anyone shipping a car a long distance, whether for a move, an online purchase, a winter away or a military relocation, and comparing car shipping companies or brokers before booking one. The questions run in the order the call usually does: the company, the transport options, the quote, pickup and delivery, insurance and damage, and what to settle before you book. The note under each one says what a straight answer sounds like and which answers are a reason to keep calling around.
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The questions
Each question, and why to ask it
The company
Are you a carrier with your own trucks, or a broker who arranges the transport?
Why ask it
Neither answer is wrong. A broker finds a truck for your route and a carrier is the one that loads the car, so the point is to know which you are talking to and who answers for the car once it is on the road. A company that will not say plainly is the one to drop from your list.
What are your USDOT and MC numbers, and what name are they registered under?
Why ask it
In the United States, companies that move or broker cars across state lines register with the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration, and its public lookup shows whether the authority is active and whether it belongs to a broker or a carrier. Check the numbers yourself; a badge on a website tells you nothing. If you are shipping in another country, ask which regulator licenses them and where you can look them up.
If you are a broker, which carrier will move my car, and when will I be told who it is?
Why ask it
A broker usually cannot name the carrier until one accepts the job, and that is normal. What you want is a commitment to send the carrier's name, registration numbers and insurance certificate before pickup day, so you can look them up the way you did the broker. Learning who has your car when the truck pulls up is too late to object.
How do you choose and check the carriers you work with?
Why ask it
Listen for a process: active operating authority confirmed, an insurance certificate on file and still in date, a safety record looked at, carriers they have used before. 'We only work with the best' describes nothing. One more thing to pin down is whether your order could be passed to another broker, and how you would find out.
How long have you been shipping cars under this name, and where can I read independent reviews?
Why ask it
A long record under one name gives you a history to read, complaints included. Look at how the company replied to the bad reviews, which says more than the star count. A new name proves nothing either way, but ask whether the same people ran a shipping business under an earlier one and look that up too.
If the carrier cancels or the truck breaks down before it reaches me, how quickly can you send another?
Why ask it
Carriers drop jobs for a better-paying load or a mechanical problem, often at short notice. A broker should be able to say how fast it usually refills a job, and a carrier whether it has a second truck on your route. The promise to get is a call the same day it happens, with a new date.
How often do you ship between these two places, and is either one off the routes your trucks normally run?
Why ask it
Trucks run the busy corridors between large cities constantly, while a pickup far from one can wait days for a carrier willing to detour. A candid company says so now and may suggest meeting the truck in the nearest city to save time and money. Vague confidence about a remote address is how a two-day pickup window becomes two weeks.
Who is my contact from booking to delivery, and can I reach them in the evening or on a weekend?
Why ask it
Trucks load and unload at all hours, and problems rarely wait for office time. One named person with a direct number is a good answer. A general sales line that goes to voicemail after five is fine for a quote and little use when a driver is an hour away and cannot find your street.
Transport options
Would you put my car on an open or an enclosed trailer, and what is the price difference?
Why ask it
Open trailers are what you see on the highway and cost less; the car is exposed to weather and road grit, much as it would be if you drove it. Enclosed costs noticeably more and suits a classic, a low sports car or fresh paint. Some carriers will also sell a place on the top level of an open trailer, where nothing can drip onto the car from above.
Is this door to door, or do I drop the car at a terminal and collect it from one?
Why ask it
Door to door means as close to your address as a long truck can legally and safely get. Terminal service can be cheaper, but find out where the terminals are, what their hours are, whether the car sits outdoors and when daily storage charges begin. A terminal two hours from your new home is not a saving.
Will my car stay on one truck the whole way, or be transferred or stored along the route?
Why ask it
Every time a car is unloaded and reloaded it is handled again, and each handover is a point where damage can be argued over. A single truck from start to finish is the simplest answer. If there will be a transfer, ask who inspects the car at that point and whose insurance applies in the yard.
Can you take a car that does not run, or one that is lowered, lifted or wider than standard?
Why ask it
A car that cannot drive onto the trailer needs a winch, and not every truck carries one. Low cars may need a liftgate or longer ramps, and tall or wide ones take up extra room. Give the real ground clearance and any roof rack or oversize tires now, because a driver who arrives to find a different car can refuse the load or reprice it on the spot.
Do you ship electric vehicles, and how much charge should the battery have at pickup?
Why ask it
Electric cars are heavy, which affects how many vehicles a truck can carry and sometimes the price. The carrier should tell you a charge level and whether the car needs to be left in a transport or tow mode. Have the charge level written on the inspection report, and expect it to drop a little over a long trip.
Can I leave belongings in the car, and are they covered if I do?
Why ask it
Policies run from nothing at all to a modest weight in the trunk, below the window line. Whatever is allowed, the carrier's insurance very often leaves out the contents, so ask directly. Anyone moving house should assume the car is not a spare moving box, and take out documents, electronics and anything they would miss.
Will anyone drive my car beyond loading and unloading it?
Why ask it
The expected answer is no, apart from repositioning on the trailer. Have the odometer reading written on the pickup report and compare it at delivery. A few extra miles are normal; a large gap is something to raise before you sign.
The quote
Is this quote the price I will pay, or an estimate that can still change?
Why ask it
Ask for the answer in writing, in the same message as the figure. Some companies treat the price as fixed and some as an estimate until a carrier accepts, and the word used on the phone is not always the word in the terms. A price described as 'locked in' on the call and as an estimate in the contract is an estimate.
What would make the price go up after I book, or add a charge at pickup or delivery?
Why ask it
Common reasons are a car that turns out not to run, one larger or heavier than described, belongings loaded inside, a changed address or date, and time the driver spends waiting. Give exact details when you ask for the quote, including modifications, so none of these can be put down to you. A wasted trip, where the truck arrives and nobody is there, can carry a fee of its own, so get that figure too.
What happens if no carrier accepts the job at the price you quoted me?
Why ask it
With a broker, this explains the cheapest quote on your list. The broker offers your job to carriers at a price, and if truckers can earn more hauling someone else's car, yours waits until you agree to pay more. A straight answer includes how often they come back to customers for more money and how many days they let a job sit first.
Does this figure include everything: the broker's fee, fuel, tolls, insurance and delivery to my address?
Why ask it
You are after one total you can set beside the other quotes. Some companies show the carrier's pay and their own fee as separate lines, and some add a fuel surcharge later. Read back the number you think you are paying and ask them to confirm it by email.
Do you take a deposit, how much is it, and at what point is it charged?
Why ask it
A common arrangement with brokers is a deposit taken only once a carrier has been assigned, with the rest due at delivery, but companies differ, so ask this one. Paying the full amount before any truck is assigned leaves you with very little leverage if the dates slip. If they want everything up front, ask what you get back when no carrier is found.
Is the deposit refundable, and what does it cost to cancel at each stage?
Why ask it
There are usually three stages to ask about: before a carrier is assigned, after one is assigned, and once the truck is on its way to you. Have the fee for each written down. This matters most for a house move, where a closing date can shift after the booking is made.
How is the balance paid, and who do I hand it to?
Why ask it
Drivers often collect the balance at delivery and may accept only cash, a cashier's check or an instant bank transfer. Find out now so you are not looking for a bank branch with the truck idling outside. Card payments sometimes carry a surcharge, so have the exact amount due at delivery, by each way of paying, put in writing.
How much does the price move with the season, or if I can be flexible on dates?
Why ask it
Routes to warm states tend to cost more when snowbirds head south in the fall and north again in the spring, and summer is busy with house moves. The useful follow-up is what a week earlier or later would do to your figure. A company that knows your route can answer in dollars.
Do you offer a discount for military moves, a second car or a return trip?
Why ask it
Ask once the quote is on the table, and have the reduced total written into the order. On a military relocation, speak to your transportation office first about what the government will ship or reimburse, since that depends on your orders. For two cars, ask whether they travel on the same truck and arrive together.
Pickup and delivery
What is the pickup window, and which date does it start from?
Why ask it
Standard service works to a span of days. A single appointment is the exception. The window usually opens on the first day you say the car is available, so choose that date carefully. The two things to get are how many days it runs and what happens if it closes with no truck assigned.
Once the car is loaded, how many days until delivery?
Why ask it
The estimate depends on distance, on how many other cars the truck is collecting and dropping, and on the hours a driver is allowed to work. Ask for a range and build your plans around the long end, especially if you are flying to meet the car. A coast-to-coast promise that sounds like one person driving nonstop is not realistic.
Can you commit to an exact pickup or delivery date, and what does that cost?
Why ask it
A fixed date is often sold as expedited or priority service, at a higher price. It is worth pricing if a lease is ending, a flight is booked or a military report date cannot move. Find out what you get back if the date is missed. A fixed date with nothing refunded when it slips is standard service at a higher price.
If the car arrives later than the window you gave me, what do I get?
Why ask it
Many companies offer nothing for delay, some will contribute to a rental car after a set number of days, and a few put a credit in the contract. Whichever it is, you should hear it before booking; after a late delivery is the wrong time to find out. If the answer is nothing, keep a few days of slack and do not hand back a rental early.
How much notice will I get before the truck arrives, at pickup and at delivery?
Why ask it
A call the day before and another an hour or two out is a reasonable standard. Traffic, weather and the stops before yours move a truck's day around, so be wary of a fixed hour promised a week ahead. Expect to be given the driver's own number at pickup, and say so if you are not, since after that only the driver knows where the truck is.
Can a full-size car hauler get to my street, and if not, where would we meet?
Why ask it
Long trucks cannot manage low trees, tight turns, weight-limited roads or some gated communities. Describe both addresses frankly and settle a meeting place nearby, such as a large parking lot, before pickup day. Sorting it out by phone with a driver who is already circling the neighborhood wastes everyone's time.
Can someone else hand over or receive the car if I cannot be there?
Why ask it
It is usually allowed, and it is routine when the car was bought from a seller in another state or its owner has already flown ahead. That person signs the condition report in your place, so their signature binds you. Give the company their name and number, and tell them to check the car slowly and photograph it before signing.
I am buying this car online. Have you collected from dealers or auctions, and what will the seller need to provide?
Why ask it
Dealers and auction yards have their own release paperwork, gate passes and opening hours, and some charge storage after a few days. Settle who arranges all that and who pays if the truck is turned away at the gate. Since you will not be at pickup, ask for the driver's photos and the signed condition report the same day, before the car has traveled far.
How should I get the car ready for pickup: fuel, alarm, toll tag, anything loose?
Why ask it
Typical requests are a low fuel level, the alarm switched off, the toll tag removed so it does not charge you from the trailer, and anything that could come loose taken off or tied down. Ask for their list in writing so you are following their rules and not a general checklist. Wash the car as well, because scratches hide under dirt at inspection.
What keys and paperwork does the driver need from me?
Why ask it
Most drivers need one working key and a signature, but some routes, ports and companies ask for registration, identification or a letter from a lienholder. Ask ahead and do not guess. Never leave your only key or the original title in the car unless the company has told you in writing that it is required.
Can I follow the car's progress while it is on the road?
Why ask it
Some carriers send a tracking link from the truck, and many simply have you text the driver or a dispatcher. Either is fine if somebody replies. What to settle is how often you will hear something without chasing, and who to call if the driver goes quiet for a day.
If I cannot take the car when the truck arrives, can you hold it, and what does that cost per day?
Why ask it
Deliveries land early as well as late, and a move-in date can slip. Find out whether the car would stay on the truck, go to a storage yard or be left with a person you name, and at what daily rate. Wherever it waits, get it clear whose insurance covers the car in the meantime.
Insurance and damage
What insurance covers my car while it is on the truck, and whose policy is it?
Why ask it
Usually it is the carrier's cargo insurance. A broker's own policy, if there is one, may only step in under conditions. You want to hear the policyholder named, not 'fully insured'. If a broker cannot tell you until a carrier is assigned, ask for the details the moment one is.
Can I have the insurance certificate, and may I call the insurer to confirm it is current?
Why ask it
A real certificate names the insurer, the policy number, the limits and the expiry date. Calling the number on it takes five minutes and is the surest way to know the policy was not canceled last month. Reluctance to send one is a reason to stop there.
What is the coverage limit, and does it apply to each car or to the whole load?
Why ask it
A limit that sounds generous can be shared among every vehicle on the trailer. If your car is worth more than its share, ask about extra coverage and what it costs, or look at enclosed carriers that specialize in valuable cars. Get the figure that applies to your car alone.
Is there a deductible on a damage claim, and who pays it?
Why ask it
Some carriers cover the deductible themselves and some contracts pass it to the customer, which can make a small repair not worth claiming. Ask for the amount and have the answer in the written terms. It tells you who really pays for a scraped bumper.
What does the policy leave out, such as hail, road debris, the undercarriage or a soft top?
Why ask it
Exclusions differ from one policy to the next, so ask this carrier and do not rely on what a friend's shipper covered. On an open trailer, chips from the road are the gap people discover afterward. Two cases are worth naming out loud: a mechanical fault that was already there, and fluid dripping from the car loaded above yours.
Does my own auto policy need to stay active while you have the car?
Why ask it
Most companies will say to keep it, and some require it. Then call your own insurer and ask what the policy does while the car rides on someone else's truck; the shipper cannot answer that for them. Hold off canceling or changing coverage until the car is delivered and checked.
How is the car's condition recorded at pickup, and do I get a copy?
Why ask it
The driver should walk around the car with you and mark every existing scratch, dent and chip on a condition report, often part of the bill of lading, which you both sign. Take your own dated photos of each panel, the roof, the wheels and the odometer at the same moment. Keep your copy somewhere other than the glovebox.
What should I do at delivery if I find damage?
Why ask it
The usual answer is to write it on the delivery report before you sign and before the driver leaves, and to photograph it on the spot. Ask this company to confirm that, and ask what happens with marks you cannot see at night or in rain. Do not let anyone hurry the walk-around, even with a truck blocking the street.
How do I file a claim, who is it filed with, and what is the deadline?
Why ask it
Find out whether the claim goes to the carrier, to its insurer or through the broker, what documents they want and how many days you have. Deadlines can be short. While you are on the subject, learn how long a typical claim takes to settle and whether you choose the repair shop.
If the carrier or its insurer refuses or stalls, what will you do for me?
Why ask it
This one is for brokers. Some stay involved and press the carrier, some carry backup coverage, and some consider their job finished once a truck is assigned. Ask for an example of a claim they helped a customer through, and listen for whether the story has an ending.
Before you book
How far ahead do I need to book to get the dates I want?
Why ask it
Lead times change with the route and the season, so have them name one for your two addresses. Booking months ahead does not usually reserve a truck, since carriers fill their loads close to the date, but it gives a broker time to find one at your price. For a pickup in the next day or two, say so first and expect a rush rate.
How long is this quote good for?
Why ask it
Carrier rates move with fuel, the season and how many cars are waiting on your route, so most quotes carry an expiry. Have the date put in the same email as the figure. Knowing it also answers the salesperson who says the price ends today.
Can I read the full terms and conditions before I pay anything?
Why ask it
Take them away and read the sections on price changes, cancellation, delay and damage. A company comfortable with its terms sends them without fuss. Pressure to pay today because 'a truck is leaving tomorrow' is a sales line, and a real spot on a truck survives an hour of reading.
Will everything you have told me on this call be written into the order?
Why ask it
Dates, the trailer type, the total, the deposit, door-to-door service and any discount should all appear on the confirmation. Reply to it listing anything that is missing. If a promise made by phone cannot be put in an email, treat it as not made.
What goes wrong most often on a shipment like mine, and how would you avoid it?
Why ask it
A good company has a ready, specific answer: a rural pickup that takes longer, a low car that scrapes on ramps, a winter route that closes. An answer of 'nothing ever goes wrong' tells you they are selling. Close on this and you will hear how they talk about problems before you have one.
How to vet a car shipping company
Practical guidance for the conversation itself
Before you ask for quotes
Write down the car's real details
Year, make and model, whether it runs and steers, any lift, lowering, roof rack or oversize tires, and both zip codes. Every quote rests on these, and a detail left out is the usual reason a price changes at pickup.
Decide what you can bend on
Price, speed and exact dates pull against each other. If you can give a wide pickup window, say so and ask what it saves. If you have a flight or a report date, say that instead and expect to pay for it.
Ask three companies, not ten
Quote forms that send your details to many companies at once can fill your phone with calls for days. Pick three by name, give each the same details and ask each for a written figure. Three comparable quotes tell you more than fifteen rushed ones.
Look each one up before the call
Check the registration numbers, read the low reviews and note the company's legal name. Ten minutes of this lets you spend the call on price, dates and insurance, and it weeds out a company you would have dropped anyway.
On the call
Start with the broker question
Everything else is read through that answer. With a carrier you are asking about its own trucks and its own policy. With a broker you are asking how it picks carriers and what it does when one lets you down.
Ask about the last time
'What happened the last time a truck broke down with a customer's car on it' gets a more useful answer than 'do you handle delays'. A company that has done this for years has a story. One that has none is new or is not telling you.
Move the answers into email
After the call, send a short message listing the total, the deposit, the trailer type, the window and the cancellation fee as you understood them, and ask for a reply confirming it. If something goes wrong later, that reply is what you will point to.
Do not pay on the first call
Take the quote and the terms away. A fair price for your route today will be close to a fair price tomorrow, and the companies worth using do not need your card number before you have read the contract.
Comparing the quotes
Line them up item by item
For each quote, list open or enclosed, door or terminal, the pickup window, the total, the deposit and when it is charged. A lower figure often turns out to be terminal service or a wider window, which may still suit you once you can see it.
Question the lowest one hardest
If one quote sits well below the others, ask that company what happens when no carrier takes the job at that price. A figure nobody will haul for costs you days and then a higher price than the quotes you passed over.
Read the cancellation and delay terms side by side
These two clauses differ more between companies than the prices do. One may refund the deposit until a carrier is assigned while another keeps it from the moment you book. Decide which risk matters more for your dates.
Weigh how they answered
The company that told you your rural pickup might take a week, or that your lowered car needs an enclosed trailer, was giving you news you did not want. That is usually the one that will also call when the truck is running late.
Pickup and delivery day
Photograph a clean car
Wash it the day before and photograph every panel, the roof, each wheel, the interior and the odometer in daylight. Photos with the date in the file are your record if the two condition reports ever disagree.
Walk around with the driver
Go panel by panel and see that each existing mark is drawn on the report before you sign. If the driver has marked damage you cannot find, say so and have it corrected. Check the company name on the truck against the carrier you were told to expect.
Inspect before you sign at delivery
Compare the car with your photos and the pickup report before paying the balance or signing anything. If it is dark or raining, use a flashlight and write on the report that conditions limited the inspection. Note the mileage too.
Keep everything until it is settled
Both condition reports, the order confirmation, the payment receipt and your photos stay together until you are sure there is nothing to claim. If there is damage, send the company written notice the same day and ask for the claim steps by email.