Getting the best auto shipping service requires that you have knowledge of what makes an auto transporting service good or bad. Knowing the right questions to ask your prospective auto transport company can go a long way in helping you achieve that goal! American Auto Transport aims to help all of our customers learn as much as they can auto transport before deciding how to move forward. Thus, we’ve created a series of informative auto shipping articles to help further your car shipping knowledge right away.

We’ve narrowed down 4 important questions that are essential to ask of any transport company that you’re thinking about using. Before selecting any one carrier, make sure to ask these questions and carefully listen to their responses.

Are you a broker or a carrier?

For those that don’t know, there are two facets to the auto transport industry: the brokers and carriers. Brokers do not own their own trucks. They act as intermediaries between you (the customer) and the carrier (the individual or group that will actually be performing the transport.) Everyone that you speak to on the phone or via email, despite what they tell you, is a broker. By asking this question first, you should be easily able to gauge the honesty of an auto transport company. If the company that you’re speaking to insists that they are a transport company, you can check their USDOT or MC number. Only carriers have USDOT numbers; if you receive an MC number, you’re working with a broker. Make sure to check both of these numbers through HYPERLINK "http://li-public.fmcsa.dot.gov/LIVIEW/pkg_carrquery.prc_carrlist" this website.

How long will it take my vehicle to be picked up / dropped off?

One important thing to understand about auto transport is that most services are quite similar. For instance, delivery times are generally uniform amongst similar services. Transporting a vehicle from Florida to California via door-to-door direct service takes roughly 7-10 days, no matter which company you use. There are legal and physical limitations that make this so. One tactic that less reputable companies will use is to give the impression that they can do the impossible. We implore you to use your best judgment and avoid falling prey to companies that operate this way.

Where can I find your credentials?

No matter what industry you’re in, any reputable company should make their credentials easily accessible to their customers. It’s always a good idea to ask for credentials when shopping for auto transportation. Sites like the Better Business Bureau and Transport Reviews are easy ways to see what others have said about a given company. Ask your company about these sites before deciding on anything.

How does payment work?

This is an extremely important question to ask. Unfortunately, there are companies out there that will attempt to take your money without providing services. DO NOT ever allow a company to make any charges to your card without your expressed consent. DO NOT allow any company to make charges to your card before they can confirm a driver for you. And NEVER pay for everything up front. Make sure to ask your prospective auto transporter how payment works!

American Auto Transport is dedicated to making auto shipping as easy as possible. This is why we are always upfront and honest about what kind of service we provide. We feel that this makes for the best experience possible for our customers. So if you’re looking for a fast, reliable, and inexpensive service, use the best company in the industry! Call American Auto Transport today at (866) 327-7863 and learn more about auto shipping with the best now!