Has anyone had a car or truck shipped?

[Moose]

looking at a new vehicle and its good distance from me.. Just wondering the pros and cons about shipping and things to look out for.

Thanks

[LMDGUY]

Good distance being what? I spent $650.00 for shipping my fairlane from Indianna (sp) to Arizona. I got lucky and it happen to be enclosed but they usally charge more for it.

[Goatman]

Guy that bought my old GTO had it shipped from my house to England where he lived. No idea how much it cost, but it got there and he was happy with it. In fact, he's still driving it with 14:1 compression and dual 4" exhaust!

My Dad had a 34' Ford shipped up from Tennesse and he was happy too. It came in a huge enclsoed trailer that had a huge bubble on the back like a George Barritz (sp?) creation.

[Steve1968LS2]

Go with a reputable company. Call them up and see if you get good service.

Oh, never pay up front.. if you pay up front you are going with a broker and that's never as good as going direct.

I have used both Exotic and Intercity with GREAT results. The customer service from Intercity Lines was very very good and as a result I would most definetly use them again.

Expect to pay somewhere around $1 a mile or more for a quality enclosed transport. Some of that will vary base on how out of the way the drop off and pick up points are.

[GetMore]

No direct experience, but some info:

Make sure they are insured! Some companies don't cover your car for damage that might be done to it in transport.

If the car is in good shape, go enclosed. It costs more, but you don't have to worry about rocks hitting the car as it's going down the road. Believe it or not, there is debris that flies around and can do damage, even if your car is up on top of a carrier.

Find out if there is a terminal or drop off point near you. The more convenient the trip is for them, the less you'll pay. If they are dropping off another car nearby and you're willing to take that little drive you can save money.

If the car runs it'll be a lot cheaper than if it doesn't, especially if there are cars that will have to be unloaded from in front of yours on the trailer.

[Moose]

Thansk everyone.. looking at Texas..

Will check with the recommendation and the sponsor on ls1tech

[Patrick]

Don't use a BROKER!!! Go direct.

[jy211]

Don't listen to the don't use the broker ****. I own a broker moving/transport company. Smaller companies give better personal attention.

If memory serves me right one of the members here went with a big name hauler and it ended up in a fiasco....

The moving/auto transport buisness is tricky...there are alot of crooks....then there are people just trying to make an honest living.

I've used one to haul a Hummer H1 to me. They picked it up on a Saturday in Pennsylvania and delivered it to me in Miami on Monday.

[vintageracer]

The "Don't Use a Broker" statement is a bunch of crap! Call DAS, Drive Away Service, one of the largest car shipping companies in the US and the chances are very great that they will broker your shipment out to an independent trucker/hauler. This is especially true if you live in an out of the way location. Just because you go with a big national service does not mean they will not "broker" out your shipment!

Many of the large shipping companies do have and use their own equipment. Some good, some bad. Brokers are just like the shipping companies they represent, some good, some bad! While the car you are shipping may mean the world to you, it's just another car/paycheck to driver of the truck.

If you ship a lot of cars a good broker is great asset to have available. If you are shipping one car every now and then and your car is more important than your wife and kids, spend the extra money on the top enclosed haulers. Just remember that they also have been known to drop/wreck cars!

In my opinion, the KEY decision is whether you Want/Need enclosed service or if Open/Portable Parking lot service will meet you needs. Brokers are especially adept at getting your car moved quicker if you will use an open carrier. My experience is that the broker is generally cheaper than the major carriers, particularly to the off the beaten path locations. If you are trying to ship a car to Eastern Montana, it's going to take some time no matter who you ship with.

I use both enclosed and open carriers depending upon the quality of the car, location and shipping quotes I receive. I ALWAYS have direct haul companies AND brokers quote my shipping needs. To eliminate the use of a broker from consideration based upon someone's experiences that ships one, maybe two cars in a year is foolish. For an imformed opinion speak to someone who ships 10-50 cars a year. If broker's were as bad as some folks on this board would have you think they are, why are there SO MANY brokers and SO MANY independent car haulers still in this business???

As stated earlier, NEVER pay up front for their service and always get a copy of their shipping manifest and insurance card.

[Steve1968LS2]

The problem with a broker, from what I understand, is that they make the arrangements, but really have no liabilty. I just don't get the need for a "middleman".

Broker sets up the move. Something happens to the car. Does the broker pay to fix it? Nope. You need to deal with the carrier and you've never spoken to them before.

I'm sure there are good brokers out there that take "ownership" of your business but in the end they are just middlemen. As stated I think the key is that "if they ask for a deposit then walk away".

I suppose a broker becomes more usefull when you are looking for an inexpensive move. If you have something nice and want to go enclosed you can just call one of the top tier movers.

Just my .02

[jy211]

As stated I think the key is that "if they ask for a deposit then walk away".



Wrong.

The deposit is to make sure your going to use my transport. What if you said "I need this camaro transported from California to New York".

I then have to figure out with the transporter all the other stops and drops in between.

Once that's done then I go to pick up you car and you say oh I went with someone else...so after I have plotted the trucks route and time and used my time, this isn't worth the small deposit I get up front to make sure you use our transport?

Just my 2 cents from the brokers side. In today's world the word of person usually doesn't bind them...not like it used too...

[Dayton]

How much is this small deposit?
% of toal cost?

[Tony_SS]

I have used Fed Ex... they bought out a local company here called 'Passport Transport' But now operate under Fed Ex:
http://passport.fedex.com/

I have nothing but good things to say about them.. they may cost a little more, but they are insured and it's an easy process. Drivers are nice and helpful too.

[jy211]

How much is this small deposit?
% of toal cost?

$200 bucks flat fee

[Patrick]

I have had two terrible experiences with brokers--and that is enough for me.

[dqhemi]

We ship cars all the time all over the US and Canada.

For nice cars we generally use Blue Highway.

[Charley Lillard]

Stay away from DAS... A friend bought the Model A roadster that Fonzi drove on Happy Days. DAS kept it for about 2 months, added a bunch of miles to it. Fried the wiring etc. The drivers were cruising it. He is still fighting with them over the damage.

[Steve1968LS2]

The "Don't Use a Broker" statement is a bunch of crap! Call DAS, Drive Away Service, one of the largest car shipping companies in the US and the chances are very great that they will broker your shipment out to an independent trucker/hauler. This is especially true if you live in an out of the way location. Just because you go with a big national service does not mean they will not "broker" out your shipment!


I never said to use one of the HUGE carriers. What you want is someone large enough to be a real business and small enough to provide personal customer service.

I'm pretty sure that Exotic would never broker out your car and 100% sure that Intercity Lines doesn't EVER broker out a transport. With companies like this you are paying for customer service. I could call them each day and find out where my car was. Thier drivers were constant updating me with and ETA. They also carry a ton of insurance. Anyways, shop around and ask for reccomendations. What the car is worth to you will determine how much (or little) you are willing to spend.

[barraza]

Same discussion, different month.

Do your homework, check out the company. The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration maintains a website at

www.safersys.org (http://www.safersys.org)

You can check a carriers safety ratings as well as licenses. Be aware of the limited data though, the gov is more concerned with safety than insurance claims.

Don't pick by price, dealing with non commercial customers and picking up at noncommercial locations costs a trucking company lots of time and time is money. Quick, cheap, good, pick two.

Brokers aren't necessarily bad, they are a fact of life in the trucking industry, as they are in many others. Brokers have insurance and bonds and can potentially save you money. Just because the company name is on the side of the truck that does the pickup, doesn't mean the carrier will move it themselves. Lots of carriers overbook their trucks and are brokers themselves, ie they have carrier and broker authorities and move it the best way for them at the time.

Dont take anyones word on insurance, ask to see the certificates. If you dont understand it, take it to your insurance agent and have them explain it. Insurance in the trucking industry is relatively straightforward when shipping new products, used vehicles are another issue. Do yourself a favor and have the car professionally appraised right before shipment. Most problems are probably because of disputes about whether or not the damage was done while in transit or pre-existed. Take lots of detailed pictures as the car is going on the trailer.

Good luck

[jag4902]

Who did you end up using?

What kind of estimate on dollar/miles?

Thanks.

[Moose]

my brother picked up and drove it back on a transporter tag.. He lives in FL and made it a road trip. only cost me gas money..

[barraza]

It's interesting that this topic came up again. I have seen a rash of fradulent transportation companies lately. The scam is that they assume the identity of a company or a recently out of business company, book loads as if they are legitimate, and then contract with others to pick the load up but then disappear after they get paid, ie without paying the transporter. One of these scams took us for over 40k, and we check everyones paperwork. A large company can afford it, if it's your car, you're SOL. BEWARE

The best defense is to check the carrier and their references, also their insurance. Take pictures of the car from all angles, and record the mileage. Also, never load your car without asking to see the drivers CDL, and copy down the information off it and the license numbers of the truck. There are some crafty theives out there, we had another case last year where a driver showed up at the dock and talked the the workers into loading him without the proper paperwork, 500k of product disappeared without a trace!!