Auto Shipping FAQ: How Safe are Car Transport Services?
When it comes to transporting a vehicle, chances are it’s going to be a lot safer than if you were to drive the distance yourself. But when it comes to safety, there are a few different things we need to discuss, namely the safety of the vehicle against the elements, theft and wear and tear from driving vs shipping.
Car transport services exist namely because they are cheaper, faster, more cost-effective and generally safer than driving your vehicle that same distance (or having someone else drive it for you), though to be fair the market is rather niche, all things considered.
Read on to learn more about what you can expect when it comes time to ship your vehicle and during transit.
When shipping a vehicle one of the most important things to note is the safety of the vehicle in regards to the elements. Things such as rain, sleet, snow, ice and even rocks and errant debris kicked up from other motorists on the highway can all put your vehicle in danger of damage, but how much risk you take depends on the vehicle you are shipping.
Most daily-drivers will be just fine being exposed to those elements because not only are they already exposed on a daily basis but their value is declining and likely won’t get any better any time soon.
Enclosed transportation is available for vehicles that are worth quite a bit of money and have a decent chance of retaining their value should they be kept in pristine conditions, so unless you’re shipping a Rolls Royce or a high-end Benz or something, open transport won’t be any more dangerous for your vehicle than driving.
Now, what about theft? To be fair, theft from auto transportation trucks is almost impossible. Not only are all the trucks chained securely and locked in place by the car transport truck driver, but they are also lined up in such a way where any thief will have a really hard time getting the vehicle off the truck.
The way that most common car transport trucks are configured, not only will the thief have to get the keys and unchain the car, they’ll also have to unload all the other cars they don’t want and then reload them when they’re done – all without tipping the driver off, who tends to sit in their truck almost all the time anyway, and any thief is going to get caught well before they get anything.
Since all the cars are locked while on the truck, a thief wanting items in the vehicle will have to climb the truck, get onto the rack, and then break a window or something without being spotted – so much work, risk and for so little payoff that no one does it. There’s no point.
Now let’s cover a bit about driving your vehicle versus shipping it. When you drive that distance, not only are you having to pay for fuel every single day, but if it’s a trip that’s going to take you a few days you’re going to have to pay for food and lodging as well – every single day, no less.
Those expenses add up, and oftentimes will end up totaling more than what you’re going to spend to ship it. Not only that, but driving it puts a lot of wear and tear on your tires and your engine – oftentimes, driving long distance will result in you having to get an oil change and a tire rotation and other services months before they’re actually due. Shipping saves you that and money in the long run.
If you’re interested in shipping a vehicle, take a minute to fill out our free online auto transport quote request form. If you do, you’ll get a free quote right away and can even book your shipment if you’re ready. If you have questions about our services, or if you need some help getting your free quote, don’t hesitate to give us a call any time at 800-930-7417 to speak to one of our own live agents.
Since 2007 Dave has written all the content and blogs for American Auto Shipping and during this time added the duties of customer support and transport logistics.
He currently resides in Washington with his three kids and their mom and cat. A fan of Marvel movies and good stories, when not shipping cars Dave can be found working on his novel, enjoying a good book or playing some tournament HALO.
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