Auto Shipping Glossary: Cancellation Policy
Every auto transport company will allow you cancel an order that you place with them, though there are a few stipulations that you need to be aware of.
Every company’s cancellation policy is different, though many of them will be similar in content, which is why it’s so important that you understand what your cancellation policy includes and what you’re getting yourself into when you book an order to ship a vehicle. You can find each company’s cancellation policy in their Terms and Conditions, which we discussed last week, and you really should read those companies’ terms and conditions before you even book.
Your cancellation policy is going to cover when you can cancel your order. Usually, any time you book a shipment you’ll have some time to pay your deposit, and generally if your order status is “available” (or whatever variation of that word your shipper uses), it means that it’s waiting for someone to pick up the load.
This is generally the time when you’ve yet to pay your deposit and your broker is simply trying to find a carrier to pick your vehicle up, and from the time you book up until the time you pay your deposit you can typically cancel for any reason (or no reason at all), and not have to pay any cancellation fees or wait for any refund.
If you cancel after you paid a deposit but before your vehicle is picked up, most companies will still allow you cancel your order, though you will be entitled to a refund and possibly a cancellation fee. The fee is relatively rare, but the refund is a right – no company is allowed to keep your money after you paid them if they don’t get your vehicle shipped.
You should, of course, read up on your cancellation policy before you book, as we mentioned, so you can avoid any company that may want to charge you a cancellation fee (all they’re doing is robbing you with them) and also read more about their refund policies. Some may take days or weeks to get you paid, and their payment methods may be different than how you paid the deposit.
Once your vehicle is actively picked up and on the truck, it’s almost always going to be too late to cancel, so if you’re unsure of whether or not to ship your vehicle you need to make yourself sure before the truck arrives. Usually you can cancel up until your vehicle is dispatched – that means assigned to a carrier – though some companies may allow you to cancel up until the carrier arrives to pick your vehicle up.
Try not to cancel after your vehicle is dispatched, though, as it can cause problems for the carrier in terms of route schedules. They live from one pickup/delivery to the next, and going out of their way just to have the order canceled from underneath them is frustrating as it’s a waste of time and money.
If you’re interested in shipping a vehicle, make sure to take a moment to fill out our free online auto transport quote request form. If you do, you’ll get a free quote to ship your vehicle immediately. We are a top-rated company with over 20 years of experience in helping customers ship their vehicles, and we can help you too. You can also contact us any time toll-free at 800-930-7417 to speak to a representative. They’ll answer questions, give you a quote, book your shipment, and more.
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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