Auto Transport Tips: Lower isn’t Always Better
When you’re shipping a vehicle, one of the most important things you can do is gather multiple quotes from different car transport companies to find the right company at the right price for you. We highly recommend that you shop around for quotes, but it’s important to put the quotes that you receive in proper context. When it comes to ship a car, understanding a bit about how the industry works can help you make a more informed decision on which company – and which price – you want to book with and at, and the key here is understanding that the lowest price you see isn’t always the best price for you.
Auto transport companies are literally bidding on your business when they send you quotes. That’s their estimate for how much it will cost to get your vehicle shipped within a reasonable time, but some companies are better about understanding how prices in the industry work than others. Companies that price too low run the risk of not being able to get your vehicle picked up on time. The reason for this is the fact that they are trying to win your business and then are trying to ship your vehicle after they get your order booked. This is the way the industry works; carriers won’t book freight unless the broker they are booking with can actually deliver, which requires you to actually have committed to their services.
So, in essence, the brokers are kind of beholden to the carriers in how much they charge you. Brokers accept a standard deposit, and then the rest goes to the carrier to cover their operating costs. Brokers look at trends along certain routes and basically make an offer to you. This is why the lowest price is often the worst of the bunch – if the price that the broker quotes you is too low, no carrier is going to want to take the freight, which leaves you stuck without someone to ship your vehicle, and likely will end up having to pay more money to get your vehicle moved anyway. This is why you want to keep an eye on prices that are more in the middle, and why you should try to get up to ten quotes or more from different shippers, so you can get a good range of prices.
If you’re interested in shipping a vehicle, and are looking for quotes to get you started, take a minute to fill out our free online car transport quote request form. When you do, you’ll receive free quotes from top-rated, licensed, bonded and insured auto shipping companies that understand the way the industry works and who price fairly and competitively, giving you the advantage when it comes to choosing the right company for your needs. You can compare prices and services and even discuss your shipment – before you book, no less – with a representative of those different companies. If you have questions about our services, or if you need some help getting your free quotes, don’t hesitate to give us a call toll-free 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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