Smart Questions to Ask Your Auto Shipper
I want to preface this by saying that this is not supposed to be an FAQ. We have dozens of those that you can look at if you’re looking to ship a car. Instead, I want to focus on so-called “smart” questions to ask your auto shipper – things that a lot of people don’t really think about. They’re all over the place, really, but some of them are tough to phrase correctly (a big reason why many people don’t ask). That’s why I wanted to put this little post together highlighting some of the questions that you should be asking that maybe you haven’t thought of quite yet. So read on about some things you may want to ask your auto shipper.
Here are some questions to ask your auto shipper:
Are there many carriers on my route? This is a good question to ask because routes with lots of carriers tend to see faster dispatch times and lower prices. Carriers like routes through big cities, especially if they can stay on interstate highways.
Are there any discounts for my shipment? Not all companies offer auto transport discounts, but many of them offer basic ones such as student discounts, military discounts, multi-car discounts, senior citizen discounts, and more. If they don’t offer discounts, oh well. But it never hurts to ask.
Will my vehicle cost me extra because of its size? This is an important question but really only necessary if you’re shipping a large vehicle. Things like pickup trucks and cargo vans can vary widely in size from model to model. As such, if you’re shipping one, it’s best to not only ask if there will be additional charges based on size, but to actually tell your agent that your vehicle is large. This way, you get the most accurate quotes you can.
What can I do to make my shipment easier for the carrier? This is something that some of you may scoff at, but hear me out. In your job, you expect a certain modicum of competence from your customers, right? Belligerent customers are tiresome and can make a bad day hellacious. As such, if there’s anything you can do to make things easier on your agent or your carrier, you should think about doing it. Not only will it make their jobs easier, but they may also cut you some slack in the way of first priority pickup or delivery, or even something like a discount on future shipments. You never know where being nice can get you.
Can I get free quotes to ship my car, though?
You most certainly can. The best way to get your quotes is to fill out our free quote request form. You’ll get free quotes from top-rated companies within about an hour. Your quotes will show up in your email inbox within about an hour, with the first showing up within minutes. You can compare prices and services and also speak to an agent over the phone. More importantly, they can also help explain the cost of auto transport and why it can be so expensive. Those companies are cleared by us ahead of time, so you can rest easy knowing you’ll be in good hands. If you have questions or concerns, don’t hesitate to contact one of our agents any time at 800-930-7417.
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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