Myths exist in every industry
and the auto transport does not fall behind. Myths are common misconceptions
people believe in because other people do and hence we assume they are true.
Assumption is not based on facts and we should not assume, rather do some
research and ask auto transporters questions, when it comes to shipping your
car. Thus, don’t trust everything you hear, not matter how many times you have
heard it because here we will debunk some popular myths about car shipping.
Myth#1: Terminal to terminal shipping is cheaper than door-to-door!
If you have never had to ship
your car, you can’t know for sure what would be the most cost effective car
shipping option. It is true that it does require extra driving and handling to
ship your car to your door and this ultimately cost more. However, despite the fact
that terminal-to-terminal shipping saves gas and money to the carrier, the
terminals may charge an additional fee to keep your car. Thus, this extra
charge will raise the final cost of shipping and will cancel the expected
advantages of terminal-to-terminal shipping.
Myth #2: Terminals shipping increases the chance of transportation delay
This is a big myth that we will
debunk quickly. Terminal to terminal auto transport does not increase the time
for delivery because it depends completely on the customers’ availability to
pick up their car.
Myth #3: Avoid auto transport brokers and deal directly with carriers!
Often an auto transporter is
both a carrier and a broker, and this would be the ideal case. However, if you
have contacted a carrier only, you may want to reconsider that. Often dealing
with car shipping carriers will face you with the challenge of no customer
relations department to update you on your delivery. This may turn your auto
transporting into quite a challenge when you don’t know where your car is on
the road. Most carriers have a limited number of trucks covering a certain area
and when their capacity is filled, they may not be able to offer you the most
convenient for you dates. Delivery time, and cost, is one of the most important
aspects of car shipping, and this is where a broker will come into play. A
carrier will offer later shipping dates and try to accommodate your car
transportation. A broker will find you an auto transporter that will pick up
your car at the most convenient for you time, while offering customer service
department that will answer all your questions. Brokers will provide you with
terms and conditions of the auto transport up front, whereas a carrier will
simply hand you the contract at the pickup date. Consequently, since car
shipping brokers’ reputation depends entirely on their customer relations, they
will offer more attention and do the best to accommodate their customers.
Myth #4: Auto shipping cost depends solely on the distance
Auto shipping cost does not depend
only on the distance. There are a few major factors affecting the car shipping
cost – distance, vehicle size, accessibility of final destination and
flexibility in dates. Therefore, when charging for shipping auto transporters
consider the distance as major factor, but not the only one. If shipping your
car to a rural, more difficult to access location that would cost you more
since the carrier has to go off the main route. If you are not flexible with
the shipping dates and demand specific dates that also may cost you more
because the auto transporters may have to make additional arrangements.
Therefore, car-shipping cost depends on many factors.
Myth #5: It takes more time to ship than to drive the car myself
That is quite a popular myth.
People often think that it would be easier, cheaper and faster to drive their
car to the new place than to trust it in the hands of an auto transporter. It
may be true sometime, but it all depends on the situation and the car shipping
company you have chosen. That is why it is good to work with brokers and tell
them your requirements as they can better accommodate you. If you are on a time
schedule, and need your car fast, you may want to consider expedite
car-shipping service instead of racing with your car across the country and
risking delays and hazards of traveling long distance.
Myth #6: In general, it is too expensive to ship a car
Cost is of course the most
important aspect when thinking of shipping your car. Many people think that it
is an expensive service that they would not like to pay for. However, in most
cases it is cheaper to have an auto transport ship your car rather than you
driving it all the way to the new location. If you have an expensive car for
shipping, you may want to spare miles and gas, plus lodging, which may cost you
much more than have it shipped. All you need to do is shop around for auto
transporters and get auto transport quotes.
Myth #7: Remove your hubcaps to save money car shipping
Talking about the cost again
many people will tell you to remove the hubcaps in order to save on car
shipping cost. This is a big misconception. Many people believe that it will
save them money because car shippers give their customers tips to prepare the
car for transporting, and often that includes taking down any removable parts and
locking them in the trunk. Myth debunked now because your hubcaps have nothing
to do with the car shipping cost.
