Five Ways to Win Big When It Comes to Vehicle Transport
These days, when you want to purchase a car the Internet is your ideal marketplace. Whether you are looking to purchase a brand-new car, rare make or model or used, buying online can save shoppers serious cash.
There is one catch when it comes to purchasing a car online – how exactly do you get your new purchase from point A to point B? If you don’t want to take time traveling to pick up your vehicle, waiting for planes and paperwork and prefer to enjoy convenient delivery, shipping a car you bought online is the way to go.
With no methodology, shipping a vehicle can seem daunting – that’s why we want to help you find the perfect partner to facilitate your purchase.
Find a Broker (Or Be Your Own)
Brokers can save you the time and energy that it takes to contact several shipping companies
to evaluate prices, policies, and schedule. Here’s why: the only way to ship a car is through a large transport truck with the capacity to hold multiple cars at once. Only when these trucks are filled will they hit the road.
If you are looking for quick delivery, you may want to work with a transport broker who can locate an open slot for a price, and since they have close relationships in the industry, they can often negotiate lower prices, offsetting the cost of a broker’s fee.
If for some reason this doesn’t sit well with you, you can be your own broker and call numerous shipping companies to inquire about prices, policies, and schedule. While you may be the type of person that likes to handle things yourself when you deal directly with an auto transport carrier, you’re going to find yourself constrained by lack of options. A broker will do the legwork of finding a carrier that has the necessary equipment, proper licensing and insurance in all the states required to move your vehicle to its destination when you need it.
Being your own broker comes with some contingencies: you must have ample free time to call up various carriers, wade through lackluster customer service reps and ensure that you have all those requirements we just listed. Also, you’re going to need patience, because, with no relationship with carriers and little industry knowledge, you aren’t going to be able to find open slots immediately. It can take at least eighteen days to receive your car when you DIY, many times you’ll wait a month. You will also need to be ready to keep constant tabs on the transport, rather than having a broker facilitate the communication and just keep you informed along the way.
You’ve got options when it comes to pricing shipping cost, and shoppers with insider knowledge of the auto transport industry know that there are additional measures you can take to ensure a stress-free, speedy and successful shipping experience
- Location, Location, Location – Most transporters use regular routes, hitting major highways and the cities they connect. Therefore, the location of both your purchase and its destination will have an impact on shipping costs.
- Look for Companies that Offer a Single Point of Contact – Beacon Shipping Logistics assigns a personal account manager for you to work with which raises the bar when it comes to customer service. We feel as though building trust with our customers is crucial and developing a relationship with one representative dedicated to you is the best way to do this. Have a question? Call up your account manager directly instead of being placed on hold until “the next representative is available.”
- Shoot for Exceptional Customer Service – Call us biased, but locating a company with amazing customer service is essential. With Beacon, shipping prices are upfront and transparent. We’re also here after hours to assure reliable shipping and peace of mind.
- Your New Vehicle is a Serious Asset, Protect It – Look for vehicle shipping companies who offer transport insurance on the vehicle you have purchased. If you don’t opt to work with Beacon, make sure that your personal auto insurance will cover any damage that may be sustained to your vehicle while it’s in transit.
Indeed, shopping for cars online is your best option if you want to save money and avoid the sales tactics of traditional car dealerships. As we mentioned, the catch is transporting your new investment.
However, if you choose the right company to work with, you’ll be on the road to reliability and peace of mind.
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