subject: Ship Your Car In One Piece And Ensure Peace Of Mind [print this page] Hastily trusting your car to the first trucking company you come across is the last thing you want, sign a contract on faith, have your car picked up already that day, and then in Pompeii or Paris have the shipment delayed. Your vehicle is finally but with damage and you can't prove it wasn't there before.
Good companies might inform you on how best to submit your property for transportation themselves, but it is best to be self-informed, save time by preparing your car beforehand, and make sure the busy clerk doesn't forget a point or two: the responsibility for any overlooked issues will rest wholly with the client.
When your car is concerned, it is better to be fastidious than a careless slacker: occurrences of scandalous customer service involving expensive cargo are not uncommon. Before admitting a company clerk to you car, inspect it yourself minutely, with particular attention to the motor: it is better to be fully aware of the motor's condition before shipment, so that later you will not have to wrack you brains about a bunch of wires you never before noticed and suspect conspiracy unnecessarily.
It is better to remove any removable customized accessories, radios, alarms, mirrors, etc. Make sure not to leave in plain sight inside the car any precious or even not so precious objects which might invite a break-in (some people think nothing of breaking into a car to steal a false Zippo). Check the tires for air and wear. Any damage that remains unrepaired upon submission should be listed in the agreement and signed by both parties. A company official will likely want to check the car himself in your presence, but don't be afraid to nag them with a host of small detail - good carrier companies will only be glad to oblige their customers and a display of vigilance might deter bad companies from carelessly handling your property.
There are too many insurance policies insistently offered over the phone and by mail for a reasonable person to pay for all of them and you would be perfectly sane - despite what the agents would have you to think - not to insure your every body part and organ. But no matter how trustworthy the company is or seems to be, it is better to buy insurance from them against damage and theft.
Choose whether you prefer primary or excess insurance and make sure the company offers the one you choose. The primary insurance policy will cover damages independently of what is covered by your regular auto insurance. The excess policy will cover what your regular insurance doesn't, but be sure you are familiar with what is and isn't covered.
For exotic vehicles, antiques or classic cars there are companies specializing in the shipping of these. Handling your precious cargo is what their specially designed carriers are designed for, but it is still advisable to an insurance contract.
Inspect your car with the truck driver, it is also a good idea to take digitally-dated photos of your car prior to shipping. In the presence of the driver/official inspect immediately for damage this will help in filing a claim if new objectionable damage is found.
