Let\’s hear it for that investigative sock monkey, Curious George, who never met a situation where he was afraid to ask a question. The best sock monkeys and the best teachers will also encourage you to resolve the unknown by being curious enough to find out a lot about the mysterious \”unknown\” by asking question after question until the circumstances make sense to you. Knowledge is power. Asking questions is how you gain knowledge. To most of us, the process of shipping our vehicle anywhere is an enigma since it is not a task we must face very often.

Your vehicle and its fate is on the line when you must put it in the hands of a stranger. To understand the auto shipping industry and its processes, you must gather the requisite knowledge to ensure a happy result for you and your auto. Auto transport is a complicated industry so let\’s begin with the basics and escalate from there.

Probably the first question to ask is about the container your car will be shipped within or on top of. The differences are vast between closed and open container shipping and must be addressed in terms of categories like security and pricing. You must not only determine the price but what that amount covers. Not all price quotes will cover the type of container offered, insurance, door-to-door shipping, and direct or expedited routing.

When you are discussing costs, you should also be questioning cancellation fees and insurance policy examinations. Going into detail with the shipping company representative regarding the terms and conditions of costs and services are always an important consideration in auto transport. You also need to find out how long the shipment is estimated to take, the guarantees of the organization completing the delivery, and whether the company you are dealing with will handle all details of the transport themselves or if there are third parties and/or brokers involved in any of the shipment\’s phases. In conjunction with this line of questioning, ask about scheduling parameters, locations for pick up and drop off and whether or not it is okay to ship personal articles inside the vehicle. Now let\’s move on to more complex details.

Should you have a specialty vehicle or any vehicle that is to be transported over seas, your questioning must be as thoroughgoing as you can make it. If your vehicle is not just doing a domestic journey, you are in another realm of auto shipping entirely. Consider the shipping rules of getting a vehicle to Hawaii. There are many special considerations in delivering autos to that state and only by carefully examining the rules and regulations will you understand what you are getting into, even though Hawaii is considered domestic for most other interstate transactions. In international shipping, inquiries into customs clearing, local laws, and current country characteristics may all provide insight into making better vehicle shipping decisions. When it comes to luxury automobiles, classic, vintage, or oversized, you will need information pertinent to the type of vehicle to make absolutely sure that your precious vehicle arrives in the same condition in which it left, even more so than your average Ford Focus.

Damage reporting is a crucial issue for you to know about. Gain an understanding of how the inspection sheets operate, required drivers licenses and how signatures are coordinated should there become a need for reconciliations. Be aware of how the company handles emergency situations. This can be done by researching the history of the company to find out just how such instances were handled in the past. If they were handled to the customer\’s complete satisfaction, that is a very good sign that the company cares about it\’s customers and the customer\’s property. This is a very important consideration of any shipping company you talk to. The more questions you ask and the more you know about the auto shipping industry in general, the more satisfactory will be the result of your personal vehicle transportation endeavor.

The auto shipping industry is mysterious to most people simply because it is not part of their every day experience. Seemingly dumb questions like how much gas to leave in the tank, will somebody drive the car at any point in the process, or is it okay to ship a non-operating vehicle are important concerns that anyone transporting a vehicle needs to know. If at any time in the decision process of hiring an auto shipper you don\’t feel like you know what you are doing or don\’t understand all of the details, that is the time to refer to market resources that you can find most easily online or locally through someone who regularly transports vehicles, like a car dealership, for example. Not knowing what you are in for when shipping your vehicle is sure to be to yours and your vehicle\’s disadvantage. Be a sock monkey. Ask questions.

Author Bio: To read more about Auto Transport or Auto Shipping please visit MetroGistics.

Category: Automotive
Keywords: auto shipping, auto transport, logistics, car shipping, transportation