Do I need to use car shipping companies near me?

When you’re looking to ship a car, you may want to Google “car shipping companies near me.” But do you need to use a local auto transporter to get your vehicle picked and delivered in a timely fashion?

While supporting local business is always a good idea, when it comes to car transport, the company doesn’t need to be local in order for them to quickly pick up and transport your vehicle.

Regardless of their actual HQ location, most car interstate car transporters ship cars across the United States, to cities and towns small and large.

How do I decide?

While you don’t need to use a company that’s near either the pick up or the destination location, you definitely want to use a car transporter that has experience shipping cars cross country.

Sometimes you purchase a car in another state bought online, or you’re moving across the country and don’t want to put unnecessary wear and tear on your car.

Whatever your reason for hiring an auto hauling company is, you should consider more than just price of car shipping. Don’t shop just for the cheapest auto transport quote!

You’ve already made the decision to spare your vehicle from racking up extra miles or wear and tear, so don’t cut any corners when choosing the right company to transport your car.

Finding the right kind of car shipping company

In this industry, there are two types of companies: [car shipping carriers and car shipping brokers.]

Which one best fits your needs depends on what you’re looking for. Briefly, brokers will look for a third party carrier to ship your car, while a carrier will be the one who ships your car.
If you book your transport with a broker, they may not be the company you deal with from beginning to end.

If you book your transport with a car carrier, they will be the people you deal with throughout the transport of your vehicle.

• Cost –
  Get quotes from a few different companies. This will give you an idea of a reasonable price to ship your car.

  This is something that only you can determine to be fair since it is only you who is aware of your specific budget.

• Reputation –
  What do actual customers have to say about the companies you’re researching to ship your car. Word of mouth is great, but also check out what third party review sites have to say.

  Sites like transportreviews.com, mymovingreviews.com, as well as reviews on Google and Facebook will give you an idea of their reputation.

  Also, check out their rating with the Better Business Bureau.

• Safety–
  This is probably the number one most important characteristic you should seek out in an auto transport company.

  You can check out a company’s safety rating at the FMCSA.

• Speed –
  How quickly the company can transport your vehicle is also a factor you should take into consideration.

  Obviously, the longer the distance of the transport, the longer it will take to deliver your car, but to help get your vehicle shipped as quickly as possible, the single best thing you can do is book your auto transport order as far in advance as you can.

  Most car shippers would like at least a 10 day window from the time you book the order to the time you need your vehicle picked up. This will give the car shipper the time needed to arrange the transport of your vehicle.

  Ten days is good, but if you can plan even further ahead, that would be even better.

So let’s recap.

There are probably countless other characteristics that you personally find important when working with any professional company, regardless of industry, so make sure you hold true to your own rigorous standards as well.

However, when searching for an auto transport company that is not necessarily located nearby, making sure it meets all of the previous criteria is a great step in the right direction.

Don’t procrastinate, and above all, don’t settle.

Take the time to find the best match and go with your gut when making a commitment, and in no time at all, you will be on the fast track to a successful auto transport process. And remember: you do not need to use a “car shipping company near me!”