Logo

We take a bottom-line approach to each project. Our clients consistently, enhanced brand loyalty and new leads thanks to our work.

ShipA1 Nov 13, 2019

Car shipping scams take advantage of the customers natural desire for cheap bargains on expensive services. If you are going to give money to a car shipping service, it is your responsibility to make sure the moving company is legitimate. Nowadays, more and more people are being fooled by so-called shipping companies. It becomes difficult to trust even the most popular companies. The leading root cause for shipping scam is in making a quick-moving decision. The most important rule you need to follow is to avoid the attempt to choose the cheapest auto mover even if it is difficult, you have no time and act in a hurry. If it is the very first vehicle shipping experience, you need to know that you would face the danger of getting caught by automobile scams. 

However, most car shipping companies in the United States are a reputable business, a few fraudulent companies still remain – along with their victim's cautionary tales. According to the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration(FMCSA), a growing number of complaints have been filed against lately. No matter how professional a car shipping website may seem, car shipping scams exist, and their rates are often too reasonable to be true. At SHIP-A1, we believe that automobile shipping should be a worry-free process. In this guide, we will discuss how you can transport your vehicle across the country and avoid any scams.


Research Before you Sign the Contract

Doing extensive research should lead you to a company with which you feel comfortable shipping your vehicle. Making quick decisions without reading every detail of the contract and signing could leave you with no recourse if you are charged with additional fees when the car is delivered, or your automobile is damaged. You find company's insurance would not cover the costs.


Read Your Shipping Company Contract

As discussed above, reading every detail of the contract is still essential. These documents tell you what you should expect from your moving service provider. A contract is the legal binding document, and there are consequences to its breach. A company's contract letterhead must show the logo and the address of the company. The contract should be signed after all has been clarified and agreed through word of mouth. If your hired shipping company does not have the required elements mentioned above, think twice before appending your signature.


Physical Office and Address

It is always a right decision to check the shipping company address because a legitimate company in business will have a complete address, which includes a physical address. Use these details and pay a visit to their office or at least use google maps to check whether the given location is original or a hoax. Get a few of their documents and even their email addresses, Skype contacts, Facebook, LinkedIn, Instagram and all other platforms. If you notice any changes in their names, think twice before hiring them.


Cheap Automobile Rates

A professional company has a list of cost to meet; like licences, utility bills, staff, rent, and other stuff. Everybody is in business to make a profit and to extra depending on the service they provide. Fraudsters, on the other hand, want to catch your attention by giving an attractive cheap quote. Do research into the fine print of their terms to find out what extra fees are attached to their services. 


Read Car Reviews

Reading reviews should be a crucial part of your research when shipping a car. These can be found on google and customer advocacy sites. Take your time to read what past consumers actually said as an alternative to just looking at the number of good or bad reviews. Look out for companies with only positive reviews. A spotless record is scarce and could indicate unethical review collection practices or the deliberate repression of negative comments.

A company's BBB page can also be revealing. Here you will find not only a BBB rating but also a record of complaints against the service. Consider the ratio of positive to negative reviews, and see how the company responded to unsatisfied customers. The way a company settles issues is as important as having a collection of glowing reviews.


Talk to the Auto Movers

You do not want to deal with a transportation company who does not have the necessary communication etiquette. Just by talking to the auto mover for a brief moment, you will know whether you are dealing with a professional firm or not. By talking to the moving company, you can find out many personnel they have, how many trucks they have and operate. 


How to Prepare your Automobile for Shipping


So you have done your research and found the company to ship your vehicle. Even though you have found a reliable auto shipping company, you still need to prepare your car for shipping. You want to make sure you do everything you can to ensure safe and damage-free delivery. With proper preparation, you can keep down the risk of damage to your vehicle and prevent any additional cost that may occur.