How To Choose a Car Transporter That is Right For You

FEEDBACK, FEEDBACK, FEEDBACK. Done

uShip’s founding principle is transparency in shipping, creating a way for customers to know who would be shipping their vehicles based not just on price or a flashy website, but on past performance. Choosing the right Transportation Service Provider (TSP) is a little more than feedback, but we can’t stress feedback enough. We will get back to that later.

Every shipment is different, so every TSP will bid on your vehicle differently. The Shipping Price Estimator is a good place to start to get an idea of price, but where do you go after price?

Know your types of Transporters. If you are shipping a 1968 Camaro SS with original paint, then enclosed transportation is the way to go. Other trailer types will be cheaper, but sometimes the cheaper option isn’t always the best one.

Check each transporter that places a bid on your shipment for DOT and MC numbers. All Auto Transporters are required to be registered with the Department of Transportation and must have an active USDOT and MC number like Executive Auto Shippers and other uShip transporters have. You can double check these on the TSP’s profile page by clicking the hyperlinked numbers. The exceptions to this are forwarders and brokers, who only have MC numbers. With Register Transporters you get licensing and quality. They have to hold themselves to higher standards and you should too. A few minutes of research could save you from major headaches in the long haul.

All Carriers are required to have liability and cargo insurance. Most of our TSPs have their insurance information listed in their profiles. Although the amounts of coverage vary, after booking you should request written proof of a transporter’s coverage. This is not too much to ask, and a reputable TSP won’t hesitate. Most household policies won’t cover a car in transit, so check with your specific insurance company before hand to see if they have “rider” policies. Most importantly, like all things relating to money, contracts, or insurance: READ THE FINE PRINT.

Be flexible during the bidding process, if a TSP is passing through with extra space, you could save serious money by accommodating the Transporter a little. If you have a strict timeline, make sure to point that out, TSPs operate under deadlines and knowing your timeline will greatly help when they are bidding on your vehicle.

Finally, and most important: FEEDBACK. Our site is designed to highlight TSP’s past performance and we encourage our customers to write reviews after their shipments. Go over the feedback written, look at their past shipments, and most importantly answer and ask questions.

We all like the underdog, the new guy, the company starting out and making a name for itself, but use common sense and follow the uShip terms and conditions when choosing a Transporter. Your mama always told you if it is too good to be true it probably is.