Auto Transportation

Posts Tagged ‘location’

When you need to move your car from one place to another destination, auto transport companies can save you the time and expense of doing it yourself. An auto transport company will not only save you time, fuel and money, but also protect you against vehicle damage and theft, since many licensed carriers have their own insurance. Shipping your car also saves mileage on the odometer and preserves your cars value. If you are shipping a luxury or a classic car, enclosed trailers are recommended. Open trailers are most often used to transport automobiles since this is the most cost effective way. Finding a reliable and trustworthy company with our tips below should be an easy process. Selecting a company begins with the price estimate or a quote. Here is the information you need to get the best deal and the most accurate quote:

Location of the car where to be picked up and where it will be delivered to.
The approximate departure date.
Type of vehicle (standard size car/sedan, SUV, pick-up truck, van, etc.).
Special services or requirements like enclosed trailer or top vehicle placement.

Brokers vs. Carriers

A carrier is the trucking company that will actually transport your vehicle(s) from point A to point B. Auto transport carriers will often deal directly with consumers, but usually they rely on brokers to provide much of their business. Carriers typically don’t have the staff or budget to market themselves to the public. They typically rely on word of mouth or local advertising to generate revenue for their business they get from brokers.

Brokers specialize in finding carriers who can move a vehicle for the price you want and when you want it. Brokers deal with a number of carriers and therefore have more options for faster delivery at their disposal. Also, auto transport brokers offer pricing that is equal to or better than you might find on your own dealing directly with auto shipping carriers because they can find those empty spots.

Check the insurance of your auto transport company. The law requires the car transport carrier to fully insure your vehicle against damage or theft while it is in the carrier’s possession. To verify this, visit Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA), to look up insurance information for auto shippers, along with their safety record. Make sure to read your contract carefully for any mention of a deductible or exclusions. Although your vehicle and its original equipment are usually insured, other stuff that may be in the car like jewelry, CDs, luggage, etc… may not be covered. It is always a good idea not to put expensive things in your along for the ride. Your own insurance may cover such items, but many auto shippers will refuse to accept your vehicle until it’s empty. ShipAnyCar.com, certifies that all of the auto transport companies they represent are fully bonded and insured.

Check references and reviews for auto shippers. You may find the complaints filed with the local Better Business Bureau in the auto transport company’s city or state.

Before accepting your car at the pickup location, the auto transport company will inspect the vehicle and note any damage such as dents, dings, scratches, etc. An inspection report or bill of lading will be given to you for your signature as well as a copy. Check it carefully for accuracy before signing it. When your car is delivered, you’ll want to inspect it again for any damage; if you find any damage not already listed on the report, file a damage claim with the auto transport company.

Below are some tips for helping you select the right auto transport company:

Many auto transport companies cannot guarantee exact delivery dates. Three days to one week is a typical delivery time.
Many auto shippers require that you drop off your car at least one week in advance, but some require two weeks or even four weeks. So it’s a good idea to plan ahead.
Your car should be driven very little during auto transport – on and off the truck and to a nearby parking space or terminal. Make sure it has at least a quarter tank of gas when you drop it off.
See if the company offers GPS tracking so you can access the exact location of your vehicle.

With the big three already deep in the doo doo, is the Chevy Volt the answer to General Motors problems or will it prove to be the final nail in the manufacturers coffin.

Much has been made of the Chevy Volt, a plug-in electric hybrid. GM sees this idea as the saviour of its company. The only problem may be that the technology is already out of date by the time it is launched. Battery power may indeed prove to be a viable alternative to the internal combustion engine in the short term, but with limited mileage on a full charge and hours needed to recharge, the hydrogen fuel cell looks, on the face of it, a much better long term solution.

Enter the Honda FCX Clarity. Powered by a hydrogen fuel cell, the Clarity has been hailed as the most important car launched this century. Creating electricity by combining hydrogen that is stored in a fuel tank on board the vehicle, with oxygen from the air, the only bi products produced are heat and water. Giving us the first truly eco friendly car, that is, if you ignore how the hydrogen is produced (currently from electricity generated from fossil fuels).

With a top speed of one hundred miles per hour and a claimed range of 280 miles, the Honda Clarity does not need to be recharged and does not need a conventionalinternal combustion engine to top up its charge, it is simply filled with gaseous hydrogen at suitable filling stations. These stations may be limited at the moment, but as demand grows for these vehicles more stations will no doubt follow.

Currently available on a six hundred dollar a month three year lease, the Clarity will no doubt already have a host of celebrities lining up to confirm their green credentials and as it is only available in southern California (probably the most environmentally aware location in the States) the allocation has already been filled. This area has been chosen for the trials purely and simply because it has at least got a few of the hydrogen filling stations needed to refill the Clarity.

So, with General Motors announcing that it will delay the completion of the factory that will produce the engines for the Volt, even though it has been held up as the symbol of their future. It is looking more and more as if the hydrogen car may overtake the electric / hybrid plug in before it even makes it into the showrooms. GM hope to launch the Volt in 2010, but Honda will have no doubt ironed out any glitches with the Clarity by then, giving them a clear advantage over others, just as Toyota did with the Prius.

With technology moving towards cars that produce zero emissions General Motors may be pinning their hopes on a car that has a very limited shelf life. Historically, it has been very late in realising that its customers needs have changed. In its haste to catch up, has it once again misjudged the direction in which the market is moving? If it has, then theChevy Volt could very well prove to be the final nail in the coffin for General Motors.