www.pbs.org Author Bill Cronon discusses the impact that cars had on family vacations taken in the parks in the 1950s in this clip from Ken Burns’s newest film, THE NATIONAL PARKS: AMERICA’S BEST IDEA, premiering Sunday-Friday, September 27-October 2, 2009, at 8 pm ET/PT. For more information on the film, visit www.pbs.org
THE NATIONAL PARKS: AMERICA’S BEST IDEA | Automobiles | PBS
Before You Hire A Car Transporting Company
Transporting a vehicle is not at all complicated if you know a solution. Either you have one family car or more it is important that you rely on a professional car shipping company that is credible — with experience and expertise, and cost-effective. Primarily, auto shipping companies provide convenience for customers by providing transportation solutions to your family’s vehicles.
In business nature, an auto shipping company offers local, interstate and international car transporting. Depending on the needs of the customer, variable shipping solutions are available.
When searching for an auto transport service, it is always advisable to ask someone you know if they can refer a car shipping company. If they don’t know one, you can take minutes of research on local directory listing or the Internet. With so many companies for the picking you get confused with which service you are going to hire.
But before you choose an auto transport company, clearing out concerns should be subjective. In finding your car shipping company, the process of elimination is a tactic we must all practice. First, gather all the available companies that is near your address, then find out which company garnered the top rating in customer referrals, insurance policies, transport process and service coverage.
References
All auto shipping companies are required – or rather – should be registered with the Department of Transportation and must have an active MC and USDOT number. Before you hire the service, ask the company about it and verify if they have liability and cargo insurance. Although the amounts of coverage vary, you should request a written proof of the company’s current insurance coverage and delimitations before hand.
You should also ask for the company’s previous customers to see if the car shipping company provided a satisfactory or an excellent service. Though some customers would say OK, it is rather important that you ask for a credible source. You can contact Better Business Bureau to know if there are any complaints filed against them and how issues are resolved.
Shipping Process and Delivery
Auto shipping companies have strict delivery process for automobiles. Whether it is a sedan or big cars like F150, all of them are carefully loaded and unloaded in the carrier using lifting equipments and tightly sealed it during the transport — not to mention the driver that is, so to speak, driving your cars to your new address.
Shipping companies can deliver your vehicles on a fixed date or an estimate date within a fixed period. It is important that you ask them about this. And don’t forget to ask, especially if you have a limited street scale because some car transport carriers are too large to negotiate residential streets. In such case, they may offer an alternative pick-up point and unload your car in a safe and suitable location close to your house.
If you have two or more cars, the setting will require one carrier dedicated for delivery with a specified delivery schedule. However, if you only paid for one car transport, some auto transporters isn’t always a case of hauling your vehicle straight to your address. Many companies use large carriers and travel all over the place to deliver other loads (vehicles) before it reaches your garage.
For international car transport, your attention is highly required as the country that you are transporting to has, and maybe, a different law when it comes to customs. Make sure that the shipping company you are about to hire has an extensive experience with international car transport and can help you with the documentation, fees, restrictions, regulations and customs law.
Insurance
Primarily, the security of your vehicle should be noted, which follows down to insurances. It is important that you talk to them in-depth about how they transport vehicles and what measures they take to protect vehicles. Ask for tangible proof of the company’s terms and conditions or usually a Service Agreement and read it very carefully before you agree to hire them.
Pricing
The pricing strategy of most auto transport companies vary depending on which indicator they base their rates: by the hour transport travel, by the weight of the vehicles, the number of vehicles, the type of vehicles, and the distance of transport travel.
Check-ups
Most companies will check your vehicle before they load it for existing damage like scratches and dents. Upon check up, which you should be present, you will sign an agreement stating that the check has been done accurately before they load it to the carrier.
Before loading or turning over your vehicle to the transport company, make sure that you emptied out your trunk where you store some of your personal possessions and documents. Most companies are not insured for damage or loss of personal items.
Related posts
Planning On Purchasing A New Car?
If you are planning on buying a new auto and you decide to finance it, be aware that the financing obtained by the dealer, even if the dealer contacts lenders on your “best interest” may not be the best bargain you can get. If you decide to trade in your old car (not the best advice) make sure you discuss the possibility of a trade-in only after you have negotiated the best possible price for your new car, and after you have researched the value of your old car. Before going to the dealer’s sales floor, make sure you research about what car model and options you desire, and how much you are willing to pay.
Price
Get a free dealer price quote online. Shop around to get the best available price by comparing models and prices in advertisments and at dealer showrooms. Because the price is a key factior in the dealer’s calculations regardless of whether you pay cash or finance your car, and also affects your monthly payments, negotiating the price can save you money. Generally, the invoice price should include freight (also known as destination and delivery). Base Price is the cost of the car without options, but considers standard equipment and factory warranty. Sometimes, dealers offer very low financing rates for specific cars or models, but may not be willing to negotiate on the price of these cars. Remember that a warranty is included in the price of the car while a service contract costs extra.
Dealers
Always take into account this: Dealers may be willing to bargain on their profit margin, around 10 and 20 percent. Dealers should never know more about your credit than you. However, dealers often want to sell their current inventory quickly, so you can negotiate a good deal if an in-stock car meets your needs. Dealers know their game way more than you do. Think about it, they do it every day. You will do it maybe 5-8 times in your whole life. Be attentive, and better yet, visit cardealerexposed.ecuawebsite.com
Credit
If your dealer requires you to buy credit insurance for car financing, it must be included in the cost of credit, but DON’T DO IT. Before purchasing a new car, you HAVE TO get your credit report and credit score from Experian, Equifax or True Credit. They rely on dumb car buyers who don’t know their own credit score and don’t research before they buy a car.
Most people know their blood pressure and cholesterol level, but few know their own credit score. Show up at a dealer without knowing your credit score, and you might as well give them your credit card.
I don’t use the free government mandated credit report site because they do not give you the credit score. Even if you have previous bankruptcy, tax liens, or bad credit, as long as your credit score is 525 or above, and bankruptcies have been discharged, your chances are good. Write on the copy: the dealer may NOT run a credit check on you.