Everyone knows that you should always carry sufficient insurance when driving your car, but oftentimes, most people are unaware that car insurance still applies even during car transport. There is always a risk of something happening to your vehicle in transit, as it is no longer under your control. Thus, double-checking your Car Transport company’s rules and policies for car insurance is necessary to avoid footing the bill for any transport-related damage.
Majority of reputable car transport companies have the required insurance to cover any form of damage that may occur with the vehicles they are transporting. As with any type of insurance, auto transport insurance has plenty of caveats. The rest of the article is dedicated to giving some valuable suggestions regarding auto transport insurance.
The first step in the process is that you check the insurance certificate of the potential companies that you have selected. A well-respected company will gladly show you the necessary documents, which they have as it is a legal requirement. You cannot ask too many questions when it comes to the policy offered, so find out about deductibles, the extent of the protection offered and specific part coverage.
Promises by the transport company are meaningless unless they are written do, so have all information documented. Contact the company or the agent for specific details. Check that your insurance covers your vehicle en route, and that you don't need to notify the company each time you move a car.
It is absolutely crucial to remove your personal belongings from the car before transport. Remember that anything that is damaged or lost in the car en route will not be covered by insurance. The excess weight could crush your exhaust and moving objects may damage your interior, so keep it clean!
Once again, damage of this nature will not be covered by company insurance. Before you load your car, make sure that it has been prepped correctly. A company inspector will examine your car for any signs of damage as soon as you drop it off.
During car examination, make sure to be there. Every time you transport your car, take a photo of it before hand that can serve as evidence in case of an incident. To make sure that no damage was recorded while the car was being transported, it will once again be inspected upon arrival.
Before you accept your car back, be sure to go over it thoroughly, and look for scratches and dents. Check the undercarriage by starting it up to see any mechanical damage. Take your camera with you just in case there is damage to be documented.
When there is damage that was caused during transport, it must be documented on the Bill of Lading. The Bill of Lading must be counter-signed by the driver, after which you should contact your transport company. You should use a flashlight or similar light in order to thoroughly inspect your car at night.
The sign of a reputable transport business is their customer support structure. In the event that you are not happy with the service offered, you can file a complaint, as most transport companies align themselves with business organizations like Better Business Bureau. If you put in the necessary effort, car transport insurance becomes fairly easy to negotiate.
