Q. What is the most important thing to know about shipping my vehicle?

A. There are three things that are essential to know when shipping your vehicle: 1) Choose your broker carefully - if it sounds too good to be true, it probably is. 2) ALWAYS get a signed bill of lading at pick-up and delivery of your vehicle (you cannot get compensated for damage to your vehicle without one, it is your proof), and 3) the lowest price is rarely the best price  (see below).

Q. How is my vehicle transported?

A. Our process is simple. When you sign up with us we locate a carrier that will carry your vehicle to its destination. When a carrier is located your account representative will contact you with the estimated dates of your pickup and delivery. The carrier will contact you within 24 hours of the pick up date to make arrangements for collecting your vehicle. On the scheduled date and time of pick-up the carrier will load your vehicle onto their carrier. Once we verify your car is picked-up, then we will charge our fee.  The driver will give you a detailed pick-up Bill of Lading indicating all existing damage to the vehicle. At the destination, your vehicle will be offloaded and you will pay the driver the transport fee and the driver will again inspect the vehicle for any damage.  This second inspection will document any damage that may have happened during transport.  If there is no damage, you simply sign the bill of lading, pay the driver, and enjoy your car.

Q. Why shouldn't I always go with the lowest quote?

A. Some brokers will deliberately give you a very low quote to get you to sign up with them or an automatic quote that does not take into account they type of vehicle you have. Then when your car doesn't move they come back and ask you for more money. If you have signed up with a broker that asks for a non-refundable deposit, you have no choice except to pay the additional amount or lose your deposit. If you have given them a credit card up front, you may find yourself paying a cancellation fee.  We try to get you the most accurate quote possible. Our Account Executives research each quote they give to determine what trucks are actually charging to move cars from your pick-up location to your destination. If it is higher than some other brokers that is because our research has shown that that is the price that truckers need in order to move your car. We make no more money on a higher quote than on a lower quote, the quote we give you is designed solely to move your car.

Q. Where do you ship vehicles to?

A. We arrange to ship vehicles to the continental United States & Canada through our truck partners, or by rail to certain locations.  We can also arrange shipment to Hawaii, Alaska, Canada, Puerto Rico, Guam, Europe, Africa, Australia, and Asia via International Shipping Lines.

Q. How long will it take for my vehicle to be shipped?

A. On average it takes three to fourteen days for you vehicle to reach its destination within the US based on such things as distance, weather, traffic, and construction.  Naturally, overseas transports can take much longer.

Q. How long in advance should I book my transport?

A. It is highly recommended that you book at least two weeks in advance. You should never set an available date until the car is ready to go as often carriers will want to pickup on that date. One of the keys to a successful move is to be flexible on pick-up and delivery dates as carriers are often delayed by conditions beyond their control.

Q. Will my vehicle be insured during my transport?

A. Yes. We only use trucking firms that carry a minimum of $750,000 in liability insurance and $100,000 in cargo insurance. It is important to remember however, that carrier insurance does not cover personal property that you leave in the car.  Additionally, it does not cover road hazards, such as rock chips, or hail, so it is a good idea to get a small comprehensive policy to cover this type of possible damage for the duration of the trip.

Q. Will my vehicle carrier be licensed?

A. Yes. All carriers that we use are licensed by the Federal Department of Transportation. Additionally we are licensed by the Department of transportation and carry a $10,000 bond. License and bonding information can be checked through www.safersys.com.

Q. What are the different levels and types of service?

A. We offer three levels of service, Standard, Premium, and Express and two types of transport - Open & Enclosed. While we want to move all of the vehicles listed with us Premium level customers receive first consideration and more attention. Premium level service is designed primarily for those who need to have their vehicle move more quickly.  Express service,  the most expensive option,  is  designed for those needing their vehicle moved immediately.  Of the two types of transport, Open is the most common.  With open transport your vehicle is carried on an open car carrier and as such is exposed to weather and road hazards (such as rocks, hail, etc).  Enclosed transport is more expensive and is the best choice for extremely expensive or rare or show vehicles.

Q. How should I prepare my vehicle for shipping?

A. In most cases ensuring that the vehicle’s normal maintenance is up-to-date is sufficient. Vehicles that are being transported by ship must be clean and meet other conditions that your Account Executive will be happy to explain to you. If the vehicle is being transported to a cold climate, make sure that anti-freeze is up to date. Disconnect any auto alarms and anti-theft systems.

Q. Can I store any personal items in the vehicle?

A. Legally, auto transporters are not allowed to move anything but vehicles.  In actuality, it depends on the carrier. Some carriers will not take a vehicle with personal property in it.  Some carriers will not move a vehicle being transported with more than 100 pounds of personal items in the vehicle and may charge extra. Any items stored in a vehicle are not covered by insurance and the owner will have no legal recourse if items are lost, stolen, or damaged.  Additionally, personal items left in the car must not interfere with driver's ability to safely load and unload the vehicle.

Q. Why is it more expensive to ship my SUV or truck than for my car?

A. Shipping costs are based on both size and weight. Not only can you only fit so many cars on a carrier, but a car carrier can only carry so much weight. A heavier or larger vehicle restricts the number of other vehicles that a carrier can move.  Additionally, a carrier loaded down with SUV's or trucks will get much worse gas mileage than one carrying only small or standard cars.

Q. Will I need to have my vehicle delivered to a terminal?

A. Normally we do not use terminals. There are only three instances which will result in your car being taken to a terminal: 1) You pre-plan delivery to a terminal because no one will be available to receive the car on delivery, 2) You fail to pay our fee or the transport fee to the truck for the transport,  or 3) No delivery arrangements have been made and no one is available to accept delivery.

Q. How do I pay for my shipment?

A. You may pay your fee to Phoenix Auto Transport by credit or debit card, while the trucker is paid on delivery either in cash, certified funds,  or with a postal money order.

Q. Can I transport a vehicle that does not run?

A. The vehicle can be transported by truck within the continental United States and Hawaii/Alaska even if it does not run, but there will be an additional fee from the carrier included in your quote because of the additional equipment and labor needed to transport it. 

Q. What should I do if my vehicle arrives with damage?