Auto Transport - Why It Is Important To Always Inspect Your Vehicle

By Tom Kearns

When considering the shipment of your vehicle, several important questions must be asked and answered in order to decide on the shipping company that is the right fit for you. Questions such as how much will it cost to get the vehicle from here to there and how much time will be involved in the transportation.

An important factor that we all should also consider is the safety of our vehicle. You want to make sure that your car or truck arrives in the same condition at its final destination as it was in at its origin. In the transportation world this doesn't always happen. That's why it is so important to do a thorough inspection of your vehicle when you turn it over to the auto shipping company. Below are a few key points to keep in mind when inspecting your vehicle:

You must inspect the entire vehicle top to bottom. Make notes of every little and big ding and get the shippers representative to sign off on the document before its departure. Get a copy of this agreement. This is the "before" picture of your vehicle. Speaking of pictures - take pictures. Take a lot of pictures so when you see your vehicle again, you can compare notes as well as pictures should any damage be sustained that you want to claim.

The functionality of your car now should be the same as when you drive it at its destination. Check every functional aspect (turn signals, head lights, tail lights, etc.) of the vehicle with the representative and get a sign off on this too, as well as a copy of the agreement for you. Make note of any items attached to the interior that may become knocked about during the journey. Take pictures of the interior as well as the windows.

Windows are prone to damage when being shipped along with whatever else may be in the auto transporting vehicle. Check all windows and the windshield thoroughly for preexisting cracks and holes. A little crack may not have bothered you before but don't let it go unnoticed at this point. A small chip can escalate into a big crack that will definitely bother you now.

Okay, so what do you do if you do find damage to your vehicle at journey's end?

Report any damages as soon as possible. If you find anything that is wrong with your car, truck or van, reporting it immediately will avoid any confusion as to how the damage got there. This will in turn give you a much better chance of getting it fixed.

Take pictures. These along with the pictures you took before your vehicle's journey are the best proof of evidence you can offer to the claim department of any insurance company.

If the car did suffer damages, the shipping company will normally allow you to get your own estimate from your usual auto shop and have it repaired there. If you don't have a usual auto repair place, a dealership is generally a good bet.

By following these steps, you will have a good chance of making certain that the vehicle you shipped out will be in the same shape at the end of it's trip as it was in the beginning. This is as it should be. - 30331

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