Auto Transport Coverage
When searching for an auto transport company, it is wise to take insurance coverage into consideration. Before contracting a transport company, call your auto insurance agency to determine how long your coverage lasts and whether your policy covers your car during transport. Many insurance companies will offer auto transport coverage at an additional cost. Next, you should contact several auto transport carriers and compare their insurance coverage options. Both your insurance agent and the auto transport carrier may have certain restrictions on the coverage they are able to offer and it is important that you get as much information as possible before signing a contract. All auto transport carriers in the U.S. must carry cargo and general liability insurance and must have a Department of Transportation (DOT) number before they can be licensed to transport vehicles.
Most transport carriers and insurance companies will not cover damage or loss to personal items that are left in the vehicle, so make sue you don’t leave any fragile or valuable items in your car. In addition, most transport carriers will not assume responsibility for damage such as scratches, scrapes, chips, brakes, exhaust, frame, alignment, tire and rim damage, suspension, wheel bearings, glass damage, overloaded vehicles, defective brakes, parking brakes, or damage caused by leaking fluids, battery acids, cooling system or anti freeze solution. Most companies will also refuse to cover loss or damage to any electronic equipment that is not factory installed and will not take any responsibility for so-called “act of God” damage including earthquakes, floods, fire, tornado, sand storms, as well as damage due to objects falling from the sky or coming from the road while transporting your vehicle. It is the customer’s responsibility to obtain and maintain insurance to cover these potential risks.
When the transport company representative picks up your car, he or she will ask you to sign a bill of lading and will fill out an inspection report. Make sure to check the damage description on the bill of lading and the inspection report before signing the bill. When you pick up your vehicle, carefully examine its condition and compare it with the description on the original inspection report to verify that the vehicle has not suffered any additional damage. Most transport carriers will not take any responsibility for loss or damage unless indicated on the bill of lading. Some carriers provide up to 14 days to inform them of any damage accrued during shipping, but you should verity your company’s policy before signing a contract.
If your vehicle suffers damage while in shipping, you may need to supply the carrier with a copy of your insurance policy. This may also require that you get an appraisal and damage estimate as well as two estimates from a repair
company.
If you believe that your auto transport company has treated you unfairly, you should first try to settle the issue with a representative from the company. Transport companies may be more likely to cooperate with you if they believe you are attempting to cooperate with them. You should always try to be reasonable, but firm. If all else fails, you may consider filing a complaint with the Better Business Bureau. The U.S. Dept. of Transportation http://www.dot.gov regulates car transport companies, however they will usually not get involved until after you have a court judgment against a car transport company (in small claims court, for example). Careful preparation diligence in researching your insurance can make your vehicle transport a success.
