car carrier on the open road

 

First-time car shippers can have a hard time as shipping your car for the first time can be a nerve-wracking thought. Just 5 steps can make you more confident before signing up.

Key Takeaways:

  • Researching potential carriers is critical to success
  • Shippers must be flexible on delivery dates
  • You have several shipping options with associated pros and cons
  • Vehicle prep is an essential pre-transit step
  • The more insurance you have, the safer your car will be

Taking that first step into the world of car transport is a big deal. It involves temporarily parting with a valued possession and trusting strangers to protect your investment. Knowing who you can rely on and what kind of protection you have if something goes wrong can be tough questions to answer. Our guide will break down the five main steps to cover all the vital bases.

1. Research the vendors

The big question for first-time shippers is “How do I know I can trust a carrier to ship my car?” A great way to start answering that is through the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA). This government-run database allows customers to input an auto carrier’s business name and verify two very important numbers: their USDOT and MC.

The first is their U.S. Department of Transportation history — a record of their conduct that can’t be erased or altered. The MC number is their Motor Carrier identification. This is what allows them to legitimately transport cargo within a state and across state lines. It’s a good sign if a carrier readily provides you with these two numbers. It’s a red flag if they don’t, or if they don’t match up on the FMSCA website.

Alternatively, first-time car shipping can be conducted through an auto broker. Good brokers will already have done all the necessary research on a carrier’s legitimacy, safety record, and other factors. They wouldn’t be on the broker’s books if they didn’t make the grade, so this can save first-time shippers a lot of time and worry.

2. Book in advance and prepare for schedule alterations

Car transport is smooth sailing under ideal circumstances and many times it goes without a hitch. Sometimes there can be a delay in the process caused by unexpected roadblocks, bad weather, or issues with other vehicles on the same rig as yours.

These blips can easily add a day or two onto the final delivery date; an addition that could leave you high and dry if you really need your car at Point B by a certain time. The lesson here is to ship your car comfortably in advance of when it’s going to be required. This gives your carrier wiggle room and provides you with the breathing space of a few flexible days. Just keep in mind that time of year can significantly affect your final bill.

3. Your various shipping options

Open, closed, or flatbed carriers are the three main types of shipping vehicles. Also, Open carriers offer single-level, dual-level, or heavy-duty options for weightier vehicles over shorter distances. Open shipping is the most popular, so there’s no shortage of carriers vying for your business. It’s also cheaper than enclosed carry. The drawbacks are longer waiting times, greater vehicle exposure to road risks like the elements and debris, and looser security against thieves or vandals.

Closed carriers protect against those drawbacks for a higher price tag. They come in multi-car, dual-car, and single-car varieties. Demand is lower for this more expensive option, which makes transport times slower because there are fewer on the road. 

Flatbeds are typically used for heavier cars and provide carriers with the right skills to maneuver big loads (hopefully) without incident. Higher prices apply again here, and the heavier your car, the higher the fee.

4. Prepping your vehicle

Your vehicle needs to brace itself for the road just as much as you do. Start by giving your car a thorough cleaning. This isn’t to impress the carrier – it’s to help you notice any marks that may have been caused in shipping when it gets to the other side. A dirty car will often hide transit damage that won’t be revealed until the next cleaning when it will be practically impossible to blame the carrier.

You’ll need to have a spare car key ready to give the carrier (they’ll have a hard time doing their job without it). The carrier will also need your tank to have some gas in it. A good rule of thumb is having the tank quarter-full before transit. This should be sufficient for the on/off-boarding process and yet light enough to not weigh the car, and the carrier, down.

Next, remove anything else that may add extra weight to the vehicle, such as roof racks, running boards, custom grilles, etc. The lighter your car is, the less it will cost to ship. Remove any items from inside the car that aren’t strictly necessary to its function. This further lightens the load, protects the interior from being damaged by free-flying items, and protects your valuables from being broken or stolen on the road.

Lastly, take a lot of photos of your car’s interior and exterior. This is your backup against carrier claims that any damage or alteration to the vehicle wasn’t their fault. You really can’t overdo this step, so get as many images as you can and back them up by sending them to yourself via email, copying them to a removable device, or uploading them to the cloud.

5. Check for insurance

Any legitimate carrier will have insurance as part of their operations. A carrier’s auto transport coverage typically protects your car during onboarding, transit, and offboarding. Some carriers will offer more protection in this regard than others, so always ask about their limits and scrutinize insurance policies before signing.

Their payouts in the event of damage may be enough to cover you. The auto broker may even have insurance designed to protect you, too. However, if you’re shipping a car in the upper regions of value (financial, sentimental, or both) you may want to take out your own policy to further safeguard your vehicle. Talk to the provider of your standard auto insurance policy and ask how well you’re covered for shipping. Their advice will help you decide the next step.

Connect with Mercury Auto Transport before you ship

Mercury Auto Transport is a full-service auto shipping broker that connects customers with reliable carriers across America. We’re the ideal partner for first-time car transport because we keep our process transparent and our carriers are thoroughly vetted to root out unreliable vendors. Call us today to see how we can help!

Facebook
WhatsApp
Twitter
LinkedIn
Pinterest

Get a quote.

Transport Vehicle FROM
Transport Vehicle TO
Vehicle Year
Vehicle Make
Vehicle Make
Vehicle Model
Vehicle Model
Vehicle Type
Destination
2
Vehicle
3
Date
Full Name
Phone Number
Email Address
Available Date
Additional Information
Location
Vehicle(s)
3
Contact & Date

Thank you!

Thanks for submitting the form. You will be receive an email shortly.

What Our Customrs Are Saying

FAQs

We feel it’s important for you to know how we determined your quote. Quotes are based on what the market demands for cars to be moved at a given time. Each quote is compared with the current rates on the National Load Board before being sent to our customers and will be reviewed periodically through the process.

Other companies might offer you a lower price to obtain your business. This method is ineffective because if the car does not pay the correct amount of money, it will run the probability of not getting loaded or transported on time. You will not get this information from our competitors. Truck drivers always take the loads that pay the most first, leaving the loads that are mispriced to be moved last or not at all. We try very hard to avoid this with our customers by quoting a fair but realistic quote up front. Visit our How we determine your quote page for more information.

Understanding auto transport insurance is important and we think it’s valuable to explain how it works. As part of providing a great car transport service, it is our job to guarantee that the carrier we assign to pickup your vehicle is licensed and insured. Click here to check out our license.

When you go with Mercury to ship your vehicle, you can rest assured that the carrier assigned to move your car is fully insured and licensed with the FMCSA (Federal Motor Carrier and Saftey Administration).

Your vehicle is covered by the carrier’s insurance policy that is doing the shipping. Depending on the type and size of the truck/trailer that is shipping your car, the insurance policy can cover from $100,000 to $1,000,000 of damage.

We have also provided a checklist to explain what you need to do at both pickup and delivery in case there are any issues so, you can file a claim and know that everything will be taken care of.

It is rare but, time-to-time there may be accidental damage while in transit and it is good to know that your carrier’s insurance will protect your auto shipment in that event.

To view a sample BOL (Bill of Lading) and learn what to do in case of accidental damage, please check out our Condition Report and Procedure checklist.

When comparing auto transport companies, keep in mind that low-priced quotes often result in delays in getting your vehicle loaded. Choosing the right broker is vital to getting a reputable carrier for the lowest price possible.  

We feel it’s important for you to know how we determine your quote.

When you’re looking for a car shipping rate, you want to understand how auto transport works. Prices are based on seasonal market demands for cars to be moved at any given time. Each quote is prepared based on the season and the current national rates.

When comparing auto transport companies, keep in mind that low-priced quotes often result in delays in getting your vehicle loaded. Choosing the right broker is vital to getting a reputable carrier for the lowest price possible. Not all brokers are created equal in this talent.

Mercury does a thorough background check with each carrier for every shipment. We verify their ratings, references, and in addition, we obtain a certified copy of their insurance certificate, directly from the government agency that it is on file with.

You can have peace of mind knowing that the carrier shipping your vehicle is the very best and that there are no surprises guaranteed.

Mercury Auto Transport is licensed, Bonded and Insured. Our FMSCA Motor Carrier Number is MC647319.

While we do our best match your auto shipping needs with the most responsible carriers with the best track records, from time-to-time there may be accidental damage while in transit, it is good to know that the insurance of the carrier we locate for you will protect your auto shipment in that event.

Shipping a vehicle can be stressful if you don’t know what to do.  This is why we believe it is paramount to have our highly trained agents be your main point of contact from start to finish.

They will go over everything you need to know so you can relax.  In the meanwhile, we prepared this checklist.  This includes everything from pickup to delivery and how to make sure your car is ready for pickup.

When it comes to car moving, we want you to be ahead of the game!  For any questions and further assistance our agents are standing by, (800) 553-1828.  Please read our checklist to prepare your vehicle to learn more.

There are several ways you can ship a car.  The options include enclosed trailer, open carrier transport, flatbed truck, door-to-door shipping services, and to or from a terminal as well.  The most popular of the options is a 7 to 10 car open carrier.  These large trucks can accommodate almost any size vehicle including carsSUVstrucksjeeps, and vans.

Open car transport, door to door is also the best way to get the cheapest auto transport rate possible.  To learn more and see what transport method is best for you, please fill out our free quote form and one of our representatives will respond to you within minutes.  You can also call us at (800) 553-1828.

We present offers from FMCSA Licensed and Insured Carriers. When you accept an offer, we send your service agreement that guarantees the price, door-to-door service, and 100% bumper-to-bumper insurance. There are never any hidden fees or charges, guaranteed.