Terms & Conditions

Terms & Conditions –

Important Information

1. Brokerage Services and Carrier Assignment

Mercury Auto Transport agrees to have the vehicle(s) described in the customer’s signed order shipped on or about the dates requested. Mercury Auto Transport will find a licensed Carrier (agent) to fulfill the terms and conditions of this agreement. Mercury Auto Transport does not guarantee a specific pickup or delivery date. The normal pickup time frame is one to three (1 to 3) business days from the first available pickup date.

This order is subject to all terms and conditions of the Carrier’s bills of lading, copies of which are available at the office of the Carrier and are incorporated herein.

2. Pickup, Delivery, and Carrier Responsibility

Carrier’s responsibility begins when the shipper or his agent signs the bill of lading at pickup, and terminates when the shipper or his agent signs the bill of lading at delivery. Mercury Auto Transport must be notified should the shipper be unavailable for pickup or delivery, and their agent must be designated at that time. If a carrier is sent out and the vehicle cannot be picked up, an additional $100.00 rescheduling fee will be incurred.

Mercury Auto Transport hereby notifies the shipper that their vehicle will be driven on and off the transporter, or to and from the transporter at the pickup or delivery site. Should the carrier be unable to access either site, this does not relieve the consignee from making a reasonable effort to meet the truck at a suitable location. To fully deliver your vehicle, you must be willing to travel to the designated pickup or delivery point.

3. Payment

3.1 Payment Methods Available

Mercury Auto Transport accepts two payment methods at checkout:

ACH bank account payment via Plaid Transfer (the customer authenticates to their bank account through Plaid’s secure connection and authorizes Mercury to debit the order amount).
Credit card or debit card processed through Authorize.net.

3.2 Payment Channel Pricing

Mercury’s quoted price for a shipment is the all-in price the customer pays when paying by ACH bank account through Plaid Transfer. There is no additional fee for ACH payment. A customer who elects to pay by credit card or debit card pays an additional Card Processing Service Fee equal to five percent (5%) of the order amount, which Mercury applies to offset the merchant card processing costs imposed by the card networks and the customer’s issuing bank. The Card Processing Service Fee is disclosed clearly at the point of checkout, before the customer selects a payment method and before the customer signs the order. The customer may choose either payment method; the choice is the customer’s.

The amount the customer is charged is the total amount displayed on the customer’s signed order, including any applicable Card Processing Service Fee. No additional surcharges, hidden fees, or upcharges are applied.

3.3 Payment Timing and Authorization

Mercury’s policy is to charge the customer only when the customer’s shipment is fully prepared for dispatch, not when the customer first places the order. The flow works as follows:

At order placement, the customer provides their payment method and signs the Mercury Auto Transport order with full electronic-signature audit trail. For credit card orders, the card is authorized (a hold is placed) but not captured. For ACH orders, the bank account is verified through Plaid Auth and Plaid Identity, and the customer’s authorization to debit at dispatch is captured.
Mercury’s dispatch team then contracts a carrier, completes carrier vetting, and confirms all paperwork.
At dispatch, when the carrier is confirmed and ready to pick up the vehicle, Mercury captures the credit card authorization or initiates the ACH debit, as applicable.
Mercury does not release the vehicle to the carrier until funds are confirmed received.
The customer receives a single combined confirmation email containing the charge confirmation, the dispatch confirmation, and the carrier’s contact information.

3.4 ACH Authorization (Plaid Transfer)

By selecting ACH payment via Plaid Transfer and clicking the authorization at checkout, the customer:

Authorizes Mercury Auto Transport, LLC to initiate one (1) ACH debit to the customer’s designated bank account in the exact amount of the customer’s signed order, processed at the time of carrier dispatch.
Authorizes Mercury to issue one or more ACH credits to the same bank account in the event a refund is owed under Mercury’s Refund Policy.
Confirms that the customer is the owner of the designated bank account and authorized to authorize debits from it.
Acknowledges that this authorization will remain in effect until the order is completed or canceled, and that the customer may revoke this authorization at any time before dispatch by emailing customerservice@mercuryautotransport.com.
Acknowledges that if the order is canceled before carrier dispatch, no debit will be initiated.
Acknowledges that ACH transactions are governed by the National Automated Clearing House Association (NACHA) Operating Rules and that the customer’s rights to dispute an unauthorized debit are preserved under those rules and applicable federal regulations (Regulation E).

3.5 Refunds

Refunds are processed under Mercury Auto Transport’s Refund Policy (available at mercuryautotransport.com and incorporated by reference). Refunds are issued through the original payment channel: credit card payments are refunded to the original card; ACH payments are refunded as an ACH credit to the original bank account. Mercury initiates refunds the same business day the cancellation is processed, and in no event more than one (1) business day after.

3.6 Failed Payments

If the customer’s ACH debit is returned by the customer’s bank, or if the customer’s credit card is declined at dispatch, Mercury will hold the dispatch (the vehicle will not be released to the carrier) until an alternative payment is received. Mercury will contact the customer the same business day by email, text message, and phone. Mercury will not retry a failed payment without the customer’s express written authorization.

4. Vehicle Condition and Operability

Mercury Auto Transport does not guarantee transport by any specific driver or carrier.

Should vehicle(s) become inoperable during transport, $150.00 will be due at the time of delivery in addition to any other monies owed. It is the shipper’s responsibility to make sure the vehicle is in proper working order. Problems, such as but not limited to a dead battery, a bad alternator, loose cables, or similar issues that make the vehicle inoperable during transport, will increase the transport price by $150.00.

5. Personal Items

Mercury Auto Transport or its agents will not knowingly transport vehicles with personal or household items in the passenger or trunk compartment. Federal regulation prohibits Mercury Auto Transport or its agents from doing so. If such items are shipped without Mercury Auto Transport’s or its agents’ knowledge, they become the sole responsibility of the shipper. Should damage occur in the car, the customer may be subject to additional fees at the discretion of the transport company. This is Federal Law and is under no control of Mercury Auto Transport.

6. Force Majeure and Vehicle Preparation

Mercury Auto Transport or its agents will not be responsible for vandalism, acts of God (fire, flooding, hail, sandstorms, tornadoes, and earthquakes), or objects flying from the road or sky during transport. Shippers should maintain their own insurance for these reasons. Enclosed transport is available at a higher price if necessary to protect the vehicle’s condition from the elements.

Shipper is responsible for preparing the vehicle(s) for transport. All loose parts, fragile or protruding accessories, low-hanging spoilers, fog lights, antennas, and similar items must be removed and/or properly secured. Any part that falls off in transit is the shipper’s responsibility, including damages done by said part to any vehicles involved.

7. Damage and Bill of Lading

If damage should occur, it must be noted in the proper place on the bill of lading and signed by the driver and shipper, regardless of weather or time of day. Signing the bill of lading without any notation of damage verifies that the shipper or his agent has received the said vehicle in good condition, and that Mercury Auto Transport and its agents are relieved of any further responsibility. Shipper or their agent MUST check the vehicle thoroughly.

Mercury Auto Transport and its agents must also be notified of any damage by phone within twenty-four (24) hours. Shipper must submit in writing a description of damage, clear pictures, and two (2) estimates within ten (10) days of receipt of said vehicle directly to the designated carrier for any resolution to be initiated. Mercury Auto Transport will support the customer in this effort should such a problem occur, but in no way will Mercury Auto Transport accept responsibility for any negligence of the assigned carrier. If the customer’s vehicle is valued at a rate higher than market, Mercury suggests the customer purchase a special insurance rider or pursue the enclosed transport option.

8. Liability and Venue

Shipper specifically waives any right to a judicial forum for this matter at any other location than Broward County, Florida. Mercury Auto Transport is only liable for up to the amount of the deposit stated in the customer’s quotation. In no case can Mercury Auto Transport be held liable for the designated carrier’s damage or delays. Mercury Auto Transport will provide the carrier’s insurance certificate and carrier information should any controversy arise.

9. Cancellation Policy

If the customer places an order with Mercury Auto Transport, the customer has the option to cancel at any time before the customer’s vehicle is assigned to a transporter. If the customer’s vehicle is dispatched to a transporter before the customer emails their cancellation, the customer will lose the full transport cost. If the customer cancels the order before a Carrier is assigned, the customer will receive a FULL refund of all monies paid to Mercury Auto Transport, and no more. It is Mercury Auto Transport’s goal to be paid only for performing the services of an Auto Transport Broker.

In the event Mercury dispatches a carrier and captures payment, and the assigned carrier subsequently cancels or fails to make pickup within seventy-two (72) hours of the confirmed pickup window, the customer may either authorize Mercury to source a replacement carrier at no additional cost or cancel the order entirely and receive a full refund.

10. Broker Status and Carrier Claims

Mercury Auto Transport is a licensed and bonded Property Broker. Mercury is responsible for booking the shipment of automobiles with a licensed Motor Carrier Corporation, which handles its own damage claims. It may take a few weeks to process a claim, since drivers must return to their terminals with the original Bill of Lading condition reports. Mercury Auto Transport provides services to find an FMCSA-licensed carrier through the Department of Transportation and to bring the Carrier and the Customer together logistically.

Mercury Auto Transport will not be responsible for demurrage at any Port Facilities.

11. Online Order Acceptance

By submitting the customer’s order online, Mercury Auto Transport understands the customer is placing the order and accepts the terms and conditions (in lieu of the customer’s physical signature) found here.

12. Vehicle Availability

Customers must make their vehicle available during the transport time. If the vehicle becomes unavailable at any time after the order has been placed and a carrier has been assigned, Mercury Auto Transport holds the right to cancel the order and proceed with the cancellation policy.

Mercury Auto Transport is not responsible for any storage, rental cars, or any other additional costs due to a carrier delay.

13. Carrier Liability Exclusions

The insured carrier that is doing the actual shipping is the only party responsible for any claims. The customer accepts the carrier’s terms by releasing the vehicle to the carrier’s possession. Customers can request the carrier’s terms for filing claims at pickup or delivery, or request them by phone or email directly from the carrier. Neither Mercury Auto Transport nor its agents shall be responsible for any damage whatsoever, including the following:

Damage to undercarriage, exhaust system, suspension, wheel bearings, tie downs, brakes, alignment, tuning, charging system, or battery. (No evaluation is made of these components or systems at the pickup location.) Therefore, Mercury Auto Transport or its agents do not accept responsibility for them.
Damage not detected at pickup location due to poor weather or lighting conditions.
Damage to car phones or antennas under any condition (suggests that they may be removed).
Loss of or damage to audio or video equipment not installed at the factory, including an antenna that does not retract to within three (3) inches of the vehicle’s body.
Windshield or other vehicle glass compromised by stones or road debris.
License plates that come loose or are detached during transit. Should the customer choose, the customer may remove the license plates.
Damage or fines incurred because the shipper left personal or household items in the vehicle.
Damage caused by fluids or objects flying up from the roadway, or out of the sky.
Damage to cloth or vinyl convertible or decorative tops over two (2) years old.
Damage to T-tops, boots, bras, caps, or any other type of canvas covering.
Damage caused by leaking fluids, such as battery acid, motor oil, transmission fluid, brake fluid, power steering fluid, radiator coolant, or fallout resulting from acts of God.
Damage caused by freezing of the cooling system and/or battery.
Damage caused by the failure of factory tie-downs or pull-through from tie-down holes.
Damage to, or caused by, any vehicle that cannot be driven on or off the transport under its own power. (The vehicle will not run, or has lost its braking system.)

14. Authorization to Operate Vehicle

By the shipper’s signature or agent’s signature, the motor carrier transporting the vehicle and their employees jointly and separately are authorized to operate and transport the vehicle from point to point or origin to destination specified in the Bill of Lading.

15. Authority to Contract

Customer warrants that he or she is the registered owner and/or has been authorized by the legal owner to act as agent for the registered owner and has the authority to enter into this agreement as or on behalf of the owner.

16. Refund Policy and Consumer Complaint Policy

Mercury Auto Transport’s Refund Policy and Consumer Complaint Policy are incorporated by reference into these Terms and Conditions. Both policies are available at mercuryautotransport.com and a copy will be provided to any customer on request by emailing customerservice@mercuryautotransport.com.

17. Contact

Mercury Auto Transport, LLC
2240 SW 70th Avenue, Davie, FL 33317

Phone: (800) 553-1828
Email: customerservice@mercuryautotransport.com
Web: mercuryautotransport.com

MC #647319 | USDOT #2242305