Insuring Your Vehicle in Transport

For some people, it is more practical to transport a vehicle than to drive it to wherever they are going. Whether it is high mileage you are trying to avoid or you are transporting it overseas, nothing will chap your hide more than getting your car back damaged—especially when you are transporting to protect it in the first place. It makes sense then that you’ll want to pay particular attention to what kind of insurance your transportation company utilizes and to understand what is covered. Here are a few tips on protecting and insuring a vehicle in transport.

1.       Show me the certificate

The very first thing you should always do when considering an auto transport company is request a copy of their insurance certificate. Every single auto transport company is required by law to carry a valid insurance certificate. No exceptions. They should be more than willing and able to produce one at your behest—and if they don’t, you might consider another company.

2.       Ask questions

If there is anything on the certificate that is unclear, ask questions about it. Figure out whether or not you’ll be required to pay a deductible if there is any damage, or if all parts of your car are covered or not. Get everything in writing as well, especially if any guarantees or promises come up.

3.       You might already be covered

Some auto insurance companies and policies will cover vehicles being transported, and some will not. Check with your insurance company, or consider picking up an insurer that does cover you.

4.       Take care of personal belongings

You won’t find many auto transport companies that will insure against damage or theft of personal belongings left in a vehicle, nor will they insure against damage done to the interior by loose personal belongings. It’s a safe bet just to take them out of your car so that nothing is banging around the cab during transport.

5.       Inspect your vehicle

The auto transport company, both before and after they take possession of your vehicle, will do an inspection of your vehicle. You should be present for both, and snap some photos while you’re at it. Keep the photos for your own personal records, in case there is a discrepancy between you and the transport company.

6.       Be careful with the Bill of Lading

After the post-transport inspection, you will be required to fill out the Bill of Lading. This is a document that reports the condition of the vehicle after it has arrived. Before you sign it and hand it over, do a thorough inspection of your car. You’re not just looking at the body work here—go ahead and run the engine, check the undercarriage, the whole nine yards—because once you and the transport driver sign off on the Bill of Lading, the auto transport company is not responsible for anything you missed. If there is damage, note it on the bill and get a hold of the auto shipping company directly for reimbursement.

Keep in mind that the majority of vehicles arrive off of transport carriers without any problems whatsoever. Still, it never hurts to take the extra time to ensure that your vehicle is protected by getting the skinny on auto transport insurance.

Guest Post Author: Mark McCrell is an auto aficionado who loves to drive his 1974 Buick LaSabre around town and write about all things auto. He currently blogs for the website AutoInsuranceQuotes, which specializes in cheap auto insurance.