Company car shipping for business ventures can serve many different functions that your own company might benefit from. If you ever need to move vehicle inventory from one location to the next, using a corporate car shipping service means you wouldn’t need to arrange for human drivers from your own staff for every vehicle, much less pay for their wages, food, gas, and return logistics. Car shipping services also make it possible to buy and sell vehicles to and from clients across the country. However, there are do’s and don’ts for company car shipping you need to know and abide by.
Dos
First, you should know the things you should do in regard to company car shipping.
- Ask Lots of Questions: Never make assumptions in any business arrangement. If you have any questions, ask them.
- Book as Far in Advance as You Can: Many car shipments are going to have a delivery window of possibly several days. These trucks run other vehicles and have to be a little flexible in their routes and schedules.
- Confirm the Price: Be fully aware of what the actual price is after all the fees. Also, verify your payment options so you know that one or more of them will work for you.
- Know Your Goals: There’s more to this than just price and quality of shipping. Only choose a transport coordinator that understands and can honor what your actual reasons are behind shipping a car.
- Prepare the Vehicle: Don’t just get the vehicle ready. Makes sure you have all the documents prepared, too. It’s more than just cleaning the vehicle, as some maintenance and inspection are necessary.
- Take Pictures: Choosing a reputable carrier is your best move to prevent issues, but things can always happen. Taking images before shipping helps protect your business interests.
Door-to-Door Auto Transport Is the Easiest of All
Door-to-door car delivery services might just be the easiest option you decide to use in terms of sheer convenience. You choose a particular address where you want your company vehicles to get picked up, and then you choose another address where they should be dropped off. Your designated truck driver picks the vehicles up and then drops them off as close to the stated addresses as legally and safely as possible.
In doing this, you can cars from one place to another without much effort. You’ll have company cars delivered right to the door of their target address in most cases, with industry experts handling most of the parts of the process without any issue. You and your professionals won’t have to deal with long drives yourselves, which will save payroll and keep everyone free from more crucial business activities. Your company won’t have to pay for gas while the vehicles are in transit, since they’re on a truck. In fact, their odometers won’t go up, either.
With door-site pickup and delivery, none of your people have to even drive your company cars to a terminal and then get a ride back. Your truck driver will handle everything as much as they are able. This keeps your company resources available for core business activities you need them focused on.
Don’ts
The dos listed earlier are all excellent steps to take, but there are conversely actions you should also avoid taking.
- Not Researching: This one is the very first error thatForbes mentions you should avoid. Skimping on research, or just skipping it entirely, can be a crucial mistake. You don’t just want a shipping company that suits your schedule, budget, and needs for availability. You should also pick one that conducts themselves professionally with a strong background of satisfied customers.
- Not Getting Multiple Quotes: You can’t compare quotes unless you have enough of them. You need at least two for any comparison, but it’s not until after three or more that you get a real feel for how much company car shipping should actually cost you. Free price quotes are often available online, and they are useful. However, quotes get more accurate with specific details that you provide by contacting a human representative.
- Going With the Lowest Price: There are times that the lowest price might actually be the best deal. However, you need to do comparisons and research to make sure that it actually is. What you don’t want to do is pick the lowest number just because it’s the lowest. You still need to confirm that your company vehicle will be handled with care. Otherwise, your upfront savings might get wasted on car repairs and insurance issues later down the road.
- Putting Company Property in the Car: Don’t let employees keep any personal property in a company car about to be shipped. Also, avoid the temptation of thinking you could move some of your own company supplies or inventory in the trunk or backseat. Most vehicle transport providers won’t permit this. If a break-in happens, the financial liability might fall on your company and not the truck.
- Skipping Insurance: See if your company car insurance handles coverage while a vehicle is in transport instead of being driven or parked somewhere. Never skip insurance options if you need coverage. Always protect your business interests.
Get Things Right
Following these dos and don’ts for company car shipping in your business venture isn’t just about playing by the rules. These guidelines exist to protect your company more than anything. By making sure every action you take is getting things done right, you’ll save money and spare your business unnecessary expense and hassle.
There are many reasons why you may be considering vehicle shipping for your business. Make sure you are finding the best deals nationwide for matching fleet vehicles. If you’re operating in multiple locations, make sure you are getting your vehicles distributed efficiently and inexpensively. Whatever the reasons are, you want to make sure you get it done right the first time.