Tips to Get Your Car Shipped Fast

Sometimes the need arises for you to have a car shipped fast. Once you’ve decided to ship your car with a carrier, there are a lot of factors that play into how quickly your car can get from point A to point B. Below, we’ll look at some of the most common scenarios for getting a car shipped fast or last-minute and how you can ensure your experience goes as smoothly as possible.

Standard Shipping Times

In general, shipping times for auto transport companies like Preowned Auto Logistics are anywhere from a day to ten days across the USA. These times may vary depending on unforeseen factors like traffic and detours.

If the starting and ending locations are within 100 miles of one another, this delivery can take as little as a single day in the right conditions. Similarly, if the destination is across the country, it will take up to ten days for the carrier to transport your car.

When to Book Your Car Shipping Service

As with any service, if you book ahead of time, your chances of getting the service you want in the timeframe your want, for a fair price, increase significantly. Having advanced notice allows Preowned Auto Logistics to prepare for your shipment, arrange with a driver, and plan out the best route for your car shipping service.

Two weeks ahead of time gives your car shipping service plenty of time to arrange the perfect solution for your needs and get you a great price. Alternatively, if you book even a month out, we’ll have even more resources at our disposal to make sure your car gets to its destination.

The more time you give your carrier to prepare for your shipment, the better it is for you and the company.

Expeditated Auto Transport

Let’s look at two common scenarios where you may need to have your car shipped under atypical circumstances.

Small Shipping Window

One of the most frequent requests PAL gets for shipping a car quickly is a short shipping window. This usually arises because the vehicle owner cannot be without their car for long. As a result, they need the car to be picked up and delivered without delay. This kind of thing often happens when someone moves to a new city and needs a vehicle for work.

Last-Minute Accommodations

Another situation that arises sometimes is needing a car shipped with little notice. Preowned Auto Logistics has fulfilled requests for same-day car shipping services in the past. These scenarios are not ideal, but we’re proud to be able to provide the necessary accommodations for our customers, even with short notice.

The main difference for the customer between standard and priority shipping is the urgency of the need and the budget.

Standard vs. Priority Car Shipping

Standard Car Shipping

When Preowned Auto Logistics, or any auto transport carrier, has time to prepare before your shipping day, it gives the company the ability to make the proper accommodations for the vehicle. This can include finding a truck going to the exact location with plenty of available space and no delays. Planning ahead helps everything from drop-off to delivery run more smoothly for everyone involved. Because it’s easier to prepare and plan for this kind of shipping, it’s also more affordable.

Priority Car Shipping

When Preowned Auto Logistics must plan for a last-minute car shipping service, we can still make the necessary adjustments, but it takes a lot more legwork. Often, the carrier will need to reallocate resources, bring on additional drivers, and more. These extra steps in getting a car shipped quickly are why it’s more expensive to use priority shipping for your vehicle.

However, priority car shipping can be done affordably by booking ahead of time and specifying your necessary shipping window.

Priority and Expedited Car Shipping Costs

As with shipping anything, priority shipping for cars is more expensive than standard shipping. However, booking in advance can lower the cost because it allows the company to plan for your shipment. Last-minute car shipments require a lot of reallocations of resources and, sometimes, additional equipment or drivers, which is why it costs more. The additional costs free up the company to use more resources to ensure your vehicle gets to you in a timely manner.

Same Quality, Faster Delivery

When you choose to have your car shipped with Preowned Auto Logistics, we promise that you’ll get the same quality shipping service no matter when you book. As mentioned above, advanced notice allows us to make more adjustments to get your vehicle to you, but we never compromise on quality or customer service.

Get The Best Rate on Car Shipping﹘ Request a Quote Today

Give us a call at 877.542.1955 and receive a custom quote for your auto transport needs.

Sample Customer Reviews

“Kerri and team made our car transport so easy! Great communication throughout the process, and our car arrived safely even sooner than originally estimated.  Excellent service at a fair price. Highly recommend!”

– Melissa Brown

“Colby Harlow was the account manager that worked with me to transfer a car to California. He was available and able to answer all my questions. He was professional and efficient. I was a bit concerned as I have never used a service like this, but it was great. Colby followed up and checked in during the week the car was in transit. Great company, great representative.”

– Karen Laliberte

Read more customer reviews.

4 Tips for Shipping Your Car

So, you’ve decided to ship your car across the states to save yourself time and money. Now, it’s time to determine which auto shipping company to choose and start getting your car ready for the journey. Below, we’ll show you the best tips for shipping your car so that you can get your vehicle to its new destination without the stress!

1. Do Your Research

When it comes to choosing an auto shipping company, there are a few things you’ll need to consider. First, you will want to do some general research on the car shipping companies to find one that can meet your personal needs.

How to Research:

  • Check Reviews
    • Look on multiple sites to ensure you get a clear picture of the company’s customer service.
  • Look for Competitive Pricing
    • Auto-shipping services are standard enough that you should find the expected price range for your vehicle type quickly.
    • If it seems too good to be true, it probably is! Scammers try to lure people in by offering prices way below the industry standard. Avoid anyone offering auto shipping for a fee that is significantly below their competitors.
  • Call the Companies
    • One of the best ways to tell if a company is right for you is by getting on the phone. Once you’ve found a few companies that look like a good fit, give them a call.
    • A reputable auto shipping company will be able to answer all of your questions about your car shipping options and any details you are curious about. Additionally, a reliable company will be able to explain, in detail, their car shipping process.

2. Ask Questions

Whether you’re talking to the company on the phone or in person, ask lots of questions. Doing this will help you better understand what to expect from the company and your auto shipping experience.

Questions to Ask:

  • Are you fully licensed?
  • Are you fully insured?
  • Will my car be covered while in transit?
  • How long have you been in business?
  • Where do you typically ship to and from?
  • What should I expect from my car shipping experience?

Any good auto shipping company should be able to answer all of these questions easily—and ask questions of their own concerning your needs and your expectations. Moving a car is a complicated process, so the auto shipping company will need to ask several questions before they can give you an accurate quote for your car shipping service.

3. Book Ahead of Time

Although some companies may be able to accommodate a last-minute booking, it is not a sure thing. To guarantee that you get the shipping dates that work best for your move, try to book your auto transport three or four weeks in advance. This timeframe will give the company time to plan for your accommodations and allow you to prepare your car for shipping.

4. How to Prepare for Shipping

Getting your car ready for shipping is pretty straightforward. The general rule for shipping your car is to remove everything from the car, including GPS systems, radios, anything in the glove box, or any items in the trunk. You don’t want to leave anything of value in the car because it may be damaged by long hours in the heat. Additionally, it may increase the chances of theft, which many auto transport companies work hard to prevent, but can still be a problem if items are left in the cars.

Note: There is no reason a car shipping company should need your vehicle’s registration papers while transporting your vehicle. If a company requires you to leave the papers in your vehicle you may want to switch companies.

You should leave ¼ a tank of gas or less in your vehicle before shipping. This lessens any additional weight that the gas could add to your vehicle and makes it easier to transport.

You should familiarize yourself with your vehicle before dropping it off at the auto transport terminal. Inspect the interior and exterior, take pictures, make a note of existing dents or scratches so that you can ensure your vehicle arrives in the same condition.

Get The Best Rate on Car Shipping﹘ Request a Quote Today

Whether you’re looking to ship your car across the USA or overseas, Preowned Auto Logistics can help! We strive to take the stress out of car shipping and ensure your car gets to you on time every time!

Give us a call at 877.542.1955 and receive a custom quote for your auto transport needs.

Sample Customer Reviews

“Kerri and team made our car transport so easy! Great communication throughout the process, and our car arrived safely even sooner than originally estimated.  Excellent service at a fair price.  Highly recommend!”

– Melissa Brown

“We moved out of the state of Massachusetts to Florida last week and needed to have one of our vehicles shipped down too. I was a bit nervous about having my auto shipped and even more nervous about the length of travel. I was compelled to write a review because we had an amazing experience with Preowned Auto Logistics from start to finish. The communication was ongoing every step of the way, and our car was picked up and dropped off just as promised. It came right off the trailer looking just perfect. I really enjoyed chatting with several staff during the course of this endeavor. If you are looking to ship your vehicle, may you find peace in my personal experience. They are well organized, and you will feel that too.”

– Andra Arlington

Read more customer reviews.

5 Tips for Avoiding Car Shipping Scams

Whenever you are trying out a new service, having a bit of apprehension about the legitimacy of the business is expected. Car shipping services are still a relatively new concept for many individuals, and there are plenty of horror stories on the internet about people who have gotten caught up in car shipping scams. If you are considering shipping your car during your next move to save you time and money, check out these tips for avoiding car shipping scams and finding a reputable auto transport company.

Types of Car Shipping Scams?

There are a few different car shipping scams common in the industry; luckily, it is easy to avoid them if you know what to look for when booking an auto shipping service.

Bait and Switch

The most common auto shipping scam is the bait and switch. This is where a company offers a rate for shipping your car well below the industry standard to get you interested. Then, once you have booked the shipping date and paid for the service, no one shows up to transport your car. When you or the scammer reaches out, they’ll tell you that they require more money to ship your vehicle.

Up-Selling

This scam is similar to the bait and switch but often targets individuals looking to relocate. The scammer quotes a low rate for moving your vehicle, you book the shipment, and the day of the move arrives. The scammer loads up your car, takes your payment, and leaves. After a while, the scammer calls and tells you that they will require more money to complete your shipping either due to your vehicle being overweight, oversized, or because there was a problem with the shipping address.

Phishing

Phishing scams are not unique to the auto shipping industry, but they are another type of scam to watch out for when selling your vehicle online. For this method, the scammer will pose as a buyer for your car. After agreeing to purchase the vehicle and shipping it via their “approved shipping company,” they’ll send you a check, which clears.

After a day or so, the buyer will request money back for the shipping of the vehicle via a wire transfer. You’ll send the refunded shipping money to them and, shortly afterward, get a message from your bank that the check has bounced, and the money has been removed from your account.

Fake Seller

Lastly, if you are buying a car online, keep an eye out for this scam. This is where the scammer poses as a seller and offers to sell you a vehicle well below the market value. Once you’ve agreed to purchase the vehicle, they insist that you pay up-front and then never ship the car, claiming the shipping agent is holding it. They’ll often send you to their website and insist that they will return your money, but they never do, and they never deliver the vehicle.

How to Spot an Auto Transport Scam

Sometimes, catching a scam can be difficult; however, there are a few easy ways to identify a scam right off the bat.

  • Confirm that the URL matches the company name.
  • If communicating online, verify the email address uses the company’s domain name. It is likely a scam if it ends in @aol.com or @hotmail.com or any other generic email addresses.
  • Never pay using untraceable services like MoneyGram or Western Union.

Tips for Avoiding Car Shipping Scams

Below, we’ll take a more in-depth look at some of the ways you can avoid falling prey to some car shipping scams and have a great experience with your chosen auto transport company.

  1. Know the Standard Rates and What to Expect

One of the best ways to avoid a car shipping scam is to talk to a lot of companies before deciding on a carrier. You should get quotes from each company you are interested in and compare the pricing, terms, and other options available.

  1. If it Seems Too Good to Be True? It is.

A good rule of thumb is that if it seems too good to be true, it probably is. All the companies should offer a similar rate for your car, with some slight variation. If one company quotes a price that is far below the others, it is likely a scam.

Additionally, keep in mind that no company can 100% guarantee transit times. Road conditions, traffic, and other unforeseen circumstances make it impossible to predict exactly how long it will take to ship your car. However, most companies will be able to give you a time frame for delivery. If you notice one company with significantly shorter shipping times, that is likely another instance of a scammer trying to hook you.

  1. Research and Read Reviews

Another way to avoid scams or problems with your car shipping experience is to research the companies you are considering. Read online reviews from multiple sources. Some companies will maintain high ratings on a particular website but neglect others, which is why it’s important to find various sources to get an accurate picture of the company’s customer service.

Learning more about the company will also help you understand their values and what you can expect from them during your auto shipping experience.

  1. Get on the Phone

At Preowned Auto Logistics, we believe it is vital to get on the phone and talk to a person at the carrier you are considering. Quoting a rate for shipping a vehicle is a complicated process, and there’s no better way to get a feel for their customer service than speaking with them directly.

When a company quotes you for your auto shipping needs, they will need to ask many questions about the vehicle, including size, age, make, model, etc. Additionally, the carrier will require information on the destination and other factors. It is best for both parties when this exchange takes place over the phone.

  1. Find a Company with a Proper Licensing and Registration

Lastly, you will want to verify that the company you are going with has the proper licensing and registration needed to transport vehicles safely. All carrier companies must register with the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA), which assigns the company a number. If the company you are considering does not have a number, they are not allowed to operate.

Additionally, you’ll want to ask about the company’s insurance coverage and policies for your vehicle while in transit.

Choose Preowned Auto Logistics for Your Auto Shipping﹘ Request a Quote Today

If you are considering going with Preowned Auto Logistics for your auto shipping anywhere in the USA, Canada, or overseas, give us a call at 877.542.1955! We’ll work with you personally to provide a custom quote for your auto transport needs.

Sample Customer Reviews

“It was great working with Josh!! Communication was on point, and car was delivered on the exact date. Would definitely recommend this company over any other shipping company!!!”

– Chinda Tham

“I recently hired preowned auto logistics to ship a brand new car from MA to MN. I worked with Jake, and he was professional, helpful, and communicative throughout the whole process, especially when I had to change the departure date.  The driver called my daughter the day before he got to MN, and they worked out a delivery time and place that worked for both of them.”

– Michele Cohen

Read more customer reviews.

What to Do if Your Car Arrives Damaged After Shipment​

Jeremy Louisos, Senior Vice President at Preowned Auto Logistics, outlines what to do if your car arrives damaged after shipment. He talks about the process of assessing the damage and explains how PAL gets you back on the road quickly.

I’m Jeremy Louisos, Senior Vice President at Preowned Auto Logistics, and I want to talk to you about that worst case scenario when you ship your vehicle and your vehicle is damaged during transit. I hate to say it, but it does happen occasionally. The same equipment that securely fixes your vehicle to the truck and makes sure it arrives safely, has a lot of moving parts to it. Every so often, a vehicle can be damaged.

It’s usually very minor damage and very easily repairable, but it’s not a great feeling when you receive your vehicle and it has some damage on it. I just want to bring you through what that process looks like.

First, we want to identify what the damage is. The reason that we took a thorough condition report at the time of pickup, was to make sure that we understood exactly the condition that it should arrive in. We can then take that initial condition report and those images, and verify exactly what took place. Our team at Preowned Auto Logistics has assessed a number of these cases and are really able to pinpoint what exactly may have happened, and they can really identify the best solution moving forward.

Second, we want to come up with a damage report. We’re going to take pictures of the damage. We’re going to submit all that. There’s a form to fill out and we’ll process everything on our side. Preowned Auto Logistics works with a number of repair facilities around the country. We’re able to quickly get a repair in, fix your vehicle, and get you back out on the road. Not awesome, you’re excited to get your vehicle, you want everything nice and smooth, but if it does happen, we have you covered and we’ll get you on the road as soon as possible.

The Fine Print in Car Shipping Contracts

Jeremy Louisos from Preowned Auto Logistics explains what to look for when reading the fine print of a car shipping contract. He talks about cancellation charges, refunds, insurance, and liability.

My name is Jeremy Louisos, senior vice president at Preowned Auto Logistics, and I want to talk about getting locked into a bad transportation contract and what to avoid when planning your auto shipping.

So really two points. The first is what’s the cancellation or refund policy? Anyone you’re working with should understand that things can change, right? What worked for you a month ago, or a few weeks ago might not always work coming up to the time of transportation. And you want to make sure that you have the flexibility to make that adjustment. You’re not going to be locked into something that’s going to be a problem for you down the road.

At Preowned Auto Logistics, as long as you’re canceling within 48 hours prior to shipping, you receive a full refund. Anytime we run to a customer that had a problem within that 48 hours we’ve always been able to work something out and make sure that we had the shipping arranged in a way that accommodated whatever that adjustment was.

The second point to pay attention to is insurance and liability. So at Preowned Auto Logistics, we’re fully licensed, bonded, and insured. Once we take possession of your vehicle, it’s covered under our cargo insurance policy. So if the worst case scenario happens and something is damaged during transit, you’re fully covered and won’t have to incur any fees. And that’s something that’s really important. You want to make sure that both of those points, both the refund, and cancellation policy, and the insurance and liability policy is going to protect you and ensure that you’re shipping safely.

 

Terminal-to-Terminal Auto Shipping

Jeremy Louisos, Senior Vice President at Preowned Auto Logistics, talks about terminal-to-terminal auto shipping and how it compares to shipping your vehicle to or from a residence. He explains when you should consider this shipping option.

I’m Jeremy Louisos, Senior Vice President at Preowned Auto Logistics. And I want to talk today about terminal-to-terminal auto shipping. As opposed to a residential pickup, when we use a terminal, we’re basically using a storage yard that is very accessible to our trucks on the road.

A lot of these trucks, they’re 80,000 pounds. They’re nearly 14 feet tall and 80 feet long, and for them to get into a residential neighborhood can be really challenging sometimes. So we have these terminal locations that store multiple vehicles safely and securely, and allow the bigger trucks to get in and ship to metro areas more easily. The number one advantage that customers might see with that is it can save you some money. If we have to send a special truck in to go pick it up, or maybe you’re somewhere outside of a metro area, it’s just going to add expense to get a truck to your location.

You might be in a location where it’s not even really possible to get a larger truck in. So terminal shipping will be a great option in that scenario. Another scenario where a terminal is a great option is maybe you need to drop your vehicle off at a certain time because you’re hitting the road, getting on an airplane, whatever you might be doing. Terminal is great because it’s a location that can always receive your vehicle. And then on the destination side, maybe you want the vehicle to arrive a few days ahead. So it’s absolutely there for the time you need it. You can then get off the plane, head down to the terminal, and the vehicle will be ready. So you’re not worried about residential pickups or scheduling additional trucks, and you’re not worried about maybe getting the timing just right if you have a specific drop off or pickup time. In those scenarios, terminal-to-terminal shipment is a great option for you.

Shipping Hybrid and Electric Vehicles

Jeremy Louisos, Senior Vice President at Preowned Auto Logistics, looks at the process of shipping an electric vehicle. He compares it to shipping a gas-powered vehicle and gives tips on how much charge you need.

I’m Jeremy Louisos, Senior Vice President at Preowned Auto Logistics. And I want to talk about shipping electric vehicles or EVs. It’s something we’re doing a lot more of these days as they’ve taken a wider share of the market, and it’s really very similar to shipping a gas powered vehicle.

We need to be able to drive the vehicle onto the truck and drive it off of the truck. When it comes to a gas powered vehicle, we always tell our customers about a quarter of a tank of gas is perfect. That gives us enough fuel to drive on and off, but keeps the weight down. With an electronic vehicle or electric vehicle, we don’t really need to add any weight considerations to the charge so we recommend putting a full charge in your vehicle before shipping.

Definitely check with your manufacturer’s recommendations prior. We’ve had great success shipping on a full charge. This allows us to drive the vehicle on the truck, drive it off of the truck, and then there’s extra charge if there’s another destination you’re going to right after you take receipt of the vehicle.

Shipping a Car That’s Not Working

Jeremy Louisos, Senior Vice President at Preowned Auto Logistics, explains how they use winches or other equipment to load and ship in-operable vehicles from private residences, terminals, or places like Copart auctions.

I’m Jeremy Louisos, Senior Vice President at Preowned Auto Logistics and I want to talk to you about shipping a vehicle that’s not working. In our industry, we call that an in-op, which stands for inoperable, and that could be for a few different reasons. It could be because there’s something mechanically wrong with the vehicle, maybe the vehicle has been damaged, or it could just mean you don’t have the keys and we can’t start it and drive it onto a truck. That’s not a problem. We ship vehicles like this all the time as long as we have the heads up and can prepare the right equipment. It’s not a problem.

The most common type of equipment that we use for an in-op is a winch cable. The truck is equipped with a cable that will attach to your vehicle and pull it onto the truck. That’s how we load it.

Another scenario we run into quite often is with Copart auctions or salvage auctions that are open to the public and a source of purchasing for dealerships as well. They have equipment on site that will allow them to securely and safely put a vehicle onto one of our trucks without a winch, and we would just arrange for that same equipment to be on site, wherever the vehicle’s ultimately going. In-ops or vehicles that are working are something that we handle all the time. As long as we have the heads up and can prepare the equipment it’s a really simple move for us.

Enclosed Auto Transport

Jeremy Louisos, Senior Vice President at Preowned Auto Logistics, explains the difference between open and enclosed auto shipping, and he outlines situations where you should choose enclosed shipping for your vehicle.

I’m Jeremy Louisos, Senior Vice President at Preowned Auto Logistics, and I want to talk to you about open versus enclosed shipping, and shipping your vehicle enclosed.

The number one reason that most people will decide to ship enclosed, is that it really is the safest option. Our standard shipping is an open carrier. Those are those trucks you see going down the road with, you can actually see the vehicles through the encaged part of the carrier. It’s a perfectly safe option, but when you close the sides in an enclosed carrier, and you completely remove that possibility of any road debris or weather or dust getting on the vehicle, it’s going to be your safest option.

Now there’s not as many of these carriers available, it’s more of an elite or a higher end solution to shipping your vehicle, it’s going to be a little more pricey. But because there are fewer stops in these trucks typically, you might even get the vehicle a little more quickly.

Enclosed shipping is a great solution. I think we’ve had race cars, antique cars and classic cars, and exotic cars. The other thing you might want to think about if you’re shipping an exotic vehicle is, sometimes the clearance. Let’s say you’re shipping a Lamborghini or something like that, the clearance underneath the vehicle is usually just, we’re talking inches. So, unlike a regular open carrier, the enclosed carriers quite often will have a lift gate, and we can schedule this if you have a vehicle of this type.

A lift gate will go down and allow for lower clearance. Rather than having to drive up a ramp on the truck, you’re sort of driving onto a vehicle elevator. It requires no clearance at all. It’s less than a speed bump and it’ll bring your vehicle up horizontally to the ground and allow us to drive right into the vehicle and close it up. So, if you have a specialty vehicle, you’re a little worried about dust, any road debris, it needs to arrive in pristine condition, enclosed transportation is probably the best option for you.

222 Jubilee Dr.
Peabody, MA 01960

Phone: 978-313-5841
E-Mail: support@palmoves.com

Services

About

Individuals

Businesses

Resources

Carriers

Contact