Many people in need of auto transport services fall victim to unscrupulous companies and shipping scams that rob them of their hard-earned money. They can even sometimes lead to the loss of the vehicles they are trying to get shipped. Just like many other industries, these frauds have become more rampant, hence the need to be more vigilant and know what signs to look for that may indicate you are dealing with the wrong auto transport company.
Unusually Cheap Pricing
The auto transport business is highly competitive and while providers might try to undercut one another to secure customers, there is a limit. If you are shopping around for quotes and get an unusually low price being quoted, then chances are you are not dealing with a legit provider. Please do not be tempted by cheap pricing, look for value for money instead.
Price Switching
This is whereby a customer signs a contract with an auto transport company for an estimated price that is below market only to connect with the carrier who is not willing to accept that low rate and takes up customers that are offering more. Carriers are not obligated to accommodate clients on a first come first served basis so you may end up not being delivered the service you hoped for on the timeline you expected. These customers are often subjected to hefty price changes later on as the broker inflates their fee and adds on what the carrier would have accepted. Be sure to fully read your contract terms and understand them before signing on.
Company Name Scams
Be careful when searching for a transporter online. It is commonplace to find fraudsters setting up websites for non-existent or other transport firms with names very similar to more established firms. Sometimes this can be a case of phishing whereby you end up making a payment and have your credit card information and personal identity details stolen. Other times it could just be a small and less reliable outfit that is trying to exploit a similar named but more established business to attract customers.
Reviews
While you should not exclusively rely on online information when making your choice, it still makes sense to look up reviews on businesses. Focus on independent review sites that confirm the identity of reviewers or that they were actual customers. look at several of them to get a good idea of what kind of business you are dealing with. Also, be wary of too many positive reviews as they could have been bought. An occasional bad review does not necessarily mean the company is bad, especially if they put an effort into responding and looking to resolve the complaint.
Company Age
Last but not least, check how long an auto transport company has been in business. More years doesn’t automatically means better service, but this can help you evaluate the level of expertise and track record of a company.