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Plan an excellent auto transport experience

Plan an excellent auto transport experience

The thing with auto transport is this – you either know how to do it, or you don’t. With some people, it takes more than ten times to get the hack of the process. With others – it’s love at first sight. What’s the secret to cracking the code? How do people manage to make the whole process less stressful?

The key is in two things. First, it is all about your attitude. If you think that auto transport is a troublesome and heavy process, so it will be. If you are grumpy, the carrier representatives will be grumpy, too. But if you believe it is easy, it will be. Car shipping is a service after all and not a product you buy at the grocery store. If you show the willingness to engage and cooperate, the shipment process will be a breeze.

The second thing is the skill you put into planning each of these steps. Auto transport is a process, the responsibility for which is shared between the company itself and you. You are a co-creator of this experience. So the better you design each stage, the better result you will get in the end. Put effort into each of the steps.

How to plan an excellent auto transport experience?

Do your research. Evaluate your options. Choose wisely. Follow through. If you are a planner at heart, this will come easy. For those of you who struggle with structuring activities, priorities, and deadlines, here is some help. The first step in each planning process is to know exactly what you are planning. Before you get to the details, write down the basic structure. Map out the steps in the auto transport experience to plan an excellent auto transport experience:

  1. Research possibilities
  2. Compare options
  3. Make a choice
  4. Commit & Do your part

Know your responsibilities and know what to expect from the shipping company. In each of these steps, know who is to do what. Let’s look at each stage in more detail.

 

Research possibilities

Your first task is to meet the industry and the companies that offer auto shipping services. Ask friends for their previous experiences and recommendations, and then continue with your own research. Don’t forget to consult the FMCSA hotline for potential shippers’ eligibility and safety ratings.

Start your research early

Having the delivery date in mind is important. Think of the exact date you want your vehicle at your door. Now take at least two weeks prior to this date. This is the latest you should start your research and communication with the carriers. It all depends on how long it takes to get your vehicle delivered. But this should give you enough time to research calmly and plan the details.

Get shipping quotes 

It is best to go to the companies’ websites and ask for a shipping quote. Other websites can do automatic estimates, but they are accurate only to some extent. Also, in your search, you will come across third party websites that collect your information only to sell it to various shippers.

The price you get will depend on many factors – different for each particular situation. The date you need your car delivered, the make and model of the car, the condition it is in, the type of transport you select, etc. This is why it is better to contact a sales representative who can give you a customized offer for your particular case.

 

Compare options

Your basic research is not enough of an effort if you want to have an excellent auto transport experience. It is crucial that you pay attention to all details that a company lists on their website. Words in the small print can ruin everything.

We don’t want to make it sound stressful. Hence, we suggest turning this into a game. Think of yourself as an investigative journalist – dig deeper and take note of all info you find for each auto shipping company. Document and classify.

Read customer reviews 

It is always helpful to look for customers’ reviews and opinions about the company. Prior experience can help you set your expectations right. Pay attention to the way the company handled a specific situation. Happy customers are always a good sign. A better sign, however, is to see an unhappy customer turned into a lifelong loyal fan.

Do not go with the lowest price. 

The lowest price you see should always be a hint that something is sketchy. Some companies lure customers with a low price before they actually have a carrier available. Only when they get the customers, they look a carrier who to accept the low price. This rarely happens, so they would either reject your request or send a new offer with a higher price.

Getting a good number of middle-range prices is important. It will help you learn about car shipping costs. This way you will be able to narrow down and evaluate each offer objectively.

 

Make a choice

Get in the role of a court judge. You have all information at hand. Now evaluate the pros and cons of each side. Then, make a final decision. Follow your intuition, too. You have to have a good feeling about the people who will transport your car. If there is a carrier who gives you such a feeling, go with it even if this means a higher price. Especially if it means a higher price. This proves that the people are devoted and willing to put in extra effort for you.

Once you make all the arrangements with the carrier, be sure to have a confirmation via email. Read everything a company sends you before entering into an agreement. Know your rights and obligations.

 

Commit & Do your part

Spend a day or two preparing your vehicle for transport. The more time and effort you put into thinking about this part, the easier it will be afterward. You don’t want any surprises – be it material or financial.

Take care of your personal belongings.

It may be tempting to stuff your car with a few items when you are moving long-distance, from Illinois to Texas, for example. Don’t. We recommend that you remove everything from your car. Auto transport carriers are very cautious when it comes to weight because weight restrictions apply at state border inspections. Corsia Logistics allows the inclusion of personal items of up to 100 lb. If you need to load more than 100 lb, there will be an additional fee.

Don’t fuel up. 

Auto carriers prefer you have less than a quarter tank of fuel because it greatly decreases the weight they carry. This makes the transport more convenient for them and you. The cheaper it is for the carrier, the cheaper it is for you.

Wash your car. 

This is not really a must, more of a friendly advice. The cleaner the car, the more accurate the inspection report. It is easier to note any damage prior to the shipment when the vehicle is not dusty.

Be alert at pick-up. 

Make a note of everything the driver observed and writes down. After the inspection, you will have to sign a Bill of Lading. Read it in detail. Check if the described condition of the car is precise. Discuss with the driver. In the end – sign with relief. Now all you have to do is wait.

Examine at delivery. 

Now you take the role of an inspector. This is your only chance to claim any damages during transport. The moment the driver leaves, you are left with the scratches for good. Seriously. Don’t ruin this opportunity – your car will never forgive you.

The crucial element for having a good auto transport experience is to be continuously conscious about it. Planning can be helpful, but if you don’t invest your attention in the process, you won’t be entirely happy with the results. Be present and communicate. Good communication between all sides can solve everything.  Even the worst planning mistakes.

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Corsia Logistics team works hard every day to ensure reliable expedited car shipping service. Our customer reviews prove that.

5-Star Rated Car Shipping Company

5/5
5/5
5/5

they trusted us

and here's what they say

Simon Moore
Great company
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Looking for a logistics company, to ship my car, from California to Illinois,my first search, then Corsia showed up, skeptical. Call and a very friendly secretary: Elena. She guided me through, I scheduled and as she explained, all when smooth as scheduled Very happy I did the right choice. I'll recommend this great Company to anyone that is thinking to relocate a vehicle. Thanks Corsia logistics for your honesty and professionalism!
Elizabeth Woodward
High five's all around!
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Corsia was highly recommended by a friend in the automobile industry. We needed to transport a cargo van from Seattle to Florida. We contacted Corsia who quickly arranged transport within just a few days. Communication was outstanding! Just a few email confirmations and we were all set. Mike was great and arrived right on time and delivered to Florida on schedule. Tip-avoid the hornets nest of auto brokers on line and just contact Corsia for a truly great experience!
Carrol Tiffany
Amazing
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Corsia has been amazing. Their prices are really competitive but more importantly their customer service has been 5-Star. Elena followed up with me every step of the way, making sure there was no miscommunication between me & the driver. We are using them to ship a 2nd vehicle & would not hesitate to use them again!
Tony Boyd
Definitely recommend
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I have recently used Corsia for long time family car with sentimental value that was moved I have recently used Corsia for shipment of my vehicle from Oregon to Arizona by recommendation from other family member who also used Corsia in the past. I am very pleased on the service and the communication throughout shipment. Ken was my direct contact and kept me informed along the move The car was picked up and delivered as communicated. I did use a enclosed mover and the driver was also clean cut professional and treated car as his own. I would definitely recommend Corsia again with the experience I have had. Thank you. T
JW
Top notch
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Top notch Transport - Porsche 997 Top notch! As easy and efficient as one could possibly imagine. Great customer service.. thank you Luke. Great prices. Check. Timely communications. Check. Clean transport trailer. Check. Supremely careful driver. Check. Timely arrival. Check. Don't mess around elsewhere, just call Corsica and feel confident your transports needs are going to be exceeded. My Porsche 911 rode like a Queen in her enclosed chariot. I've never needed a transport company before, and I surely will use them every time. Do yourself a favor, seriously. Call now.
Geet Mp Haryana
Reliable, efficient
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Corsia rep (Elena) was very proactive. Helped ship a car from CA to GA. She checked in with me via email quote and several phone calls to find me the best possible quote for the fastest available service. After several communications, Corsia was able to schedule a vehicle pickup the next day. The driver communicated well, and the vehicle arrived in final destination faster than we expected in perfect condition. I highly recommend using Corsia's reliable, efficient service.
Cay Liptak
Clean, efficient, wonderful
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Thanks, Corsia! Pickup was so clean, efficient, and wonderful -- my only recommendation is to make sure you schedule it during the day so you can fully review the car in the daylight. Drop off was equally wonderful, and the whole trip went down without a hitch (pun intended!). Seriously, Corsia delivered my Jeep from CT to California with no issues or bumps in the road!
Csaba Kovesdy
Truly positive experience
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Corsia Memphis to LA, mid-size SUV. I looked at 4 different companies amd Corsia was the most responsive of them. While being responsive, they were not unduly aggressive: when I indicated that I need to wait a month before making a decision they stopped contacting me and only came back with a reminder when I really needed it. Once I decided to engage Corsia they found me a transport within two days and the car was delivered (from Memphis to LA) in another two days. I had a truly positive experience.
Kelly Torres
Highly recommend
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Working with Corsia Logistics was a great experience. Working with Corsia Logistics was wonderful. They were able to find a driver right away to transport our car. They were in constant communication as to when the car was getting picked up and dropped off. The driver also communicated with me as to when he would arrive. I would highly recommend Corsia Logistics.
Amy Nelson
Excellent Organization
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Corsia was an excellent company to work with while I transferred my car across the US. A friend of mine suggested I use them as they had been very organized and trustworthy with her own car. I researched a few different place but decided to go with Corsia and I'm so glad I did! Any questions I had throughout the process they answered quickly and clearly. I would definitely use them again in the future and recommend them for others to use.
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