Automobile Shipping Quotes: Auto Transport Made Easy

When discussing any instance where someone has had their vehicle shipped, there’s really only one of two possible reactions people exhibit. Either they A) hated the experience due to any number of reasons, or B) loved the company they worked with and wouldn’t hesitate to use their services again in the future. Most auto transport companies prefer to be in the option B category, though this is not always the case. One company that does provide exceptional services is found at AutomobileShippingQuotes.com. This customer friendly site has recently restructured their entire website, adding even more resources for their clientèle. Being a company that prides themselves on stellar customer service as well as overall satisfaction, ASQ knows how important it is for the customer to be made to feel relaxed and confident in the services they are paying for.

One of the newer additions is an Instant Quote section which is extremely useful for those individuals who are looking to have a vehicle transported. There are numerous reasons someone would want to ship their vehicle. Much of the time, vehicle transportation takes place due to vacations or relocation. However, some people are taking advantage of the new emerging trend of purchasing new vehicles off the Internet. Many people are uninformed of all the expenses associated with these purchases; specifically the hidden fees for things such as the transportation of the vehicle (if needed). ASQ’s instant quote section provides you ten quotes from ten different auto transport companies. This enables the customer to consider all possible options. These quotes have all fees included, so there is no confusion when it comes time to pay. With features such as this, it’s no wonder ASQ retains such a high position in the industry.

Open Auto Transport vs. Enclosed Auto Transport

TAMPA, FL, Dec 09, 2008 (MARKET WIRE via COMTEX) — When shipping or transporting a car, many auto transport companies will offer the option of open auto transport or enclosed auto transport. What are the differences, and is enclosed auto transport worth the extra cost? A leading auto transport company, explains the pros and cons of each type of car shipping.
The leading determinant for most people when deciding which mode of auto transport to go with is the cost involved. How the price is determined by each auto transport company is completely different however. A driver of an open transporter determines his price per vehicle based on the route he is driving. Enclosed drivers’ price per vehicle is based on miles driven; the more miles traveled the cheaper per mile. The rates for both types of car carriers are typically driven by fuel prices.
“Like most things in life, you get what you pay for, so if you are concerned about the safety of your vehicle or reliability of the carrier, deciding based on price isn’t always the best decision,” said a founder of an auto transport company.
Typically the concern of customers choosing to go with enclosed auto transport is that their vehicle will arrive clean. What many people don’t know is while their vehicle will be insured on both types of car carriers, the insurance on an open trailer will not cover things such as road debris or acts of nature.
What that means is, if the driver hits a patch of dirt or gravel while in transit and a rock hits the car, he wouldn’t be liable. Same goes if while in transport the driver gets stuck in a hail storm and it damaged the car. While these things are very uncommon, it is important to know, and it’s impossible for these types of damages to occur when transporting a vehicle on an enclosed trailer.
“If your car is a high end sports car, a fully restored classic car or a vehicle that would lose considerable value from a rock chip or minor damage of the sort, it would be more than reasonable to consider transporting on an enclosed trailer,” concluded the founder.
Source: http://www.marketwatch.com/news/story/Open-Auto-Transport-vs-Enclosed/story.aspx?guid={79457248-0106-4583-993C-5A11091BD1FE}

First Interview

Interview with Michael Hampton

Yesterday, Auto Transport Consultant had the great opportunity to sit down with Michael Hampton, a well-known and knowledgeable consultant in the industry. With almost ten years’ experience in the industry, Hampton has seen it all, and now he’s been generous enough to sit down with us and explain a bit about the industry.

Auto Transport Consultant: How long have you worked in the auto transport industry, and when exactly did you start working in the industry?

Michael Hampton: I started in January 1999, so almost ten years now.

ATC: How has the industry changed over the past ten years?

MH: Advertising has changed so much due to the internet, and advertising is how most companies make their money. Before the internet was huge, most companies advertised in the Yellow Pages, so most business was local. Now, with more customers buying cars online, a thousand miles away, they need them shipped, and internet marketing has been a great tool because they can see different companies’ ads on eBay when they buy their vehicle.

Also, the industry used to be very seasonal, with most people shipping cars in the summer, or in the winter – these people are known as snowbirds, because they always ship down from the Northeast to Florida. Now, with internet marketing as big as it is, the market has evened out a lot because people can buy cars year-round. While business does increase during the summer still, as well as winter, the swings aren’t as pronounced.

ATC: How many new brokerages have you spoken with in the past ten years?

MH: Oh, hundreds at least.

ATC: And lastly, why are more people entering the business now than ever before?

MH:It mainly has to due with the fact that the industry is, for the most part, untapped. Out of roughly 1,000 brokerages across the country, 200 of them write 99% of the orders. Therefore, it’s easier to break into because there isn’t a whole lot of competition. Besides, most cars that you see on the road either came from Detroit or from overseas, and that means that they need to get to the dealerships, right? Manufacturers use auto transport companies to ship their cars because it’s cheaper for them to do so, and most dealerships use auto transport companies to get cars to their customers – again, thanks to online marketing.

ATC: Well, that concludes our interview, and make sure to keep watching Auto Transport Consultant for more news about auto transport!