Having a car shipped or transported can cause stress and anxiety, especially if you’ve never done it before. Chief among your concerns is ensuring that you protect your car should an accident happen along the way. In this article, the MarketWatch Guides team explains what you need to know about auto transport insurance. Find out what’s covered, who covers it and what to look for when researching transport companies and what coverage they carry.
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As the customer shipping your car, it’s not your responsibility to have auto transport insurance. However, since there are some damages that may be covered by your own personal auto insurance when your car is in transit, we have a few car insurance companies to recommend at the end of this article.
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Auto transport insurance is what it sounds like. Also known as car shipping insurance, this coverage applies to cars that are being shipped from Point A to Point B. The companies responsible for transporting cars buy the insurance protecting the vehicle when it gets loaded, transported and unloaded.
To legally transport your car, vehicle shipping companies must have enough insurance to cover damages that might occur while the vehicle is in transit. Even though it’s the auto hauler’s responsibility to have adequate insurance, it’s always a good idea to make sure they have the federal minimums required, which typically include liability and cargo insurance. Review the company’s auto transport insurance policy and make sure you feel comfortable with the level of protection provided.
As a car owner, you don’t have to carry any transport insurance, but it’s still smart to keep your car insured while it gets shipped. Why? You’ll need to drop it off at Point A and pick it up at Point B, and it’s never a good idea (not to mention illegal in most states) to drive an uninsured car, even a few miles.
Secondly, if you run into any issues with the carrier’s auto transport insurance, your car insurance could help out. For example, if your car gets damaged by hail during a transport through the Midwest and your carrier didn’t have the proper insurance to cover that, your comprehensive coverage could step in to pay for damages.
Likewise, suppose your car is damaged in an accident while being transported. In that case, you might have a claim with your collision coverage to supplement anything not covered by the auto transport insurance.
Before you begin the transport, check with your insurance company what coverage you have and don’t have.
To understand the various auto transport insurance coverages available, you’ll first need to understand the players involved with shipping your car. If you’re sending your car across many miles — or even a short distance — work with an auto transport broker, an auto transport carrier or both.
An auto transport broker can navigate the shipping process and connect you with carriers in your area. Brokers typically work with a network of auto transport companies. It’s easy for a broker to find quality options for your car’s move.
Of course, the auto transport carrier — also known as a car hauler, auto hauler, car transporter or auto transporter — ultimately will be responsible for shipping your vehicle. If you know of a reliable carrier or feel confident in your ability to find one, you can skip the “middleman” broker and work directly with the carrier.
However, because most carriers rely on brokers to connect them with customers or function as dual brokers/carriers themselves, it’s entirely likely that you’ll end up working with a broker one way or the other. Whatever way you ship your car, here are the types of auto transport insurance to know.
A few important things to note about each of these types of coverage:
It’s also key to note that auto transport insurance policies vary from carrier to carrier. When comparing quotes from different vehicle shipping companies, take a close look at their insurance offerings, read the fine print and make sure you understand exactly what is and isn’t covered. Then, double-check with your own insurance company to see if they’ll cover any potential “holes” in your protection plan.
Because many people transport their cars across state lines, auto transport carriers are required to meet federal minimums on insurance. A standard car transport policy usually includes both liability and cargo insurance.
Before your car shipper takes possession of the vehicle for transport, it will conduct a thorough inspection to identify any pre-existing damage. A detailed report on the condition of the vehicle will come with what’s known as the bill of lading. This report, which is often a digital document, will include descriptions (and possibly photographs) of any damage, including dents, dings, scratches and other blemishes.
It’s important to be present for the inspection to make sure that you and your shipper agree on the condition of the car pre-transit. This can help avoid both headache and hassle if damage is discovered post-transit.
Equally important is inspecting your car again once it’s been delivered. You should look at your car before you drive it away from the unloading site, but some companies will allow for up to $800 for any damages discovered within 48 hours of delivery.
As the owner of the shipped car, you won’t pay for auto transport insurance. The insurance is on the car hauler and the costs will fall to them to cover.
With that said, however, it’s highly recommended that you maintain car insurance on your vehicle even while it’s in transit. Doing so serves as an added layer of protection and could help with any damages not covered by your auto transport carrier, like damage in a weather storm, for example.
While you don’t need to buy auto transport insurance, per se, it’s a good idea to make sure your standard car insurance policy is up to date. While you’re at it, be sure to check with your agent to find out what will and won’t be covered during shipping.
Yes you do, but it’s nothing you need to buy — or even can buy. What you need to do instead is thoroughly review your carrier’s auto transport insurance.
When researching auto transport carriers, read through their insurance offerings to make sure they have both liability and cargo coverage. The amounts of these coverages will vary by company, but a good rule of thumb is to look for at least $1,000,000 in liability insurance and $350,000 in cargo insurance.
Once you’ve done that, review your car insurance policy to make sure it’s up to snuff as well. Read through your policy details or check with your agent to see if your vehicle’s covered during transport.
Below are frequently asked questions about car transport insurance:
The transportation carrier provides transportation insurance and includes liability and cargo coverages. Liability covers any damage to people or property if the driver (or company) are at fault for an accident. Cargo insurance covers the actual cargo being carried, such as your car and any others.
Auto transport insurance costs nothing to you if you transport your car. The car hauler, or auto carrier, is responsible for covering the cost of insurance while the vehicle is being loaded, transported and unloaded.
Auto transport costs will vary based on a number of factors, including number of transport miles. According to our research, most customers can expect to pay between $1,000 and $2,000 to have a vehicle transported.
*Data accurate at time of publication.
The cost of shipping a car across country is something you might be worried about. In this post, we’ll put your mind at rest. The cost of car transport is actually quite affordable. In addition, there are plenty of ways you can save a few bucks.
We want you to get the best possible deal from your car shipping experience, so make yourself familiar with the following money-saving tips.
When it comes to shipping a car, there are generally two options. You can choose an enclosed or an open car carrier. The differences between the two are pretty simple, but the key one is the cost to transport a car.
An enclosed carrier is typically between 30% and 40% more than an open car carrier. This is because the service offers additional protection for the vehicle. Regardless of the weather and the road conditions, with an enclosed car shipping service your car is delivered in the same condition it was picked up.
If you want to ship a luxurious sports car or classic collectible, for example, choosing an enclosed trailer is the best option, even though it costs more.
On the other hand, if your car is an everyday ride and has no special features or unique accessories, an open trailer is what you should consider.
Open car shipping is a more affordable option and much easier to arrange than enclosed auto transport.
If you want to know the average cost to transport a car, why not try our instant quote calculator?
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Another option for saving money on your car transport costs is to look for smaller auto transport companies. They tend to focus on regional moves rather than national ones.
It’s likely that a local company will have lower overhead costs which they can pass onto their customers. You might also find they offer specials and discounts on their services which makes them even more competitive.
A real money saver is to ship a car that’s operable rather than one that’s not running. If an auto transport company has to load an inoperable car, you’re likely going to have to pay additional charges. These will be to cover the cost of specialist equipment such as hydraulic lifts.
We always recommend that you have a mechanic inspect your vehicle before you ship it. That way you’ll ensure there are no issues with the car and save money should any repairs be needed.
You might not be aware, but it is possible to choose not to have your car picked up and dropped off at your address. Door-to-door is the way most people choose to ship their vehicles, but there is another option that could save you quite a few bucks.
With terminal-to-terminal shipping, you drive your car to the terminal nearest your home. There it is loaded onto a truck and taken to a terminal that’s nearest to your new address. This option is easier for the auto transport company and can reduce the number of miles for your trip. In turn, this saves you money.
We should point out that this option requires some careful planning because you have to transport your vehicle to and from the terminal at both ends of the transport.
This is an effective way to save money on shipping a car. In the auto transport world, carriers like to operate along popular routes. These routes tend to be between big cities across the country. By big cities we mean major metropolitan areas such as San Diego, Dallas, Miami, Los Angeles, Austin, New York, Atlanta, and other similar cities. These areas are popular because there are lots of people and more loads for carriers to ship.
If your preferred pick-up and delivery location is off the beaten track, it will be more expensive to ship your car. Carriers that service customers in rural areas have to spend more time getting to these out of the way locations. Maintenance, time, and fuel are all major day-to-day expenses for a carrier. The more the carrier has to spend to get your vehicle, the more it will cost you.
Change your pick-up or delivery location out of the boonies and opt for a major metro area and you could save hundreds on your shipment.
Standby auto transport services are good way to save some money, but it’s only going to work if you’re not pressed for time. Generally, people move their vehicles as soon as they know they have to. It might be because of a move or because you’re selling the car to someone else. Whatever the reason, people tend to need car transport services immediately.
However, there are people who might benefit from standby shipping. This is where you pay a low price because it’s better for the carrier to run without an empty slot on their trailer. Carriers with an empty spot will gladly take lower-paying loads because it’s money on top.
If you don’t need to ship your car right away, standby might be an option for you. This is especially true during the summer months when prices are at their highest. If you don’t need to move your vehicle right away you can choose standby shipping and simply wait until the right opportunity comes around.
Some auto transport companies include hidden fees that you won’t find anywhere until you accept a quote online or over the . These charges might be to cover terminal handling fees or fuel surcharges.
If you want to avoid any surprises, make sure to ask upfront when you finalize your quote in person or over the . It’s also advisable to get a written copy of your quote so there are no misunderstandings at a later date.
SGT Auto Transport guarantees our prices are all-inclusive. There will be no surprises we guarantee.
If you’re flexible when it comes to the time frame for picking up your vehicle, it makes it easier to find cheaper rates because they can be influenced by supply and demand.
In addition, it’s not just about the pick-up and delivery time. It’s also the dates. When you arrange your car shipping earlier, it opens the door for better prices and potential discounts. If you wait until the last minute, you could end up paying a higher price.
The number of places on an auto transport trailer is limited and the journey depends on the vehicles. Big cars occupy more space so cost more money.
Smaller cars are lighter and could save space on the trailer, providing more room for extra cargo and saving the transporter the trouble of moving a large and heavy shipment.
It pays to shop around because different auto transport companies not only have varying prices, they might also offer reduced rates in certain circumstances.
Check with your local shipping companies as they might offer reduced rates for new or returning customers. They might also be running some promotions that you might be eligible for such as student discounts, military discounts, or reduced rates for snowbirds.
How much it costs to ship a car depends on the time of year. There are peaks and troughs in the auto transport industry and this affects prices.
If you want to take advantage of the lowest rates, choose to ship your car during non-peak times of the year. Try to avoid holiday times such as Christmas and Thanksgiving. Other peak season times include spring and summer break.
An increasing number of households have more than one vehicle. If you’ve got more than one car, you can save money by shipping them at the same time. A shipping company might give you a discount if you book multiple cars on the same trip.
The more cars a carrier can transport in one day, the less it costs them to provide that service. This means they can offer lower rates.
If you’ve got friends or family that also need to move their rides across country, this is another easy way to save cash on car transport costs.
When you contact a shipping company, remember to ask whether there are any discounts you might be eligible for.
SGT Auto Transport offers discounts for the following:
Cash is King in the auto transport world. When you make your booking you’ll be presented with two payment options. The first option is to pay the full amount with a credit or debit card. The second option is Cash on Delivery or Cash Discounted Rate. A partial payment is taken and the rest is payable on delivery with cash, a cashier’s check, or money order.
Whether you want to ship a large or small vehicle, a standard or luxury car, always try to make the best of it. Here at SGT Auto Transport, we offer the most competitive prices for the best possible service. Call (864) 546- or use our Live Chat option.
You can save money on auto transport costs in the following ways:
For short distances, it’s cheaper to drive your car rather than ship it. However, for longer distances, the benefits of shipping your car are greater.
Open car transport is the cheapest way to ship a car.
It costs between $2,000 and $2,500 to ship a car to Hawaii from the mainland US.
The cost of shipping a car from Illinois to Florida depends on the type of vehicle you want to ship and the timeframe In addition, the time of year, type of auto transport service, and whether there are any special requirements, also affect the cost of shipping a car between Illinois and Florida.
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