Whenever you decide to ship your car, whether it is across the country or just a few cities over, you will need to sign an auto transportation contract. An auto transport contract is a very important document that details all of the information related to your vehicle move. Like any contract, you are bound to the terms of your auto transport contract once you sign on the dotted line. So before you do, know what to look for before signing one.

Pick-up and Delivery Dates

It is very difficult for an auto transportation company to give a definite time and date when they will pick up your vehicle and when they will deliver it. If any transport company promises you definite pick-up and delivery dates and times to earn your business, get it in writing.

Generally, auto transportation companies will give a window of a few days for pick-up and delivery. However, if a transport company offers you a guarantee in writing that they will pick up and deliver your car on specific dates and times, make them accountable for it. Ask for a discount on your vehicle shipment or inquire about getting a rental car for every day your car is late for delivery.

Insurance

Damages to vehicles in transport are rare, but there is that possibility that they can happen. Make sure that any auto transportation company that you choose shows you proof of their insurance and that they have information regarding insurance claims and procedures written within their contract. For example, auto transport companies’ insurance policies will only cover certain damages to vehicles while they are sitting on the company’s hauler, but may not cover all damages to the vehicle such as acts of God or vandalism.

It is important that the deductible amount you will need to pay in the event of an insurance claim be contained within the auto transportation contract. You also want to know who to make the claim to—the insurer or the transport company, and how long you have to make a claim for damages.

Hidden Fees

Should an emergency come up and you need to cancel your auto shipment, does the auto transportation company have a cancellation policy? If they do, all information regarding the cancellation policy, including how many days you have to cancel and any fees for doing so, should be contained right in the contact.

If you choose to drop off your car at a terminal, and the car sits a few extra days waiting for the transport company to pick it up, who is responsible for paying the terminal fees? When your car is delivered to a terminal, will you be incurring any processing fees and storage fees for it? If so, you need to know these fees upfront, and they need to be written within your auto transportation contract so there are no surprises when you pick your car up.

Above all, whatever verbal agreement or deal that you make with a transport company, make sure that you get it in writing on your contract. If any issues arise, the auto transportation contract is your only proof of such deals or agreements.