Hello, my name is Brian and I live in Syndey, Australia with my wife and our four kids. I have a busy day job working in an office, so at the weekends, I like to get away from it all. Last year, I took my wife and kids out for a drive into the Outback. I am a pretty experienced driver, but I still managed to get the wheels of our car stuck in some deep mud. The sun was getting low in the sky and I started to panic. Thankfully, I managed to contact the local tow truck company who sent a man out to rescue us. He even towed my car to the nearest garage and gave me some top tips about how to tow vehicles. I hope you enjoy my blog.
When you're moving across the state, or when you want to move an antique or custom vehicle any distance, it can be good to hire an automotive transport service. This type of company can handle the move of your vehicle safely and securely, so you don't need to worry about driving it a long distance, making a return trip after a move to pick up the vehicle, or damaging that antique or custom vehicle while it's in transit. Note a few important questions to ask when you want to hire an automotive transport service so you know you choose the right company, and know what's involved in that move as well.
Ask how much gas should be in the vehicle
The transport company may actually request that you have no more than a quarter tank of gas in the car, so that it doesn't weigh down their truck. However, you may not be allowed to ship the car without any gas at all, as they may still need to start the car in order to move it forward onto the truck ramps or back it out of the way of the truck during pickup and delivery. Whatever their requirements, be sure you ask beforehand, and especially if your car requires a special type of performance fuel or will need to be driven or idled in order to empty the tank.
Ask if they need all keys to the vehicle
In some areas, it may be a legal requirement that all keys be surrendered to the transport company while the car is in transit, as they are taking legal responsibility for the car. The transport company may also request that they be given all keys to the vehicle, so that no one steals it while it's being shipped. This might also be done for their protection, to ensure that they can hold onto the car until their bill is paid. Always ask about this beforehand, so you know you have all the keys ready for them.
Ask about their liability insurance
A transport company may tell you that your car is "fully covered" while in transit, but they could be referring to your own insurance coverage; your policy, however, may not cover damage or theft while a vehicle is being transported. You can call your insurance agency to check on your own coverage, but it's usually good to ask the transport company about their insurance, so you know you will be reimbursed for damages your vehicle might suffer while it's being moved or shipped.
Share28 April 2017
