Ever shipped a car before? If so, you know how stressful it can be, especially if you’re shipping your only vehicle. Preparing your vehicle for shipment is the key to having a great auto transport experience.
Through my years of experience in the auto shipping industry, I’ve seen it all. Most of the time, customers are great and very reasonable, but there is a small percentage of customers that can end up being a nightmare to work with.
So, how can you avoid being that nightmare of a customer? Read more to find out how you can prepare for auto transport.
1. Flexible Dates for Auto Shipping
When things don’t go according to plan, customers get upset. That’s entirely understandable. But, when shipping a vehicle, you have to understand that the entire process operates through different gears. Pickup dates, transit times, and delivery dates are all estimates. Drivers can’t account for traffic or mechanical issues. So, being flexible with times and dates will make everybody’s experience better in the long run.
Tip: Be flexible, be available, and be polite. Those three things will immediately make your shipment better.
2. Politeness
Being polite can get you far in life. But not everybody understands that. Even if things are going your way, be kind. You can’t put out a fire by fighting it with fire. Remember, auto transport representatives are constantly working customer service. They are doing their best to meet the needs of your time and budget to ensure a quick and easy auto shipment. Most things that customers get upset about aren’t actually in control of the rep. If a carrier breaks down, has a late pickup, late delivery, or even causes damage to a vehicle; auto transport brokers have no control over these situations. So please, be as polite as you can.
3. Availability for Auto Transport
Nowadays, everybody has a smart phone or cellphone, so it shouldn’t necessarily be a struggle to get a hold of you. Make sure to keep yourself available, even if it means simply having your phone on you. Our representatives give 110% to keep our customers in the loop whenever changes occur with their order. Being able to reach you, even during odd times, makes it much easier to provide the best auto shipping service. So be available in case we (or the driver) needs to get a hold of you.
4. Wash Your Vehicle Before Transport
Make sure the exterior, and interior of your vehicle is clean. When a driver comes to pick up your vehicle, they will be conducting a 22-point inspection on your vehicle. During the inspection, the driver makes sure that any existing damages, scratches, and dents are marked and accounted for. When your vehicle gets delivered to its final destination, the driver will do another inspection on your vehicle. Again, the driver will mark any damages that might have occurred during transport. If the vehicle is not clean before the first inspection, knowing if any damages occurred during transport will be very difficult to tell apart from old ones.
Tip: Some vehicles need special treatment during car washes. Click here to see if your vehicle does.
Chose Guardian!
Not sure where to start? Fill out our free quote form and you’ll receive an instant price today! We’ll work our schedule to best fit your schedule. Although our prices may not be the lowest, our quality service is the highest.
If you have any questions or want to submit a free quote with Guardian Auto Transport, click here!
