Common Myths And Misperceptions About Auto Transport

Since I began writing for Move Car, it has been my goal to provide quality information. There is plenty of misinformation and half-truths in the industry, but that is not what we are about. Everyone benefits when everyone is on the same page. It is therefore important to dispel common auto transport myths. Customers are able to see the truth and have a better shipping experience.

This is the purpose of today's blog post. If you have any questions, don't hesitate to give us a shout! Representatives are available to answer your questions and dispel any misinformation.

An overview of common myths about auto transport

Although auto transport myths aren’t very common, they can still be problematic. Because customers are working with outdated or false information, they can get confused about certain aspects.

Even workers in auto transportation can fall prey to these myths. For example, prices tend to go up in summer, and then drop in winter. Although this is the general trend, it doesn't apply to all routes in the country. This myth is more of a half-myth because they are blanket statements that don’t apply to every country.

This is evident in New York to California. This trend is quite evident on popular routes like New York to Los Angeles. Summer is a busy season for shipping, so prices go up. Winter brings a decrease in shipping, which means that prices will drop slightly. A less-popular route won't see the same swings due to the fact that there are fewer cars on it all year.

Seasons can be a significant factor in determining the most economical way to ship a car. The demand for a route can also play a role. It's impossible to wait for months and get the best price. You also can't control how many cars are driving on a route.

This is just one example. We'll now tackle some of the most common myths about auto transport.

Myth: Open auto transport doesn't offer as much safety as enclosed.

Although this is one of the most popular myths about auto transport, it is only half-true. It's technically true. It's kind of. It is. enclosed shipping may not be the most affordable method of car transport, but it is better than open car transport.

But is it safer? It is not. In our years in the industry, we have shipped thousands of cars. Of those, only a few vehicles were damaged during delivery. Transport Reviews will show that damage in transit for any company is very rare. Transport companies don't like dealing with damage claims. These are a hassle for all involved. They end up with carriers' insurance rates increasing and often have to offer some compensation to the customer.

Car carriers ensure that the cars they transport are in good condition. FedEx and UPS can handle packages in a less than optimal manner, it's true. They send millions to millions of packages every year. For car transporters, however, it is the exact opposite.

We don't use damaged vehicles if they get enough negative reviews. We only work with carriers with a minimum 95%+ rating on national load boards. This means we never deal with sub-par carriers, and almost every broker is the exact same.

Open Transport Trucks, Even if they aren't as careful, still protect the vehicles they transport far more than if they were driving them.

Open auto transport is safer than enclosed carriers, but it's only a matter of degrees. An open truck will take care of your vehicle for half the cost of an enclosed car if it is a daily driver.

Myth: It is better to book with a carrier than with a broker

This is a common myth, and it's not a true story. Two reasons auto transport brokers exist: they help customers find drivers and help them find load carriers. They also help keep prices low.

This seems absurd because, as with many other industries, customers can save money by cutting out the middleman. The auto shipping industry is not like this. If they need to transport loads through brokers, carriers must compete for loads. However, this is not always true. Sometimes it's a carrier market like when there are many cars on a particular route. Carriers can accept the highest-paying loads when this is the case.

Even then, the highest-paying loads are still cheaper than they would be if brokers were not involved. Even on high-paying routes, carriers usually make enough money to cover expenses and then some profit. They have very low margins most of the time. While larger fleets tend to have higher margins, independent owner-operators are more likely to make a small profit.

Brokers wouldn't be involved in auto transport. Carriers would make more money for every load if they weren't. They shouldn't. They could set their prices themselves, rather than having to negotiate with brokers. They would be free to charge what they want and this would prevent owners-operators from ever getting in the market. Because they have larger profit margins, big fleets will be able to charge less per load. The industry would suffer.

Even including broker fees, you will end up paying less to ship the vehicle than if you cut the broker out. This is a fact. A broker is the best way to find low auto transport rates.

Myth: Shipping a car is more expensive than driving it

This myth is a half-truth about auto transport. The reasons are quite simple. Shipping a car is different from driving it. You have to consider many factors, which are not present when shipping. You might not be able to drive your car from coast to coast for less than the current auto transport rate. Please bear with me.

Let's add up all the costs involved in shipping a car. You have the down payment and the COD payment to the carrier. Our company will send you the down payment at dispatch and then you'll pay the remainder to the carrier at delivery.

Let's now look at the costs of driving your car.

1. Fuel. Fuel prices are the biggest costs for auto transport drivers and will likely be the highest for you. If your car is driven 3,000 miles and you have 500 miles per gallon of fuel, then you will need to fill up the tank at most six times. The average car gets between 300 and 350 miles per tank, though this can vary depending on the vehicle. You will need to spend a lot on fuel.
2. Lodging. You must stay somewhere if you don't want to be in your car while driving. The average person can drive between 500 and 700 miles per day. If you are a fast driver and don't sleep well, it could be as high as 800 miles per day. That's two days' worth of lodging for a cross-country trek. You could spend anywhere from $100 to $400 on lodging if you consider hotel costs.
3. Wear and tear. Your vehicle's wear and tear is the last major expense. Driving 3000 miles per year? An oil change is required before you travel and again when you arrive. You may also need to rotate your tires - you might even need new ones. Driving a lot can cause a lot of wear on your vehicle, which will eventually lead to higher costs. Add these additional costs to your vehicle's cost and you can easily see how it could exceed the shipping cost.

Myth: Lower quotes are better simply because they are cheaper

This is the last of many myths about auto transport that we will be discussing. It's laughably incorrect. It has a lot in common with the myth that shipping via a carrier is better than through a broker. Particularly, carriers are driven to make the most money.

This logic can be applied here to show that lower quotes are better than better. They won't get carriers to bite.

A broker negotiates the price that you will pay. To find carriers that are willing to discuss the price, it is important to have the price in the right range. If the route's going rate is $800 and the broker comes in at $600, it's a problem.

You can't move your vehicle if you choose a lower rate than the others. Standby shipping is an option, but it's not a great choice if you need to move your vehicle quickly.

It doesn't mean you have to accept the lowest quote (yet another auto transport myth). Sometimes too high can be too high. If you have a deadline to pick up your vehicle, this may be an option. Higher-priced loads tend to move faster. A middle-of-the-road quote will usually be enough to transport your vehicle in the time you need it without breaking the bank. It is possible to still obtain affordable shipping services with minimal effort.

Do not let common myths about auto transport get in the way of your success

Shipping a car is complicated. Here are some common myths. Contact us to get the best out of your experience. They are available to answer your questions, provide advice, offer a quote, or book your shipment.

It's great to compare prices and services. It is a great idea to do this, since finding the right company takes more than just talking with someone. You can compare prices and services. Also, you can look at reviews of each company to see what other customers thought. We are proud of our low prices and high ratings.

Our goal is to help as many customers as possible. Customer service is key in this industry. It includes more than just a great price. Read our customer reviews to learn more about our philosophy and how we assist our customers every day.