Falling a victim to car shipping scams is something that happens to many people. This is usually when they don’t know about different scams or how the car shipping process works. A thing to remember is that scam companies are always too good to be true. Don’t go for a company that offers to save you hundreds of dollars, as most processes will differ only a little bit. Ask for a written contract with all the services to avoid hidden fees, and don’t give a company a large amount of deposit. Additionally, always check the company, its reviews, and even its license. To make it easier for you, know that with Verified Movers, you can get a list of recommended companies, and start your search from there.
It is important to be aware of car shipping scams
Shipping your car to your new location is a great choice for a long-distance move, or when you don’t have the time to drive the car yourself. Still, not knowing all the scams of a car ship can cause your problems. Many people go into this process blindly and unfortunately suffer a great money loss once they find themselves in it. This is why doing proper research is extremely important, to keep both you and your car safe. There are companies that are only after your money, and sometimes they are hard to see through them. Once you know all the popular scams these companies can trick you with, you will be able to see all the tell-tell signs. Know both the signs of a bad company, as well as the traits of a good shipping company for when you need it.
Bait and switch scams
When you decide to ship your car, you will start doing your research. The first thing you will look for is naturally the price of car shipping. Imagine there are four companies you are looking into. Three of them offer prices that have around a $100 difference, and one has a price of $300 less, which one would you go for? If you think that the cheapest company is the best, you might fall for a scam. The bait and switch scam is one of the most spread scams when shipping a car. It happens when a company totally lowballs all other companies by offering a service that can save you hundreds of dollars.
Once you choose this company, they will get your car from you and you will go on with your day. After you don’t get your car for some time, you will probably call the company to ask about the arrival date. This is when they will tell you that there is a change in price, and the price will typically be way over the prices those other three companies offered. They will try to say that the car is heavier than they expected, or come up with a similar excuse. However, you won’t be able to get your car until you pay them the new price. This is why you should always get more than one quote, and remember, if it sounds too good to be true, it probably is.
Deposit scams
Another type of car shipping scam is the deposit scam. Illegitimate companies will sometimes ask for large deposits in order to secure safe shipping. Then, after you have left your deposit with them, they will fail to provide your car. After you get in touch with them, similar to the previous scam, they will tell you that the price changed. Now you will be in a tough situation, where you will have to choose between saying goodbye to your deposit or paying them more than initially asked for. Bear in mind that some reliable shipping companies will also ask for a deposit, but this will be a small charge. You should be careful when a company is asking for a large deposit and or a nonrefundable one.
Hidden fee scams
A scam with hidden fees is something that you can avoid by doing a little bit of research. For this scam, the company will often offer a small cost of shipping, to lure you in. Then, before they send you your car, they will send you the list of all the hidden fees in order to charge way more. These can be things like fuel surcharges, insurance fees, or administrative fees, and they can all add up pretty quickly. If you are going through an international car shipping process, they might mention fees about that as well.
The way to avoid being scammed with this is to get a quote from multiple companies. Other than looking just at the overall price, look at which services are included in it. Then you can compare. Another good way to protect yourself is to ask for a written contract where you can clearly see all the charges. If a company seems reluctant of providing this document, you should probably get away.
Broker and carrier scams
The car shipping process usually goes either through a carrier shipping company or with a broker who works with a carrier company. Unfortunately, both of these can cause you some problems. Firstly, some brokers are not the real deal and they don’t have a carrier lined up who will get your vehicle. This means that they will get your money from you, but fail to provide a service they claim to have.
Secondly, sometimes carriers will do the same. They might wow you with the price and their promises, but once they get to it, they will do a lousy job. This also includes getting your car damaged and not to your destination on time. Also, there have been cases where these sketchy carriers stole from the car. Know how to prepare your car for shipping and do proper research on both a broker and a carrier company.
Do your research and avoid car shipping scams
Knowing all the car shipping scams can save you from falling victim to these companies. Always be prepared and know what to expect from a car shipping service. The way you can do this is, as we mentioned earlier, by getting a quote from a few companies. Not only that, but you should also look into the company’s reviews and experiences other people had with them. Also, you can check their rating with the Better Business Bureau to add another layer of protection.