Wednesday 9 January 2013

Tips and Tools for Locating Reputable Auto Shippers in Florida


If you are thinking of transporting your vehicle from Florida to California, you should hire a vehicle transporter because it costs less than relocating the vehicle yourself. You can locate number of auto transport companies in Florida for moving your vehicle but you cannot trust them all because of the inexperienced and fake auto transporters. The safety of your vehicle is important which requires you to hire an expert company for the successful auto relocation. 

A number of ways can help you to locate a reputable auto transporter in the Florida. However, following are most practical:

Seek Recommendations

 In order to locate a trusted auto shipper, you must seek recommendations from the friends and family who have prior experience of shipping vehicle. This will help you to know the hassles involved in auto shipping process as well as how to deal with the auto transporters. In addition, you may be able to get a referral of a professional vehicle shipping company located in Florida.

Internet

Internet surfing is another way of locating reliable auto transporters in Florida. By browsing the websites of vehicle transport companies, you can easily locate an auto shipper for moving your vehicle. The use of internet will allow you to explore and compare the services of auto transporters that will enable you to hire a competitive company. However, prior to finalizing your deal, you must use the following three tools to determine to reliability of the car shipping company:

SaferSys Database

The Federal Moving Carrier and SafetyAdministration (FMCSA) allow customers to access the safety record of the car shipping companies by using SaferSys database. By entering the official name or DOT number of your auto shipper in the search bar, you can confirm its legitimacy. In addition, the safety record will enable you to check whether company has unresolved complaints on its account or not. Thoroughly analyze the safety record and make sure the company is registered properly.

Car Transport Quotes:

All professional companies offer free of charge car transport quotes. However, some non-reputed auto shipping companies require a deposit for requesting a quote. You should not consider the companies asking you to pay for quotes.

Auto Transport Reviews:

The auto transport reviews are useful for determining the reputation of a company from customers’ point of view. The reading of customer reviews enables you to know the experience of past customers with the company. Hence, this way you will also be able to determine the repute of the company.

For more information about locating reputable auto transport companies visit here: www.autotransportdepot.com

Wednesday 12 December 2012

Fraudulent Auto Shipping Companies – Doing Illegal in a Legal Way


how to ship a car
While federal agencies such as US Department of Transportation and Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration are changing policies regarding auto shipping scams, fraudsters are also changing their tactics to lure consumers. The changing policies have changed mind of rogue auto transporters and they now do illegal in a legal way. As a result of these change of tactics, fake companies are yet able to surprise consumers quite surprisingly. Even customers who know auto shipping process very well are becoming victim of these fraudsters. Therefore, it is imperative to educate consumers on what is trending to ensure they do not become a victim of such fraudulent auto shippers.

A Registered Auto Shipper is Not Necessarily Reliable
About two years back, people only used to consider legitimacy of car shipping company prior to hiring it. If it were registered, they used to hire it. However, with law being restricted, fake companies, that used to disappear after picking car, do not exist. Almost every auto shipper is registered with Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA). Therefore, you cannot discriminate between fake and reliable auto movers. However, you can minimize the risks by seeing what you are complying too i.e. auto shipping agreement.

Auto Shipping Agreement is the only Legal/Authentic Binding between You and your Auto Mover
 Most fraudsters know the fact that consumers do not even bother to read what is writing in the car shipping agreement. So they take advantage of your ignorance with terms and conditions of shipping car with them. In case you miss out reading a term, they will get a chance to make most money out of you. Therefore, to avoid these things with your next transportation venture, you ought to check following things before signing vehicle transport contract:

Check Cancellation Details
The foremost tactic used by fraudulent companies is cancelling contract but not refunding full deposit. A considerable percentage will be deducted from your deposited amount. So do not forget to check cancellation terms. While you deal with auto mover, consider following two suggestions:
1.       Ask it to guarantee you that your contract will not be cancelled. If it does, get it in writing form.
2.       In case your contract is cancelled, you will get full deposit in refund.

Make Sure Your Car is Insured
Some auto movers write car-shipping agreement in a way that you are agreeing not to get your car insured for transportation process. So if your car undergoes a car accident, you would not be able to claim. Therefore, make sure you car is fully covered for transportation process.


Make sure you hire professional auto transport companies such as http://www.autotransportdepot.com to avoid regretful car shipping experiences.

Friday 7 December 2012

Select Shipping Services Sensibly to Make the Process Economical


cost to ship a car
It is a common approach, that whenever we want to avail any service or buy any product, we always focus on two major aspects, what it will cost and how it will serve use. It also happens when any one of us plans to take the shipping services of any auto moving company. We all focus on how much does it cost to ship a car and what are the benefits of hiring any auto mover. The concern is right, as car is an investment and its protection while shipping is of utmost importance.

However, it is vital to understand that the cost of shipping is entirely dependent on the choice of car owner. The more services the car owner will take, the more he will have to pay against his vehicle transportation, and it makes sense. Thus, in order to enjoy economical transportation, every car owner must take auto shipping services sensibly. The key for this can be to focus what you actually need in order to hire transportation services accordingly. For example, if you want to hire most economical transport facility then your must select open auto carrier instead of enclosed car carrier. Similarly, if you can manage to pick and drop your vehicle at the defined location of the auto mover then to make shipping process economical, you can hire terminal-to-terminal services. Keep in mind that sacrificing quality and facility just for the cost is not advisable, however, hiring any service out of your budget does not make any sense too. 

Interested in shipping a car? Read more here to see how you can have a hassle free car shipping experience.

Tuesday 4 December 2012

3 Winter Car Maintenance Tips


It has been four days now December has started and you might have already experienced the first frost coated on windscreen of your car. As winter continues to be colder, you must give some thoughts to your vehicle to cope with common winter issues you might face during cold season. Otherwise, your winter will spend using scraper on windshield. So to avoid this annoyance, consider following winter maintenance tips for your car:

Avoid Organic Substances In and Around Your Car
Snowfall and leaves failing off from trees are two of the common things that occur in winters. While snow can freeze your car’s functionality, organic substances such as leaves and twigs can cause a big havoc to your car as they often do to gutters in your house. While debris and leaves build around your vehicle, processes such as corrosion initiate due to air moisture. This corrosion can easily catch vehicle exterior that should be avoided.
To avoid corrosion occurring to your car, you should park your car in a garage and keep the area clean from debris. Besides, do not forget open sunroof everyone once in a while on a sunny day.

Check Your Tires
You might not think of changing tires because they are labeled with “all-season” tag. All season tires are in market for decades but they do not do well when there is snow.  Car slipping and sliding off from road is what you might experience on a snow day. This can cause accident too. Therefore, use perfect tires for winter season. Do proper search via online or referrals to ensure what type of winter tires best fit your car.


Get Bigger Lights


Winter season is mostly dark as sun comes out seldom. So to get through with winter’s gloomy and short days, you need to ensure headlights are perfect to lighten your way. Getting bigger lights for your car will definitely help you to stay safe while driving.


Vehicle gets inoperable is what most people experience while travelling across country in winters. If you experience such problem with your car while moving out to a distant location, we as a professional network of auto transporters can help you in bringing your car to desired place. Click discover more info to see what you need to know.

Monday 3 December 2012

10 Ways to Save on Fuel Consumption



Having a car is big comfort, but when your car is not fuel-efficient, it becomes a big havoc. With rising fuel costs, optimizing your fuel cost is imperative to restrict your transportation cost. It is possible only when you understand importance of minor tips that influence entire cost. Here are few major and minor tips that if you take care, you can easily save on fuel:
    



  • Car tires are the only part of vehicles that touch road. Make sure the tires are properly inflated to the desired air pressure level. Inappropriately inflated tires require extra force, which consumes extra fuel.
  • A well-tuned vehicle consumes less fuel as compared to malfunctioning engine. Therefore, take your vehicle for tuning every once in a month.
  • Believe it or not, the total weight in the car also influences fuel. A stuffed down car uses more fuel. Therefore, do not consider your car as an auto shipping container. Take all of your personal belongings having considerable weight out of car.
  • Vehicle engine starts knocking when you use high-octane gasoline. Therefore, use gasoline having lowest octane number to ensure engine works fine. It will also have least impact on fuel consumption.
  • Some gas stations charge extra if you use credit cards. So whenever you go to such gas stations for filling, make sure you have cash to pay.
  • The way you drive your car has direct impacts on vehicle condition as well as fuel consumption. Therefore, do not speed much as well as do not drive too slowly.
  • Turn off engine if you think it will take a significant time at red light.
  • Pedaling brakes or accelerator while vehicle is in rest also consumes extra fuel. Therefore, be sure you do not do it when it is not required.
  • Fuel prices vary pump to pump in various areas. Find out stations that offer quality gas at low rates.
  • Do not let the gas getting out of tank. For that, make sure the gas cap is tightened.
Driving is not always the solutions especially when you need to move across country. So when you need  move to distant locations, choose shipping services of a professional auto transport company such as (http://www.autotransportdepot.com/vehicle-shipping-services.htm). Since shipping costs less as compared to driving. Hence, you will save a considerable amount too.

Wednesday 28 November 2012

Car Shipping – A Feasible Option to Move Cars across Country

If you have plans to move your car to a distant location, you have following options to do it:

  •        Drive to move it on your own
  •        Hire car towing services
  •        Avail car shipping services


Driving and towing services both are infeasible options when it comes to moving a car to far location. Driving is often tiring when the distance is greater. Even driving enthusiasts would not like by road, as it is hurting for both driver as well as vehicle. Besides, it includes travelling expenses such as lodging and fuel cost. On the other side, if you look for car towing service, it might cost you less. Nevertheless, it is never recommended for long distances. The car is not driven but dragged down which is not best for your car. It could damage vehicle during transportation. Towing services are usually hired for malfunction and inoperable vehicles that stuck in middle of road. People hire car towers for their car towing to desired address. Therefore, one must not choose driving or towing for relocating vehicle.

Car shipping services are considered best for long distance moves. Auto shippers transport car without having to drive it, which saves vehicle from long distance maintenance issues. Besides, it saves you from overwhelming driving experience. On top of all, you save a considerable amount of money s compared to relocating vehicle on your own. According to various transportation experts, shipping car costs about 10% to 30% less as compared to travelling expenditures of moving car on your own.
Thus, you should consider this option whenever you need to move across country. While you will be travelling via an expedited transportation mode, you car will be transported to the desired location within the given span. However, auto transportation is not simple as it appears. It does not only require you to strive for a reliable car transporter but also selection of shipping option is confusing too. Nonetheless, it can be made easy, if you do proper research to know entire process before actually getting into it.

Use of internet is great to do through search. With that, you have plentiful options to come up with affordable as well as reliable car shipping company. Besides, you can take advantage of online tools such as safer web system, BBB search a business, and customers’ reviews to prevent yourself from auto moving frauds. In all, auto shipping is best when you know everything about the process and ensuring your car safety. Therefore, make sure you do your homework before actually dealing with an auto mover.

Friday 23 November 2012

Do Not Risk Your Life – Adopt Safe Driving Habits


Having car is a big comfort, but being rash driver can hurt your car as well as you. You can recover your car from accident, but life does not give a second chance. Therefore, you ought to understand the rules of staying safe while driving vehicle. A recent research reveals the fact that more you drive per hour, the more are the chances of getting involved in accident. Unfortunately, despite of strict rules and regulations, number of accidents each year is increasing at a staggering rate. Therefore, it has become imperative for drivers to comply with rules and adopt defensive driving habits. It is the only way, which can help to reduce accidents causing thousands of injuries and deaths each year. Here are general tips for safe driving:

“Drinking and Driving Do not Mix”

It is an old true adage that most drivers should know. About 30% fatalities due to accident in United States involved drunk drivers. Most of the accidents could result less or no damage, if the drivers were not drunk. Therefore, while you are under influence of any drug, you are advised not to drive. Even if you think you can drive while you are drunk, do not do it.





Higher Speeds, Risk Increase
At a higher speed, chances of accidents increase at a staggering rate. Usually youngsters love fast drives but it is against law and safety rules. Whether you are getting late or driving fast for fun, make sure you do not break laws. While you get on a road, check the signboard informing you about speed limit. Driving fast is fun, but over speed may cost you your life.

Keep Your Eyes on the Road
Reminds me of the boy who just recently died in a car accident about two weeks ago. While driving fast, texting to friend, and updating Facebook status, he lost his control and finally lost life. It could happen to anyone, if driver does not know the importance of keeping eye on the road. In recent years, use of gadgets has increased and it has increased rate accidents due to distracted driving. This is the main reason why the States National Transportation Safety Board has called lawmakers to ban use of gadgets during drive. Therefore, comply with texting and gadget use rules. Concentrate on the road.

It is easy to stay safe while driving. Commitment with rules and regulations is what everyone needs to show. In all, everyone must know their rights as well as responsibilities when they are on road.


 Author Bio: Christina is a writer working for a network of auto transport companies. Her writings covers transportation problems, auto transport reviews and testimonials, relocation analysis, consumer affairs and vehicle shipping, and many more. She also is a car enthusiasts..