If you need to ship your car, you might feel overwhelmed by the number of choices available to you, and unless you're familiar with the process, likely have no idea of how to choose the best service to handle the task. The first step is to begin making calls, sending e-mails, and getting car shipping estimates. Finding a service to transport your vehicle is no different than hiring a service to help you move. It takes time, patience, and the willingness to sift through more than a few offers that don't suit you in order to find the perfect match. Fortunately, shipping estimates are fairly straightforward and easy to compare, once you know what questions you should be asking.

Dealing with some auto transport companies and asking for car shipping estimates is a little like playing a game of Twenty Questions. Naturally, the company is going to give you the lowest possible quote, in order to instill confidence and pique your interests. Unfortunately, shipping estimates for cars are rarely what they appear to be at face value, and if you take an attractive estimate at face value, chances are good that you'll learn the hard way the value of a little investigation.

Don't Compare Apples And Oranges

While some auto transport companies are perfectly straightforward with offering car shipping estimates, this automatically puts them at a disadvantage, because the estimate that company provides you is virtually guaranteed to be higher. The reason is simple: that company has figured out not only the initial quote, but added on all the "extras" that customers usually don't know about, such as gasoline surcharges, door-to-door shipping fees, and additional expenses for moving larger or more valuable vehicles.

While this makes the auto transport company in question commendable for their honesty, it also makes their car shipping estimates significantly less attractive to potential customers, so it's not a mystery why most companies choose to take a slightly different route. You'll find far more frequently that a service will give you the most basic of shipping estimates, and then tell you about the additional fees and surcharges---sometimes after you've signed the paperwork. In some cases, this can raise the actual cost by nearly 50%, leaving the customer highly displeased.

Tips To Help You Choose From Your Car Shipping Estimates:

* Take nothing at face value. If one of your car shipping estimates is significantly higher or lower than the average, take the time to figure out why before discarding it. While some companies are able to price their services far higher or lower than competitors, the more frequent culprit is what's included in the quote.
* Get at least three car shipping estimates before making a decision. Three is the bare minimum; it's far more preferable to have estimates from five or seven different providers, allowing you to compare and contrast what's being offered. Fortunately, with the convenience of the internet, this is far less time-consuming that you might imagine.
* Know how auto transport companies work, and negotiate on their terms. If a provider seems as if he's not giving you all the details, it's time to get skeptical. Ask directly about common fees and surcharges, and whether or not they are included in the quote. Also ask whether or not the company offers door-to-door delivery, or you're required to retrieve your car at a terminal. While you'll pay extra for the first, it's a benefit most consumers prefer.

Understanding car shipping estimates is key to making sure you're getting a quote that's fair, reasonable, and provides you with the service you want, at a price that isn't ultimately a surprise.