The Ultimate Guide to Choosing a Luxury Car Shipping Company

Whether it’s a high-performance exotic car, a stunning classic ride, or a top-tier luxury automobile, shipping it requires expertise beyond a standard vehicle relocation service. Due to their incredible value (financial, emotional, or otherwise), transporting these valuable assets demands a tailored approach that only a specialized luxury car shipping company can provide. 

The question is, how do you discern if an auto transport provider is truly high-end and deserving of your trust? Let’s explore key factors that you should consider to ensure the company you’re hiring will result in a safe and timely arrival of your prized possession.

How do I choose the best car shipping company?

Choosing the right vehicle relocation service is a methodical process, requiring careful evaluation of several critical factors, from expertise, experience, and reputation to details such as equipment and processes.

Specialization is key

Always opt for a company that focuses exclusively on high-end vehicle transportation. Aside from specialized equipment (e.g., enclosed carriers, climate-controlled trailers for sensitive vehicles), these companies boast highly educated and experienced personnel, guaranteeing the proper treatment of your precious ride.

Gouge reputation & reliability

In luxury car shipping, reputation is the showcase of reliability. Therefore, researching the company’s status should be one of your first steps. We suggest taking a three-pronged approach:

• Online reviews: Google, Trust Pilot, transportreviews, and similar reputable platforms are an excellent starting point, as they offer first-hand insight into the experiences of your peers, as well as how the company treats its clients and resolves grievances.
• BBB Rating: A positive Better Business Bureau rating is an excellent showcase of the company’s commitment to quality service – and operating by the book.
• Customer referrals: Be sure to contact the service provider and ask for referrals. After all, word-of-mouth is still one of the most effective ways to gauge the company’s reputation.

Bonus Tip: Communication & customer service

One of the best indicators that the shipping company cares for and values its customers can be gauged during the initial contact. If the communication is direct, effective, and transparent, it’s an excellent indicator that the entire process will be smooth and hassle-free.

Experience + expertise = excellence

Prioritize companies with an extensive history of shipping high-end vehicles – 10+ years at the very minimum. In a hyper-competitive market that is luxury car relocation, a long track record is a sure sign that the service provider is doing everything right – otherwise, their business would be out of business really fast.

Inquire about the crew & processes

At this point, you should have a list narrowed down to maybe half a dozen viable companies. Now, it’s time to go into a bit more detail to ensure the company is an ideal fit for you (and your car). Begin by inquiring about their staff: their training and experience handling luxury vehicles, whether they’ve passed background checks, and whether they possess clean safety records.

Then, move on to their methods for handling high-end vehicles, the equipment they use, and how they ensure the safety and security of transported cars. Finally, ensure that their paperwork process is meticulous, including contracts, insurance, and condition reports. And, yes – this will take quite some time, but it will help you narrow the list to only two or three ideal candidates.

Final step: cost & quotes

While quote calculators are a good way to get the initial price range, once your choice is narrowed down to two or three service providers, you should contact each of them individually and obtain a written estimate.

This estimate should clearly outline all potential fees, such as distance, insurance fees, transport methods (e.g., door-to-door vs. terminal-to-terminal, enclosed transport), special services, and potential add-ons to base service.

Once you’ve compared the quotes and what each service plan includes – that’s it! All that’s left for you to do is contact a luxury car shipping company that best fits your standards, schedule the transportation, and rest easy, knowing that your precious ride is in excellent hands.