Is the vehicle insured?
How long will transport take?
Is the transport door-to-door?
May I leave anything in the vehicle?
I've decided to use AAAT to transport my vehicle. What is the next step?
How do I pay for the transport?
What should I look for in a transport company?
Unfortunately consumers have found that there are many disreputable automobile transporters. At AAAT, we encourage you to get a quote and a contract from every company you are considering. If the quote and contract are satisfactory you can then look up the company at the Better Business Bureau, the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration and Transportreviews.com. These are important first steps in choosing an auto transport company. Our consumer tools can assist you with this.
The next important step is the contract comparison. Every transport company has a contract. However, not all companies or contracts are the same. The first items to look for in the contract are the cancellation policy and fees. Dishonest companies will promise a very low price but be unable to transport your vehicle. After a week or two of promises to pick up your vehicle most consumers will become frustrated, cancel their order and look for another transporter. At this time they may be slammed with $200-$300 cancellation fees. An honest company will allow you to cancel your order after a reasonable time without any cancellation fee. Click here for AAAT's cancellation policy.
If you do not understand a part of a contract, call the company to ask for clarification. A reputable company will take the time to answer questions and make sure you understand the contract.
[back to top]Is the vehicle insured?
As required by federal law, A Ace Automobile Transport only uses federally licensed and insured carriers.
On an open carrier your vehicle is insured up to the full "Blue Book" value for any damage due to driver negligence with no deductible to you, our customer. Examples of what is not driver negligence, and therefore not covered, are bird droppings, chipped glass or dings due to stones from the road impacting your vehicle or vandalism to your vehicle while the truck is parked. For these instances our customers must rely on their personal insurance coverage.
When shipping on an enclosed carrier your vehicle is insured up to the actual resale value and includes coverage for vandalism. Bird droppings and stone chips are not a risk with an enclosed carrier.
A bill of sale or an appraisal may be submitted to insure full coverage. An inspection of the vehicle will be conducted prior to loading and after unloading and the condition of the vehicle will be noted on the bill of lading (BOL). The customer and driver will each sign the BOL upon pickup and delivery and will each receive a copy. All damage must be properly noted on the BOL while the driver is present and then submitted in writing within 14 days of delivery.
[back to top]How long will transport take?
If AAAT transports your vehicle, it will take approximately one to four days, with proper notice, to pick your vehicle up, from the date you make it available for transport. (Proper notice is normally one week prior to your 'available' date.) The four-day pickup window may be longer during busy seasons (i.e., summer for coast to coast, fall for northeast to Florida, and spring for Florida to northeast). It is always best to give as much notice as possible.
Once your car is picked up, it takes about 8 to 12 days to transport coast to coast (Washington state and Oregon take about 10 to 14 days). Between the northeast and Florida, it takes about three to six days. For other routes, please inquire as to the estimated transit times.
You will be notified as much in advance as possible for pickup and delivery. The day before the one to four day pickup window, we will know how the truck is running and which day the pickup is estimated to be. You will be contacted 24 hours prior to pickup to set up a mutually agreeable time. It is best to provide us with all numbers at which the appropriate contact person may be reached (i.e., home, work, cell, pager, etc).
There are many variables involved in vehicle transport. The trucks are constantly picking up and dropping off vehicles, and can only be as timely as traffic and weather allow. A ten-car carrier may make up to twenty pickups and deliveries prior to leaving a metropolitan area. This process may take 2-3 days. These factors are the reasons we have an initial 1-4 day pickup window and a wide range for delivery.
[back to top]Is transport door-to-door?
The price quoted is for door-to-door transport. This means the truck will come as close to the address as possible for pickup and delivery of the vehicle. If the truck is unable to safely negotiate your street or neighborhood, the driver will meet you at a large avenue or a nearby shopping center. Please refer to Article 4 of the Terms and Conditions. For overseas shipments, it is port-to-port unless other arrangements have been made and proper fees have been paid.
[back to top]May I leave anything in the vehicle?
Federal law prohibits automobile transporters from shipping household goods. All items in your vehicle must be confined to the trunk, are limited to 100 pounds and are subject to acceptance by the carrier. If you will be placing items in the trunk, please refer to Article 7 of the terms and conditions. For vehicles being shipped overseas, including Hawaii, there may be NOTHING left in the vehicle.
[back to top]What is the next step?
If you decide you would like to transport your vehicle with AAAT, the first step is to obtain a quote from us. You may submit a quote request online or contact us by phone.
After receiving our quote, you may place your order online or simply download and complete the printable shipping order and mail or fax it back with a minimum $250 deposit. Please keep a copy of the shipping order for your records.
[back to top]How do I pay for the transport?
When placing your order you may make payment by money order, personal check or credit card (for online orders, a credit card is required). You may pay for the order in full or make a $250 deposit. If you choose to make a deposit the balance would be due on delivery by cash or certified check only. Overseas shipments, including Hawaii, must be paid in full in advance of shipment.
[back to top]Auto Transport A Ace Automobile Transport