Pat Goss' Tips & Expert Advice

Note the Condition Of A Car Before Shipping

If you plan to ship a car, you probably already have a million things on your mind. It might be tempting to save time by not adequately checking out the car's condition before it is turned over to an auto shipping service. But, when you pick up your car on the other end of the trip and it's full of dents and scratches, how will you prove it happened during shipping? To avoid this problem, get a camera and take a fair number of close-up pictures of your car. Take shots both inside, underneath, outside and under the hood. Then, have those pictures with you when a car shipper arrives to show them you are a careful consumer.

A good shipping company should offer proof in writing of the condition of your car. You should agree to this paperwork, read it thoroughly and keep a copy. Some unscrupulous car shippers might try to add some dents or scratches to the paper work to cover themselves in case anything happens. Make sure this paperwork doesn't get accidentally overlooked among all the other forms you will need to sign.