Arranging Insurance for Car Shipping

What is the Car Shipping Arranging Insurance?

Obtaining the necessary insurance when choosing to have your car shipped is vital to ensure that you aren't held liable for any damage done to it and for any other delivery issues that you may encounter. Insurance should be purchased regardless of whether the car is being transported via a trailer or physically driven.

However, to ensure your car shipment is fully covered, you must understand the various aspects of shipping insurance first, followed by what to do if you run into any issues afterward. This is even though the number of cars damaged due to shipping transportation totals less than 5% yearly. Take a look at the following guide:

Know the Minimum Requirements

All auto transport companies in the United States have to have liability insurance. You should also check to see if they also have cargo protection as well. If they do, any damage to your vehicle during the transportation process will be covered. Of course, you will still have to pay the insurance deductible. It would be best if you asked for more information about their insurance coverage from the company. Specifically, you should understand the terms and conditions of the coverage.

One helpful thing is to ask them for a copy of their certificate. Under the law, they have to provide this to anyone who asks. The Department of Transportation website, www.safersys.org, helps verify the certificate's authenticity.

Companies will also offer you the option of purchasing additional insurance coverage if needed.

• Supplemental cargo insurance for car shipping typically costs $50–$200+, while basic carrier coverage — included in most quotes — is capped at $50,000–$100,000 per vehicle.
• Damage claims must be filed within 24–48 hours of delivery; all damage must be noted on the Bill of Lading at the time of drop-off to be eligible for reimbursement.
• FMCSA regulations require all licensed carriers to carry liability and cargo insurance; shippers can verify a certificate's authenticity through the DOT's SAFER system before booking.

Determining the Amount of Coverage to Have

While you will automatically have the minimum amount of coverage, you may want to expand upon it. You will undoubtedly be protected from liability for damage your vehicle may incur. Still, the minimum coverage won't cover the full value of your car. It's helpful to ask the company about their insurance. The following questions are some of the main ones that you should ask:

• What damage does the insurance cover?
• Is every part of the car covered by protection, or are there only some parts?
• What's the deductible (if there is one)?
• What's the coverage limit?
• Are vehicle accessories covered?
• What are the options available for purchasing additional insurance coverage?

You can also ask your car insurance company if their coverage extends to vehicle shipping. In some cases, it will. Nonetheless, you should always notify them if you plan to ship a vehicle.

Making an Insurance Claim

To determine whether you need to make a claim, make sure to inspect your car thoroughly at its arrival point. It's essential to examine it as soon as possible so that any damage that is spotted is documented. That's why it's helpful to take many pictures before and afterward.

Any damage spotted should be noted in the Bill of Lading. The driver who made the delivery will need to sign this form.

Next, you should immediately contact the shipping company and relevant insurance company. Most companies will work with you to resolve your claims promptly. As long as your car is covered and everything is documented, it would be best if you didn't run into issues with this. If you happen to do so, make sure to note this on websites such as the Better Business Bureau at www.bbb.org.

This article wasn't written to scare you, as most shipping experiences go off without a hitch. A-1 Auto Transport certainly has a proven track record of handling your vehicle carefully at every process step. It still pays to be safe, though, as you never know what unexpected event can occur.

Follow the above tips, and you should be fine!