All-terrain vehicles (ATVs) are popular vehicles that are useful in many industries, from agriculture and land management to recreation. Its popularity is also global, with the ATV and UTV (utility terrain vehicles) market projected to reach $11.95 billion by 2027.
As a recreational vehicle, many adventurers craving the adrenaline rush of driving on rough terrain may spend thousands of dollars on their ATVs. They take their ATVs to join off-road events and other conventions. And when they relocate, they will be reluctant to sell their vehicles and want to bring them instead.
When you need to transport your ATV for events or relocation, questions like "Who ships ATVs?" and "How much does it cost?" are reasonable to ask. When looking at several shipping options, you consider many factors for safe delivery.
The answer to queries such as "does the transport services come with insurance coverage?" and "does the delivery location matter?" will be crucial in making the option for the best company.
Finding a reliable transport firm is the necessary step in shipping an ATV. This article will explain some useful points for selecting the right ATV shipping company.
Figure Out Your Requirements
When choosing a shipping company that can transport your ATV, the first consideration is whether they can meet all of your requirements. Therefore, you must already know what your requirements are.
Are you in a hurry? What's your timeline? How far are you sending your ATV? All of these factors will decide your choices in the end. After fully understanding what you need, you can start looking for a shipper.
When working with a small shipper, you might need to give them many weeks' notice. However, a large shipper can provide you with faster shipping services or more flexibility with your shipment dates.
Start with Reputation
It goes without saying that you want to choose a reputable carrier. So you must verify the carrier's reputation in the shipping business.
Always check for their licensing. For example, a vehicle shipping business in the United States will be issued a US DOT (Department of Transportation) number and a Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) number. These numbers will allow you to monitor the company's safety records and personnel.
Here are a few other tips to check if a vehicle shipping company is safe:
- The company's name is not a duplicate of something similar sounding.
- Visit their website and observe the logo. If the website is hosted on a free server, there's a chance it's fake.
- Ensure their process is transparent.
Measure Their Experience
The cost of shipping is only the beginning. Avoid making the common error of automatically selecting the deal with the lowest price because, in many cases, you get precisely what you pay for.
It's more important instead to find experienced carriers you can trust with your ATV. A company's experience will play a big part in ensuring the safety of your ATV. An experienced, professional carrier will be able to give you reliable customer service.
Furthermore, the transportation company will take proper precautions to avoid pitfalls during the shipping process.
You can measure a company's experience through third-party evaluations and customer reviews.
Plan for Damage Protection
A shipping company that handles shipping vehicles such as ATVs, boats, or other types of machinery should offer at least one kind of value coverage. In most circumstances, it is to insure your vehicle and to protect against damages.
Having insurance is closely connected to the safety of your vehicles, so be sure that any guaranteed coverage is clearly outlined in the shipping contract.
A shipping business may partner with an insurance agency for this purpose. So do check if their policy has limits on the total amount covered. Also, examine if the maximum payout offered by your policy is less than, equal to, or more than your ATV's value.
It would help if you were always prepared to file a claim in the event of damage or loss during delivery. Therefore, before shipping your vehicle, it's crucial for you to make proper preparations. Document your ATV's condition before shipment with multiple time- and date-stamped images from different perspectives.
In addition, ensure that any preexisting damage is well documented so no one can use it as an excuse to refuse to pay the coverage.
Get Quotes for ATV Shipping
Finally, find a list of potential shipping companies capable of handling your ATV shipment. However, before contacting these companies, make sure you know the following:
- The make, model, size, and weight of your ATV
- The precise addresses your ATV will be picked up and delivered
- Other instructions to handle your ATV
Then, with this information, you can start calling the transport companies to get price quotes. It would be ideal if you could find more than one company and get three to five shipping quotes for comparison. Take these questions into consideration when you choose:
- Which fees are covered by the estimate provided?
- Will there be a fuel surcharge?
- Will there be an additional fee for door-to-door residential delivery?
- Do you need advance booking?
- What is the typical amount of time it takes to get there?
- Does the company provide insurance coverage?
Conclusion
ATV delivery is feasible. Although choosing a transport company for hire involves plenty of research, numerous options exist.
In most cases, this research means investing the time to learn about a shipping company's pricing, procedure, and reputation. Other considerations when shipping an ATV involve everything from scheduling your shipping dates to prepping and documenting your vehicle for transport.
Be sure to ask pertinent questions other than shipping costs to get a firm grasp on the company's auto shipping method.
A-1 Auto Transport
A-1 Auto Transport provides our customers with the best possible auto shipping process depending on their needs, budget, vehicle specifications, and destination country. We are available nationwide in the United States and ship to more than 190 nations.
There are no surprises with A-1 Auto Transport's excellent customer service. Browse our complete list of services and get a free quote for your ATV transport.