With the auto transport industry growing significantly w
ith the help of the Internet, people can purchase a vehicle anywhere in the world and have it transported right to their doorstep. However, because of this convenience, there exist less honest companies claiming to be reliable and professional. Since it is not difficult to transport a car, it is hard to tell if the company is honest, dependable and experienced.
Currently, several fake auto shippers and car shipping websites have sprouted across the Internet. The most common scams involve phony trucking company sites that actually are not com
panies at all. The potential victim will visit the site to get a car shipping quote.
Commonly, the website looks legit and sometimes replicates a popular transport company website. The user will then receive a very interesting quote with payment instructions. After the user pays, the transport company never shows up to pick up the car, and the user is left robbed of his hard-earned money.
People searching for a reliable auto shipping company should als
o do their homework. People often contact three to four companies, choose the company that provides the cheapest rate for their services, and never scrutinize why it’s cheap. These ‘very reasonable rates’ often require a deposit, and that is how many scams work.
The type of fraud stated earlier is fairly easy to avoid. There are ways of avoiding being scammed. To make sure you are dealing with legal companies, you also have to know how to identify a fraudulent auto shipping website.
First is to talk to the company. Check the number of their employees, how many trucks do they have, their locations across the country and if they have a toll number (1-800 number). Auto transport companies that are highly rated often provide contact details and numbers so you can verify them on various business groups.
Every legit company is willing to show their licenses and certificates to give the services that they claim to provide. However, scam companies often have these certifications as well but they may be expired or fake. Make sure to double check these licenses or certificates with the appropriate agencies.
Another great way to avoid this scam is to check out an established and fair website such as Better Business Bureau (BBB). It is not difficult to check a company that has got over 100 complaints in the last 3 years. You may be surprised to find terrible companies with F rating, not to mention numerous complaints on BBB.
In addition, never trust a website that suggests using a wire transfer as legit companies don’t use wire transfer as a mode of payment. Legal companies often ask for cashier checks or cash when the hauler arrives for pickup. Some companies may allow credit card payment upon delivery but this is rarely applied for majority of vehicle transports.
Following these tips will help you avoid auto transport scammers as well as help you find a company that will assure you prompt and safe delivery of your car. Other common signs of scams to watch out for include deceptive advertising (huge discounts and assurance of overnight service) and grammatical errors on the website. In the end, search for the one with excellent reputation rather than picking one that may cost you the least.