How to find an exotic car shipping company in Florida

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 For the prior 50 years Florida was already considered a retirement state. Snowbirds would also travel down for the winter to enjoy the good weather and beautiful beaches it had to offer. After the pandemic everything changed. Florida is not considered a hotspot with more than 25,000 new residents migrating in every month. It's no wonder people want to bring their prized exotic car toys and enjoy the view. 

We've compiled a list of the top Five things one should look for when searching for a car hauling company.

• What covered in this article?

1. The first thing to look for when searching for a car hauling company Is to make sure they are properly licensed by 

FMCSA which is a federal entity in the Department of Transportation. 

2. Do your due diligence before deciding on a shipping company.

3. Pro's and Con's of transporting the car yourself

4. Booking the auto transport appointment

5. Preparing for delivery of your exotic vehicle 

1. What is the first thing you should do when looking for a car shipping company?

The most important thing (more than checking reviews) is checking to see if the transport company is properly licensed. Auto transport companies are licensed by the federal entity called FMCSA. This stands for Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration. They are responsible for licensing any transport company (be it broker or carrier). The easiest way to check if the transport company is properly licensed to do business in the United States is by visiting this Research an auto transport company website Check a Transport Company 

This will instantly tell you if the company is licensed, properly insured or bonded, if they've had any accidents or if their license is expired. Once that's been checked you can move on to step 2.

2. Check the car shipping company online.

This will involve a bit of due diligence on your part to ensure their customer service and history will meet your expectations. Check out their most recent posts on their social media, how many accounts do they have? When was the last time they were active? Do they have any video testimonials? Do they have Google Reviews? Do they have any pictures with any past exotic car transport they have done in the past? How did that job turn out. 

3. Is it worth transporting a car to or from Florida myself?

    Sometimes trying to do a job yourself can be a big money saver. In the case of a regular car you might simply attach a tow dolly or car transport trailer and haul the car with a moving truck. With exotic vehicles a setup like this will get very complicated and will require the expertise and knowledge of an auto transport professional. For starters most commercial trailer rentals are have a very high deck height. For example U-haul deck heights (meaning the height from the ground to the trailer floor) can measure up to ten inches. The average height of a super car on the ground is 4.7 inches or lower depending on the manufacturer. This instantly creates a problem with load height. Another reason to hire a professional would be to keep the super car safe from the elements. Most commercial car haulers only offer open or uncovered transport. Where as a professional car hauling company would give the option of covered or enclosed transport.

4. When and how can I book a car shipping appointment?

Most companies offer a way to get an instant, free exotic car transport quote right from their website. You simply put in a few simple details such as pickup/drop off zip code, year make and model and the desired pickup date. Expedited is usually available but it might come at an extra charge. Once you have all the details including price in writing you can proceed to book your trip. A word of caution, due to fluctuating fuel prices, most trucking companies will only honor your price quote for 5-7 days. Also, make sure to read their cancelation policy in case things change.

5. How to prepare for your car being shipped to, from Florida. 

So the big day has finally arrived here are a few tips when preparing to have your car picked up. Makes sure to have the car washed, the carrier will do a thorough physical inspection of the vehicle inside and out. Have it clean will make it much easier to distinguish any dents and dings from dirt and grime. Make sure to take your own pictures and document the mileage. Most important of all make sure the driver gives you what's called a "Bill of Lading". This is an official signed document that details the condition of the car as well as mileage, pickup, drop off details etc.

We hope these steps will ensure picking a safe, reliable, trustworthy auto transport company in Florida.