Alaska as a geographical entity in the US is unique in several ways. For example, it is not one of the 48 states that make up the contiguous US.
Furthermore, unlike Hawaii, which along with Alaska is one of the two U.S. states not part of the contiguous United States, it is still possible to drive between Alaska and the mainland U.S. However, this requires going through Canada. You can click here for more information on this.
One of the implications is that auto transport services to or from Alaska present unique circumstances. For example, it is either the vehicle is ferried or driven through a part of Canada at some point. As a result, more due diligence is required when choosing car shipping companies for auto transport services to or from Alaska. Read on as this article shares some tips for finding secure options.
Guide to Finding Safe and Secure Car Shipping Companies in Alaska
To avoid scam companies or options that offer below-par services, some tips for having a smooth experience when shipping vehicles to or from Alaska include the following:
1. Verify Licensing
You may think that operating as an auto transport company without the required registration and licensing is almost impossible. Well, it is and there are a couple of such companies around. That includes options that are every bit scams and cause clients agony and pain.
Even well-meaning options that lack the required license have accountability issues and this is enough reason to avoid them. Ironically, some of such options may seem cheaper, but this is usually the price to pay for the red flag of not having the required license.
Having made this clear, a secure company would most definitely have something known as a USDOT number. This is a unique licensing number issued by the FMCSA (Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration) to licensed companies in this line of work.
2. Verify Insurance
A car shipping company that does not offer insurance for shipped vehicles is certainly not a secure one. Some of such companies may argue that liability coverage would never be required given their expertise and experience.
Regardless, insurance coverage should be seen as an absolute necessity. It is a crucial part of secure car shipping to Alaska or from the state. Furthermore, the liability coverage offered should be sufficient, and is why the insurance policy should be requested and critically examined to ensure sufficient liability coverage.
3. Company Reputation
Check for reviews about available companies from online sources. Some of the notable options that can be consulted for this purpose include the Better Business Bureau (BBB), Google, and Trustpilot.
Pay particular attention to complaints. Check to see if some of the complaints (if any) are consistent with several previous clients. Overall, you want to choose a company that has an impressive track record and good industry reputation.
4. Experience with the Route
Shipping to and from Alaska is unlike what applies to many other routes within the country. As a result, you want to be certain that considered companies are well aware of the challenges and can deal with them.
By the way, some of these companies act on a partial broker basis. They use their carriers to ship their clients’ vehicles to a certain point. They thereafter hand the vehicles over to another company that completes the trip.
There are a couple of issues with such an arrangement. The first is that you cannot be certain of the service quality of the secondary company. This is even if you are certain of the service quality of the company that you contacted for this task.
The second issue is cost. The involvement of the secondary company usually means that the service charge is costlier than it would be if the primary company completed the trip. So, you may want to avoid companies that use such an approach.
5. Critically Review the Contract
Do not end your agreement on a verbal note. Ensure that things are documented. In other words, there should be a written agreement, and the details of this agreement should be thoroughly read and understood before you agree to anything. By the way, the contract should include details like the following:
- Liability Coverage – If the need arises
- Service Cancellation Policies
- Rights as a Client – For example, if delays or damages are experienced
So, it is not enough to get verbal promises from the company about any of these things. Everything needs to be documented.
6. Verify Fleet Condition
Transport trucks are used for auto transportation by these companies. Given Alaska’s peculiarities compared to the 48 states that make up the contiguous US, the auto-transported vehicles may have to be ferried at some point. The other option is going through any of certain routes in Canada, at some point.
Regardless, transport trucks would be used a lot. As a result, ensure that the fleet is in the right state and shape.
Read also: The Benefits Of Roof Racks: Why Every Car Owner Should Have One
Conclusion
Six (6) tips for choosing secure Alaska car shipping companies have been discussed here and they are very important. This is especially true given that there are scam companies out there. For details on how to identify scam companies and avoid them, you can visit: https://www.marketwatch.com/.
Furthermore, your eventual choice should not only be influenced by the cost of service charges as this is how some consumers end up choosing wrongly. Other important factors should also be considered.
