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Auto Transport

Whether you drive your car within your state or across several state lines, your auto insurance will cover you. Insuring your car during auto transport, however, is a different story. Unfortunately, most auto insurance policies do not offer auto transport coverage. Contact your insurance provider to inquire about this highly unique coverage. If your provider does happen to offer it, consider yourself lucky! For everyone else, it can be a bit more complicated.

Because you are not driving your car during auto transport and it is in someone else’s possession for a specified period of time, the auto transport company must have a certain type of insurance that covers your vehicle in case the driver has an accident. So, when searching for an auto transport company, there are several things to look for. Keep in mind that while a Better Business Bureau accreditation is great, it’s not the most important thing to look for.

First, federal government requires all auto shippers to have Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMSCA) licensing. More importantly, the Federal Highway Safety Administration requires all auto shippers to carry insurance on your car. So before signing on the dotted line, ask to see the company’s FMSCA license and examine the transporter’s insurance policy carefully. Pay particular attention so as to avoid the following:

• Policies that only cover the body of the vehicle.
• Verbal agreements of any kind, especially those promising to cover personal items packed or left in the car.
• Hidden costs.
  

If you come across an auto transport company that has an insurance policy in place that only covers the body of your car, it’s best look for another company. Anything can happen, so its in your best interest to make sure the transport company has an insurance policy that covers the total car.  

If the company tells you that it’s okay to pack personal items in the car and that the items “will be ok” during transport, find another company. You should never pack items in your car to begin with, and the auto transport company should not encourage it. This is a sure sign that the company may not be a reputable one.

Finally, always read the fine print. If there are extra costs outside of what has been agreed upon in writing (and if these “hidden costs” don’t make much sense to you), find another company.

AutoCarInsurance.org can help you find the best insurance coverage by letting you compare policies from the top insurance companies.