Auto Transport Reviews (see p. 31 for companies we endorse)

[joemcmahon]

This last December, I needed to move a car from CT to CA. I had used DAS once previously with a few hitches (the "expedited move" did not expedite on the date promised, but they got it on a truck a few days later, and car got there reasonably quickly once it did go out).

I called at the end of November to get a quote and a ship date for covered shipping. DAS mails you a link to their site for this, which struck me as odd, but actual reason for this didn't sink in till later. I said that I'd be able to deliver the car to their Linden NJ terminal and pick up in Livermore CA - this was to prevent possible problems with the pickup, as I was actually flying out to CT to get the car out of storage, and they cheerfully promised me an early December start to the move on the phone, at a total cost of around $2000. Dropoff on the 9th, delivery by 22nd. I didn't choose expedited service, as I took them at their word that they'd make their date.

Here I'd like to interject how great the folks at the Linden terminal were; we just barely made it to the terminal before closing and they were extremely gracious about it, even though they had to stay open late to get the car checked in.

However, now the fun began.

I called on the day after the expected start date when checking the car's location said it was still in Linden and was told there'd be a delay. New ship *out* date (again with a link to their site) was now 12/22, a week and a half later, with delivery on the 29th. All right, stuff happens, I understand, and I let it go.

I check on the 23rd and it's still in Linden! I call again. "Oh no, we told you we'd ship the 29th." The heck you did, I say to myself, but checked the link and surprise! Now it says the 29th, arriving on the 5th. It's the holidays. I'll wait the extra week. Starting to get ticked off, especially at the sleigh-of-hand with the website, but willing to wait

I check on the 31st. At this point I'm pretty sure you can guess where the car was. Yep, still in Linden. At this point I am getting concerned. Is the car OK? Is it even still there? What's going on? Now I'm really upset. Note that at no point have I been notified of the slips - I have had to call and ask what's going on.

I call repeatedly, and get repeated, "it'll go out tomorrow" and it doesn't. Finally, I call on January 7th (the supposed delivery date) and say, "if my car is not on a truck TOMORROW, I am going to fly out and take it back the next day." Surprise! My car finally ends up on a truck. With a broken transponder, so it STILL says it's in Linden for the entirety of the trip. It does get one update when the driver reaches Colorado; I suspect this happened because the car was actually offloaded from one carrier to another at this point, but it's speculation, because DAS never told me *anything*.

Finally the car arrives in Livermore, on the 12th of January. It is liberally splattered with what looks like road tar. I ask exactly how this happened in a covered carrier and they are unable to explain and do not offer to make it good.

I can only assume that my car was bumped repeatedly by "priority" cars; however, I still don't know what actually went on. I got an email from their customer service department, which insisted that the predicted delivery date had always been the 29th, and that all they could do was give me the $20 a day late fee for their "maximum" of $260 out of at $2000+ move.

I wrote back and said I thought they needed to do better than that; given that the car ended up covered in tar, I thought they should refund me the covered transport fee and go by the date they originally promised me delivery by (prior to the 22nd, by the way) - but of course since this was stored on their site and I hadn't printed it, I had no proof that the initial promised *ship* date from their quote was anything other than the 29th.

They never replied to that email, and they never refunded any money at all, not even what they said they would. At this point I was so thoroughly sick of dealing with them that I gave up. At least I have the car.

I won't use them again. I don't think they are trustworthy. If you decide to use them, *print* that page they link to so that you can email it back to them to say something like "I'm confirming these are the agreed-to dates for my shipment; please acknowledge that you received this email" so that they can't play "oh no, you remembered it wrong, see? The site says what we say."

I don't think you should have to do that, or badger them to tell you where your car is.

[wismar]

I need to move a car from DC to Florida asap. I tried Coast to Coast and Golden Key first because of the reviews on this website. Neither handles this route but Coast to Coast was able to recommend Chips Transport in Walpole, MA, and SWAD Auto Transport in Ft Lauderdale, FL. I requested quotes from both via the companies' websites and Chips Transport got back to me in a few hours with a link to their website, which displayed a quote of $885. It had a "Book Now" button. When I clicked through the site asked me to mail in a check for the full amount or to pay $911 online to complete the booking. I was surprised because I know that in the home moving context movingscam warns users against paying deposits for interstate moves. Is paying up front a similar red flag in the auto transport market? Or is it normal to pay everything in advance? Any insight would be appreciated.

[Jeff.Walker]

This one came in from the "Open Community" forum:

http://www.movingscam.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=20168

Hi there, still working on my local DC move, argh. And I BADLY miss Oakland, so I hope I can back there before too many years pass...

For my car, Oakland to DC, I used Golden Key Express, the same folks I used to move my car TO Oakland from NYC in 2007. This time, Golden Key Express transported both my car (Mazda 3) and my mom's Honda CRV (my mom was helping me move and fly cross-country with my cats, so we wound up shipping her car, too). Golden Key Express was again great to work with, got both vehicles on the same truck, worked around our schedule, etc. Their driver, Danny, was great, as was Misty, in the office. And their price was competitive. No damage at all, and Danny even polished out some pre-existing scratches. I would happily recommend them.

[falzman]

Hi guys. I'm honestly trying to read this thread, but it's very long and rather overwhelming.

I need to ship a car from U.S. (Texas) to Italy. Could someone who knows the topic please-please talk to me?
The companies that everybody say are good (like Golden Key and the other one on page 31) only do shipping within the US.

I was thinking about shipping with DAS (Dependable Auto Shippers), but I've read some horror stories here and elseshere, so I don't know any more.

One of the 2 companies (or someone they recommended) referred me to World Wide Relocations (www.wwrelocation.net). Are they any good?

There's always the option with Raineer (who did an excellent job so far with my hosehold goods - I was very happy with the attitude of Atlantic Relo, their agent in my area; just waiting with full review till I get the goods on the other end). But they can only offer pricier consolidated container option, and the final destination port is 2-days drive from me.

Any help will be greatly appreciated.

[MusicMom]

DAS did have a bad patch a while back, but things seemed to have calmed down.

Have you asked Ranier who they would recommend, as their own offering does not fit your needs?

I'm not familiar with Worldwide Relocation, but they are licensed and have been in operation since 2006.

[falzman]

That's the problem, nobody that I could trust can recommend anybody.

So do you thinnk, DAS is an OK company? At this point I just don't know.

[Noone]

DAS would be an OK choice. I do remember you mentioning about coverage. Coverage in Roll-on Roll-off is usually very limited.

Did you check with Rainier about the possibility of them shipping the car and then having it trucked to your destination? Would you still need to go to the port of entry to do paperwork?

This option will be more expensive, but it might be worth it, especially considering the customs work done on the car.

[falzman]

Yes, I'm aware that the coverage is horrible. I can insure it through my insurance company (a bit costly, but covers EVERYTYHING).

I have found an Italian company that seems to know what they are doing, they have a direct container from Houston to Italy.

Have you ever heard about Del Corona & Scardigli Group? (http://delcoronascardigli.com). I have no idea how to look up references about them, but the lady I talked to was nice, was immediately able to quote a price and knew what documents I need and everything. They have offices in New York (also Shanghai, Milano, Sassuolo, Toronto, Houston, Joinville, Imola, Poços de Caldas, Livorno, Montreal, Mexico City, Hong Kong), though I beleive that their "international" offices are not part of the group, but sort of affiliates.
There's warehouse they work witn in Houston. This company was in business for a very long time (or at least their website says so), and they give an impression of professionals (unlike DAS's agent working out of home).
Their quote is quite a bit lower than Raineer's and their 3-car container is direct from Houston to Italy (instead of Raineer's - car being trucked to NYK first, then loaded in container, reloaded in Hamburg, and only then delivered).

CAN YOU RECOMMEND AN INSURANCE COMPANY TO INSURE THE CAR WHILE IT'S BEING SHIPPED?

Do you know anything about
AMERIJET INTERNATIONAL I.T.N. CONS
15415 INTERNATIONAL PLAZA SUITE 180
HOUSTON TX 77032
TEL. 281- 670 1104 RAUL BARRON
That's supposed to be the agent who prepares the container.

[abhi1277]

We want to transport toyota camry 2001 from evansville indiana to sugarland texas,getting quotes from $650-$850 from a range of companies.anyone has any reco on what would be a reasonable quote with the above details ?any reviews/experiences with patriot auto transport or hafley transport?

[MusicMom]

Patriot is a broker that's only been in operation for a year, so there's not much to go on there.

I couldn't find Hafley, but there is a Hadley Transport, based out of NM. If this is who you meant, they looks leaps and bounds above Patriot: a carrier (not a broker) with 350 trucks and has been in business well before their license started in 1981. Get a quote from them.

[abhi1277]

thanks a lot for your recos. Actually it is Hafley transport, a company listed on uship. Could you let me know which website do you check for reviews on auto transport companies? I will get a quote from hadley transport too. thanks.

[Movinghelper]

There is no (1) place to find things out. Maybe the best one is here since we actually do the research on the companies through many different sites.

I would not use Hafley since they are not authorized to even be hauling anything at this this time.

SAFER Layout
Entity Type: Carrier
Operating Status: NOT AUTHORIZED Out of Service Date: None
Legal Name: JIMMY HAFLEY
DBA Name: HAFLEY TRANSPORT
Physical Address: 838 GABBARD RD
BEREA, KY 40403
Phone: (859) 983-3043
Mailing Address: 838 GABBARD RD
BEREA, KY 40403
USDOT Number: 2343845 State Carrier ID Number:
MC/MX/FF Number(s): DUNS Number: --
Power Units: 1 Drivers: 2
MCS-150 Form Date: 09/19/2012 MCS-150 Mileage (Year): 70,000 (2011)

[abhi1277]

thanks for your response. The problem is that I am in a small area (evansville) in indiana and the major carriers do not do this route. The only option is brokers like patriot who ask for a deposit. any recos on Amerifreight (they ask for $250 deposit), MJ Parker transport or new world auto transport (deposit required).Any other recos are most welcome.

[Movinghelper]

Have you tried DAS or Gold Key Express?

[abhi1277]

Yes those were the first ones i tried,DAS gave a quote of $928 from terminal to terminal,$1028- door to door ,golden key does not do this route.my car is 2001 model,i dont want to spend >$700.thanks