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What Happens If a Vehicle Is Damaged During Transport?

Camilo Jaime • Jul 15, 2021
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In general, the process of transporting a vehicle can be stressful; that is why many people would prefer to sell their cars when they decide to migrate to another country. However, others choose to hire car shipping companies.


Nevertheless, letting others move and handle your precious possession can be nerve-wracking. The anxiety begins when you surrender your keys to the moment your vehicle arrives in your doorway.


In fact, you probably spent most of your waiting time hoping and praying for the safety of your precious possession. While it’s uncommon for a car damaged during shipping, the chances of cars damaged in shipping can still happen due to inevitable circumstances.


In fact, it happens to a reasonable percentage of car owners. Thus, it is necessary to choose the right car transporting company when shipping car to Hawaii and have a comprehensive insurance policy to cover the costs for repairs or replacements.

Who Is to Blame?

In terms of cars damaged in shipping, the reported damaged on delivery cars are usually minimal. Still, there are incidents of engine failure, broken headlights, or popping tires. 

In instances like this, it is sometimes the car transport company’s fault, especially if they did not secure or strap the vehicle properly or failed to share the right car arrangement for transit with you.


Nonetheless, in some cases, it becomes the car owner’s liability if they fail to inspect their vehicle steers, brakes, and rolls appropriately or did not share the correct measurement of the car to the shipping company when shipping car to Hawaii.


In addition, they’re also liable if the car owner did not comply with the requirements of the car transporting company before the shipment.


These companies usually require bringing out personal items that can move or bounce around because these can cause internal damage to vehicles. They also need owners to deflate their tires moderately and only have a quarter full tank of gas.

Car Owner’s Fault

A car damaged during shipping can be due to the owner’s action. In this case, the only responsibility of the transport company is to call and report the incident. They will also indicate that they will not cover any expenses because they are not liable for the car’s damages.


Because of this, many clients would try to dispute the claims. However, if this condition is stated in the contract, the car owner can no longer take further action.


In this case, it’s best always to inquire or ask the transporting company about their requirements before shipment. Also, it is essential to prepare your car properly and get the car’s measurement correctly so that the car transport company would know what service is best for your vehicle.

Coverage of Car Transport Company

On the other hand, when the damages are due to the car company’s negligence, the company will be held accountable. They will also let you know about the incident with your car. Nevertheless, auto transport insurance is necessary when you avail of a car shipping service.


Aside from this, it would be best if you also remembered to read the conditions of the company’s contract and ask questions to become more familiar with its policies and understand who you are dealing with.


Fortunately, most car shipping companies Hawaii typically offer complete insurance coverage for their client’s protection.


However, they usually have less auto insurance coverage for open transport cars due to general road conditions and risks before the transit.


Nonetheless, they will still cover any damages incurred while in transit. However, it’s best to remember that most car transport companies would expect few luxury cars to be in an open transport.

Bottom Line

At times, it can be impossible to tell who is to blame or liable if your vehicle is damaged in transit. As mentioned, these events are rare, but these circumstances are both stressful and time-consuming when they happen.


Nevertheless, experiencing car damaged during service can be prevented if both parties inspect the vehicle properly before the shipment. In addition, if there is enough good communication between parties, you won’t have to worry about anything.



Overall, good car transport companies offer great deals and provide smooth experiences for car transport. So, when shipping your beloved cars, it is crucial to select a reliable car transport company to ensure that your vehicle is safe and secure the entire time.

What to Do If Your Car Is Damaged During Transport

Research about the car shipping company’s policy.

Damage to delivery cars may include dents, scratches, window cracks, etc. So, before signing a contract to turn over your vehicle, it’s best if to understand the policies and services of the company. 


So, it’s best to do your research about their policies and how much they should and are willing to cover when it comes to damages. In other option If you are wondering how to sell your damaged vehicle,  Non running car buyers will buy it. This means that you can also sell non-working SUVs, Jeeps, and even Hummers.

Learn more about the insurance coverage.

It’s ideal if you check the website of the auto shipping company beforehand and find out if they offer insurance coverage in case there are accidents during transit, causing damages to your car.



In addition, you should check with your insurance company if they can also cover the costs of repairing the damages incurred during shipping or transportation.

Take photos of your car before transport.

This is one of the most crucial steps every car owner must take before shipping or transporting their car using third-party services. So, before handing over your keys to the car mover, make sure to take detailed shots of both the exterior and interiors of your vehicle.



As much as possible, take pictures from every angle of the damaged on delivery cars. Also, do not forget to take photos at the base of your vehicle. 


Then, for documentation purposes, label your photos with the date and time you took them. Most importantly, keep these pictures safe and make sure you have easy access to them for future reference.

Check the car after delivery.

When the car arrives, it is crucial to immediately inspect for damages because there is a chance of receiving cars damaged in shipping. 



So, inspect the bumper, roof, exterior and interior, and underside of the car to ensure that it is in good condition and check for any inconsistencies with your previous photos. 


If you find any, the car transport company’s driver should report and sign all the identified damages. For evidence, you should take photos and write an incident report to compare it with the images and state of the car before transport.

Make the necessary phone calls.

If you do find damages, the next step is to make a quick call to the responsible car transport company. This is because most companies would require you to call them within 30 days of finding out about the damage as part of their policies.



Otherwise, they will not cover or be accountable for it. Another crucial step is to send the photo of your damaged car and ask for a calculation of the repair costs from an auto repair shop, then send the price to your car transport company.

Make sure to get the Bill of Lading.

Right after delivery, make sure to get the Bill of Lading, which will serve as the receipt of the shipment before you hand over the fee to the transporter. 


Make sure to let the driver know about the damage and be very clear about it. Then, do the necessary steps to ensure that the company will pay you for the damages to your car.

FAQs

  • Do cars get damaged in shipping?

    Yes, a vehicle damaged in transit is possible. Of course, you can expect to have an unscratched car when you pay a shipping company a fee to transport your vehicle safely. However, this is not always the case. 


    After all, even brand-new vehicles transported from a manufacturer to a dealer can acquire damage during shipping. So, keep in mind that there are several possibilities for damage in transit. Moreover, please take note that the vehicles are sometimes carried on a trailer to reach their destination. 


    In fact, depending on the destination, the cars may also be loaded inside containers, especially when traveling through the sea. Therefore, cars damaged during shipping can happen.

  • What happens to new cars damaged in transit?

    When a new car is damaged during transit, the vehicle will be repaired, and an auto transport insurance company will shoulder the expenses. That is why you should hire professional services to ship your vehicle because they usually have enough insurance coverage to cover the costs.


    You should note that it should be a requirement for shipping companies to purchase a transport insurance policy and not the buyer. So, when an accident happens during transport, the insurance company will cover the repairs needed.


    In fact, you should check that your chosen vehicle transport company has an insurance policy to protect the worth of the cars they’re tasked to deliver.

Conclusion

Although there are fewer chances for a car to incur damages during shipping, this doesn’t mean it cannot happen. Therefore, when deciding to transport your vehicle, make sure you trust the right company to ship your car safely.

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