While you're collecting your car transport company estimates and you're in the process of selecting an auto transport company, one of the items you'll want clarified is the amount of insurance coverage that will be provided by the auto transport service while the car is in their custody.

Most reliable auto transport companies carry the insurance required to cover any damage that occurs to the vehicles they're shipping (and in the vast majority of cases, transported cars arrive at their destination in perfect condition). However, as with any kind of insurance, there can be lots of caveats.

Clear Your Auto Transport Insurance

Get copies of policies and any oral agreements or promises in writing in order to avoid surprises later. Insurance agreements and responsibility for damages between you and your auto transport company should be included within your contract.

Find out about all limits and deductibles. Coverage limits could be especially important when you're transporting a specialty vehicle that has a market value far in excess of its book value.

Once you have a clear picture of what is covered and what is not covered, you might want to consider a supplemental, temporary type of insurance coverage for a particular vehicle shipment. This might be especially true if you are transporting a valuable classic, vintage race car, exotic, antique or other specialty vehicle. Such coverage may be available through your auto transport company and added to the cost of your vehicle's transport, or your insurance agent may be able to obtain the coverage for you.

Keep the following in mind:

• Before you settle on which auto transport company to use, ask the companies you're interested in for their insurance certificate. They're all required by law to have one. Don't be afraid to ask questions about their policies either. Will your car be covered for any damage that occurs during shipping? Or are only certain parts of the car (i.e. the body) covered? Will you be required to pay a deductible?
  


• Make sure to get any promises or assurances from the auto transport company in writing.


• It's possible that your auto transport insurance will also cover the vehicle. Call your company or agent check into the specifics. Is the coverage the same while the automobile's being shipped? Do you have to provide the company with any notification?


• Before handing over your keys, empty your car of any and all personal items. There are a number of reasons for this: First, most transport companies' insurance won't cover any objects in the car, should they end up damaged. The extra weight, if it's substantial, could damage the vehicle's exhaust system and objects inside the car could move around and damage the interior. Chances are neither kind of damage will be covered by the auto transport insurance.


• When you drop your vehicle off at the shipping company, a transport truck driver or company representative will inspect the vehicle before loading it in order to note any pre-existing damage. Be sure to be there during the examination. It can't hurt to take a few snapshots of your car before the move either, as evidence, in case something should happen.


• When your automobile is dropped off the same inspection process will take place again, this time to check for any damage that might have occurred during shipping. It's important you do a thorough check and note all damage on the condition report (also known a “bill of lading”) before you accept the car. Make sure to check the vehicle's undercarriage and start it up to check for mechanical damages, don't just look it over. Again, bringing along a camera for documentation can't hurt. If you take possession of the car at night, try to do the inspection under bright lights so you don't miss anything.


• If you have reason to file a claim, do so as soon after taking delivery as possible. If you don't include damage on your condition report at the time of pickup, it will be next to impossible to prove the car transport company was responsible for the damages.


• If you don't feel your auto shipping company has treated you fairly during the claims process you can file a complaint with your local Better Business Bureau. You can also contact the U.S. Department of Transportation if your vehicle was transported over state lines. However, the U.S. DOT can't do much to help unless you already have a court judgment against the company.