Pre & Post Trip Vehicle Inspections: Why They Matter

Pre & Post Trip Vehicle Inspections_ Why They Matter

When you’re preparing your vehicle for auto transport, your vehicle will go through a few different inspections during its journey. It may come as a surprise that you, as the shipper, have a responsibility to do your due diligence and conduct a vehicle inspection for any damage and perform your own pre- and post-trip inspections.

What kind of inspections does the vehicle go through?

Your car should go through four vehicle inspections during its journey – two by you and two from the driver. When preparing your vehicle for pickup, make sure to wash your car and take photos of its current appearance. In the rare chance of damage, you will have these photos to reflect back on.

When your driver arrives, he will also conduct a pre-trip inspection and note the vehicle’s condition on the Bill of Lading, which is a legal document that acknowledges receipt of the car being picked up and what condition it is in. You will receive a copy of this document from your driver before he leaves.

When your vehicle arrives, your driver will do another vehicle inspection and note the vehicle condition on the Delivery Receipt. You should do your own inspection as well while the driver is there. If you notice any damage, make sure to have the driver note it on his Delivery Receipt and initial it for acknowledgement.

What should you look for during your inspection?

As you prepare your vehicle for transport, there are a few steps that you can take and a few things to look for:

  • Wash your vehicle before inspecting
  • Conduct your vehicle pre and post trip inspect in daylight
  • Confirm that all windows are intact prior to trip & upon arrival
  • Review body of the car for any major scratches or dents
  • Take photos of the left side, right side, front view and back view of the vehicle
  • Confirm that your tires do not have any holes in them
  • Ensure your tires are not flat
  • Take photos upon arrival of your car and compare them against your pre-trip photos

Please keep in mind that when you ship your vehicle through an open carrier, your vehicle will be exposed to flying debris and weather conditions. Small scratches and dings from transport will not be covered by your insurance or the driver’s claims.

Metti International Is Here To Help

We understand that finding reliable and safe vehicle transport services for your care is a top priority. As a licensed and bonded broker with the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration, Metti International only works with carriers who have a 95% and above rating, so rest assured that your vehicle is in good hands, so you don’t have to worry about damage to your vehicle.

Give Metti International a call today to schedule your upcoming car transport at 866.620.1776 or request a quote online. We look forward to serving you!

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Frequently Asked Questions

Most major credit cards, postal money orders and cashiers checks are acceptable forms of payment.

As with most transport services, a deposit is generally required when placing an order. Deposits range from 10-25 % of the total shipping cost. The remaining balance will be due upon delivery.

Most auto transport companies accept cash, certified checks, and postal money orders.

Coast to coast trips usually takes between 10-14 days. Shorter trips ranges from 3-7 days, depending on the actual distance. Some factors may delay a trip, including traffic, weather, and truck breakdowns.

Yes, we request you, or a designated person, be present upon pick up of your vehicle. For your safety and your vehicle’s safety, an inspection is performed and a bill of lading must be signed that serves as proof of delivery.

The easiest way to ship an inoperable vehicle is to let us know when requesting a vehicle transport quote. There will be an additional charge, plus loading and unloading charges to your quote, if we are not informed of the vehicle’s condition prior to quoting.

Auto carriers are not licensed to carry house goods or personal items, these goods and items are not covered by the carriers insurance. Any damage to your vehicle due to household goods shifting or breaking is also not covered. Personal belongings left in the vehicle, are shipped strictly at the owners risk. Carriers will not inventory any belongings left in the vehicle and will assume no responsibility.

Your car is insured for the Blue Book value the entire time it is on the truck. Clearly listed on your Shipping Order, Agreement and Bill of Lading are occurrences not covered. At the time of pick up, a condition report is filled out and signed by both the person turning the car over and the truck driver and you are given a copy.

Upon delivery of your vehicle, this same report is presented. You should compare the condition of the vehicle to the report thoroughly at that time. If you feel damage has occurred to your vehicle during delivery, you must note it on the report before you sign it and the driver leaves. Damage done in transit does not relieve the shipper of paying for transport service performed. Claims will be handled by the vehicle carrier and insurance companies.

Metti International offers door-to-door auto transport service where possible. However, there are instances that we cannot collect/deliver directly to the door due to the size of our auto carrier’s trucks. The size of your street may prohibit direct delivery to your door. Also, some towns and cities do not allow trucks on their residential streets. If the carrier cannot get to your door, he will deliver your vehicle to the next most convenient accessible location, such as the nearest major crossing street, a shopping mall or supermarket.

Please have a no more than 1/4 tank of fuel, remove all personal items from your vehicle and have it washed and cleaned so that the ensuing inspection is easily performed. If it is a convertible, T-top, sunroof, etc. make sure all openings are closed and prepared for changing weather. You can find additional tips on how to prepare your car for transport here.