Car Transport Recommendation Needed

[1972 Goat herder]

I will be transferring and moving to Florida at the end of the month (May), from Dallas, and would like some recommendations on Auto Transport companies. I have two GTO's that I need to ship. I would require an enclosed trailer and would prefer a door-to-door approach (no storage, no additional drop off's or pick ups). Lastly, I would insist that the company be both bonded and insured. Any Suggestions??

[Glenn]

Only one choice. Reliable Carriers. Very best in the industry, used by all the major auto manufactures. Very best equipment, professional and are FULLY INSURED and their prices are some of the lowest. Lots of transportation brokers use them also. They have a location in Florida and make the trip through Texas from their Arizona location daily. I think they have about 350 trucks. I've had two cars picked up by them in Texas and brought to California...didn't have to wait weeks for a pickup. They will pickup at your front door and drop off anywhere.

http://www.reliable-carriers.com/

[mmarx]

Only one choice. Reliable Carriers. Very best in the industry, used by all the major auto manufactures. Very best equipment, professional and are FULLY INSURED and their prices are some of the lowest. Lots of transportation brokers use them also. They have a location in Florida and make the trip through Texas from their Arizona location daily. I think they have about 350 trucks. I've had two cars picked up by them in Texas and brought to California...didn't have to wait weeks for a pickup. They will pickup at your front door and drop off anywhere.

http://www.reliable-carriers.com/

I agree, had a GTO shipped door to door from San Diego to Fl in 8 days!! Rates were in the middle of the pack. I won't use anybody else...

Mike

[1972 Goat herder]

Glenn / mmarx,
Thanks for the reference and testimonial. I sent in a Request For Quote using their on-line form.

[70 Dream]

Guys, I assume Reliable uses a closed container.

I got a quote from PASSPORT TRANSPORT to ship the GTO from CA to NC in a closed container - $2,220, ouch! Seemed kind of high.

Anyone done business with Passport?

[Glenn]

I had a car three years ago sent from upstate NY to So. California by
Reliable for about $1400 in an enclosed trailer. The biggest problem was getting it picked up because the it was way out of the way...It took three or four weeks because all of their trucks out of NY City area were full.

I had a Trans Am sent from the Dallas area to So. Calif a little less the two years ago in an enclosed trailer for about $1000. I don't know what prices are now since diesel fuel is over $3.00 a gallon compared to back then when it was under $2.00.

[Jack Gifford]

I contracted with CSL Auto Transport to haul the ex-Wangers Bandit from California (there had been a couple of good references to CSL on these forums)- open transport, not enclosed. That was 13 Apr 06. Like all the shippers, they don't guarantee a pickup date, so I've just been patiently waiting. They finally contacted me yesterday, and said "We'll have to add $200 to the contracted amount to get any trucker to haul it". So I called them today and read their "iron-clad price guarantee" to them- they answered that "Oh, we won't go over the quote without your approval, but your car may sit there until diesel fuel gets cheaper". Eh? Is that the most worthless guarantee ever?

[1972 Goat herder]

Guys, Thanks for the references. I ended up contacting 6 different companies. I required an enclosed transport for 2 cars; Dallas to Tampa, I received the following prices: Exotic Car Transport $2188, Reliable Carriers $3584.67, Select 1 $4360, Horseless Carriage $2205, Intercity Lines Inc. $2568 and Lonestar $3100. With a $2172 (from high to low) range, it was beneficial that I did some comparison shopping. BTW - All bidders received the exact same shipping requirements and dates. Prices are for both cars going at the same time.

[Ziggy]

Let us know who you go with and the outcome. I will also be looking for someone to transport a car from the NE to Florida when the snow birds are going in the opposite direction.

[Glenn]

I just got a quote from Reliable to transport a full sized car from Dayton, Ohio area to Southern California in an enclosed trailer for $1466 yesterday....about 2200 miles. The pick up location is just south of their Canton, Mich. location and is an easy pickup on the way to their Arizona/California locations so that probably makes a difference in price. Maybe because I am a regular customer they gave me a better price? If you pick a small company with only a few trucks be prepared to wait awhile for a pickup. Other issue is will they place the car in a yard somewhere half way to the destination waiting for another truck to finish the delivery. All of Reliable's depots are indoors and secure. I've heard horror stories about cars sitting in a storage yard for weeks waiting for a truck going in the right direction and while in the yard getting stolen, damaged, or striped.

I would speak to Alan Abrams, the owner and he is located at the Arizona location. Ask him personally for a quote...and that he came highly recommended from people on this site....Bet you can do much better.

Ziggy....NE is a tough place to transport a car from because it is off the beaten track. (maybe Boston being the exception) Drivers don't want to drive several hundred miles to pick up one car so you often have to wait until the company can pick up several cars in the area at once.