Frequently Asked Questions Automobile Insurance

Question:Is the consumers auto insurance primary or secondary?

Answer:There is no such thing as secondary and primary - insurance works as such: Most carriers hold One Million dollars combined single limit & Two hundred fifty thousand dollars per incident. This insurance covers damage done to your vehicle in transit - there is no other insurance. The auto transport carrier is the main and only coverage. (exception: Automobile personal contents are not covered by any carrier insurance and in most cases if lost, stolen or otherwise will not be covered.)

Question:How long should an auto transport take on average?

Answer:Shipping time all depends on the transporter - listed below are some very basic ideas to help you along the way. Make sure however you contact your shipper for their actual scheduled times. East Coast to West Coast - approx. 7 to 14 days Midwest to East Coast - approx. 5 to 8 days South to the North - approx. 5 to 8 days All shipping times are estimated do not base your transport on these examples without first contacting your shipper for assistance. Too many variable go into the time it takes to deliver any vehicle, thus all times are estimates only!

Question:Why does a truck (SUV) shipment cost more than a regular sedan?

Answer:Shipments are based on weight that a truck can legally carry - this is why there is a small price difference between $50.00 and $100.00 for a regular truck or S.U.V.. Size of the vehicle also dictates how many vehicles a particular carrier can haul at any one time. The larger the vehicles, the less amount can be hauled, thus smaller vehicles are cheaper to ship.

Question:How is a transport supposed to work?

Answer:Auto Transport is made very simple with Hilton Transport. Once your order is placed you will be contacted by our Customer Support department, where your order information will be confirmed and payment is processed. At that point your vehicle is placed into the system and our Dispatch department proactively finds a Carrier capable of delivering your vehicle. Upon dispatching a Carrier, Hilton Transport will send you an email with all of the Carrier's contact information. You should contact your Carrier immediately and open the lines of communication. The Carrier will pickup your vehicle and deliver it as fast as possible. At the point of delivery the customer pays the remainder of the Order (Order Total minus deposit) in Cash, Cashier's Check or Money Order to the Carrier directly.

Question:What should a consumer do if their vehicle arrives with damage?

Answer:First thing you should do is make sure the driver understands that the damage is new and was not on the original bill of lading. The damage should clearly be marked and noted, then signed for by the driver. Upon completion of delivery a call should placed to your carrier or broker to inform them of the damage. In most cases the carrier will ask for an estimate and send you payment in a couple weeks. If the carrier is not responsive and unwilling to work with you to resolve the issue make sure you contact their insurance company and make a claim. Be sure however you have all the documentation to back up your claim - false claims can result in legal action by the carrier or agent.

Question:How does a pick up window work?

Answer:When a transporter mentions pick up window they are referring to the time surronding your pick up date. For instance some shippers may have a 14 day window - that way they can pick your vehicle up anywhere between 7 days before and 7 days after your pick up date. Beware of lower priced carriers who do not specify their pick up dates, you may recieve an outstanding price. However you may not see your vehicle for 4 or 5 weeks. It is very important to make sure the transporter you use can get your vehicle within a reasoable time frame.