Find The Right Car Carrier For Your Move

Although Carl, my contact, was very friendly and personable, I felt they had abandoned me during a critical need. It was imperative I get my daughter’s car from Michigan to Tennessee on either 4/12/19 or 4/13/19, and I was not comfortable waiting until the day of pickup to hear back from them to confirm they had a driver who would transport the car. I realize they do this all day every day, but for me it was a first.

The original quote of $565 for military rate, increased to $650 the next time I spoke with Carl to confirm pickup. Not happy about it, but I understand drivers get the rate they can charge. My bigger concern was making sure the car was picked up for transport on the 10th or earlier because I was going out of town the morning of the 11th.

After emailing and phone calls, I eventually got a call from Susan (dispatcher) the morning of the 10th saying the car would be picked up that same day between 4:00 and 6:00 pm and the new cost was $800.

Since so much time had lapsed between my last contact with Carl on and the targeted pickup date of the 0th, I had lost confidence that they would follow through on the transport, not to mention the 2nd rate increase to $800, so I declined. I changed my own plans and drove the car to TN myself.

I realize these brokers are at the mercy of what the drivers charge plus their profit, but I decided I’d rather keep the $800 myself and be confident that the car would arrive in Tennessee on time.

Upon initial outreach, the staff of Allied Auto Shippers seem to be trustworthy + professional, but unfortunately they are not. What was confidently suggested as a “very popular route” for my vehicle’s transport became a route for which no one at Allied could find a driver. When my concern for timing drove me to consider other transporters, I was able to secure another company AND have my vehicle picked up within just a day and a half. I would not recommend this company for auto transport if you are on a specific timeline for pickup/delivery.

This has been a complete nightmare working with them and needless extra stress in trying to move across the company. DO NOT CALL, DO NOT USE.

Pay more in the upfront for any other shipping country.

After receiving what was the best quote out of several companies, I called Allied and spoke to Peggy (not sure if that is her real name or not). she was friendly and confident telling me that their typical process was to accept my “order” for a pick up, contact trucking and shipping companies and then arrange the pick up for me, essentially acting as a broker. My initial conversation with Peggy was on Nov 5, 2018 for pick up in MI and delivery in San Diego, CA. I was told I should be hearing back from Peggy within a week tops with a name of a company and the date of pick up. Happily I hung up thinking all is well. After not hearing from Peggy within a week, and having a pre-planned vacation in Europe(where we did not have international calling to check back with Peggy), I asked a family member to call and check on the status of the pick to be sure it wasn’t forgotten. Again, we were assured all is well and a transport company will be determined very soon with a call back. But you guessed it: no call back. I called again the day before Thanksgiving, which is now about 5 days from the day I need to get the car picked up and shipped out. AGAIN, I was told that a shipping company was still being determined, but they would have a call to me that night. Not surprisingly, I did not receive a call with a drivers name. I called AGAIN on Monday, 11/26 and said I absolutely need to know the company picking up the car and the date of pick up or I have to make alternative plans. I was told I’d receive a call back with a name by noon that day. At around 1pm, I got a call and was told a pick up driver was found an the car would be picked up the following day, but now, it would be $100 more for the pick up. so not only did they dink be around for 3 weeks, they ended up charging me more than the initial quote. At this point, I’m in a panic, so I pay the extra money and receive an email with the company who is to pick up the vehicle. The email from Allied only says that the driver will contact me with an estimated time of pick up. As you can guess, no one from the pick up company, Extra Mile Transport Inc. or the Allied contacts me with a time for the pick up. It is now the day of pick up, I have left multiple message with both companies who have not returned my call with an estimated time. At this time I have no idea when this car will be picked up and I need to move out of my house in a day.

****update: after – no joke- 4 calls to both Allied and the shipping company, I get a separate call from a driver that says he will probably pick up the car today around 5:30/6pm. Which to me is kind of late in the day, but at this point, I’m just okay with anyone picking it up. Now to see if it gets to CA in one piece….stay tuned…

**** update: my car made it in one piece. The guy who actually ended up driving my car across the country was super friendly, easy to work with, texted and called with updates and was accommodating to my schedule for a pick up time and location. I wish i had worked with him for this entire process instead!