Lessons learned shipping my ferrari...

My car shipping lessons:

1- always ship exotic and expensive cars in enclosed trailers. In general these are smaller tow trailers, better accommodations for loading unloading low riding vehicles. Ask to talk to the driver and interrogate him on prior experience with similar vehicles with low clearance. Seems like a no brainer but this is what went into my decision to ship open:

I was told that the probability of damage was well below 1%, and unless there was an "act of god like a hailstorm there will be no difference in risk." I checked the weather which was predicted to be totally clear for the day of shipping. I was assured that the drivers ship cars like this all the time and not to worry. I figured with the 400 bucks I saved I could buy something for the wife. Instead I got $400++ of agita.

2- have the seller or independent person take pics or video and send to you of any damaged areas noted by transporter before the car is loaded. They rely on some penciled marks on a loading paper to determine the extent of preexisting damage. If there was a tiny bit of preexisting damage they will be off the hook for subsequent damage to the same area.

3- verify the shipper has active cargo insurance. NOT the same as liability insurance which only covers damage caused by MVA in transport. In my case the brokerage that hired the trucking company verified the cargo insurance 1 month prior, and as it turns out there was a lapse just in time for my transport.

4- no matter what the truck driver says DO NOT sign the delivery receipt until the car was unloaded and inspected by you. The semi was blocking both directions of a small but busy road in front of my house at 7:15am during school rush time. Trucker told me he would not unload the car unless I signed the paper first. My excitement, naiveté, pressure because of traffic jam all factored in to me signing before car was unloaded and inspected by me.

5- make sure odometer milage is noted on the receipt and compare odometer miles on delivery. I have learned not to trust these guys. Cars often come with temporary tags and it would take no time for them to unload and drive your whip.

6- VIDEO THE DELIVERY!!! ( and loading too if possible). Basically this saved my a$$. If it wasn't for the 17 min video I shot on my cell phone I would not have had any leg to stand on. I got detailed footage of the driver unloading the car, and me telling him to "stop you are going to damage the car" He continued and I got him causing deep gouges and cracked the bottom of the bumper and front splash pan. Conservative estimate (aftermarket bumper and used splash pan) for $3000 worth of damage.

7- if you have comprehensive insurance your agent will literally laugh at you if you tell him you may have to submit a claim for damages during transport.

8- this will seem ludicrous but if you can't be there have someone you trust or maybe the shop that did the PPI, of a fellow fchatter take the receipt from the trucker documenting prior damages. If this is lost or misplaced (by the seller in my case) the shippers will use this as a loophole to get out of payment of filling a claim for damages. According to them this is the only proof of preexisting damage.


In retrospect, I would use this particular brokerage again, as after all was said and done they came through with and stepped up to the plate and covered the damages to my car out of their own pockets.

 

Thanks Kevin you are right. I figured the bumper damage can be repaired and I felt if the estaminet was too high the case would have to go to litigation. Me living in Massachusetts trying to sue trucking co in Florida, or brokerage co in so Carolina would be a nightmare.


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No, ---hindsight is 20:20

Wasn't enclosed

Particular Brokerage was used for years by the dealer that sold me the car. They are reputable and located close the the dealer in South Carolina.


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Totally agree, and I was led to believe I wasn't skimping unless there was an act of god. After many discussions with the brokerage they have agreed not to transport exotics open any more.

Anyway the open/closed issue was just one of the lessons I learned and just wanted to share my experiences with anyone that may find them helpful. G


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Yea the issues are unexpected and potentially vast. I failed to mention they called a day early and said it was going to be delivered on Thursday morning not Friday ( like I could just take off and cancel my patients). Then blocked traffic in our small town for almost 1/2 hr, pretty much at the entrance to our high school! Cops were called, and they threatened the driver with a summons. Needless to say it was quite the sensation for what I hoped would be a low profile purchase. My wife was in the hairdresser (aka town gossip) who told her " heard your husband and had a Porsche delivered and stopped the kids from getting to school"


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I was on the same boat, until this purchase. Limited market made me widen my search area. I considered driving it but 800 miles in an unknown car (despite PPI) which is due for major just didn't seem prudent. This was the first car I ever purchased sight unseen. Overall quite the learning experience!


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