Condition Report and Bill of Lading: Important Things the Car Owner Should Never Forget

In the car transportation process, the bill of lading refers to a contract that establishes the terms and conditions between the customer shipping the car and the auto transport company. Every reputable car shipping company presents their customers a bill of lading before the car is shipped.

As the owner of the car that is about to be transported, it is essential to be sure of the process in which you and your beloved car are about to experience. Aside from knowing the car transport quotes for the type of car you are about to ship and making sure that you have properly prepared your vehicle for the transport process, you would also want to see a copy of the terms and conditions before you go ahead with the transaction. It is also a good idea to read the auto shipper’s terms and conditions and get a copy of it. The shipper terms and conditions are the fine print usually found at the back page of the bill of lading. Reading them will help you understand the transaction you are making.

Before your car is loaded onto the truck for transport, the driver of the truck will fill out an auto shipper condition report with your presence or in the presence of an authorized representative for you. Everything regarding the car’s condition prior to shipping should be verified and signed in advance. Before your precious car leaves its point of origin, it is wise to make sure that the driver gives you a copy of the auto shipper condition report. Upon delivery of the vehicle, you should be handed the same report, and thus any claims of car damage at this point will be based on the condition of you car compared to what’s stated on the bill of lading. Any damage that is proven to occur while the car is in transit should be shouldered by the responsible party.