Just because you get a quote for a certain $$ amount doesn't mean that is the price you will be paying.
When the need for auto transport arises, the auto transport industry is sometimes a complicated place. The typical method in finding an auto transport provider is to do a search on the internet or by word of mouth. Taking a popular method such as any major search engine, the average person will find many results when they enter the keywords "auto transport." Typically 95% of the search results are all auto brokers most of which do not own any trucks. Auto Brokers connect the average person to the actual transport company that will be picking up and delivering the vehicles.Once an auto broker confirms your business, they will ask for a deposit. The deposit is the brokers fee and the balance goes to the car carrier. The auto broker will post your vehicle's information on a nation wide load board. This load board is viewed by thousands of truckers that specialize in auto transport. The transporter will inquire on the listing and the auto broker will give them all the information on the car such as the make, model, color, destination/origin and any other important info. Once the transporter accepts the job/price and picks up the vehicle, the broker will partially track the vehicle until it reaches the destination. When the vehicle is 24-48 hours away from the drop off point, the transport truck will call the receiving party to inform them of the vehicles arrival. When the vehicle reaches its destination, a cash on delivery (COD) payment will be given to the truck driver/transport company. Different payment arrangements may be made such as pre paid, or check on delivery. However, most auto brokers and truck drivers prefer COD. The deposit that was given initially is the broker's fee and the COD is the payment for the transport company. That is a general summary of how a typical auto transport works from start to finish. This system has been going on for many years.
