Are Vehicle Delivery Companies Safe To Use?
When you or your company needs a new vehicle, you have three options.
- Buy all the car parts, put on a YouTube DIY video, and build it yourself.
- Go to the car factory, pick a vehicle fresh off the manufacturing line, and drive it home.
- Visit a car dealership, purchase a car and drive it home, or get it delivered to you.
Obviously, option 1 is impossible for most of us, and option 2 is actually illegal in many countries. Therefore, the only remaining option is number 3 – which involves the car being delivered by a vehicle delivery company, at some stage along its route to you as the buyer.
Your car or fleet represents a significant investment. So you’re well within your rights to ask: who is delivering these vehicles to dealerships or private owners? How can you be sure your investment is going to be looked after properly? What car delivery safety concerns should you be looking out for?
First of all, rest assured that reputable vehicle moving companies employ professionals who have extensive driver and vehicle handover training and experience. So don’t be concerned if you’ve landed here from a Google search for the best and safest auto transport company – you’re in the right place!
The three main vehicle moving safety concerns you should be aware of are theft, road accidents, and acts of nature.
1. Vehicle Theft
When the average person thinks of vehicle theft, the first thing that comes to mind is their car being stolen from the car park, parking garage or driveway – or being hijacked.
Very few people imagine a vehicle being stolen from a car delivery service – and those that do are usually car dealerships, manufacturers and rental services. If an auto hauling company is hired to deliver a fleet of cars or even just one car, the main concerns of dealerships or private buyers shift from everyday car theft to “is this company honest, or will they disappear somewhere along the road with my investment?”
These concerns are legitimate, in these modern times where scammers are becoming bolder. However, the risks can be minimized as much as possible by careful vetting of drivers and any other car hauling staff who have access to vehicles. Paperwork needs to be completely thorough and accounting for every legality. It’s also important to make sure everyone involved is well-known and traceable at all times during the delivery journey.
Customers need to be more sure of their service providers than ever before – and service providers need to be more sure of their staff. Reddot Group makes security measures a priority at all stages of a vehicle’s journey.
2. Vehicle Transporter Road Accidents
A second major concern car dealerships or buyers have is road accidents. This concern is actually even more legitimate than theft. South Africa has a well-deserved reputation for high road accident rates, so we won’t repeat the depressing statistics here. What we WILL mention is that almost 100% of accidents (besides those caused by drunk driving) can be put down to inattentiveness, poor roads, bad weather, or third-party fault.
Reputable car transporting companies take note of the risks of weather and poorly maintained roads, and advise drivers accordingly. Of course, no-one can predict what other vehicles on the road will do, or how the weather will change. Drivers need to be professionally trained to know how to minimize all types of road risk.
Related: Meet the team of vehicle transport professionals at Reddot Group
3. Risk Of Acts Of Nature
We do not pretend to be able to control things like fires, floods or earthquakes. However, we know that weighing up risk factors and utilizing situational awareness at all times is paramount in avoiding losses.
Companies who have experience in hauling vehicles will know how to mitigate these risk factors, and strive to meet delivery goals while also taking care of their customers’ precious cargo.
4. Extra Safety Tips When Transporting Your Vehicles
Do your homework and research the reputation of the vehicle transport company whose services you are thinking of using.
Check out the certifications and business registration details of the company.
Get more than one contact person’s details from the company you are hiring.
Double-check all the quotes you receive, ask questions, and make sure you’re aware of any “fine print” on quotes or contracts.
Make sure you’re focussed during the vehicle handover process – you never know who could be lurking, and it always pays to be vigilant.
Keep Your Vehicle or Fleet Safe with Reddot Group!
We provide safe, secure, professional vehicle transport services all over South Africa and in the Southern African Development Community (SADC) countries. We currently deliver to Botswana, Lesotho, Malawi, Mozambique, Namibia, Swaziland, Zambia, and Zimbabwe. Our carefully handpicked drivers know the roads, and know how to perform handover transactions professionally.
Be reassured – your vehicles are alright on the road with Reddot Group!
