Review Report Review
Okay Experience

Mike Submitted this review about Best Auto Movers
Review made Live: 11/18/2011 12:38:00 PM
Best Auto Movers transported my RX-7 convertible from Miami, FL to Southern California. I used a broker, Capitol Auto Transport, to find and book Best Auto. I have arraigned and supervised the transport of several exotic and custom cars in the past for various jobs but this was the first time I used a company to move my personal vehicle.

The job was booked on a Friday and the car was picked up on time the following Tuesday. The driver and his assistant did not appear very professional (torn jeans and flip-flops). I did not have a confidant feeling but the vehicle inspection was very thorough, especially when they saw me taking pictures of them and the process.

My car was loaded without incident, but the folding ramps they used did look a bit rickety.

I had been told the move would take 6 days. This was good, as I was planning to depart immediately after the pickup on my own cross-country drive to California and I needed to beat the transport to be there to receive the car. The driver told me he thought he would arrive in CA by Friday, only 4 days and not enough time for me to get there first. When I told him the situation, he volunteered to deliver on Monday instead. (Apparently he makes only the FL-to-CA run and when in CA flies home to Jacksonville for the weekend.) Since I was his first pickup and was loaded in the top front (as requested), I would be the last drop off so the Monday delivery was not a problem. This was great for me. I rushed to make the drive in 4-1/2 days- towing a trailer too. The car was delivered on that Monday as promised. The only real issue was that the driver delivered at night, about 8:00 PM. When I said I really wanted a daylight delivery so I could better inspect the car, he said he needed to be in Northern CA by morning and could not delay, but he did offer to let me pull the car into my garage to do the inspection under the lights.

I am the original owner from 1989 and know every nick and scratch on the vehicle. I made a careful inspection, and other than being very dusty and having a scrape on the bottom of the spare tire well under the trunk, the car was in the same condition as the pickup. (The contract specifically excludes responsibility for damage to the undercarriage. And since it had no material effect on the vehicle I let it pass.)

My car has a low ground clearance, but not as low as some. The upper transport deck, which elevates within the trailer, has 4-5 inch deep wells for the tires. Since my car was in the front the driver had to drive over several sets of these wells to reach the front position. The car bounced a lot even with the driver going slowly. I was watching carefully and the undercarriage barely cleared the cross ribs of the deck structure. Another vehicle with skirts or a lower stance would surely hit. (The driver's assistant told me they place 2x4s to fill the wells for lower clearance vehicles.) It wasn't a problem for my car but the deck is most certainly not a flat surface like some higher quality transport trailers. Also, the wells allow the possibility the rims could be scratched. If you have a low car you may want to go with a carrier that has the external elevator-style ramp and a flat car deck. I certainly would not try to load my hot rod or exotic on this style of carrier.

On delivery they had to unload one other car to unload mine. They were not exactly careless unloading and reloading the other car, but the driver was certainly not as careful unloading as he was with my car. I suspect this was because I was there watching. Though I feel I was fortunate in having the top front position and in being there in person for load and unload, I was overall left with the feeling I dodged a bullet. That's why the average rating. In future I would opt for a flat-deck style transport even if it is more expensive.

Overall the move was okay, the driver stayed in communication with me, and the price was fair.
Shipment Details
Origin State:
Florida
Pickup:
On Time
Destination State:
California
Delivery:
On Time
Customer Service
Honesty:
Knowlegeable:
Promptness:
Customer Service:
Review Details
Quote or Order Id:
C867
Quote or Order Cost:
$1200

Car Condition
  • Vehicle was dirty