You have been planning to ship your vehicle to a certain location. You have done your research, sorted out all the arrangements and even gone as far as filing for the auto transport service. However, due to life’s unexpected ups and downs, you find yourself between a rock and a hard place. You cannot follow through with the deal. So what do you do? Is it too far into the deal to go back? Can you even cancel your auto transport order? What penalties are there, if any? It’s confusing, right? Worry not. Let us guide you.
It’s all in the T&Cs
The first thing you need to find out is if it is possible to cancel your auto transport order. How do you know? Every auto transport is in business to make money. As much as they put your interests first, their main objective is to earn from the services they provide. Once you place an order, it is a contract; a legally binding agreement. However, most people do not understand this.
You ought to be careful in making any commitments. Examine the documents presented to you. Thanks to the U.S Department of Justice, every legally binding document has a loophole, a way to terminate it even in the event of the subject matter not being performed. This remains true for every legal auto transport company regulated by the U.S Department of Transportation. There are a lot of legalities involved, but we won’t bore you with them.
Every auto transport company has a cancellation policy that dictates the particulars relating to canceling an auto transport order. A-1 Auto Transport Inc. is regulated by the U.S Department Transportation, and is also compelled to provide a cancellation policy. Such details are found in the Terms & Conditions of the company, mostly found on the company’s website and the work order sheet. Ensure you read them clearly to understand your available options. See our Terms and Conditions page.
Take note of the Timeline Outlay.
The cancellation policy will outline the following;
- At what point you can cancel your auto transport order.
- Penalties to be paid if any.
- Special provision for canceling an order at an advanced stage of the deal.
How to cancel before a Deposit has been Made.
For most companies, the best time to cancel your auto transport order is as soon as you foresee that you cannot follow the order to the end. This is most preferably before you make a deposit. If you are using a middleman to connect you to an auto transport company, then it is best to cancel the order before your broker finds you a carrier.
To do this, call or email the auto transport company or your broker ASAP. You can get these details from their Contact Us page. For A-1 Auto Transport’s contacts, see here. Have your order number with you as the personnel will need it to cancel your order from their records.
How to cancel after a Deposit has been made.
In case you have gone as far as paying the deposit, this is what to do. At this point, it all depends on the individual cancellation policy of the auto transport company. There are two scenarios that come into play here.
Scenario One:
You have made the deposit, but it has not yet been acknowledged into the company’s books. For this scenario, according to laws governing auto transport companies, you are entitled to a refund. This is because your deposit has not yet been utilized into preparations and arrangements made for your order. You, however, have to pay a certain amount of cancellation fee as dictated by the terms and conditions.
To cancel such an order, visit the contact page of the auto transport company and send them an email clearly explaining the situation at hand. Normally, they should call you back within the same day to make arrangements of refunding the deposit. Make sure you have proof of the transacted money.
Scenario Two:
You have made the deposit and it has been acknowledged. This always proves to be a tough maze to maneuver as it is an advanced stage in the order. This is because, in most cases, your deposit has already been utilized in making preparations and arrangements for your order. Again, the cancellation policy will dictate what happens here. You may succeed in canceling the order, but it may be impossible to recover your deposit.
To cancel your order in such a scenario, it is best to contact the auto transport via both phone and email. Have your order number and transaction proof to confirm the particulars. You may be asked to pay a hefty fine that would make your deposit irrelevant, so in this case, Good Luck!
Written By:Joe Webster
Joe Webster began his journey in the auto transport field by attending the University of Southern California (USC), where he graduated with a Bachelor of Business Marketing.
After college, he started his career in the auto transport industry from the bottom up and has done virtually every job there is to do at A-1 Auto Transport, including but not limited to: Truck Driver, Dispatch, Sales, PR, Bookkeeping, Transport Planner, Transport Manager, International Transport Manager, Brokering, Customer Service, and Marketing. Working with his mentor Tony Taylor, Joe Webster has learned the ins and outs of this industry which is largely misunderstood.
With over 30 years experience in the industry, we've been helping people ship their vehicles, motorcycles, RV's, heavy equipment, household goods and more across the country or overseas without a hitch. Ask us anything.
