What Happens if You Can't Pay the Owed Amount?

Emergencies come up that we can't control sometimes. But if you've already had your vehicle transported by an auto transport company yet are not able to pay the remaining balance, this creates a conundrum for everyone involved. On the one hand, an auto transport company is a business, and many auto transport carriers are run by individuals that rely on the money, or at least the cash flow, to be viable.

Alternatively, things can simply happen through no fault of your own. Assuming that you've already paid some upfront amount, such as a deposit, here's an overview of what happens if you can't pay the owed amount:

Your Vehicle Most Likely Won't Be Delivered to You

If you can't pay the full amount after your vehicle has already been placed on an auto transport carrier, you most likely will not be able to receive it until you do so. If the driver shows up to the destination and is informed that you can't pay the remaining balance, he or she won't be releasing the vehicle. And, because of the agreement that you've made, this is within their legal rights to do so.

• Standard domestic auto transport costs $300–$1,500 depending on distance; most carriers collect a deposit upfront with the remaining balance due at delivery.
• If the balance is unpaid at delivery, carriers have the legal right to withhold the vehicle and place it in a storage facility, where daily fees and interest accrue until settled.
• Unpaid transport balances can trigger civil litigation or collections, which negatively impacts credit scores; contacting the carrier early about a payment plan avoids escalation.

It Could Be Placed in a Long-term Storage Facility

The majority of auto transport companies will bring your vehicle to a long-term storage facility if you're unable to pay off the owed amount. Once a vehicle is dropped off at the storage facility, you won't be able to get it back until you settle your debt. You also may be obligated to pay accrued interest and/or a daily storage fee. Most auto transport carriers don't have their own storage facilities, which means that they may have to pay them out of pocket themselves for the time being.

How They Will Try to Collect Payment

Many auto transport companies will try to collect payment, besides by waiting it out through holding your vehicle in a storage facility, by taking legal action. They might sue you to bring it to civil court, and there's very little defense that you would be able to provide, unless, of course, the auto transport company somehow did not honor their own agreement or did something entirely illegal.

It Doesn't Hurt to Talk It Out

Auto transport companies are not mindless entities. They understand that financial emergencies can come up. If you're unable to pay for any reason, try and work out something with them. Some companies may be open to a payment plan, probably with interest, while with others, there will be no reasoning with them. The point is that you have nothing to lose by being forthcoming about your situation as soon as possible. You do not want a collection agency being contacted since that can severely impact your own credit score.

At A-1 Auto Transport, we will always do our best to work with you on prices. Contact us today to get your free no obligation quote!