My first auto transport experience
Lance Heilbrun
Submitted this review about
Hilton Auto Transport
Review made Live: 6/15/2006 9:06:00 AM
To whom it may concern:
In late May 2006, I needed to ship a car ('91 Ford Tempo) from the Detroit area to my son in Tulsa, OK. Having never shipped a car before, I was worried about doing that. The prospect of giving my car and the keys to a total stranger was quite unsettling, to say the least. I had to educate myself about all this.
I searched the web and wrote to several auto transport companies. I also used a web site that would solicit bids for me. The quoted prices and auto transport methods varied greatly. I had to screen out a great many of the companies or drivers due to their prices, or proposed methods of transpport. I learned what a "tow dolly" was, and didn't want that. I also didn't want the car driven nearly 1,000 miles by a stranger. I learned new terminology, e.g., what an "open transport" was, and the pros & cons of different transport vehicle types.
I eventually settled on Hilton Auto Transport because of: 1) the almost uniformly positive reviews from other customers ("shippers"); and 2) their excellent quoted price. I was also very reassured by the Customer Service agent (Nichole) who was very pleasant, polite, knowledgeable, and supportive of a first-time shipper. Nichole was a delight to work with, although sometimes difficult to reach by phone. But she would later call back, and answer my questions.
Within a week, Nichole had located a transport company and driver who called me. He was very courteous, professional, dependable, and took good care of my car. He was clearly quite experienced at this. He offered to pick up the car at my home (part of the door-to-door service I was paying for), but I opted to drive it to where his "rig" was at a truckyard. I just felt more comfortable seeing exactly what type of "open transport" (and cab) he would use. That was time well spent, and I would recommend taking the time to do it. After we did the vehicle inspection, and answered all my questions, he drove me home.
He got the car to Tulsa, OK on time, and completed the door-to-door transport as promised, delevering the car to my son's apartment complex with no problems. My son advised that the car was dirty upon arrival, but 1,000 miles of open road travel will certainly do that. The car was undamaged.
I would absolutely use Hilton Auto Transport again if I need to ship another vehicle, and if so, I hope that Nichole is still there to help me arrange that. It was a very good consumer experience, and I recommend this company and this agent very highly. Feel free to E-mail me with questions.
Lance K. Heilbrun, Ph.D.
Beverly Hills, MI
