If you are car shipping, it does not matter if the car is a classic, luxury vehicle, or a daily driver, you still need to make sure that your car is the least of your worries and that it is protected during the entire process. One of the most necessary stages in the car shipping process is a vehicle inspection, which serves as a report of the vehicles condition after and before the delivery.
Moreover, as a customer, you might be asking if it’s possible to have a copy of the inspection form. The brief answer is yes, and it is very important to ask for it in order to have your own mental calm. Firstly, lets understand why this inspection is the most important one, how to get a copy, and what the form generally contains.
1. Why is the Inspection Form Important?
Before your vehicle is taken away on a truck to a different location, the inspection is performed. This check is to recognize the cars condition at the time, along with any minor injuries the car has. Here is the reason that getting a copy of this form is essential:
1.1. Documentation of Vehicle Condition
The inspection form is proof of the car’s condition at the time of delivery. It specifies the details of the scratches, dents, and other damages found in the vehicle before the transport. By doing so, you and the shipping company make sure that the vehicle is in agreement with the cars state.
1.2. Protection Against Claims
If your vehicle has been damaged while being transported, a part of the inspection is used as a reference to handling the claim. A copy of the check report safeguards you if there is any controversy over the damage. It provides both you and the delivery company with a clear idea of the cars pre-transport condition.
1.3. Transparency and Trust
By obtaining a copy of the inspection form, you are assured of the transparency of the entire transport process. You will be aware that the car is handled with care and that any issues are being properly recorded, which will lead to an easier and more reliable transaction.
2. How to Get the Inspection Form Copy
The method of accessing the inspection form is different by shipping company, but a rough description of a way to get the form can be as follows:
2.1. Collecting the Form Yourself
Most trustworthy vehicle transportation companies will give you a copy of the inspection report free of charge as part of their service. When you schedule your shipment, be sure to ask the company if they can give you the inspection form after the vehicle is inspected. There are companies that issue the document as part of their routine services, and there are also those that need a specific request to do so.
2.2. Review the Form at Pickup
Often the inspection form is in-person at the time of the pickup. You can ask for a copy of the form right there, and the driver might be able giving it to you straight away. If the form is done electronically, then the company may send you an email with the details of the inspection a little while after the inspection.
2.3. Check the Terms of Your Shipping Contract
In some cases, the shipping companies incorporate the provision of the inspection form into the terms of your shipping contract. If by the time your car is delivered you still haven’t received the form, then it would be better to first check the contract to see whether a copy is due to you.
2.4. Follow Up After Delivery
Maybe it’s the case that during the pickup you were not given the inspection form or you simply forgot to ask for it. In this case, you can still get the information by a follow-up with the truck after the delivery. In any case, trustworthy enterprises will reply to your query with the inspection certificate, and, for your convenience, they are likely to send it by e-mail.
3. What Information Is Included in the Inspection Form?
The inspection form is a comprehensive document and, in general, it comprises the following information:
3.1. Vehicle Identification
Make and Model: To link the checking process to the correct car, the form will specify the make, model, and year of your vehicle.
VIN (Vehicle Identification Number): It is a special number that identifies the car uniquely; hence, the right car is checked.
Color and Condition: The form will identify the cars color and give a general evaluation of the outer part of the vehicle with respect to any scratches, dents, or other abnormalities.
3.2. Pre-Existing Damages
Few Notes on Existing Damage: The reporter will describe the initial damage with scratches, dents, chips, or other pre-existing damages and identify the place and size of each one.
Vehicle Photos: In addition, many companies photograph the automobile to accompany the inspection report. Such pictures act as the visual proof of the vehicles condition before shipping.
3.3. Odometer Reading
The record of the odometer reading at the time of delivery may also be included in the form. This is done to avoid any confusion concerning the distance covered before and after the transportation.
3.4. Special Handling Notes
In case your car needs a special treatment, for example, a car with low clearance, an oversized vehicle, or a luxury model, the information will be published on the inspection form. Thus, the car will get the same level of care during the delivery as the one that is noted on the form.
3.5. Signature of the Inspector
The inspectors signature on the inspection form will be a sign of the great work the inspector has done in the thoroughness of the inspection and the documentation of all necessary details.
4. What to Do If You Discover Damage After Transport
Even though the inspection form is a great aid for you to be protected during the shipping, there are still cases where the shipment may be damaged. If you receive a damaged shipment, follow these steps:
4.1. Check the Inspection Form
The first thing you need to do is check the damage with the help of the inspection form. In case the destruction to the vehicle was the driver’s fault before delivery, this will be specified in the form and there will be no need for any other measures.
4.2. Submit a Claim
In the instance when the damage happened in the course of the transport and the inspectors did not notice it, then you ought to make a claim with the car shipping company. The inspection form together with the pictures will be the proof for your claim.
4.3. Get in Touch with Your Insurance
If the freight insurance is not the one to cover the damage or if there is a car shipping insurance that the sender has, then it is the sender’s insurance provider to whom the claim will be made.
5. Conclusion: Certification of Your Safety with the Inspection Form
The identification of the inspection form during car shipping is the most important step that shows that the vehicle has been handled in the best way possible. The form gives the owner a record of the car’s condition, ensures openness, and is a layer of protection in case there are any conflicts over the extent of the damages. By accomplishing the above-mentioned steps, you can easily get your inspection form and have a record of your vehicle during the whole shipping process.
If you need more information about the trustworthy car transport services, check out Car Transport to ensure a smooth delivery of your vehicle!
