Torched: This is just my experience but I have been doing this for awhile (shipping cars). I have successfully used Immediate Auto Transport out of Michigan.
Hope I don't get flamed/upset others but here goes: The big carriers do alot of circuitous routing of your car. They may pick it up in my St. Louis area and it is destined for LA. However, they all have or share a network of major warehouses that criss-crosses the country. The car may go thru two or more of these "staging warehouses" before it ever gets to your intended destination. That is also why they quote you in terms of weeks vs. days to deliver your car. What happens, though, is each time your car is temporarily "warehoused" (for another truck to come by and pick it up for your intended destination)the vehicle gets "handled" e.g. offloaded and then reloaded. I have had collector cars over the years damaged in this process and if you read your contract real close, there are limits on the carriers liability....usually way below what you may need for the repair. I have also had my cars arrive at their destination with alot of finger-prints, smudges, and in a few instances, scratches. This occurs while the stored cars are being viewed by "admirers or employees" or in one case I personally observed, while two transporters were in a public mall parking lot swapping cars as they had their routes changed by their companies dispatchers. The public was all over the cars and the drivers could not keep them away.
Car Transport does not have to be tramatic. But,whatever you decide, ask for references; request a direct delivery (no strange routing or "staging" (read: warehouse)commitment in writing and make sure you know the extent of their financial commitment if your car is damaged. Don't buy into "We have $10,000,000 worth of Insurance; don't worry you are covered." What is the coverage or liability of that company for YOUR car, per occurence.
I would rather do business with a second tier owner (there are many of them out there) who own their own rigs and WILL commit to a direct delivery. YOu know when the car leaves and you know what day it will arrive. I have never had a problem since using this process. These second tier owners are small business men who care alot about the hobby (old, new, classic, or exotic). They also work for themselves and know their reputation is paramount to thier future success.
Soooooooo sorry for the long message, but you hit on one of my "hot-buttons"!
Regards,
Ken- /phpBB/images/smiles/icon_eek.gif