I work in the auto transport business and know the inside scoop on Autotrail. For years, the company I worked for moved many cars for them and when I finaly left, Autotrail still owed that company over $30,000. It really is a "no-brainer" why the cars they book do not get transported.
All people have to do is go to a search engine and type in: "Autotrail, Complaints" and you will find lists and lists of complaints against them. They are even listed in the "transport blacklist". Sadly enough, most people do not research before transporting, only after they have been ripped off. Pay attention to the complaints, they are not just "whining", these are true and valid concerns you see listed.
The best thing you can do to help others is to follow through on your threats to turn them in to the NY States Attorney, file lawsuits, go against their bond as well as complain to websites such as this one in hopes that others will be saved the headaches. This company advertises nationally, so see if you can also file a complaint at your destination state as well. Call your local TV stations and tell them your story. If you are a snowbird in Florida, call in February as they love to report stories like this just before the snowbirds start heading home.
I still work for an actual auto transport company and it irks me to no end that Autotrail has been able to get away with this for over 12 years now. (Yes, I said over 12 years! This is no fly-by-night scam artist, he has been perfecting his scam for quite some time) They give the rest of our industry a bad name and make it harder on those of us trying to do an honest business.
They undercut prices so the unsuspecting public will book with them (sometimes you get what you pay for folks) and they offer the real truckers pennies to move the cars. On top of that, when they actually get a trucker to transport way below the going rate, they refuse to pay the trucker for the work! I do not know if they still do this, but they used to even tell their clients that the trucker who moved their car is not insured and that the client needed to book with Autotrail (not the company that just handled the move) in order to be positive their car was covered by insurance. This was a scare tactic they liked to use to make sure you did not book with the trucking company that just delivered your car for the next time.
NEVER give your credit card over the phone before receiving a contracts and READING it. Autotrail counts on getting that credit card as it has that little clause that they make $250 just for taking your call if you cancel. Not bad for a 5 minute phone call, huh?
If they even have a hint that you might dispute yur credit card bill, they will demand a FULL CASH COD when your car is delivered or even worse, a wire transfer if you want your car delivered at all. They like the wire transfer most of all so they can screw the trucking company out of their money as well.
I cannot recall how many times I have heard them tell a client that the truck broke down and that is why the car has not been picked up. The truth is folks, the car is still listed on Centraldispatch or Loadhub for $325 or $350 and no trucker wants to bother moving it for that price!
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