Truthfully there is only one answer to this question based upon several facts and situations, although many different answers are given by many different people.
That real answer is determined by the FMCSA (The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration) which is the D.O.T. and of course by the carriers own insurance company.
1. If that lamp you placed inside your car bounces around and breaks you car radio, you lose, because it is not insured. The “cargo” insurance that your carrier has will cover his cargo, but not yours.
2. The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (The FMCSA) has a rule saying that no household goods may be transported inside your vehicle. Licensing is their prime motive. Your Carrier has a license enabling him to move and transport automobiles and vehicles. It does not give him the authority to transport household goods and personal property. In order to do this he would have to apply for an additional license.
In addition to obtaining additional insurance and bonding, this would require filing the necessary forms and paying required fees.
3. Weight is a very good reason not to load your vehicle with personal and household goods when shipping by auto transport carriers.
Common thinking would indicate that “my stuff only weighs a couple of hundred pounds” but please remember that your car is only one of about ten on his truck. Multiply your couple of hundred pounds by the ten cars loaded and it turns into a couple of thousand pounds. Your carrier has to cross the scales many times while in transit to your destination. Scale busters pay big fines and penalties, not to mention the additional fuel used just to transport these vehicles.
With the above listed reasons, the answer must be emphatically no.
I know, some auto transport brokers will tell you it is OK for you to load “a few items”, “up to 100 lbs”, “not over 200 lbs” or some other figure.
They can’t change the law. In spite of their attempts to be agreeable in order to capture your business.
When you get caught, your “advisor” who suggested you break the law will quickly go into hiding.
Brokers and Carriers who sincerely want to do business with you in a safe, fair, and completely legal manner are the only kind you should use.
When ready to ship your vehicle, go to websites that offer quotes and give them the information they request. They will provide you with quotes on shipping your vehicle by several of the really great trucking companies that they recommend. There will never be an obligation, you can select the one you want, or simply select none. with quotes in hand you will be a much better shopper.
If you want some really good advice, be smart, be safe, pick a reputable Broker/Carrier.
Learn more about auto transport quotes. Stop by Bob Frost’s site where you can find out all about car shipping quotes and what it can do for you.
