Why a Car Shipping Quote Can Change
A quote feels slippery when the second call does not match the first. Sometimes the company moved the number. Sometimes the shipment on the second call was not the shipment on the first. Those are different problems.
What Bigfella locks
Price Lock means an approved price stays locked for 30 days unless you change the vehicle, the route, the transport type, the service level, or the pickup and delivery details. After 30 days, a new quote may be required. Booking is still $0 today. Nothing is charged until you approve the assigned carrier and the final price. If no carrier is secured, you are not charged.
That is the rule on the pricing page. It is not a promise that every carrier in the country will honor an old screenshot from a different broker.
Changes that legitimately move the price
- Switching from open to enclosed, or the reverse. Enclosed is +$380 when selected.
- Marking a running car as inoperable, or the reverse. Inoperable is +$200.
- Adding or removing Express or White Glove.
- Changing either address enough to change the miles or the kind of access.
- Changing the vehicle. A compact car and a long pickup are not the same slot on a trailer.
Access notes do not always change the dollar figure, but they change whether the driver can make the stop you asked for. A hill street, a low bridge, or a base gate belongs in the quote notes before a truck is assigned.
Changes that should make you suspicious
A price that drops only after you hesitate, then rises again after you book, is a different pattern. So is a quote that requires a large charge before any carrier is named. On this site you approve the carrier first. Read what is charged before pickup and how to get the details right the first time.
If your dates slip
Tell the broker. Do not book a second company for the same car while the first order is still live. That is how two drivers end up dispatched. The double-booking guide is here.
Questions people ask
Does Price Lock survive a change from open to enclosed?
No. Enclosed is a different service. You will see a new Direct Quote with the $380 difference included.
Can the carrier’s fuel bill change my locked price?
The locked price is the price you approved for that shipment. We do not add a fuel surcharge after you approve it. If a driver asks for extra money, contact Need Help? before you pay anyone.
What if I wait past 30 days?
The lock expires. Request a new quote with the same details and compare it before you book.