Recommendations - Car Carrier - Gold Coast to Darwin

Vincenzo · 19-02-2014, 02:33 PM

I am looking for recommendations for a carrier. I'm not necessarily looking for the cheapest but would like some one who will care for the vehicle. I've read about carriers doing burnouts in the yards prior to departure or on arrival at destination, so I would like to avoid them.

Cheers Vincenzo

sarrge2001 · 21-02-2014, 05:28 PM

While we're in here, anyone recommend someone from Wagga (or Canberra) to Darwin?

xrystl · 21-02-2014, 05:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Vincenzo

I am looking for recommendations for a carrier. I'm not necessarily looking for the cheapest but would like some one who will care for the vehicle. I've read about carriers doing burnouts in the yards prior to departure or on arrival at destination, so I would like to avoid them.

Cheers Vincenzo

Try "John Bain" transport (depot on the Gold Coast) they do Gold Coast/Brisbane to Darwin daily , if they don't carry cars they should be able to give advise as to whom are the better ones - Probably find that "Ceva" are into Darwin daily as well and they are car carriers , Toll would probably be the same and just as specialised , I don't know what the reputation of these carriers are , however they would all be contract drivers (not employees) and IMHO would be a lot more careful of other peoples goods.

**Raptor** · 21-02-2014, 07:37 PM

I'd never used a car carrier before but had Ceva transport a car for me from Townsville to Sydney. No complaints, very happy with my outcome and happy to recommend.

XBROO · 21-02-2014, 08:14 PM

Yeah we just sold a XW and I drop it of at Ceva to go from Brisbane to Sydney. Very professional looking mob, also a lot of high end cars were there getting ready for transport.

cheap · 21-02-2014, 09:25 PM

If possible take photos of your car before it starts it ride, preferably with it on the transport truck. If anything happens with the delivery the photos will save you a lot of drama. We moved to Darwin and had a few issues with the transport, photos would have fast tracked the repairs.

Vincenzo · 23-02-2014, 05:23 PM

Thank-you to those who took the time to answer. I am still waiting for two people / companies to return my call. So far the best seems to be ~$1700 which includes insurance with no excess. There is not much of a price difference between Depot to Depot and Door to Door (less than $100). Transport times vary from 13 to 14 working days to ~ 7 days. I will be paying for transport on Tues / Wed and let you know who I went with. Once the car arrives I will let you know what the service was like.

Cheers Vincenzo

cheap · 23-02-2014, 08:43 PM

You wouldn't drive, it is an experience. Approx 3 days drive and then fly back, would be cheaper that $1700.

Vincenzo · 23-02-2014, 09:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cheap

You wouldn't drive, it is an experience. Approx 3 days drive and then fly back, would be cheaper that $1700.

I'll let you in on a little secret. I am Darwin based. I bought the car as part of my bucket list from Perth in Nov 2012, drove to Canberra then home to Darwin. In September 2013 a "mate" in Qld told me he had buyers lined up for it so I drove it from Darwin to Brisbane. When I got there it took me three days to recover before I was well enough to fly home. When I got back I was hospitalised and was torn a new **** orifice for being so stupid by the Doctors.

It appears my "mate" just wanted the car for himself as within two weeks of it getting there the market was non existent. He offered to pay me $100 / week for four years interest free to buy the car so long as his wife didn't find out.

Until such time as I have surgery I will not be in any position to do a long distance drive by myself, plus the fact the car is now unregistered. Four days driving by central Qld is acceptable so long as there is no rain otherwise it is an 8 day drive via Adelaide and therein lies the problem.

Cheers Vincenzo

**supershifty** · 23-02-2014, 09:24 PM

Vincenzo, if you get stuck for transport, I live in Brisbane. I don't work atm. If you're prepared to pay for fuel, a couple of cheap motel stops and a flight back Pm me. I'll pay for my tucker - I'd have to eat anyway. Probably I'd prop in Darwin for a couple of days for a look around. I'm 47 and responsible for my own actions.

Cheers!

Edit: have manual/auto C license.

CDR_078 · 24-02-2014, 12:08 AM

CEVA logistics all the way bud. When I went to pick mine up in Darwin there was a dude washing it for me with suds and a mitt! That's service

Smoke Pursuit · 24-02-2014, 12:38 AM

Ceva are okay but they are a bit like dealing with an offshore call centre. Try Melcrest they do a lot of gov and police stuff and specialise in Bris to Darwin.

http://www.melcrest.com.au

Vincenzo · 24-02-2014, 01:07 PM

CEVA just got back to me. It seems that the car must be stripped bare only spare tyre and jack - car covers and spare fuses etc are not allowed. I gues I won't be using CEVA.

Waiting on a quote from Melcrest

Cheers Vincenzo

ozpacman · 24-02-2014, 05:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Vincenzo

CEVA just got back to me. It seems that the car must be stripped bare only spare tyre and jack - car covers and spare fuses etc are not allowed. I gues I won't be using CEVA.

Waiting on a quote from Melcrest

Cheers Vincenzo

Mate I think you'll find they all have that rule now and you can't blame them. Very easy for either seller or buyer to blame the transport company if a few expensive parts supposedly go missing from one of a dozen or more boxes of gear shoved in the boot and back seat.

Russ.

Smoke Pursuit · 24-02-2014, 05:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ozpacman

Mate I think you'll find they all have that rule now and you can't blame them. Very easy for either seller or buyer to blame the transport company if a few expensive parts supposedly go missing from one of a dozen or more boxes of gear shoved in the boot and back seat.

Russ.

Yes it has to do with weight too... load the car up with crap = overloaded truck.