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Basics Of Auto Transport

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Home  |  Car Transport   |   Basics Of Auto Transport

Auto transport TipsShipping a car isn't usually an common experience for most, so for those who are first time car shipper, here are some auto transport tips that might help.

Here are a few things to remember:

Clear Out Your Vehicle Before Shipping
Personal belongings, valuables, documents, electronic gear, are best removed from the vehicle. Don't assume you can ship your vehicle if it is packed full of personal items.  Some carriers will work with you on this, however, vehicle weight is a serious concern, and most carriers prefer that your car is empty, and if possible, with only a few gallons of gas in the tank.  This certainly lightens the vehicle saves on the auto transport costs.

Have Comprehensive Auto Insurance
Damage to your vehicle during shipping is very rare, but it does and can happen.  You have several layers of protection depending on who your broker and carrier are, however, it is always recommended that you carry your own current auto insurance on any vehicle you are shipping.  Auto insurance claims depend heavily on proofs submitted to support the damage caused during shipment. Take note of the condition of the vehicle, or even a few snaps of the car before getting it moved.

Have An Extra Key Made
Its and easy things to overlook, but its always a good idea to have an extra key if needed.

Perform A Thorough Inspection
Needless to say that the vehicle should be thoroughly inspected before and after delivery.

Be Flexible
Auto transport costs are determined by the distance of shipping, the weight of the vehicle, the type of transport requested (closed or open transporters),  accessibility of the destination, fuel costs, and how full the schedule is for that particular carrier.  If you are flexible with the car shipping dates, sometimes you can get better rates.

Take Advantage
Remember that thousands of people use car shipping services every day, it is a convenient and affordable service that can save your time, money, and vehicle wear and tear.

Call Us With Any Questions or To Get A Free Auto Transport Quote

Frequently Asked Questions

Answers to Your Car Moving Questions

The hardest thing for people researching car moving companies to understand is that the prices they are getting are not hard and fast gaurantees, but rather ESTIMATES of what one company thinks it will take to get a vehicle moved promptly versus another company's opinion of what it will take. Don't be fooled, there are not carriers committed to take your vehicle at these quoted prices, the company you choose will still have to get to work getting a carrier to commit to move it at the price they quote you.

Your total price breaks down into two parts, the broker's fee (or 'deposit' as everyone calls it) and the carriers fee (your COD amount) Make no mistake about this, EVERYONE YOU ARE GETTING SALES CALLS FROM IS GOING TO BROKER YOUR MOVE. In this industry, there are brokers who try to fool you into thinking that they are the actual carriers and there are an equal amount of carriers who sell themselves on the fact that they have a truck or two but are not being honest about the fact that they broker out 90% of the orders they book. Here is a quick easy way to tell, if a company takes an up front fee, whether they call it a deposit or any other name, they are a broker. Carriers do not take any payment until the vehicle is delivered.

In our opinion, you are crazy to do so. Have you ever been paid up front for the work that you perform for your employer? Why would you pay a fee up front when there are reliable and trustworthy companies like ours that won't ask for it until we provide you with your carriers details?

The average transit time from pick up to delivery on any vehicle going coast to coast will be between one and two weeks. From there you can figure your transit time based on how far your vehicle is traveling, i.e. from either coast to the Midwest might average 3-7 days.

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