Car Transport in Lakeland MI

Answers To Your Questions
Friendly straight forward advice

Do you have questions such as what size auto carrier do I need or how much does this cost? Call us now to get all of your questions answered.

Affordable Prices
Competitive pricing with no hidden fees

Unlike other vehicle shipping companies in Lakeland, we never charge hidden fees. Our pricing includes everything that you will need to transport your vehicle from point A to point B – all at extremely competitive rates.

Dependable Service
On time delivery and pickup

Don’t settle for slow response or late deliveries. For over 10 years we have shipped vehicles on time, when and where our customers need them. Call today to see why we’re the best budget auto transport company in Lakeland, MI.

What is included in moving your vehicle from one location to another by using an auto transport business in Lakeland? To put it simply, it’s the act of transporting a car from one state to another by means of some type of car transport method. Consumers have the possibility to choose between an open carrier, which is the most well-known, or an enclosed carrier that better covers your vehicle. An open carrier is the most common, which also means it’s the most cost-effective for common vehicle transport needs. However, first you should recognize the difference between an auto transport broker and an auto carrier. In short, brokers assist in the shipping process by connecting customers with carriers, while the carrier actually performs the job. In this article, we’ll evaluate the differences between brokers and carriers, as well as some guidelines to help make your auto transport experience smoother.

Lakeland Auto Brokers and Their Role in Auto Transport

Chances are if you’ve never used an auto transporter in Lakeland, then you might be unaware of the distinction between an auto shipping broker and carrier. Essentially, using either service will have the same end result, transporting your motor vehicle from one place to another, but it’s always a good idea to have a basic understanding of the two before making a final decision on which provider to do business with.

What Is An Auto Transport Broker?

An auto transport broker is simply the professional employed by you, the shipper, who aids in the process of procuring an auto transport company in Lakeland. This means the customer, or shipper, does not actually deal directly with the auto carrier who will be in charge of picking up and delivering your automobile. An auto shipping broker has an established network of carriers to contact for each customers, which means they can provide a better variety of rates and options. They’ll find an automobile carrier who journeys the route and is within reasonable distance to your location, so it can end up making the entire shipping process quicker. Fundamentally, they will be your point of contact during the entire shipping process until your car is delivered to its destination.

What Is An Auto Transport Carrier?

If you choose to do business with a car carrier directly then you will be dealing with the person or persons who own the trucks moving your vehicle. An auto carrier owns the trucks or trailers that are used to ship vehicles all over the country. All auto transport carriers in Lakeland have to be licensed and insured, but a consumer should still do their research to verify this. These car carriers will serve a specific number of routes and locations in order to offer effective service and remain successful. Locating a carrier by yourself that travels the route in which you need your motor vehicle transported may be tricky, as many carriers use brokers who will connect them with the correct customers. Regardless of which option you choose, a broker or carrier, you’ll be paying approximately the same price for your auto transport. There ës a fair amount of competition between various auto carriers, so at times you can find promotions or discounts they’re offering. For this reason, you can take advantage of the circumstance in order to get a good bargain.

Things to Consider Before Transporting Your Motor Vehicle

Ensure all personal items are removed from your vehicle.

No car hauler in Lakeland is permitted to transport household goods, as per regulations put forth by the Department of Transportation. This consists of common products you might have in your car such as clothing, car seats or external GPS systems. It’s well-advised to clear away these items from your vehicle prior to pickup to reduce any delays.

Do not ship your automobile with a full gas tank.

Prior to your vehicle gets loaded up with a Lakeland auto hauler you should look at your fuel level to make sure you have around a quarter tank of gas. The transporting process will demand a small amount of driving, generally only in the loading and unloading process, so some gas will be necessary. However, you won’t want to leave more than a quarter of a tank or a full tank of gas in your vehicle because of the extra weight it adds.

Take photos of any existing damages on your car.

In order to better discover any scuff marks or dents on your vehicle it’s a good idea to wash it before inspecting the body. This will allow you to plainly see if there are any dents, dings or scratches that are already existing on your vehicle’s body, which means you won’t erroneously believe the damage happened during shipping. Just taking photos or a video of the condition of your car prior to shipping can help prevent any misunderstandings at the time of its delivery.

Understanding your Bill of Lading.

When the Lakeland car carrier comes to pick up your car you will be given a Bill of Lading. This Bill of Lading contains the details of your vehicle transport contract and will confirm that it is being placed in the temporary care of the auto transport company. Both parties can do an examination of the vehicle at this time to record any damages that are on the body. So the client and driver can come to an agreement as to the vehicle’s condition, and that way there won’t be any misunderstandings once the vehicle is delivered. An additional Bill of Lading will be given to the client once the automobile arrives at its destination, which will verify the condition of the vehicle matches what it was when it was picked up. Any new harm that may have occurred throughout the transport process, although rare, can be identified easier this way.

Evaluate your insurance coverage options.

Although the Lakeland auto hauler should have liability insurance built into their service, it’s a good plan to check with your own insurance company as well to see if they would include any damage that occurs as a result of transporting your vehicle. Your chosen auto transport service should already have liability insurance built into their services and their rates. The typical liability coverage ranges between ,000 and 0,000 in coverage, which would be enough for the vast majority of problems that could occur. This coverage is usually provided by a third-party insurer employed by the auto transport service.

How to Locate the Best Auto Hauler in Lakeland

To guarantee you’re acquiring the best car shipping service in Lakeland there are a few details you should collect regarding your auto transport company. Every experienced auto hauler should be licensed, bonded and insured. Another way to check their service record is by obtaining their MC number or USDOT and doing a lookup with the Better Business Bureau. Be sure to look over the terms and conditions of the shipping agreement and take some time to educate yourself on the general auto transport process. Lastly, you can check out third-party reviews online and find out what past clients are saying about the auto haulers services.

Difference Between Lakeland Auto Transports and Enclosed Auto Carriers

Usually, shipping a vehicle via open transport will save you the most money. There are more carriers of this type than an enclosed version, and you’ve probably seen them numerous times on the highway. The variety of these carriers and their reputation helps contribute to the inexpensive price tag. In general, this will be the most affordable method of transporting your vehicle. An auto carrier that is going from your area and traveling through to your location will take that vehicle and add it to a group of up to 10 others heading in that same direction. This decreases the cost of shipping as it is divided by the all the vehicles onboard.

Know Your Auto Transport Options in Lakeland

It’s a good practice to take into consideration what type of safety your car will require while being shipped across the country. If you’re simply shipping a standard or older vehicle, then open-transport alternatives are probably okay for you. If you have a collector’s car or antique vehicle, then an enclosed shipping option might be better for your vehicle. As a customer, it’s a good idea to get various quotes from Lakeland auto transporters. This way you’ll know the general rates, but the lowest priced is not always the most effective choice. Do a bit of analysis on the company you’re thinking of going with and on the auto transport industry in general. That way, you’re making sure your vehicle is shipped safely and makes it to its destination with ease.