Vehicle Transport in Mackinaw City MI

Answers To Your Questions
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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 Mackinaw City, 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 Mackinaw City, MI.

What is involved in moving your vehicle from one location to another by using an auto transport business in Mackinaw City? In fact, auto shipping consists of a car carrier company relocating the vehicle from one location to another for a consumer. Consumers have the choice 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 economical for standard vehicle transport needs. However, first you should recognize the difference between an auto transport broker and an auto carrier. In short, brokers facilitate the shipping procedure by connecting customers with carriers, while the carrier essentially performs the job. Below, we’ll review the distinction between a broker and carrier, as well as other strategies that will help you make the ideal auto transport choice.

Auto Brokers vs. Auto Carriers in Mackinaw City

Before selecting an car hauling service you should have a fundamental understanding of the industry and how it works. It may seem like a tricky procedure, but we’ll help make it less complicated for everyone. We’ll cover the fundamentals of auto shipping as well as the role that car carriers and auto brokers play in supplying clients with transport services.

What Is An Auto Transport Broker?

When you’re shopping for car transport in Mackinaw City chances are you’ll end up calling an auto shipping broker. In this case, the customer will not deal directly with the auto carrier, but instead will be setup with the carrier who best fits the customer’s situation. 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 will take into consideration price and how close the auto carrier is to your location, which can end up expediting the shipping process. Basically, they will be your point of contact during the entire shipping process until your car is shipped to its destination.

How to Find a Car Carrier in Mackinaw City

An auto transport carrier is the provider that owns the trucks and employs the movers that do the labor of transporting a vehicle. One advantage of using a carrier is that you are interacting directly with the company who will be transporting your vehicle, essentially eliminating the middle man. A consumer would be responsible for locating and dealing with the Mackinaw City auto transporter, or several of them if you are shopping around. In this case, the customer assumes the role of the broker and deals with the auto transport directly. Not every auto shipper will automatically be able to handle your auto transport needs, as they require licensing to travel through each state and may not be able to reach your destination based on the states they must go through. A carrier can be a one-man company with one or two trucks, or a big auto transport company with many trucks.

Things to Consider Before Shipping Your Motor Vehicle

Ensure all personal items are removed from your vehicle.

You may not be aware of this, but there is in fact a Department of Transportation Code that forbids car haulers in Mackinaw City from moving vehicles with personal belongings in them. Popular household products that might be in your vehicle such as a car seat, GPS device or an umbrella should be removed prior to your vehicle being shipped. Make sure to do a swift inspection of the inside of your vehicle before it gets loaded onto a truck.

Do not ship your vehicle with a full gas tank.

Keep an eye on your fuel gauge before transporting with a Mackinaw City car carrier. Just to be safe, make sure your gas level isn’t too low and leave only about a quarter of a tank in your vehicle. Your car may be driven briefly just to load it onto and off of the vehicle trailer and you don’t want to keep your gasoline level too low. On the other hand, you don’t want to fill your gas tank too much either. A full tank will add considerable weight to your vehicle and could throw off the stability of the transport and result in difficulties.

Perform an exam on your vehicle’s condition prior to shipping.

When using a Mackinaw City car hauler you should always perform a swift examination of your vehicle’s condition before it gets loaded on the trailer. The best way to do this is by washing your car first, making sure there’s no dirt left on it, and then walking around it and make notes of any dents or dings. This will make certain you are aware of any existing damages and can accurately determine if any new damage occurred during the shipping process. Record any damages by taking photos with your phone or camera, that way you also have proof of your vehicle’s condition ahead of transporting it.

Learning about your Bill of Lading.

When the Mackinaw City auto transport arrives to begin the shipping procedure, you and the driver of the carrier can do an assessment of your vehicle’s condition. This inspection will document any current damages on your vehicle, which generally includes scratches, dents and dings. Once that process is complete, the customer will be given a Bill of Lading. The contract will confirm auto carrier is taking your vehicle for transport. It will also make sure that both you and the auto transport carrier are in agreement on any existing damage on your car. When the car arrives at its intended destination, the customer will be presented with another Bill of Lading. This new bill will outline if any new damages have taken place during the transporting process. This process ensures that both the customer and auto carrier are in agreement on the condition of the vehicle.

Understanding insurance liabilities when transporting your car.

Your insurance company may have protection built into your policy that provides for damages that may take place in the auto hauling process. However, any auto transport Mackinaw City service should already have liability coverage already built into their prices, which commonly covers anywhere between ,000 and 0,000 worth of damages. The cost of this insurance is built into the overall price of your vehicle transportation and is provided by an outside firm that the car hauler does business with. Typically, this is enough to cover any problems that could occur during the transportation process, but it’s a good idea to check with your insurance company as well.

How to Find the Best Auto Hauler in Mackinaw City

To ensure you’re acquiring the best car shipping provider in Mackinaw City there are a few details you should acquire regarding your auto transport company. Clients should only do business with transporters who are licensed, bonded and insured. Yet another way to examine their service record is by obtaining their MC number or USDOT and doing a lookup with the Better Business Bureau. Also, take the time to review the terms and conditions so that you’re familiar with how the service works. It’s also a wise course of action to read any third-party testimonials of the company to see what past customers are saying.

Difference Between Open Transport & Enclosed Carriers in Mackinaw City

Mackinaw City auto transport businesses make it possible to have your car shipped to virtually any major city in the United States, but how the vehicles are actually transported depends on the services offered by the car shipping company. You’ll have the option to choose between an open-air carrier or an enclosed trailer, both of which are typically transported via a tractor trailer rig. While both approaches use a truck for transport, they do have their distinctions.

When a car shipping firm says it uses open-air trucks, it uses the type of car carrier that most people relate to car transportation. This type of truck is typically between 75 and 80 feet in length and it hauls a two-level trailer with a row of cars on the top and a shorter row of cars on the bottom. There are no sides and no roof on the trailer, so the vehicles are open to the elements at all times.

Getting the Very best Deals on Auto Transport in Mackinaw City

Always consider how much safety and security your vehicle or vehicles will need during the transport process. If you’re simply shipping a standard or older vehicle, then open-transport alternatives are probably fine for you. If you have a collector’s car or antique vehicle, then an enclosed shipping alternative might be better for your vehicle. As a customer, it’s a good plan to get several quotes from Mackinaw City auto transporters. This way you’ll know the general rates, but the cheapest is not always the ideal choice. Do a little bit of analysis on the company you’re thinking of going with and on the auto transport business in general. That way, you’re ensuring your vehicle is shipped safely and makes it to its destination with ease.