Auto Transportation in Charlottesville VA

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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.

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Competitive pricing with no hidden fees

Unlike other vehicle shipping companies in Charlottesville, 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.

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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 Charlottesville, VA.

Are you trying to figure out the process of moving a vehicle from one place to another using an auto transporter in Charlottesville? In fact, auto shipping involves a car carrier company relocating the vehicle from one place to another for a client. Consumers have the option to choose between an open carrier, which is the most popular, or an enclosed carrier that better safeguards your vehicle. Usually, an open carrier is used to transport most vehicles unless they are high-priced or collector’s automobiles. The ideal place to start in your quest for locating an auto transporter is knowing the difference between a broker and a carrier. Brokers don’t in fact ship the vehicle, but they behave as an intermediary between the customer and the service that provides the shipping of the vehicles. In this article, we’ll review the distinctions between brokers and carriers, as well as some tips to help make your auto transport experience smoother.

How to Tell the Difference Between Charlottesville Auto Carriers and Brokers

Choosing an auto transport company demands some due diligence and knowing how the business works before making a decision. The process can be challenging if you don’t know where to begin or where to get correct details. We’ll cover the basics of auto shipping as well as the role that car carriers and auto brokers play in supplying clients with transport services.

What Does an Auto Broker Do?

An auto shipping broker is fundamentally the logistics management portion of the auto carrier. A broker will monitor market conditions and will have a community of car carriers to get in touch with for each customer they receive. A car transporter in Charlottesville will be in contact with these brokers and rely on them to connect clients with their solutions. These broker companies will have access to a database of carriers from around the country and can arrange for your vehicle to be picked-up virtually anywhere, sometimes the very same day you call them. One of the benefits of using an auto shipping broker is that they can provide you with a greater variety of options when it comes to car haulers. These brokers also keep in touch with the client throughout the delivery process and will keep them posted as to the progress of their car shipping service.

Finding a Car Carrier in Charlottesville

If you decide to do business with a car carrier directly then you will be interacting with the person or people who own the trucks moving your vehicle. The auto shipping carriers are the proprietors of the trailers that are used in transporting the cars and are the owners of the business. Most auto transport carriers in Charlottesville have to be licensed and insured, but a client should still do their research to verify this. These car carriers will serve a certain number of routes and locations in order to provide efficient service and remain successful. Finding a carrier by yourself that travels the route in which you need your motor vehicle transported may be difficult, as many carriers utilize brokers who will connect them with the correct customers. You’ll end up having to pay about the same price whether you go with a carrier or broker, however, as costs are based mostly on fuel rates at the time. There is competitiveness among auto carriers today and most auto carriers offer a number of promotions and discounts to their clients. For this reason, you can take advantage of the circumstance in order to get a good bargain.

Car Shipping Tips

Take any personal items out of your vehicle.

Auto shippers in Charlottesville are prohibited by the Department of Transportation to move anything that would be considered a “household good”. This includes things like personal GPS devices, external DVD players, DVDs, CDs or any typical household item that you’ve stashed in your vehicle. It’s well-advised to remove these items from your vehicle prior to pickup to avoid any delays.

Do not overfill your gas tank.

When using a Charlottesville auto transport company you should keep an eye on your gas gauge before the time of shipping. Just to be safe, make sure your gas level isn’t too low and leave only about a quarter of a tank in your car. Your car may be driven briefly just to load it onto and off of the vehicle trailer and you don’t want to leave your gas level way too low. Alternatively, you don’t want to ship your car with a full tank of fuel either. A full tank will add significant weight to your vehicle and could throw off the equilibrium of the transport and result in difficulties.

Before shipping your car, look at it for damages.

It’s a good idea to wash your car prior to shipping and make sure there is no dirt or mud stuck on it. This will allow you to plainly see if there are any dents, dings or scratches that are already present on your vehicle’s body, which means you won’t incorrectly believe the damage took place during shipping. It’s easy to document them by taking pictures, which will also prove the condition of your vehicle in the case that damage does occur during the shipping process.

Find out what’s in your Bill of Lading.

The customer will be given a Bill of Lading once your selected auto carrier in Charlottesville comes to pick up your vehicle. This is basically a document that acknowledges the company is picking up your vehicle for shipping and will also display any existing damages to your vehicle prior to picking it up. It’s a good idea to examine the vehicle with the driver to make sure you are both conscious of any existing damages. After the inspection is finished, current damages will be documented and the Bill of Lading will be signed by both the customer and the driver. Once your automobile is delivered, you’ll be offered with a Bill of Lading that you can use to check for any new damages to your vehicle that may have happened during the shipping process.

Review your insurance coverage options.

It’s a good idea to question your auto hauler about their company’s liability insurance coverage in the event your vehicle is damaged during the shipping process. Your chosen Charlottesville car hauler should have insurance included in the cost of transporting your vehicle that covers damages. The total insurance coverage typically ranges between ,000 and 0,000. Auto shippers will utilize a third-party insurer and should not cost extra, but rather it should be included in the rate that you’re already paying to deliver your vehicle. Sometimes, your insurance company offers this type of coverage on your vehicle as well, so you can always check your policy prior to shipping.

How to Find the Best Auto Hauler in Charlottesville

You will find a vast array of auto transport businesses out there and it can be hard to choose which one is the most effective for your needs. Thankfully, you can do a little bit of research on your end prior to making a sound decision on which auto transport Charlottesville service to go with. Initially, you can get the company’s MC number or USDOT number. A reputable auto carrier service should be insured and licensed. You can use these numbers to look up the auto hauler with the Better Business Bureau in order to find out their reputation. In many cases it’s a good idea to review the terms and conditions of your service agreement with the auto transporter just so you understand the process a little better.

Difference Between Open Transport & Enclosed Carriers in Charlottesville

An open auto transport carrier is open to the weather and elements, just as your vehicle would be if you were driving it down the road yourself. If you are looking for this type of car carrier transport, you should be aware that your vehicle will be open to all those elements. If you’re shipping a custom, classic or collector’s vehicle, then you may want to opt for an enclosed auto carrier. It is the reverse of an open car carrier shipping option. In an enclosed car carrier, the cars are housed in a covered truck. Since these carriers have an enclosure, they can typically carry a lower amount of vehicles than an open solution.

Searching for Auto Transport Companies in Charlottesville

It’s a good practice to think about what type of safety your car will require while being transported across the country. Using an open transport is suitable, and almost always more cost-effective, if you’re shipping a standard vehicle that would generally be exposed to the outdoors on a regular basis anyways. Antique, classic cars and collector’s cars that are specifically kept in protected conditions would benefit the most from an enclosed shipping method. When first browsing auto transport companies in Charlottesville you should get several quotes on the price of the transport. However, the lowest price it not necessarily the most effective choice for every circumstance. By performing some study on the auto transport industry and the companies you’re planning on dealing with, you can make sure you’re getting the very best deal. When you ultimately make your decision, you’ll be confident that your vehicle is being transported carefully and securely to its final destination.