Car Transportation in Lincoln AL

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What is involved in moving your vehicle from one location to another by using an auto transport business in Lincoln? Simply put, it’s the act of relocating a car from one state to another through some type of car shipping process. Consumers have the option to choose between an open carrier, which is the most common, or an enclosed carrier that better safeguards your vehicle. An open carrier is the most popular, which also means it’s the most inexpensive for typical vehicle transport needs. However, first you should understand the difference between an auto transport broker and an auto carrier. In short, brokers support the shipping procedure by hooking up customers with carriers, while the carrier essentially performs the job. Below, we’ll examine the difference between a broker and carrier, as well as other ideas that will help you make the best auto transport choice.

Lincoln Auto Brokers and Their Role in Auto Transport

Hiring an auto transport company requires some due diligence and understanding how the business works prior to making a decision. The process can be challenging if you don’t know where to start or where to get accurate details. We’ll cover the basics of auto shipping as well as the role that car carriers and auto brokers play in supplying consumers with transport services.

How do Auto Transport Brokers Work?

A person or group acting as an auto transport broker will not own the fleet of trucks used for shipping. Brokers assist in auto transportation by connecting customers, referred to as “shippers”, with the carriers that offer the specific services requested. Brokers actually have an established community of shippers who have routes that run all over the country, which will provide the customer more options and a far better chance to find the ideal one for them. If you deal directly with an auto transport carrier, they may not possess the necessary equipment when you need it, or may not have licensing in all the states needed to move your vehicle where it needs to go. Basically, a broker does the leg work of obtaining a carrier that meets these conditions and can sometimes get a more competitive price by creating competition between carriers on behalf of the shipper.

Auto Carriers and How They Work in Lincoln

A car hauling carrier is usually a double deck truck that can load up to ten automobiles at a time. These vehicles are driven by certified CDL drivers who are trained and licensed to haul motor vehicles. The driver may be the operator of the auto transport truck who decides on their routes to provide the most productive service. These drivers are the ones who are considered auto carriers and will be responsible for picking up and delivering your car or truck. Some larger carrier companies are authorized brokers as well which gives them the opportunity to broker out your order to another carrier. This means that even when you think you are dealing with a carrier in some circumstances you go through a broker provider. Normally you’d think dealing directly with a carrier means you’ll get a better price, but that’s not necessarily the case when it comes to auto carriers in Lincoln. On the other hand, a broker already has established a network of carriers, so they can search multiple options to find the most effective choice for their clients.

Car Shipping Advice

Remove all household goods you’re your vehicle.

No car hauler in Lincoln is permitted to transport household goods, as per rules put forth by the Department of Transportation. This includes things like personal GPS devices, external DVD players, DVDs, CDs or any common household item that you’ve stored in your vehicle. It’s a good plan to sweep your vehicle for any of these items and remove them prior to pickup.

Do not overfill your gas tank.

You should always ensure that there is always about a quarter tank of gas left in your vehicle when shipping. Your Lincoln auto carrier will probably have to drive the vehicle on and off the trailer during the shipping process, and since it will be at a steep angle it’s a good idea to keep at least a quarter tank of gas in it. But, you don’t want to overfill your tank or leave your car with a full tank of gas during shipping. A full tank would add a lot of weight to your car, which could result in difficulties during the shipping process.

Document any body damage on your vehicle

In order to document the condition of your car ahead of turning it over to a Lincoln auto carrier, it’s a wise course of action to take pictures of any scratches, dents, dings or other damage existing before to shipping. The best way to do this is by thoroughly washing your car first so it will be easier to recognize any dents or damage. Then, take pictures using your phone or camera to document the condition of your car, even if its body doesn’t have any problems. By doing this you have records of its condition in the event any problems arise during the vehicle transport process.

Understand your Bill of Lading.

Once your Lincoln auto transporter arrives to pick up your car, both you and the driver will do an evaluation to determine the condition of your vehicle. This inspection will document any existing 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 also confirms the condition of your vehicle, so both the customer and auto transporter can agree on any present damage. 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 shipping process. So this process basically safeguards both the customer and the auto carrier so that there will be no misunderstandings upon delivery.

Your vehicle should be insured against damages.

Even though the Lincoln auto hauler should have liability insurance built into their services, it’s a good idea to check with your own insurance company as well to see if they would cover 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 sufficient for the vast majority of problems that could come up. These auto carriers typically have their coverage through a third-party and is already built into the price you’re paying for shipping.

Getting the Best Auto Transport Service in Lincoln

You’ll have a wide variety of auto transporters to pick from when looking for the best service for your vehicle shipping requirements. You can even do a bit of research on the auto transport Lincoln service that you’re thinking about going with. Initially, you can obtain the company’s MC number or USDOT number. Always make sure that the car carrier service is the company’s insured and licensed, that way you know you’re doing business with a highly regarded company. You’ll also be able to look up any reports on the service with the Better Business Bureau to see what previous clients are saying. Ultimately, it’s a good idea to review the terms and conditions in your service agreement with the vehicle shipper so you comprehend the service you’re getting.

Open Vehicle Carriers vs. Enclosed Transports in Lincoln

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 most likely seen them many times on the highway. These auto carriers are around in abundance, so it helps keep down the costs involved in shipping. In general, this will be the most cost-effective method of transporting your vehicle. Auto carriers travel steady routes and will transport up to 10 other vehicles along with yours to maintain performance. This minimizes the cost of shipping as it is divided by the all the vehicles onboard.

Know Your Auto Transport Choices in Lincoln

Prior to making a decision on whether you employ an open trailer or enclosed trailer, first think about how much protection your motor vehicle really needs. If it is an antique or collector’s car, you’ll likely want to err on the side of caution and use a fully-enclosed trailer to move your vehicle. However, if you’re simply transporting an average vehicle that you use every day for typical driving needs, then an open trailer would likely be a good fit for you. A good game plan is to get various quotes from car shipping carriers or brokers, that way you know you’re receiving the most equitable rates. Merely put a little time towards investigating the auto shipping process and the car carrier in Lincoln that you’re planning to do business with, that way you know all your bases are covered.