Auto Shipping in Northport AL

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 Northport, 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 Northport, AL.

Are you trying to figure out the process of moving a vehicle from one location to another using an auto transporter in Northport? In fact, auto shipping involves a car carrier company moving the vehicle from one location to another for a consumer. This procedure can be taken care of by making use of an open carrier, which is the most well-known option you’ll see on the road, or an enclosed transport where your vehicle would not be exposed to the outdoors. An open carrier is the most popular, which also means it’s the most economical for ordinary vehicle transport needs. The ideal place to start in your quest for finding an auto transporter is knowing the distinction between a broker and a carrier. In short, brokers support the shipping process by connecting customers with carriers, while the carrier essentially performs the job. Below, we’ll review the difference between a broker and carrier, as well as other ideas that will help you make the ideal auto transport choice.

What is the Difference Between Auto Carriers and Brokers in Northport?

First, every customer should understand what it means to be an auto transport broker as opposed to a carrier. Before choosing between an auto broker and an auto transport company in Northport it’s essential to have a good understanding of the variations between the two, as well as how the business works. If you’ve never used an auto shipping service before, the process might seem confusing, but in this article we’ll give you all the details you need to make an educated decision.

What Does an Auto Broker Do?

In the car shipping market, a broker is a company that resells your shipping job. When you contact a broker, they will manage the process of finding a carrier for your vehicle and getting it from one place to another. It’s important to note, the broker does not actually own the trucks, but instead they have set up a network of carriers to hook up customers with. After getting in contact with a broker, they will reach out to auto transporters in Northport who have the abilities to handle the customer’s shipping requirements. After the job is passed on to the carrier, the broker will stay in contact with the client until the vehicle is delivered. In essence, an auto transport broker acts as an intermediary between the customer and the auto transporters that can contact many providers in order to find the best service for the shipper.

How to Find a Car Carrier in Northport

An auto carrier usually employs a large double deck truck to move multiple vehicles at once, which you’ve probably seen on the highways at times. It is driven by a professional CDL driver trained in loading, unloading and transporting vehicles. The driver may be the proprietor of the auto transport truck who decides on their routes to provide the most efficient 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 bigger carrier companies are authorized brokers as well which gives them the chance to broker out your order to an additional carrier. So even if you think you’re interacting directly with an auto carrier, you might be choosing a different carrier service in the end. Most of the time when customers deals specifically with a company, rather than an intermediary, they believe they’ll be gaining a better price, but that’s not automatically true with Northport auto transport. On the other hand, a broker already has established a network of carriers, so they can shop multiple options to find the top choice for their customers.

Guidelines for Shipping Your Car

Remove all household goods you’re your vehicle.

Most people are not aware of a Department of Transportation Code that prohibits auto transport services in Northport from shipping personal products included in vehicles. Items that should be removed from your vehicle prior to shipment include things like car seats, external GPS systems and clothing. Make sure to do a swift inspection of the inside of your car before it gets loaded onto a truck.

Only leave around a quarter of tank of gas in your car.

Be certain to maintain around a quarter tank of gas in your vehicle prior to transporting it. Your Northport auto carrier will likely have to drive the vehicle on and off the trailer during the shipping process, and since it will be at a sharp angle it’s a good plan to keep at least a quarter tank of gas in it. However, you’ll want to be cautious not to keep a full tank of gas in your car when transporting it. A full tank would add a great deal of weight to your car, which could result in complications during the shipping process.

Record any body damage on your vehicle

In order to record the condition of your car prior to turning it over to a Northport auto carrier, it’s a wise course of action to take photos of any scratches, dents, dings or other damage present prior to shipping. Washing your car first will make it much easier to identify any dents or dings. Next, take some photos of videos of your car in order to provide proof of its condition if needed afterwards. Using this method you have records of its condition in the event any problems arise during the auto transport process.

What is a Bill of Lading?

When the Northport auto transport arrives to begin the shipping procedure, you and the driver of the carrier can do an evaluation of your vehicle’s condition. This inspection will document any current damages on your vehicle, which commonly includes scratches, dents and dings. Once that process is complete, the client will be given a Bill of Lading. This document simply acknowledges that the auto carrier is taking temporary possession of your vehicle. It will also ensure 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 location, the customer will be presented with another Bill of Lading. This will confirm that the vehicle has been delivered and will allow the customer to inspect that vehicle again to determine if any new damage has occurred. This process guarantees that both the customer and auto carrier are in agreement on the condition of the vehicle.

Knowing insurance liabilities when transporting your car.

Your insurance company may have protection built into your policy that provides for damages that can take place in the auto hauling process. Auto transport Northport companies should already have liability coverage built into their services, which typically covers anywhere from ,000 to 0,000 worth of damages. The cost of this insurance is built into the overall price of your vehicle transportation and is supplied by an outside business that the car hauler does business with. Generally, this is enough to cover any issues 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 Northport

In order to guarantee you’re receiving the best service from your Northport car carrier you can always do a bit of research on their history first. You should only use an auto transport service that is licensed, bonded and insured. You can find out more about the company by getting their MC number or USDOT number. You can use these numbers to look up reviews on their solutions with the BBB. It’s also a great idea to quickly review the terms and conditions of the service arrangement so that you have a general idea of what in entails. A small bit of investigation as to overall auto transport process goes a long way as well.

Difference Between Northport Auto Transports and Enclosed Auto Carriers

The motor vehicles moved with open auto transport carriers are not safeguarded from weather elements like rain, sun, hail and snow, and from dust and even birds. If you’re looking for this type of car carrier transport, you should be mindful that your vehicle will be exposed to all those elements. An closed auto transport carrier is a great car shipping option you can use especially if you will transport a classic or custom car. It is the opposite of an open car carrier shipping option. An enclosed carrier is just as it sounds, meaning your vehicle will moved in an enclosed environment and safe from the open air. Enclosed carriers generally can only carry a few vehicles at the same. In the majority of cases up to five automobiles.

Getting the Very best Deals on Auto Transport in Northport

It’s a good practice to take into consideration what type of protection your vehicle will require while being shipped across the country. Using an open transport is ideal, and almost always more cost-effective, if you’re shipping a standard vehicle that would typically be exposed to the outdoors on a regular basis anyways. 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 idea to get several quotes from Northport auto transporters. This way you’ll understand the general costs, but the lowest priced 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 industry in general. When you eventually make your decision, you’ll be comfortable that your vehicle is being transported safely and securely to its final destination.