Car Transportation in San Carlos CA

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Are you searching for the absolute best San Carlos auto transport? In this guide we’ll give you an overview of the auto shipping industry, how it operates and how to make the very best choice. A little research will go a long way in having the best auto transport experience feasible and make sure your automobile makes it from one place to another properly. For the most part, auto shippers will supply “door-to-door” services, which means they’ll pick it up at your location and take it to another of your choosing. Before jumping into the San Carlos auto shipping services, you should first know the difference between a broker and a carrier. In short, a broker will search out the best carrier for your particular auto shipping requirements, while the carrier is the actual person providing the truck. Some agencies act as both a broker and a carrier, but we’ll discuss the two distinctions further in this article.

San Carlos Auto Brokers vs. Car Carriers

You’ll basically have two options when looking for an auto carrier in San Carlos. In short, an auto shipping broker reaches out to car haulers who will actually perform the moving of your vehicle. The broker will find the ideal trucking service for you depending on where you are and where your motor vehicle needs to go. A carrier, on the other hand, actually owns their trucks and they send one of their trucks to pick up your vehicle.

How do Auto Transport Brokers Work?

Auto transport brokers don’t have their own transport carriers and usually are not the companies that will carry vehicles. A broker acts as an intermediary who will find the best auto carrier depending on routes, your location and the type of service you require. The advantage of using a broker rather than a carrier is that you have more options because of their existing network of auto carriers. If you work directly with an auto transport carrier, they may not have the necessary equipment when you need it, or may not have licensing in all the states required to relocate your vehicle where it needs to go. Essentially, a broker does the leg work of finding a carrier that meets these criteria and can sometimes get a more competitive price by creating competition between carriers on behalf of the shipper.

How to Find a Car Carrier in San Carlos

When you choose to seek out a San Carlos auto carrier you’ll be interacting with the company who actually owns the truck used for transporting automobiles. With a few exceptions, most auto transport carriers only serve a limited number of routes. Normally, they don’t stray too far from these routes because of added fuel costs and the travel time it would take, which would slow down other deliveries. Dealing with a carrier company doesn’t mean customers will pay less. All services cost money, particularly with auto shipping due to changing fuel fees, so there isn’t a whole lot of wiggle room often times. Dealing with an auto carrier directly may not change the price you pay over going with a broker, since the broker has an assortment of carriers that they can contact for the ideal rates and routes. Auto carriers aren’t generally easy to locate and contact, since a lot of times they rely on brokers to connect them with consumers.

Steps to Take Before Transporting Your Vehicle

Ensure all personal items are removed from your vehicle.

Each and every San Carlos auto carrier is forbidden from transporting anything that would be regarded as a “household item” due to rules from the Department of Transportation. This means you should get rid of anything that would be considered a “household good” from your automobile before it is picked up by an auto transport service. Some common items that should be removed from your vehicle include car seats, umbrellas and clothing.

Leave your gas tank a quarter of the ways full.

Be certain to keep around a quarter tank of gas in your vehicle prior to shipping it. Your San Carlos auto carrier will probably have to drive the vehicle on and off the truck during the shipping process, and since it will be at a steep angle it’s a good plan 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 fuel during transporting. If your gasoline tank is full, it will end up placing a significant amount of weight to your vehicle, which could cause difficulties.

Before shipping your car, examine it for damages.

It’s a good plan to wash your car prior to shipping and make sure there is no dirt or mud stuck on it. You’ll want to do a detailed inspection of your vehicle’s body before shipping to make sure you’re aware of any existing damages. Simply taking photos or a video of the condition of your car prior to shipping can help prevent any confusion at the time of its delivery.

Keep track of your Bill of Lading.

You will receive what’s called a Bill of Lading once your San Carlos car carrier arrives to obtain your vehicle for transport. This Bill of Lading consists of the details of your vehicle transport contract and will verify that it is being placed in the temporary care of the auto transport company. At this time, both the client and driver of the auto carrier should do an examination of the vehicle in order to document any existing damages. By doing this both the customer and driver are in agreement on the vehicle’s condition at the time of pickup. One more 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. If any new damages occur, they can be dealt with at this time.

Knowing insurance liabilities when transporting your car.

It’s a good idea to ask your auto hauler about their company’s liability insurance coverage in the event your car is damaged during the shipping process. Your chosen San Carlos car hauler should have insurance included in the cost of transporting your vehicle that addresses damages. The total insurance coverage typically ranges between ,000 and 0,000. Each auto hauler generally uses a third-party insurance company that handles the liabilities on their end. Also, you can check with your own insurance policy to see if it covers damages that can occur during the shipping process.

Getting the Best Auto Transport Service in San Carlos

There are several ways you can ensure you’re getting the absolute greatest service from your chosen San Carlos car carrier. You should only use an auto transport service that is licensed, bonded and insured. You can find out more about the firm by getting their MC number or USDOT number. These numbers can then be used to look up the company’s record with the Better Business Bureau. You can also look over the company’s terms and conditions to get a far better idea of the type of service you’re getting. This way you’ll be able to make the most informed decision possible.

San Carlos Transport Options: Open vs. Enclosed Trailers

San Carlos auto transport companies make it possible to have your vehicle shipped to practically any major city in the United States, but how the vehicles are actually transported depends on the services offered by the car shipping company. While most auto transport organizations will move the vehicles by way of a tractor trailer, depending on the company you choose, you may have the alternative to go with either open-air or enclosed transport. While both approaches use a truck for transport, they do have their differences.

Most people are acquainted with the open carriers you’ll often see on the highway while traveling, which is the most frequent type of car shipping. This type of truck is normally 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. Your vehicle will be exposed to the elements at all times, just as it would if you were driving your car, so that is something to take into consideration depending on the value of the vehicle you’re shipping.

Know Your Auto Transport Solutions in San Carlos

It’s a good practice to consider what type of protection your vehicle will require while being transported across the country. Using an open transport is ideal, and almost always cheaper, if you’re shipping a standard vehicle that would generally be exposed to the outdoors on a daily 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 plan to get several quotes from San Carlos auto transporters. This way you’ll understand the general costs, but the lowest priced is not always the ideal choice. By doing some study on the auto transport industry and the companies you’re planning on dealing with, you can make sure you’re getting the best deal. That way, you’re making sure your vehicle is shipped safely and makes it to its destination with ease.