Auto Transport in San Marcos CA

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 San Marcos, 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 San Marcos, CA.

What is involved in transferring your vehicle from one place to another by using an auto transport business in San Marcos? In essence, auto shipping involves a car carrier company relocating the vehicle from one place to another for a customer. This procedure can be taken care of by using 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 subjected to the outdoors. Usually, an open carrier is used to transport most vehicles unless they are expensive or collector’s automobiles. The best place to start off in your quest for locating an auto transporter is understanding the difference between a broker and a carrier. Brokers don’t actually ship the vehicle, but they act 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 suggestions to help make your auto transport experience better.

How to Tell the Difference Between San Marcos Auto Carriers and Brokers

Before selecting an car hauling service you should have a basic understanding of the industry and how it works. The process can be challenging if you don’t know where to start or where to get correct information. 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.

Auto Brokers and Their Purpose in the Auto Transport Industry

An automotive transport broker is simply the professional hired by you, the shipper, who assists in the process of acquiring an auto transport company in San Marcos. This means the customer, or shipper, does not actually deal directly with the auto carrier who will be in charge of picking up and delivering your vehicle. An auto shipping broker has an established network of carriers to contact for each clients, which means they can provide a greater variety of rates and options. They’ll find an auto carrier who journeys the route and is within realistic distance to your location, so it can end up making the entire shipping process quicker. The broker will be in contact with you, the consumer, throughout the entire shipping progression until your vehicle is delivered at its ultimate location.

Auto Carriers and How They Work in San Marcos

A vehicle hauling carrier is usually a double deck truck that can load up to ten vehicles at a time. These vehicles are driven by certified CDL drivers who are qualified and licensed to haul motor vehicles. Sometimes, the driver of the truck is also the proprietor of the rig, so they decide on their services and which routes to travel. The truck driver is the individual who is actually responsible for picking up and delivering your vehicle. Some larger carrier companies are registered 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 directly with a company, rather than an intermediary, they think they’ll be gaining a better price, but that’s not necessarily true with San Marcos auto transport. On the other hand, a broker already has established a network of carriers, so they can search multiple options to find the perfect choice for their clients.

Car Shipping Advice

Secure your personal items outside your vehicle.

Auto shippers in San Marcos are prohibited by the Department of Transportation to transport anything that would be considered a “household good”. This consists of things like personal GPS devices, external DVD players, DVDs, CDs or any typical household item that you’ve stored in your vehicle. It’s a wise course of action to sweep your vehicle for any of these things and remove them prior to pickup.

Do not overfill your gas tank.

You should always ensure that there is about a quarter tank of gas left in your vehicle when shipping. Your San Marcos auto carrier will most likely have to drive the vehicle on and off the truck 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. But, you don’t want to overfill your tank or leave your vehicle with a full tank of gasoline during shipping. If your gas tank is full, it will end up adding a substantial quantity of weight to your vehicle, which could cause issues.

Examine your vehicle for signs of damage before and after shipping.

To ensure you have evidence of the condition of your motor vehicle prior to using a San Marcos auto carrier it’s a good idea to search for any dents, scratches or other damage that may already exist. The best way to do this is by thoroughly washing your car first so it will be simpler to identify any dents or damage. Then, take photos using your phone or camera to record the condition of your vehicle, even if its body doesn’t have any problems. That way you have documentation of its condition in the event any problems occur during the auto transport process.

Find out what’s in your Bill of Lading.

Once the auto carrier in San Marcos shows up to obtain your vehicle for transport you should be supplied with what’s called a Bill of Lading. This is simply a document that acknowledges the business is picking up your vehicle for shipping and will also display any existing damages to your car prior to picking it up. First, inspect your vehicle with the driver of the auto trailer so that you both are in agreement on its condition. After the inspection is complete, current damages will be documented and the Bill of Lading will be signed by both the customer and the driver. Once your vehicle is delivered, you’ll be provided with a Bill of Lading that you can use to check for any new damages to your vehicle that may have occurred during the shipping process.

Evaluate your insurance coverage options.

You should check with your auto insurance company to find out if they provide any coverage for your vehicle should it be damaged during the hauling process. Auto transport San Marcos 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 company 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.

Getting the Best Auto Transport Service in San Marcos

There are a few ways you can make sure that you’re getting the best service from the auto carrier in San Marcos that you’ve chosen. Every experienced auto hauler should be licensed, bonded and insured. Another way to examine their service record is by obtaining their MC number or USDOT and doing a lookup with the Better Business Bureau. Be sure to look over the terms and conditions of the shipping agreement and take some time to educate yourself on the general auto transport process. Lastly, you can check out third-party reviews online and find out what past clients are saying about the auto haulers services.

Difference Between Open Transport & Enclosed Carriers in San Marcos

The cars 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 reverse of an open car carrier shipping service. An enclosed carrier is just as it sounds, which means your vehicle will transported in an enclosed environment and safe from the outside. Since these carriers have an enclosure, they can usually carry a lower amount of vehicles than an open solution.

Deciding on The Ideal Auto Transport Service in San Marcos

In order to choose the right auto transport method for your vehicle, take into account how much security your vehicle will require. The most common vehicles shipped using an enclosed shipping option are antique or classic vehicles. On the other hand, if you have an average or older model vehicle, then an open-air trailer should suit your demands just fine. A good game plan is to get numerous quotes from car shipping carriers or brokers, that way you know you’re getting the most fair rates. Simply put a little time towards researching the auto shipping process and the car carrier in San Marcos that you’re preparing to do business with, that way you know all your bases are covered.