Auto Transportation in Tahoe City 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 Tahoe City, 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 Tahoe City, CA.

Moving a car or truck is not a really challenging practice, although it may seem that way from the outside, particularly if you’ve never done it before. In order to move a car, truck or motorcycle it’s really just a matter of having the right information and calling the right Tahoe City auto transport service to take care of the job. In many cases when you reach out to a transport supplier you’ll be speaking with what’s called an auto transport broker, as opposed to the transporter themselves. They both provide the same solutions, which is to facilitate the moving of your vehicle, but a broker merely arranges the transport while a carrier actually supplies the transportation. No matter where in the country you’re shipping your automobile, the process is basically the same. The main details you’ll need prior to transport is your vehicle’s make, model and year. You should also plan ahead if you have a strict timeframe you need your vehicle shipped in or a particular date it has to arrive by. Initially, as a customer you should know the difference between an auto carrier broker and the actual shipping firm that owns the trucks.

Tahoe City Auto Brokers vs. Car Carriers

First, every customer should know what it means to be an auto transport broker versus a carrier. Before getting into the process of choosing an auto transport service in Tahoe City you should first know the difference between an auto shipping broker and a carrier. If you’ve never used an auto transport service before, the process might seem tricky, but in this article we’ll give you all the details you need to make an educated decision.

What Does an Auto Broker Do?

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 hooking up customers, referred to as “shippers”, with the carriers that offer the specific services requested. The benefit of using a broker rather than a carrier is that you have much more options because of their existing network of auto carriers. If you work directly with an auto transport carrier, they may not currently have the required equipment when you need it, or may not have licensing in all the states necessary to relocate your vehicle where it needs to go. In short, a broker does the work of contacting carriers in order to find the one who offers the best prices and appropriate service, which means you might get a better rate since it increases competition.

What Is An Auto Transport Carrier?

When you choose to seek out a Tahoe City 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. They do not divert too far from their designated routes because this would mean slower service to all customers and even higher rates. It doesn’t necessarily mean you’ll be paying less when dealing directly with a Tahoe City auto carrier either. A service costs what it costs. Whether that is time, equipment and effort to drive or to find and deal with customers, it all costs money. Dealing with an auto carrier directly may not change the rate you pay over going with a broker, since the broker has a wide range of carriers that they can get in touch with for the best rates and routes. In fact, carriers often times aren’t easy to find, as brokers handle that side of their business for them.

Preparing Your Vehicle to be Transported

Secure your personal items outside your vehicle.

Auto carriers are banned from moving anything considered a household good, which is a law mandated by the Department of Transportation. So auto transport in Tahoe City cannot move a vehicle that’s loaded up with personal items or other goods. This consists of things like GPS systems, DVD players, CDs or other third-party goods that you have put in your vehicle.

Don’t overfill your gas tank.

Even though your car or truck will not be driven much during the shipping process, it may be required during the loading and unloading process. Also, your vehicle may be positioned at an angle on top of an auto carrier, meaning gasoline could shift from one side of the gas tank to another, and if the fuel level is too low it might not be able to start. Make sure to not have a full gas tank, however, as it can add significant weight to your vehicle which could lead to shipping issues.

Perform an exam on your vehicle’s condition prior to shipping.

In order to record the condition of your vehicle ahead of turning it over to a Tahoe City auto carrier, it’s a good idea to take pictures of any scratches, dents, dings or other damage present before to shipping. Cleaning your car first will make it a lot easier to identify any dents or dings. Next, take some photos of videos of your car in order to deliver proof of its condition if needed later on. This way you have documentation of its condition in the event any incidents arise during the auto transport process.

Understanding your Bill of Lading.

Once your Tahoe City auto transporter arrives to pick up your car, both you and the driver will do an inspection to determine the condition of your vehicle. This inspection will document any existing damages on your vehicle, which generally includes scratches, dents and dings. When you’re satisfied with the assessment, you’ll be presented with what’s called a Bill of Lading. This document simply acknowledges that the auto carrier is taking short-term control of your vehicle. It also confirms the condition of your vehicle, so both the customer and auto transporter can agree on any current damage. When the car arrives at its intended location, the customer will be presented with another Bill of Lading. This new bill will describe if any new damages have taken place during the shipping process. This process guarantees that both the customer and auto carrier are in agreement on the condition of the vehicle.

Understand your insurance coverage.

Inquire about your auto transport carrier’s insurance liability coverage before shipping, which each and every carrier should already have. Your chosen Tahoe City 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. Each auto hauler commonly uses a third-party insurance company that handles the liabilities on their end. Sometimes, your insurance company offers this type of coverage on your vehicle as well, so you can always check your policy prior to shipping.

Choosing the Best Auto Transport Carrier in Tahoe City

You’ll have a wide variety of auto transporters to pick from when looking for the best service for your vehicle shipping needs. Fortunately, you can do a little bit of research on your end before making a final decision on which auto transport Tahoe City service to go with. Initially, you can get the company’s MC number or USDOT number. A reliable auto carrier service should be insured and licensed. You’ll also be able to look up any reports on the service with the Better Business Bureau to see what previous consumers are saying. 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 comprehend the process a little better.

Understanding the Difference Between Enclosed Transport and Open Transport Options in Tahoe City

Shipping your vehicle by utilizing an open carrier option is often the most affordable and common. There are more carriers of this type than an enclosed version, and you’ve probably seen them numerous times on the highway. The variety of these carriers and their reputation helps contribute to the affordable price tag. So, in general, this is the most inexpensive way to ship a car. An auto carrier that is going from your area and journeying through to your location will take that vehicle and add it to a group of up to 10 others heading in that same direction. This decreases the cost of shipping as it is divided by the all the vehicles onboard.

Know Your Auto Transport Choices in Tahoe City

Always think about how much safety and security your vehicle or vehicles will need during the transport process. If you’re simply shipping a standard or older vehicle, then open-transport alternatives are probably fine for you. Antique, classic cars and collector’s vehicles that are specifically kept in secured conditions would benefit the most from an enclosed shipping solution. As a customer, it’s a good idea to get several quotes from Tahoe City auto transporters. However, the lowest price it not necessarily the ideal choice for every situation. 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 perfect deal. That way, you’re making sure your vehicle is shipped safely and makes it to its destination with ease.