Car Shipping in Watsonville CA

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Unlike other vehicle shipping companies in Watsonville, 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.

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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 Watsonville, CA.

What is involved in moving your vehicle from one location to another by using an auto transport business in Watsonville? To put it simply, it’s the act of transporting a car from one state to another through some type of car shipping process. Customers have the option to choose between an open carrier, which is the most well-known, or an enclosed carrier that better safeguards your vehicle. Typically, an open carrier is used to transport most vehicles unless they are expensive or collector’s automobiles. However, first you should understand the distinction between an auto transport broker and an auto carrier. In short, brokers facilitate the shipping procedure by hooking up customers with carriers, while the carrier actually performs the job. Below, we’ll review the distinction between a broker and carrier, as well as other ideas that will help you make the ideal auto transport choice.

Watsonville Auto Brokers and Their Role in Auto Transport

Odds are if you’ve never utilized an auto transporter in Watsonville, then you might be unaware of the difference between an auto shipping broker and carrier. Even though both choices will end with the same result of getting your car moved from one location to another, it’s always good to understand the process before choosing a service.

How an Auto Transport Broker Sets Up Car Carrier Solutions

An auto shipping broker is basically the logistics management portion of the auto carrier. They provide a platform for communication and keep track of existing market conditions in order to quote the most reasonable rates. Auto shipping brokers in Watsonville negotiate on a customer’s behalf and make sure customers and carriers are on the same page during shipping. An auto shipping broker will have connections with carriers around the country and will find one who travels the route and has the best rates for the client. One of the advantages of using an auto shipping broker is that they can provide you with a greater variety of options when it comes to car haulers. They will also coordinate with the auto transport vendor throughout the shipping process and keep the customer current as to its progress.

What Is An Auto Transport Carrier?

An auto carrier normally employs a large double deck truck to move multiple vehicles at once, which you’ve probably seen on the highways at times. These vehicles are driven by certified CDL drivers who are qualified and licensed to haul automobiles. The driver may be the owner 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. Occasionally a carrier may also act as a broker, so if they are unable to transport your vehicle, then they will find another driver who can do the work. 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 getting a better rate, but that’s not automatically true with Watsonville auto transport. On the other hand, a broker already has established a network of carriers, so they can search multiple options to find the top choice for their customers.

Tips for Shipping Your Car

Secure your personal items outside your vehicle.

Auto carriers are forbidden from moving anything considered a household good, which is a law mandated by the Department of Transportation. This means auto transport in Watsonville will not be allowed to ship vehicles with your personal items inside of them. This includes things like GPS systems, DVD players, CDs or other third-party goods that you have placed in your vehicle.

Don’t ship your automobile with a full tank of gas.

Keep an eye on your gas gauge before shipping with a Watsonville car carrier. Just to be safe, make sure your gas level isn’t too low and leave only about a quarter of a tank in your automobile. The vehicle will need to be driven briefly so that it can be loaded on and off the auto shipping trailer. Alternatively, you don’t want to ship your car with a full tank of gasoline either. A full tank will add substantial weight to your vehicle and could throw off the equilibrium of the transport and result in problems.

Record any body damage on your vehicle

In order to better discover any scuff marks or dents on your vehicle it’s a good idea to clean it before inspecting the body. This will allow you to plainly see if there are any dents, dings or scratches that are already present on your vehicle’s body, which means you won’t incorrectly believe the damage occurred during shipping. It’s easy to document them by taking pictures, which will also prove the condition of your motor vehicle in the case that damage does occur during the shipping process.

What is a Bill of Lading?

When the Watsonville car carrier comes to pick up your car you will be given a Bill of Lading. This Bill of Lading contains the details of your vehicle transport contract and will validate that it is being placed in the temporary care of the auto transport company. At this time, both the customer and driver of the auto carrier should do an inspection of the vehicle in order to document any existing damages. So the consumer and driver can come to an agreement as to the vehicle’s condition, and that way there won’t be any misunderstandings once the vehicle is delivered. One more Bill of Lading will be given to the customer once the vehicle 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.

Review your insurance coverage opportunities.

Each time you do business with a Watsonville auto hauler you should check to make sure they have their own liability insurance. Generally, the auto transport service you’re using will already have insurance built into the cost of their services, so there won’t be any additional costs involved. The typical liability coverage ranges between ,000 and 0,000 in coverage, which would be adequate for the vast majority of problems that could come up. This coverage is usually provided by a third-party insurer employed by the auto transport service.

Getting the Best Auto Transport Service in Watsonville

You’ll have a wide range 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 Watsonville service that you’re thinking about going with. Initially, you can obtain the company’s MC number or USDOT number. A dependable 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 customers are saying. Finally, it’s a good idea to review the terms and conditions in your service agreement with the vehicle shipper so you understand the service you’re getting.

Watsonville Transport Options: Open vs. Enclosed Trucks

Most people think the open transport auto carrier alternative is the constantly the cheapest. You could compare this option to flying economy class on an airplane compared to first class. It’s the way most people travel. This same concept can apply to deciding on an open transport. Over 4,000 open auto carriers ship cars throughout the country. Even car dealerships contract a transport company to send a car the most affordable way possible. Transporting your vehicle by using an open carrier is the most cost effective way of transportation, rather than using a single flatbed truck only moving one car or truck at a time.

Get the Most Out of Your Auto Transport Provider

In order to choose the right auto transport method for your vehicle, consider how much protection your car will require. If it is an antique or collector’s car, you’ll most 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 motor vehicle that you use every day for common driving needs, then an open trailer would probably be a good fit for you. A good game plan is to get numerous quotes from car shipping carriers or brokers, that way you know you’re receiving the most fair rates. Simply put a little time towards studying the auto shipping process and the car carrier in Watsonville that you’re planning to do business with, that way you know all your bases are covered.