Vehicle Transportation in Westport CT

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 Westport, 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 Westport, CT.

What is involved in transferring your vehicle from one location to another by using an auto transport business in Westport? In essence, auto shipping consists of a car carrier company relocating 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 common option you’ll see on the road, or an enclosed transport where your vehicle would not be exposed to the outdoors. Generally, an open carrier is used to transport most vehicles unless they are high-priced or collector’s automobiles. However, first you should learn the distinction between an auto transport broker and an auto carrier. Brokers don’t actually ship the vehicle, but they behave as an intermediary between the customer and the service that provides the shipping of the vehicles. In this article, we’ll review the differences between brokers and carriers, as well as some guidelines to help make your auto transport experience smoother.

What is an Auto Broker in Westport?

When looking for car transport and car shipping companies in Westport, there are essentially two different choices you can choose to book with: a broker, and a carrier. In short, an auto shipping broker reaches out to car haulers who will actually perform the moving of your vehicle. A broker will find trucking companies in your area to pick up and deliver your vehicle. A carrier, on the other hand, actually owns their trucks and they send one of their trucks to pick up your vehicle.

What Is An Auto Transport Broker?

Auto transport brokers don’t have their own transport carriers and generally are not the companies that will move vehicles. Brokers facilitate auto transportation by connecting customers, referred to as “shippers”, with the carriers that provide the specific services requested. The benefit of using a broker as opposed to a carrier is that you have much more options because of their active network of auto carriers. Working with a single carrier means they may not run the route you require, have the necessary equipment or the correct licensing to transport through the states required to get your vehicle where it needs to go. Basically, a broker does the leg work of locating a carrier that meets these criteria and can sometimes get a more competitive price by creating competition between carriers on behalf of the shipper.

Finding a Car Carrier in Westport

When you work directly with an auto transport provider that means you will be dealing with the actual individual or business that will be moving your vehicle. The auto shipping carriers are the owners of the trailers that are used in transporting the cars and are the owners of the company. Most auto transport carriers in Westport have to be licensed and insured, but a consumer should still do their homework to validate this. These car carriers will serve a specific number of routes and locations in order to offer reliable service and remain profitable. Many carriers actually rely on auto shipping brokers to connect them with the ideal customers who will fit the routes they take, which means more productive service. You’ll end up paying about the same rate whether you go with a carrier or broker, however, as costs are based largely on fuel rates at the time. There is competition among auto carriers today and most auto carriers provide a number of promotions and discounts to their clients. Therefore, you can take advantage of the situation in order to get a great bargain.

Car Shipping Advice

Ensure all personal items are removed from your vehicle.

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

Leave your gas tank a quarter of the ways full.

Be sure to maintain around a quarter tank of gas in your vehicle prior to shipping it. Your Westport 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 sharp angle it’s a good idea 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 gas during shipping. If your gas tank is full, it will end up placing a considerable quantity of weight to your vehicle, which could cause problems.

Take photos of any existing damages on your car.

Always conduct an in-depth inspection of the condition of your vehicle prior to shipping it via a Westport car hauler. A fairly easy way to do this is by washing your car off and making certain there’s no dirt left on it so that way it’s much easier to discover dents and dings. This will make sure you are aware of any existing problems and can accurately determine if any new damage took place during the shipping process. Document any damages by taking photos with your phone or camera, that way you also have proof of your vehicle’s condition prior to transporting it.

Find out what’s in your Bill of Lading.

When the Westport auto transport arrives to begin the shipping procedure, you and the driver of the carrier can do an evaluation of your vehicle’s condition. During this time you can identify any dents, dings or scratches already on your vehicle’s body. When you’re satisfied with the assessment, you’ll be presented with what’s called a Bill of Lading. The contract will confirm auto carrier is taking your vehicle for transport. 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 destination, 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. So this process essentially protects both the customer and the auto carrier so that there will be no misunderstandings upon delivery.

Evaluate your insurance coverage opportunities.

Even though the Westport auto hauler should have liability insurance built into their services, it’s a good plan to check with your own insurance company as well to see if they would cover any damage that occurs as a result of hauling your vehicle. Usually, the auto transport service you’re using will already have insurance built into the price tag of their services, so there won’t be any excess costs involved. The typical liability coverage ranges between ,000 and 0,000 in coverage, which would be enough for the vast majority of problems that could occur. These auto carriers typically have their coverage through a third-party and is already built into the price you’re paying for shipping.

How to Find the Best Auto Hauler in Westport

There are a number of ways you can guarantee you’re getting the absolute best service from your chosen Westport car carrier. First, only do business with an auto hauler who is licensed, bonded and insured. You can find out more about the firm by getting their MC number or USDOT number. You can use these numbers to look up reports on their services with the BBB. You can also look over the company’s terms and conditions to get a much better idea of the type of service you’re getting. A small bit of investigation as to overall auto transport process goes a long way as well.

Difference Between Westport Auto Transports and Enclosed Vehicle Carriers

Most people think the open transport auto carrier option is the always the cheapest. This option can be compared to economy class on a flight. It’s the most well-known way for people to take a flight. The same can be said about 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 inexpensive way possible. Open carriers will be more affordable than just moving one vehicle by itself using flatbed shipping, for example.

Getting the Greatest Deals on Auto Transport in Westport

In order to choose the right auto transport method for your vehicle, take into account how much protection your car will require. The most common cars 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 needs 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. By putting in a bit of time to research the Westport auto transport company, the process being auto transporting and the rates involved in your service you can make sure you’re not only getting the best deal, but also the perfect service.