Auto Transportation in Key West FL

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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.

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Unlike other vehicle shipping companies in Key West, 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 Key West, FL.

Are you looking for the absolute best Key West auto transport? In this document we’ll give you an overview of the auto shipping business, how it operates and how to make the very best decision. A little research will go a long way in having the best auto transport experience feasible and make sure your vehicle makes it from one location to another securely. For the most part, auto shippers will provide “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 Key West auto shipping companies, you should first know the distinction between a broker and a carrier. The primary distinction is that brokers simply arrange for transport, while carriers are the ones actually handling the physical delivery. Some agencies act as both a broker and a carrier, but we’ll discuss the two distinctions further in this article.

What is an Auto Broker in Key West?

One of the most crucial distinctions to understand is the distinction between an auto transport broker and a carrier. Before getting into the process of choosing an auto transport service in Key West you should first know the difference between an auto shipping broker and a carrier. If you’ve never used an auto shipping service before, the process might seem complex, but in this article we’ll give you all the information you need to make an educated decision.

How do Auto Transport Brokers Work?

An auto shipping broker is basically the logistics management portion of the auto carrier. A broker will track market conditions and will have a community of car carriers to contact for each customer they receive. A car transporter in Key West will be in contact with these brokers and depend on them to connect customers with their solutions. These broker firms will have access to a database of carriers from around the country and can arrange for your car to be picked-up virtually anywhere, sometimes the very same day you contact them. One of the advantages of using an auto shipping broker is that they can provide you with a better variety of options when it comes to auto haulers. These brokers also stay in touch with the client throughout the shipping process and will keep them posted as to the progress of their car shipping service.

How to Identify an Auto Carrier

When you choose to seek out a Key West auto carrier you’ll be dealing with the company who actually owns the truck used for transporting motor vehicles. With a few conditions, most auto transport carriers only serve a minimal number of routes. Generally, they don’t stray too far from these routes because of extra fuel costs and the travel time frame it would take, which would slow down other deliveries. It doesn’t necessarily mean you’ll be spending less when dealing directly with a Key West 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 an assortment of carriers that they can get in touch with for the ideal rates and routes. Auto carriers aren’t generally easy to locate and contact, since a lot of times they depend on brokers to connect them with customers.

Preparing Your Vehicle to be Transported

Take any personal items out of your vehicle.

Most individuals are unaware of a Department of Transportation Code that forbids auto transport services in Key West from shipping personal items included in vehicles. Popular household items that could be in your vehicle such as a car seat, GPS device or an umbrella should be removed prior to your vehicle being shipped. So it’s a good option to check your vehicle and take away any of these items before the truck arrives to pick it up.

Leave a quarter of a tank of fuel in your car.

Before your vehicle gets loaded up with a Key West auto hauler you should check your gas level to make sure you have around a quarter tank of gas. The transporting process will require a small amount of driving, typically only in the loading and unloading process, so some gas will be necessary. However, you won’t want to leave more than a quarter of a tank or a full tank of gas in your car because of the extra weight it adds.

Pay attention to any existing damage on your car.

In order to better identify any scuff marks or blemishes on your vehicle it’s a good idea to wash it before inspecting the body. This will allow you to clearly see if there are any dents, dings or scratches that are already present on your vehicle’s body, which means you won’t erroneously believe the damage happened during shipping. Just taking photos or a video of the condition of your vehicle prior to shipping can help prevent any confusion at the time of its delivery.

Find out what’s in your Bill of Lading.

When the Key West auto transport arrives to start the shipping process, you and the driver of the carrier can do an assessment of your vehicle’s condition. During this time you can identify any dents, dings or scratches already on your vehicle’s body. Once that process is complete, the client will be given a Bill of Lading. The contract will confirm auto carrier is taking your vehicle for transport. It will also make sure that both you and the auto transport carrier are in agreement on any existing damage on your car. 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 safeguards both the customer and the auto carrier so that there will be no confusion upon delivery.

Understand your insurance coverage.

Your insurance company may have protection built into your policy that provides for damages that can occur in the auto hauling process. Even so, any auto transport Key West service should already have liability coverage currently built into their prices, which generally covers anywhere between ,000 and 0,000 worth of damages. The cost of this insurance is built into the overall price of your vehicle transportation and is provided by an outside business that the car hauler does business with. This should be enough to cover anything that could happen to the common vehicle, unless you’re transporting a high-end or collector’s car.

Choosing the Best Auto Transport Carrier in Key West

In order to make certain you’re getting the best service from your Key West car carrier you can always do a bit of research on their history first. You should only use an auto transport service that is licensed, bonded and insured. You can find out more about the company 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 review the company’s terms and conditions to get a much better idea of the type of service you’re receiving. This way you’ll be able to make the most educated decision possible.

Key West Transport Options: Open vs. Enclosed Trucks

Shipping your vehicle by utilizing an open carrier solution is often the most cost-effective and common. There are more carriers of this type than an enclosed version, and you’ve most likely seen them numerous times on the highway. The variety of these carriers and their popularity helps contribute to the affordable price tag. In general, this will be the most inexpensive method of transporting your vehicle. An auto carrier that is going from your area and traveling 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 lowers the cost of shipping as it is divided by the all the vehicles onboard.

Get the Most Out of Your Auto Transport Service

It’s a good practice to consider what type of safety your car will require while being shipped across the country. Using an open transport is ideal, and almost always more affordable, if you’re shipping a standard vehicle that would normally be exposed to the outdoors on a daily basis anyways. Antique, classic cars and collector’s cars that are specifically kept in protected conditions would benefit the most from an enclosed shipping option. As a customer, it’s a good plan to get various quotes from Key West auto transporters. This way you’ll know the general prices, but the cheapest is not always the ideal choice. 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.