Car Transport in Palm Harbor FL

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 Palm Harbor, 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 Palm Harbor, FL.

Shipping a car or truck is not a really complex process, though it may seem that way from the outside, specifically if you’ve hardly ever done it before. Shipping a car, truck, motorcycle, or any other type of vehicle is just a matter of finding the proper information and calling the right people, which is this case is an auto transport company in Palm Harbor. Sometimes, you’ll end up contacting what’s called a broker rather than an actual auto carrier. They both offer you the same options, which is to facilitate the transportation of your vehicle, but a broker merely arranges the transport while a carrier essentially supplies the transportation. No matter where in the country you’re delivering your motor vehicle, the process is fundamentally the same. The main data you’ll need prior to transport is your vehicle’s make, model and year. It’s also important to have a general time schedule in mind if you’ll need your vehicle transported by a certain date. One of the most important distinctions to understand is the difference and similarities between an auto transport broker and a carrier.

Palm Harbor Auto Brokers vs. Car Carriers

Hiring an auto transport company requires some due diligence and knowing how the industry works prior to making a decision. The process can be challenging if you don’t know where to begin or where to get specific information. We’ll cover the fundamentals of auto shipping as well as the role that car carriers and auto brokers play in providing customers with transport services.

Auto Transport Brokers and How They Interact With Consumers

In the car shipping market, a broker is a firm that resells your shipping job. For instance, when you call a broker, you will be paying them the total cost for transporting your automobile from point A to point B. However, they will not actually perform the shipping themselves, as they don’t own the trucks that are used in the shipping process. They will make contact with a variety of Palm Harbor auto shippers and use one of those auto transport services to ship your car or other vehicle. After the job is passed on to the carrier, the broker will stay in contact with the customer until the vehicle is delivered. The auto transport broker will act as a channel between the customer and carriers in order to discover the best rates and most reliable service for them.

How to Identify an Auto Transporter

An auto transport carrier is the business that owns the trucks and employs the movers that do the work of hauling a vehicle. Interacting directly with a car carrier will not require a broker, but it may be difficult to find the best carrier since many of them rely on brokers to connect them with customers. A consumer would be responsible for finding and dealing with the Palm Harbor auto transporter, or a number of of them if you are shopping around. A broker will not be necessary in this case, but you may find your choices limited. Not every auto shipper will necessarily be able to handle your auto transport needs, as they require licensing to travel through each state and may not be able to achieve your destination depending on the states they must go through. A carrier can be a one-man company with one or two trucks, or a big auto transport company with numerous trucks.

Car Shipping Advice

Take any personal items out of your vehicle.

All Palm Harbor auto haulers are prohibited from transporting what would be considered “household goods” by the Department of Transportation. You will need to do a quick check of your vehicle and remove these items prior to shipping. Some common items that should be removed from your vehicle include car seats, umbrellas and clothing.

Leave your gas tank a quarter of the ways full.

Before your vehicle gets loaded up with a Palm Harbor auto hauler you should verify your gas level to make sure you have around a quarter tank of gasoline. Some gasoline is necessary to start your vehicle and drive it so that it can be loaded and unloaded from the auto shipping trailer properly. 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.

Record any body damage on your vehicle

It’s a good plan to wash your car prior to shipping and make sure there is no dust or mud stuck on it. You’ll want to do a detailed inspection of your vehicle’s body before shipping to make sure you’re aware of any existing damages. It’s easy to document them by taking pictures, which will also prove the condition of your vehicle in the case that damage does occur during the transporting process.

Knowing your Bill of Lading.

The client will be provided with what’s called a “Bill of Lading” once your Palm Harbor auto transport gets there to retrieve your car. This document is an acknowledgment form that shows the auto carrier is picking up your vehicle for transport. It will also outline any current damage on your vehicle including dents, scratches or dings. The driver and consumer can do an assessment together so that they agree on the car’s existing condition. In this case, both parties can come to an agreement on the condition of your vehicle prior to it being shipped, which will help prevent mistakes from happening when it’s delivered. When your vehicle shows up at its new location, the customer will be presented with another Bill of Lading verifying the delivery and turning over the car back to the owner.

Your motor vehicle should be insured against damages.

You really should check with your auto insurance provider to find out if they offer any coverage for your vehicle in case it is damaged during the hauling process. Even so, any auto transport Palm Harbor service should already have liability coverage currently built into their prices, which typically 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 supplied by an outside company that the car hauler does business with. Usually, this is enough to cover any issues that could occur during the transportation process, but it’s a good idea to verify with your insurance company as well.

Make Certain You Select the Best Car Shipping Supplier in Palm Harbor

To ensure you’re getting the best car shipping provider in Palm Harbor there are a few details you should acquire regarding your auto transport company. Consumers should only do business with transporters who are licensed, bonded and insured. You can also get their MC number or USDOT number to check their reports with the BBB (Better Business Bureau). Ensure to look over the terms and conditions of the shipping agreement and take some time to educate yourself on the overall auto transport process. Lastly, you can check out third-party reviews online and find out what past consumers are stating about the auto haulers services.

Difference Between Open Transport & Enclosed Carriers in Palm Harbor

The motor vehicles moved with open auto transport carriers are not protected from weather elements like rain, sun, hail and snow, and from dust and even birds. If you’re opting for this type of car carrier transport, you should be aware that your vehicle will be exposed to all those elements. If you’re shipping a custom, classic or collector’s vehicle, then you may want to opt for an enclosed auto carrier. It is the opposite of an open car carrier shipping service. An enclosed carrier is just as it sounds, meaning your vehicle will moved in an enclosed environment and safe from the outside. Since these carriers have an enclosure, they can normally carry a lower amount of vehicles than an open alternative.

Getting the Best Deals on Auto Transport in Palm Harbor

In order to choose the right auto transport method for your vehicle, take into account how much security your vehicle will require. If it is an antique or collector’s car, you’ll perhaps 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 likely 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 getting the most fair rates. Merely put a little time towards investigating the auto shipping process and the car carrier in Palm Harbor that you’re preparing to do business with, that way you know all your bases are covered.