Vehicle Shipping in Erie IL

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 Erie, 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 Erie, IL.

Shipping a vehicle is not a very challenging process, although it may seem that way from the outside, especially if you’ve hardly ever done it before. In order to transport a car, truck or motorcycle it’s actually just a matter of having the right information and calling the right Erie auto transport service to take care of the job. Often times when you reach out to a transport firm you’ll be speaking with what’s called an auto transport broker, in lieu of the transporter themselves. Both of these businesses fundamentally make sure your vehicle is transported safety and easily to a new location. No matter where in the country you’re shipping your motor vehicle, the process is fundamentally the same. You’ll want to ensure you have your vehicle’s info handy, such as the make, model and year, as well as the exact location you wish to ship it to. It’s also important to have a general time schedule in mind if you’ll need your vehicle delivered by a certain date. One of the most significant distinctions to realize is the difference and commonalities between an auto transport broker and a carrier.

Auto Brokers vs. Auto Carriers in Erie

First, every customer should know what it means to be an auto transport broker versus a carrier. Prior to choosing between an auto broker and an auto transport company in Erie it’s important to have a good understanding of the variations between the two, as well as how the market works. If you’ve never used an auto shipping service before, the process might seem challenging, but in this article we’ll give you all the information you need to make an educated decision.

What Is An Auto Transport Broker?

An auto transport broker is simply the professional chosen by you, the shipper, who assists in the process of procuring an auto transport company in Erie. This means the customer, or shipper, does not actually deal directly with the auto carrier who will be in charge of picking up and delivering your automobile. The auto transport broker acts as a liaison between the shipper and carrier, which means they can shop around to find the most effective shipping solution for their customers. They’ll find an automobile carrier who travels the route and is within realistic distance to your location, so it can end up making the entire shipping process quicker. Essentially, they will be your point of contact during the entire shipping process until your car is shipped to its destination.

How to Find an Auto Transport Carrier in Erie

An auto carrier, as opposed to a broker, is the individual or organization that owns the moving trucks and will be responsible for shipping your motor vehicle. One benefit of using a carrier is that you are dealing directly with the company who will be transporting your vehicle, essentially eliminating the middle man. The client will be accountable for choosing a company that handles auto transport in Erie, either a single one or several if you are shopping around for the best price. In this case, the customer assumes the role of the broker and deals with the auto transport directly. 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 reach your destination based 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.

Tips for Shipping Your Car

Secure your personal items outside your vehicle.

Auto shippers in Erie are prohibited by the Department of Transportation to carry anything that would be considered a “household good”. This includes things like personal GPS devices, external DVD players, DVDs, CDs or any common household item that you’ve stashed in your vehicle. It’s a wise course of action to sweep your vehicle for any of these things and get rid of them prior to pickup.

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

Since your automobile will need to be driven onto and off of the transport trailer, you ought to make sure your vehicle isn’t super low on gas. Also, your car may be placed at an angle on top of an auto carrier, meaning gas could move from one side of the gas tank to another, and if the gasoline level is too low it might not be able to start. Make certain to not have a full gas tank, however, as it can add significant weight to your vehicle which could lead to shipping troubles.

Pay attention to any existing damage on your car.

To ensure you have proof of the condition of your motor vehicle prior to using a Erie auto carrier it’s a good idea to search for any dents, scratches or other damage that may already exist. Washing 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 offer proof of its condition if needed afterwards. Using this method you have documentation of its condition in the event any problems arise during the auto transport process.

Knowing your Bill of Lading.

You’ll be given what’s called a Bill of Lading once your Erie car carrier arrives to retrieve your vehicle for transport. This Bill of Lading contains the details of your vehicle transport agreement and will verify that it is being placed in the temporary care of the auto transport company. Both parties can do an inspection of the vehicle at this time to record any damages that are on the body. 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. Any new harm that may have occurred throughout the transportation process, although rare, can be identified easier this way.

Understand your insurance coverage.

Your insurance company may have protection built into your policy that provides for damages that may occur in the auto hauling process. Auto transport Erie companies should already have liability coverage built into their services, which typically covers anywhere from ,000 to 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.

How to Find the Best Auto Hauler in Erie

There are a number of ways you can ensure you’re getting the absolute best service from your chosen Erie car carrier. You should only use an auto transport service that is licensed, bonded and insured. The customer can also use the auto transporter’s MC number or USDOT number. You can use these numbers to look up reports on their solutions with the BBB. It’s also a wise course of action to quickly evaluate the terms and conditions of the service agreement so that you have a general idea of what in entails. This way you’ll be able to make the most educated decision possible.

Erie Transport Options: Open vs. Enclosed Trucks

Shipping your vehicle by using an open carrier option is often the most affordable and common. It is the most frequently used and there are more of these carriers around than any other type. These auto carriers are around in abundance, so it helps keep down the fees involved in shipping. In general, this will be the most cost-effective method of transporting your vehicle. Auto carriers travel constant routes and will transport up to 10 other vehicles along with yours to maintain efficacy. This reduces the cost of shipping as it is divided by the all the vehicles onboard.

Selecting The Right Auto Transport Service in Erie

Prior to deciding on whether you utilize an open trailer or enclosed trailer, first think about how much protection your vehicle really needs. If it is an antique or collector’s car, you’ll probably want to err on the side of caution and utilize a fully-enclosed trailer to move your vehicle. However, if you’re simply transporting an average vehicle that you use every day for typical driving needs, then an open trailer would probably be a good fit for you. As usually, try to get at least three or four quotes for car shipping services so you can be sure you’re being billed an satisfactory rate. Merely put a little time towards researching the auto shipping process and the car carrier in Erie that you’re planning to do business with, that way you know all your bases are covered.