Vehicle Transportation in Fairview Heights IL

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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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Competitive pricing with no hidden fees

Unlike other vehicle shipping companies in Fairview Heights, 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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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 Fairview Heights, IL.

What is involved in relocating your vehicle from one location to another by using an auto transport business in Fairview Heights? In fact, auto shipping consists of a car carrier company relocating the vehicle from one location to another for a customer. 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 subjected to the outdoors. Typically, an open carrier is used to transport most vehicles unless they are high-priced or collector’s vehicles. However, first you should know the distinction between an auto transport broker and an auto carrier. Brokers don’t in fact ship the vehicle, but they act as an intermediary between the customer and the service that provides the shipping of the vehicles. In this article, we’ll review the distinctions between brokers and carriers, as well as some suggestions to help make your auto transport experience better.

How an Auto Broker is Distinct From an Auto Carrier in Fairview Heights

Hiring an auto transport company requires some due diligence and understanding how the business works prior to making a decision. It may seem like a tricky process, but we’ll help make it less complicated for everyone. We’ll cover the fundamentals of auto shipping as well as the role that car carriers and auto brokers play in supplying consumers with transport services.

How an Auto Transport Broker Sets Up Transportation Options

In the car shipping community, a broker is a firm that resells your shipping job. When you get in touch with a broker, they will handle the process of finding a carrier for your vehicle and getting it from one area to another. 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 Fairview Heights 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 consumer until the vehicle is delivered. In essence, an auto transport broker acts as an intermediary between the customer and the auto transporters that can contact many businesses in order to find the best service for the shipper.

How to Find an Auto Transport Carrier in Fairview Heights

When you choose to seek out a Fairview Heights auto carrier you’ll be working with the company who actually owns the truck used for transporting automobiles. However, most carriers only serve a limited number of routes so that their services are cost effective. Typically, they don’t stray too far from these routes because of added fuel costs and the travel time it would take, which would slow down other deliveries. Dealing with a carrier company does not mean customers will pay less. All services cost money, particularly with auto shipping due to changing fuel rates, so there isn’t a whole lot of wiggle room often times. Dealing with an auto carrier directly might not change the rate you pay over going with a broker, since the broker has a variety of carriers that they can contact for the ideal prices and routes. In reality, carriers often times aren’t easy to find, as brokers handle that side of their business for them.

Things to Consider Before Shipping Your Motor Vehicle

Secure your personal items outside your car.

You might not be aware of this, but there is actually a Department of Transportation Code that forbids car haulers in Fairview Heights from moving vehicles with personal belongings in them. Common household goods 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. Make sure to do a swift inspection of the inside of your motor vehicle before it gets loaded onto a trailer.

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

When using a Fairview Heights auto transport company you should keep an eye on your fuel gauge before the time of shipping. It’s advised to leave about a quarter of a tank in your car just to be on the safe side. Your car may be driven briefly just to load it onto and off of the vehicle trailer and you don’t want to keep your fuel level too low. On the other hand, you don’t want to fill your gas tank an excessive amount either. A full tank will add significant weight to your vehicle and could throw off the stability of the transport and result in difficulties.

Document any body damage on your vehicle

In order to better discover any scratches or blemishes on your vehicle it’s a good idea to clean it before inspecting the body. This will allow you to clearly see if there are any dents, dings or scratches that are already existing on your vehicle’s body, which means you won’t incorrectly believe the damage happened during shipping. Merely taking pictures or a video of the condition of your car prior to shipping can help avoid any confusion at the time of its delivery.

What is a Bill of Lading?

When the Fairview Heights auto transport arrives to begin the shipping process, you and the driver of the carrier can do an examination of your vehicle’s condition. This inspection will document any current damages on your vehicle, which typically includes scratches, dents and dings. Once that process is complete, the customer will be given a Bill of Lading. The contract will confirm auto carrier is taking your vehicle for transport. It also verifies the condition of your vehicle, so both the customer and auto transporter can agree on any present 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 basically protects both the customer and the auto carrier so that there will be no confusion upon delivery.

Understand your insurance coverage.

You really should check with your auto insurance company to find out if they supply any coverage for your vehicle in case it is damaged during the hauling process. Auto transport Fairview Heights 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 provided by an outside company that the car hauler does business with. This should be enough to cover anything that could happen to the standard vehicle, unless you’re transporting a high end or collector’s car.

How to Find the Best Auto Hauler in Fairview Heights

To make sure you’re getting the best car shipping service in Fairview Heights there are a few details you should collect regarding your auto transport company. Every experienced auto hauler should be licensed, bonded and insured. Another way to check their service record is by obtaining their MC number or USDOT and doing a lookup with the Better Business Bureau. Make certain to look over the terms and conditions of the shipping agreement and take some time to educate yourself on the general auto transport process. Lastly, you can check out third-party reviews online and find out what past customers are stating about the auto haulers services.

Fairview Heights Transport Options: Open vs. Enclosed Trailers

An open auto transport carrier is open to the weather and elements, just as your vehicle would be if you were driving it down the street yourself. If using an open carrier then you could expect direct exposure to the elements and weather conditions throughout the areas it’s moving through. An enclosed auto transport carrier is a great car shipping option you can use particularly if you will transport a classic or custom vehicle. It is the opposite of an open car carrier shipping option. In an enclosed car carrier, the vehicles are housed in a covered truck. Enclosed carriers usually can only carry a few vehicles at the same. In the majority of cases up to five vehicles.

You Can Get Excellent Auto Transport Deals in Fairview Heights

Always consider how much safety and security your vehicle or vehicles will need during the transport process. If you’re simply shipping a standard or older vehicle, then open-transport options are probably okay for you. If you have a collector’s car or antique vehicle, then an enclosed shipping option might be better for your vehicle. As a customer, it’s a good plan to get multiple quotes from Fairview Heights auto transporters. However, the lowest price it not necessarily the ideal choice for every scenario. By performing some research on the auto transport industry and the companies you’re planning on working with, you can make sure you’re getting the very best deal. When you ultimately make your decision, you’ll be comfortable that your vehicle is being transported safely and securely to its final destination.