888-654-1785
Call For A Quote

Vehicle Transport in Galena IL

transportation checkboxesAnswers 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.

transportation checkboxes

Affordable Prices
Competitive pricing with no hidden fees

Unlike other vehicle shipping companies in Galena, 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.

transportation checkboxes

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 Galena, IL.

Have questions, need a quote, or want to schedule a transport – just give us a call at (888) 654-1785

picture of auto transporter in Galena, IL

The car shipping market can seem daunting at first, but by doing a little bit of homework you can make the best choice possible for shipping your automobile. Transporting a car, truck, motorcycle, or any other type of vehicle is just a matter of finding the proper information and calling the appropriate people, which is this case is an auto transport company in Galena. Sometimes, you’ll end up getting in touch with what’s called a broker rather than an actual auto carrier. They both offer the same solutions, which is to facilitate the moving of your vehicle, but a broker simply arranges the transport while a carrier essentially supplies the transportation. No matter where in the country you’re delivering your automobile, the process is basically the same. You’ll want to make sure you have your vehicle’s information handy, such as the make, model and year, as well as the exact location you wish to ship it to. It’s also necessary to have a general timeframe in mind if you’ll need your vehicle delivered by a certain date. One of the most important distinctions to realize is the difference and similarities between an auto transport broker and a carrier.

What is the Difference Between Auto Carriers and Brokers in Galena?

Odds are if you’ve never used an auto transporter in Galena, then you could possibly be unaware of the distinction between an auto shipping broker and carrier. Even though both choices will end with the same result of getting your car relocated from one place to another, it’s always good to understand the process before choosing a service.

How do Auto Transport Brokers Work?

In the car shipping industry, a broker is a firm that resells your shipping job. When you contact a broker, they will handle the process of finding a carrier for your automobile and getting it from one location to another. However, they will not actually carry out 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 Galena auto shippers and use one of those auto transport services to ship your car or other vehicle. Even though the broker doesn’t own the trucks, they will keep in contact with the customer throughout the shipping procedure. Essentially, an auto transport broker acts as an intermediary between the customer and the auto transporters that can contact many companies in order to find the best service for the shipper.

How to Identify an Auto Carrier

An auto transport carrier is the business that owns the trucks and employs the movers that do the work of transporting a vehicle. One advantage of using a carrier is that you are working directly with the company who will be hauling your vehicle, essentially eliminating the middle man. A consumer would be responsible for locating and dealing with the Galena auto transporter, or several of them if you are shopping around. A broker will not be required in this case, but you may find your choices constrained. 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 depending on the states they must go through. Auto carriers can range anywhere from a one person operation to a company with numerous drivers and a fleet of auto shipping trucks.

Car Shipping Tips

Remove all household goods you’re your vehicle.

Auto carriers are prohibited from relocating anything considered a household good, which is a law mandated by the Department of Transportation. So auto transport in Galena cannot, carry a vehicle that’s loaded up with personal property or other goods. Some good examples of household goods that might be in your car or truck are DVD players, GPS systems or car seats.

Only leave around a quarter of tank of gas in your car.

When utilizing a Galena auto transport company you should keep an eye on your gas gauge before the time of shipping. Just to be safe, make sure your gas level isn’t too low and keep only about a quarter of a tank in your car. The car will need to be driven briefly so that it can be loaded on and off the auto shipping trailer. On the other hand, you don’t want to ship your car with a full tank of gas either. A full tank will add significant weight to your vehicle and could throw off the balance of the transport and result in problems.

Take note of any existing damage on your car.

When using a Galena car hauler you should always perform a swift examination of your vehicle’s condition before it gets loaded on the trailer. An easy way to do this is by washing your car off and ensuring there’s no dirt left on it so that way it’s much easier to identify dents and dings. This will make sure you are conscious of any existing problems and can accurately determine if any new damage took place during the shipping process. It’s most effective to record the condition of your car by just taking pictures of it on your cell phone as proof, just in case there are any issues during transporting it.

Understand your Bill of Lading.

You’ll receive what’s known as a Bill of Lading once your Galena car carrier arrives to retrieve your vehicle for transport. This Bill of Lading contains the details of your vehicle transport contract and will confirm that it is being placed in the temporary care of the auto transport company. At this time, both the consumer and driver of the auto carrier should do an assessment of the vehicle in order to document any existing damages. By doing this both the customer and driver are in agreement on the vehicle’s condition at the time of pickup. One more Bill of Lading will be given to the client once the car arrives at its destination, which will confirm the condition of the vehicle matches what it was when it was picked up. If any new damages occur, they can be dealt with at this time.

Review your insurance coverage opportunities.

It’s a good idea to question your auto hauler about their company’s liability insurance coverage in the event your car is damaged during the shipping process. Any Galena car hauler should already have liability insurance, which is incorporated into the total cost of your shipping. The overall insurance coverage typically ranges between ,000 and 0,000. Each auto hauler generally uses a third-party insurance company that handles the liabilities on their end. Occasionally, your insurance company offers this type of coverage on your vehicle as well, so you can generally check your policy prior to shipping.

Finding the Best Auto Carrier in Galena for Your Needs

You can find out quite a bit about the auto transporter you’re thinking of using by undertaking some online research. There are tons of auto transporters in Galena to choose from, so how do you know which one is the best? The very first thing you’ll want to do is obtain the company’s MC number or USDOT number. You can also look up their services on the Better Business Bureau’s website to find out what people are saying about them. Finally, review the terms and conditions of the auto transport services you’re getting and it’s also a good idea to do a bit of research on the auto transport process in general. By doing a bit of investigation you’ll make sure you’re getting the best deal and service around.

Difference Between Open Transport & Enclosed Carriers in Galena

Typically, shipping a vehicle via open transport will save you the most money. It is the most commonly 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. So, generally, this is the cheapest way to ship a car. 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.

Deciding on The Ideal Auto Transport Service in Galena

Always consider how much safety and security your vehicle or vehicles will need during the transport process. Using an open transport is suitable, and almost always less expensive, if you’re shipping a standard vehicle that would typically 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 idea to get various quotes from Galena auto transporters. However, the lowest rate it not necessarily the ideal choice for every circumstance. Do a little bit of research on the company you’re thinking of going with and on the auto transport industry in general. When you finally make your decision, you’ll be comfortable that your vehicle is being transported properly and securely to its final location.