Vehicle Shipping in Kirkwood IL

Answers To Your Questions
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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.

Affordable Prices
Competitive pricing with no hidden fees

Unlike other vehicle shipping companies in Kirkwood, 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 Kirkwood, IL.

The automobile shipping industry can seem daunting at first, but by doing a tiny bit of investigation you can make the most effective decision possible for shipping your car or truck. Transporting a car, truck, motorcycle, or any other type of vehicle is just a matter of obtaining the right information and contacting the right people, which is this case is an auto transportation company in Kirkwood. Often times when you reach out to a transportation firm you’ll be speaking with what’s called an auto transport broker, as opposed to the auto carrier themselves. They both offer you the same solutions, which is to facilitate the moving of your vehicle, but a broker merely arranges the transport while a carrier essentially supplies the transportation. The process is mostly the same regardless of where in America your trying to ship your car to. You’ll want to make certain 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 essential to have a general timeframe in mind if you’ll need your vehicle delivered by a certain date. First, as a customer you should know the difference between an auto carrier broker and the actual shipping organization that is the owner of the trucks.

What is an Auto Broker in Kirkwood?

When looking for car transport and car shipping companies in Kirkwood, there are essentially two different choices you can choose to book with: a broker, and a carrier. In short, an auto shipping broker reaches out to car haulers who will actually perform the moving of your vehicle. A broker will find trucking companies in your area to pick up and deliver your vehicle. A carrier, on the other hand, actually owns their trucks and they send one of their trucks to pick-up your vehicle.

How do Auto Transport Brokers Work?

When you’re looking for car transport in Kirkwood chances are you’ll end up calling an auto shipping broker. In this case, the customer will not deal directly with the auto carrier, but rather will be setup with the carrier who best fits the customer’s circumstance. An auto shipping broker has an established network of carriers to contact for each consumers, which means they can offer a greater variety of rates and options. They will take into consideration price and how close the auto carrier is to your location, which can end up expediting the shipping process. Basically, they will be your point of contact during the entire shipping process until your car is delivered to its destination.

How to Find an Auto Transport Carrier in Kirkwood

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 advantage of using a carrier is that you are interacting directly with the company who will be transporting your vehicle, essentially eliminating the middle man. The consumer will be responsible for selecting a company that handles auto transport in Kirkwood, either a single one or several if you are shopping around for the best price. A broker will not be essential 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 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.

Preparing Your Vehicle to be Transported

Remove all household goods you’re your vehicle.

Most people are not aware of a Department of Transportation Code that prohibits auto transport services in Kirkwood from transporting personal goods included in vehicles. Items that should be taken away from your vehicle prior to shipment include things like car seats, external GPS systems and clothing. So it’s a good option to check your vehicle and remove any of these items before the truck arrives to pick it up.

Don’t overfill your gas tank.

Keep an eye on your gas gauge before transporting with a Kirkwood car carrier. It’s suggested to leave about a quarter of a tank in your vehicle just to be on the safe side. The car will need to be driven briefly so that it can be loaded on and off the auto shipping truck. Conversely, you don’t want to ship your car with a full tank of fuel either. A vehicle with a full tank of gas will weigh significantly more than one with only a quarter tank full, which could present difficulties with the auto transport process.

Examine your vehicle for signs of damage before and after shipping.

In order to better identify any scratches or dings on your vehicle it’s a good idea to rinse it before inspecting the body. This will allow you to plainly see if there are any dents, dings or scratches that are already existing on your vehicle’s body, which means you won’t erroneously believe the damage took place during shipping. It’s very easy to document them by taking pictures, which will also prove the condition of your automobile in the case that damage does occur during the transporting process.

Find out what’s in your Bill of Lading.

When the Kirkwood car carrier comes to pick up your vehicle you will be given a Bill of Lading. 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. Both parties can do an evaluation of the vehicle at this time to record any damages that are on the body. This way both the customer and driver are in agreement on the vehicle’s condition at the time of pickup. The customer will receive yet another Bill of Lading during the delivery process, which will again inspect the condition of your vehicle. Any new damage that may have occurred throughout the transportation process, although rare, can be identified easier this way.

Review your insurance coverage options.

Although the Kirkwood auto hauler should have liability insurance built into their service, it’s a good plan to check with your own insurance company as well to see if they would cover any damage that occurs as a result of moving your vehicle. Your chosen auto transport service should already have liability insurance built into their services and their rates. The average liability coverage ranges between ,000 and 0,000 in coverage, which would be enough for the vast majority of problems that could come up. This coverage is usually provided by a third-party insurer employed by the auto transport service.

Choosing the Best Auto Transport Carrier in Kirkwood

You’ll have a wide variety of auto transporters to choose from when looking for the best service for your vehicle shipping requirements. Fortunately, you can do a little bit of research on your end prior to making a final decision on which auto transport Kirkwood service to go with. First, you can get the company’s MC number or USDOT number. Always make sure that the car carrier service is the company’s insured and licensed, that way you know you’re doing business with a respected company. You can use these numbers to look up the auto hauler with the Better Business Bureau in order to find out their standing. In many cases it’s a good idea to review the terms and conditions of your service agreement with the auto transporter just so you realize the process a little better.

Kirkwood Transport Options: Open vs. Enclosed Trailers

Kirkwood auto transport businesses make it possible to have your automobile shipped to practically any major city in the United States, but how the vehicles are actually transported depends on the services provided by the car shipping company. While most auto transport organizations will move the vehicles by way of a tractor trailer, depending on the business you choose, you may have the choice to go with either open-air or enclosed transport. While both approaches use a truck for transport, they do have their differences.

When a car shipping business says it uses open-air trucks, it uses the type of car carrier that most people relate to car transportation. This type of truck is usually between 75 and 80 feet in length and it hauls a two-level trailer with a row of cars on the top and a shorter row of cars on the bottom. Your vehicle will be exposed to the elements at all times, just as it would if you were driving your car, so that is something to take into account depending on the value of the automobile you’re shipping.

Researching Auto Transport Companies in Kirkwood

Prior to deciding on whether you utilize an open trailer or enclosed trailer, first think about how much safety your motor vehicle really needs. The most common vehicles shipped using an enclosed shipping option are antique or classic vehicles. On the other hand, if you have an average or older model vehicle, then an open-air trailer should suit your demands just fine. A good game plan is to get various quotes from car shipping carriers or brokers, that way you know you’re getting the most fair rates. By putting in a bit of time to research the Kirkwood auto transport company, the process being auto transporting and the rates included in your service you can make certain you’re not only getting the very best deal, but also the very best service.