Auto Transport in Litchfield IL

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Unlike other vehicle shipping companies in Litchfield, 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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Are you trying to figure out the practice of moving a vehicle from one place to another using an auto transporter in Litchfield? In essence, auto shipping consists of a car carrier company relocating the vehicle from one place to another for a customer. Customers have the option to choose between an open carrier, which is the most popular, or an enclosed carrier that better covers your vehicle. An open carrier is the most popular, which also means it’s the most affordable for standard vehicle transport needs. The best place to begin in your quest for finding an auto transporter is knowing the distinction between a broker and a 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. Below, we’ll examine the difference between a broker and carrier, as well as other tips that will help you make the best auto transport choice.

What is the Distinction Between Auto Carriers and Brokers in Litchfield?

You’ll essentially have two alternatives when looking for an auto carrier in Litchfield. 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.

Auto Transport Brokers and How They Work With Customers

Auto transport brokers don’t have their own transport carriers and generally are not the companies that will transport vehicles. A broker acts as an intermediary who will find the best auto carrier based upon on routes, your location and the variety of service you require. The advantage of using a broker instead of a carrier is that you have much more options because of their active network of auto carriers. If you deal directly with an auto transport carrier, they may not possess the required equipment when you need it, or may not have licensing in all the states required to move your vehicle where it needs to go. Essentially, a broker does the leg work of finding a carrier that meets these set of guidelines and can sometimes get a more competitive price by creating competition between carriers on behalf of the shipper.

Auto Carriers and How They Work in Litchfield

An auto carrier usually employs a large double deck truck to move various vehicles at once, which you’ve likely seen on the freeways at times. These vehicles are driven by certified CDL drivers who are trained and licensed to haul automobiles. The driver may be the operator of the auto transport truck who decides on their routes to provide the most efficient service. The truck driver is the individual who is actually responsible for picking up and delivering your vehicle. Occasionally a carrier may also act as a broker, so if they are not able to transport your vehicle, then they will find another driver who can do the work. This means that even when you think you are dealing with a carrier in some instances you go through a broker provider. Most of the time when customers deals directly with a company, rather than an intermediary, they think they’ll be obtaining a better price, but that’s not automatically true with Litchfield auto transport. A broker shops various auto transporters and is already established to contact all these vendors, so they’ll already know the best option for your auto transport demands.

Tips for Shipping Your Car

Secure your personal items outside your vehicle.

No car hauler in Litchfield is authorized to transport household goods, as per regulations put forth by the Department of Transportation. This includes things like personal GPS devices, external DVD players, DVDs, CDs or any typical household item that you’ve stored in your vehicle. It’s a wise course of action to sweep your vehicle for any of these goods and get rid of them prior to pickup.

Leave your gas tank a quarter of the ways full.

You should always make sure that there is about a quarter tank of gas left in your vehicle when shipping. Your Litchfield auto carrier will probably have to drive the vehicle on and off the trailer during the shipping process, and since it will be at a sharp angle it’s a good idea to keep at least a quarter tank of gas in it. But, you don’t want to overfill your tank or leave your car with a full tank of gas during shipping. A full tank would add a lot of weight to your car, which could result in problems during the transporting process.

Record any body damage on your vehicle

In order to record the condition of your vehicle before turning it over to a Litchfield auto carrier, it’s a wise course of action to take pictures of any scratches, dents, dings or other damage present prior to shipping. Washing your car first will make it much easier to identify any dents or dings. Then, take photos using your phone or camera to document the condition of your car, even if its body doesn’t have any damage. This way you have documentation of its condition in the event any problems arise during the auto transport process.

Understand your Bill of Lading.

When the Litchfield auto transport arrives to start the shipping procedure, you and the driver of the carrier can do an examination of your vehicle’s condition. During this time you can identify any dents, dings or scratches already on your vehicle’s body. Once that process is complete, the customer will be given a Bill of Lading. This record simply acknowledges that the auto carrier is taking temporary control of your vehicle. It will also guarantee that both you and the auto transport carrier are in agreement on any existing damage on your car. 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.

Verify your insurance coverage.

You should check with your auto insurance company to find out if they provide any coverage for your vehicle in case it is damaged during the hauling process. Even so, any auto transport Litchfield service should already have liability coverage already built into their prices, which commonly 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 firm that the car hauler does business with. Usually, this is enough to cover any problems that could occur during the transportation process, but it’s a good idea to check with your insurance company as well.

How to Locate the Best Auto Hauler in Litchfield

There are a number of ways you can ensure you’re getting the absolute best service from your selected Litchfield 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. These numbers can then be used to look up the company’s record with the Better Business Bureau. You can also look over the company’s terms and conditions to get a far better idea of the type of service you’re getting. A little bit of research as to overall auto transport process goes a long way as well.

Open Car Carriers vs. Enclosed Transports in Litchfield

Shipping your vehicle by using an open carrier option is often the most affordable and common. It is the most commonly used and there are more of these carriers around than any other type. The variety of these carriers and their popularity helps contribute to the affordable price tag. In general, this will be the most inexpensive method of transporting your vehicle. 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 reduces the cost of shipping as it is divided by the all the vehicles onboard.

Researching Auto Transport Companies in Litchfield

Prior to deciding on whether you utilize an open trailer or enclosed trailer, first think about how much safety your car really needs. If it is an antique or collector’s car, you’ll likely 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 car that you use every day for typical driving needs, then an open trailer would likely 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 adequate rate. Simply put a little time towards investigating the auto shipping process and the car carrier in Litchfield that you’re preparing to do business with, that way you know all your bases are covered.