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Vehicle Transport in Mackinaw IL

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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.

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Affordable Prices
Competitive pricing with no hidden fees

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

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

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The automotive transport market can seem intimidating at first, but by doing a little bit of investigation you can make the very best decision possible for shipping your automobile. In order to move a car, truck or motorcycle it’s really just a matter of having the best information and phoning the right Mackinaw auto transport service to take care of the job. Quite often when you reach out to a transportation supplier you’ll be speaking with what’s called an auto transport broker, rather then the auto carrier themselves. Both of these businesses fundamentally make sure your vehicle is shipped safety and speedily to a new location. No matter where in the country you’re shipping your automobile, the process is essentially the same. The main information you’ll need prior to shipping is your vehicle’s make, model and year. It’s also important to have a general timeframe in mind if you’ll need your vehicle transported by a certain date. Initially, as a customer you should know the difference between an auto carrier broker and the actual shipping firm that owns the trucks.

What is an Auto Broker in Mackinaw?

Chances are if you’ve never utilized an auto transporter in Mackinaw, then you may be unaware of the distinction between an auto shipping broker and carrier. Essentially, using either service will have the same end result, transporting your motor vehicle from one place to another, but it’s always a good idea to have a fundamental understanding of the two before making a final decision on which provider to do business with.

How do Auto Transport Brokers Work?

Brokers are basically the logistics managing partner to an auto carrier and customer. They offer a platform for communication and keep track of current market conditions in order to offer the most realistic rates. A car transporter in Mackinaw will be in contact with these brokers and depend on them to link up customers with their solutions. An auto shipping broker will have connections with carriers around the country and will find one who travels the route and has the ideal rates for the customer. This is one of the positive aspects of using a broker logistics management firm. These brokers also stay in touch with the customer throughout the delivery process and will keep them posted as to the progress of their car shipping service.

Locating the Best Auto Hauler

An auto carrier typically employs a large double deck truck to move multiple vehicles at once, which you’ve likely seen on the highways at times. It is driven by a professional CDL driver trained in loading, unloading and transporting vehicles. Sometimes, the driver of the truck is also the owner of the rig, so they decide on their solutions and which routes to travel. The truck driver is the person who is actually responsible for picking up and delivering your vehicle. At times 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. So even if you think you’re interacting directly with an auto carrier, you might be choosing a different carrier service in the end. Most of the time when customers deals specifically with a company, rather than an intermediary, they think they’ll be getting a better price, but that’s not necessarily true with Mackinaw auto transport. On the other hand, a broker already has established a network of carriers, so they can search multiple options to find the most effective choice for their customers.

Tips for Shipping Your Car

Secure your personal items outside your car.

Most people are not aware of a Department of Transportation Code that forbids auto transport services in Mackinaw from shipping personal merchandise included in vehicles. Popular household items 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. So it’s a good option to check your vehicle and remove any of these items before the truck comes to pick it up.

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

Prior to your vehicle gets loaded up with a Mackinaw auto hauler you should examine your fuel level to make sure you have around a quarter tank of gas. Some gasoline is necessary to start your car and drive it so that it can be loaded and unloaded from the auto shipping trailer properly. You don’t want to have a full tank of fuel either, however, as that can add extra weight to the trailer and complicate the process.

Take photos of any existing damages on your car.

Always perform an in-depth evaluation of the condition of your vehicle prior to shipping it via a Mackinaw car hauler. The best way to do this is by cleaning your car first, making sure there’s no dirt left on it, and then walking around it and make notes of any dents or dings. This will ensure you are conscious of any existing problems and can accurately determine if any new damage occurred during the shipping process. It’s best to document the condition of your car by simply taking pictures of it on your cell phone as proof, just in case there are any issues during transporting it.

Find out what’s in your Bill of Lading.

You’ll receive what’s called a Bill of Lading once your Mackinaw car carrier arrives to retrieve your vehicle for transport. This Bill of Lading consists of 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. This way both the customer and driver are in agreement on the vehicle’s condition at the time of pickup. An additional 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 transport process, although rare, can be determined easier this way.

Evaluate your insurance coverage opportunities.

Your insurance company may have protection built into your policy that provides for damages that may occur in the auto hauling process. Auto transport Mackinaw companies should already have liability coverage built into their services, which usually 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 typical vehicle, unless you’re transporting a top quality or collector’s car.

Make Sure You Choose the Best Car Shipping Firm in Mackinaw

You can find out quite a bit about the auto transporter you’re thinking of using by carrying out some online research. There are tons of auto transporters in Mackinaw 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 solutions 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 receiving and it’s also a good idea to do a bit of research on the auto transport process in general. By doing a little bit of investigation you’ll make sure you’re getting the best deal and service around.

Difference Between Open Transport & Enclosed Carriers in Mackinaw

Typically, shipping a vehicle via open transport will save you the most money. 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 costs involved in shipping. So, generally, this is the cheapest way to ship a car. An auto carrier that is going from your area and journeying 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 decreases the cost of shipping as it is divided by the all the vehicles onboard.

Choosing The Best Auto Transport Service in Mackinaw

It’s a good practice to take into consideration what type of protection your vehicle will require while being transported across the country. If you’re simply shipping a standard or older vehicle, then open-transport options are probably fine for you. Antique, classic cars and collector’s vehicles that are specifically kept in safeguarded conditions would benefit the most from an enclosed shipping option. As a customer, it’s a good plan to get multiple quotes from Mackinaw auto transporters. This way you’ll understand the general prices, but the cheapest is not always the most effective choice. Do a little bit of analysis on the company you’re thinking of going with and on the auto transport industry in general. That way, you’re making sure your vehicle is shipped safely and makes it to its destination with ease.