Vehicle Transportation in Petersburg IL

Answers 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.

Affordable Prices
Competitive pricing with no hidden fees

Unlike other vehicle shipping companies in Petersburg, 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.

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 Petersburg, IL.

Transporting a automobile is not a really challenging process, though it may seem that way from the outside, especially if you’ve never done it before. In order to move a car, truck or motorcycle it’s actually just a matter of having the appropriate information and calling the right Petersburg auto transport service to take care of the job. 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 transportation of your vehicle, but a broker merely arranges the transport while a carrier actually supplies the transportation. The method 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 info handy, such as the make, model and year, as well as the exact location you wish to ship it to. You should also plan ahead if you have a tight timeframe you need your vehicle shipped in or a specific date it must arrive by. One of the most important distinctions to realize is the difference and commonalities between an auto transport broker and a carrier.

How to Tell the Difference Between Petersburg Auto Carriers and Brokers

When looking for car transport and car shipping companies in Petersburg, there are basically two different choices you can choose to book with: a broker, and a carrier. The main difference is that a broker does not own their trucks that will be used to transport your vehicle from one point to another. A broker will find trucking companies in your area to pick up and deliver your vehicle. An auto shipping carrier is basically the person or company that owns the truck which will pick up and deliver your car.

What Does an Auto Broker Do?

A person or group acting as an auto transport broker won’t own the fleet of trucks used for shipping. Brokers assist in auto transportation by connecting customers, referred to as “shippers”, with the carriers that provide the particular services requested. Brokers actually have an established community of shippers who have routes that run all over the country, which will give the customer more choices and a better chance to find the ideal one for them. Dealing with a single carrier means they may not run the route you require, have the necessary equipment or the appropriate licensing to transport through the states needed to get your vehicle where it needs to go. In short, a broker does the job of getting in touch with carriers in order to locate the one who offers the best prices and appropriate service, which means you might get a much better rate since it will increase competition.

How to Locate a Car Carrier in Petersburg

When you deal specifically with an auto transport company that means you will be interacting with the actual individual or firm that will be moving your motor vehicle. An auto carrier owns the trucks or trailers that are used to ship motor vehicles all over the country. All auto transport carriers in Petersburg have to be licensed and insured, but a client should still do their homework to verify this. These car carriers will serve a particular number of routes and locations in order to offer effective service and remain profitable. Finding a carrier by yourself that travels the route in which you need your vehicle transported may be tricky, as many carriers make use of brokers who will connect them with the correct customers. Regardless of which option you choose, a broker or carrier, you’ll be having to pay roughly the same price for your auto transport. There is competition among auto carriers today and the majority of auto carriers provide a number of promotions and discounts to their clients. For that reason, you can take advantage of the circumstance in order to get a great bargain.

Preparing Your Vehicle to be Shipped

Make sure all personal items are removed from your vehicle.

You might not be aware of this, but there is actually a Department of Transportation Code that prohibits car haulers in Petersburg from transporting vehicles with personal possessions in them. Popular household products 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 quick inspection of the interior of your car before it gets loaded onto a truck.

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

Prior to your vehicle gets loaded up with a Petersburg auto hauler you should examine your gasoline level to make sure you have around a quarter tank of fuel. 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. However, you won’t want to leave more than a quarter of a tank or a full tank of gas in your automobile because of the additional weight it adds.

Document any body damage on your vehicle

Always carry out an in-depth assessment of the condition of your car prior to shipping it via a Petersburg 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 damages and can accurately determine if any new damage occurred during the shipping process. Record any damages by taking photos with your phone or camera, that way you also have proof of your vehicle’s condition before transporting it.

Understanding your Bill of Lading.

As soon as your Petersburg auto transporter arrives to pick up your car, both you and the driver will do an evaluation to determine the condition of your vehicle. This inspection will document any existing damages on your vehicle, which generally includes scratches, dents and dings. When you’re satisfied with the evaluation, you’ll be presented with what’s called a Bill of Lading. The document will confirm auto carrier is taking your vehicle for transport. It also confirms the condition of your vehicle, so both the customer and auto transporter can agree on any current damage. When the car arrives at its intended destination, the customer will be presented with another Bill of Lading. This new bill will outline if any new damages have taken place during the shipping process. So this process essentially protects both the customer and the auto carrier so that there will be no confusion upon delivery.

Review your insurance coverage opportunities.

Your insurance company may have protection built into your policy that provides for damages that can happen in the auto hauling process. Even so, any auto transport Petersburg service should already have liability coverage already built into their prices, which usually covers anywhere between ,000 and 0,000 worth of damages. The client won’t have to spend extra for this insurance, since it should already be built into the auto hauler’s charges. This should be enough to cover anything that could happen to the common vehicle, unless you’re transporting a top quality or collector’s car.

Locating the Best Auto Carrier in Petersburg for Your Needs

You’ll have a wide variety of auto transporters to pick from when looking for the best service for your vehicle shipping needs. Thankfully, you can do a little bit of research on your end prior to making a final decision on which auto transport Petersburg service to go with. First, you can get the company’s MC number or USDOT number. Always make certain that the car carrier service is the company’s insured and licensed, that way you know you’re doing business with a highly regarded company. You can use these numbers to look up the auto hauler with the Better Business Bureau in order to find out their standing. Often times 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.

Petersburg Transport Options: Open vs. Enclosed Trailers

Going with a Petersburg auto transport service you’ll be able to ship your vehicle just about any place in the country, and you’ll also be able to choose how your vehicle is shipped. You’ll have the option to choose between an open-air carrier or an enclosed trailer, both of which are generally transported via a tractor trailer rig. While both approaches use a truck for transport, they do have their distinctions.

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. Open air auto carriers will feature two rows of cars, one on top and one on bottom, and are generally around 75 feet in length. Your vehicle will be open to the elements at all times, just as it would if you were driving your car, so that is something to take into consideration based upon on the value of the vehicle you’re shipping.

Know Your Auto Transport Options in Petersburg

In order to choose the right auto transport method for your vehicle, consider how much security your car will require. If it is an antique or collector’s car, you’ll perhaps want to err on the side of caution and use a fully-enclosed trailer to move your vehicle. On the other hand, if you have an ordinary or older model vehicle, then an open-air trailer should suit your requirements just fine. As always, try to get at least three or four quotes for car shipping services so you can be sure you’re being billed an satisfactory rate. Merely put a little time towards looking into the auto shipping process and the car carrier in Petersburg that you’re preparing to do business with, that way you know all your bases are covered.