888-654-1785
Call For A Quote

Vehicle Shipping in Pittsfield 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 Pittsfield, 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 Pittsfield, 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 Pittsfield, IL

Hauling a vehicle is not a really challenging process, though it may seem that way from the outside, specifically if you’ve hardly ever done it before. In order to move a car, truck or motorcycle it’s really just a matter of having the right information and contacting the right Pittsfield auto transport service to take care of the job. Sometimes, you’ll end up getting in contact with what’s called a broker rather than an actual auto carrier. They both provide the same solutions, which is to facilitate the transportation of your vehicle, but a broker simply 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 details 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 rigid timeframe you need your vehicle shipped in or a specific date it must arrive by. First, as a consumer you should know the difference between an auto carrier broker and the actual shipping organization that owns the trucks.

How to Tell the Difference Between Pittsfield Auto Carriers and Brokers

First, every customer should know what it means to be an auto transport broker as opposed to a carrier. Before choosing between an auto broker and an auto transport company in Pittsfield it’s essential to have a decent understanding of the distinctions between the two, as well as how the market works. The procedure is much easier than you might think, and we’ll provide all the information you need to make an educated decision.

Auto Brokers and Their Purpose in the Auto Transport Industry

Auto transport brokers don’t have their own transport carriers and typically are not the companies that will move vehicles. Brokers assist in auto transportation by connecting customers, referred to as “shippers”, with the carriers that offer the specific services requested. 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. Working with a single carrier means they may not run the route you require, possess the necessary equipment or the correct licensing to transport through the states required to get your vehicle where it needs to go. Basically, a broker does the leg work of obtaining a carrier that meets these criteria and can sometimes get a more competitive rate by creating competition between carriers on behalf of the shipper.

Locating the Best Auto Hauler

Going with a Pittsfield auto carrier implies the customer will be dealing directly with the person or firm that owns the truck that will be hauling your vehicle. However, most carriers only serve a limited number of routes so that their services are cost efficient. They do not divert too far from their chosen routes because this would mean sluggish service to all customers and even higher prices. It doesn’t necessarily mean you’ll be spending less when working directly with a Pittsfield auto carrier either. A service costs what it costs. Whether that is time, equipment and effort to drive or to find and deal with clients, it all costs money. An auto transport broker will already be set up to get in touch with multiple transporters in order to find the best price and most efficient performance for the customer, so working directly with an auto carrier may not make a tremendous difference for the better in price or service. In reality, carriers often times aren’t easy to find, as brokers handle that side of their business for them.

Preparing Your Vehicle to be Transported

Secure your personal items outside your car.

No auto shipper is allowed to transport any object that would be classified as “household goods”, as per Department of Transportation Code. This means auto transport in Pittsfield will not be allowed to ship vehicles with your personal items inside of them. Some examples of household goods that might be in your car are DVD players, GPS systems or car seats.

Don’t overfill your gas tank.

Since your vehicle will need to be driven onto and off of the transport trailer, you should make sure your vehicle isn’t super low on gas. Also, your car may be positioned at an angle on top of an auto carrier, meaning fuel could shift from one side of the gas tank to another, and if the gasoline level is too low it might not be able to start. Conversely, make sure you don’t have a full tank of gas in your car either, since it would add a great deal of weight to your automobile during transporting.

Before shipping your car, examine it for damages.

Always perform an in-depth assessment of the condition of your vehicle prior to shipping it via a Pittsfield 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 make certain you are aware of any existing problems and can accurately determine if any new damage took place during the transporting process. Record any damages by taking pictures with your phone or camera, that way you also have evidence of your vehicle’s condition ahead of transporting it.

Learning about your Bill of Lading.

When the Pittsfield car carrier comes to pick up your car you will be given a Bill of Lading. This Bill of Lading consists of the details of your vehicle transport agreement and will validate that it is being placed in the temporary care of the auto transport company. At this time, both the client and driver of the auto carrier should do an examination 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. The client will receive 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 determined easier this way.

Your vehicle should be insured against damages.

Your insurance company may have protection built into your policy that provides for damages that may occur in the auto hauling process. However, any auto transport Pittsfield service should already have liability coverage currently built into their prices, which usually 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 provided by an outside business that the car hauler does business with. This should be enough to cover anything that could happen to the common vehicle, unless you’re transporting a high-end or collector’s car.

How to Locate the Best Auto Hauler in Pittsfield

To guarantee you’re acquiring the best car shipping provider in Pittsfield there are a few details you should acquire regarding your auto transport company. Customers should only do business with transporters who are licensed, bonded and insured. Yet another way to examine their service record is by obtaining their MC number or USDOT and doing a lookup with the Better Business Bureau. Make sure to look over the terms and conditions of the shipping agreement and take some time to educate yourself on the general auto transport process. It’s also a great idea to read any third-party critiques of the company to see what past clients are saying.

Difference Between Pittsfield Auto Transports and Enclosed Auto Carriers

Most people think the open transport auto carrier alternative is the constantly the cheapest. This option can be compared to economy class on a flight. It’s the way most people travel. This exact same concept can apply to deciding on an open transport. Over 4,000 open auto carriers ship cars throughout the country. Even car dealerships contract a transport company to send a car the most inexpensive way possible. Open carriers will be more economical than just moving one vehicle by itself using flatbed shipping, for example.

Know Your Auto Transport Choices in Pittsfield

Always consider how much safety and security your vehicle or vehicles will need throughout the transport process. Using an open transport is suitable, and almost always less expensive, if you’re shipping a standard vehicle that would normally 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 solution. As a customer, it’s a good idea to get various quotes from Pittsfield auto transporters. However, the lowest rate it not necessarily the ideal choice for every scenario. By doing some research on the auto transport industry and the companies you’re planning on working with, you can make sure you’re getting the perfect deal. That way, you’re guaranteeing your vehicle is shipped safely and makes it to its destination with ease.