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Auto Transport in Round Lake IL

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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.

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Affordable Prices
Competitive pricing with no hidden fees

Unlike other vehicle shipping companies in Round Lake, 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 Round Lake, 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 automobile transport market can seem overwhelming at first, but by doing a tiny bit of research you can make the very best choice possible for shipping your car or truck. Transporting a car, truck, motorcycle, or any other type of vehicle is just a matter of finding the right information and getting in touch with the right people, which is this case is an auto transportation company in Round Lake. More often than not when you reach out to a transport company you’ll be speaking with what’s called an auto transport broker, rather than the transporter themselves. 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 essentially supplies the transportation. No matter where in the country you’re transporting your automobile, the process is essentially the same. The main data you’ll need prior to shipping is your vehicle’s make, model and year. It’s also necessary to have a general timeframe in mind if you’ll need your vehicle transported 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.

How an Auto Broker is Different From an Auto Carrier in Round Lake

Before choosing an car hauling service you should have a fundamental understanding of the business and how it works. It may seem like a tricky procedure, but we’ll help make it less complicated for everyone. This article will cover the basics and the role that shippers, carriers, and brokers play in the process of hauling a vehicle.

What Is An Auto Transport Broker?

Auto transport brokers don’t have their own transport carriers and generally are not the companies that will transport vehicles. Brokers assist in auto transportation by hooking up customers, referred to as “shippers”, with the carriers that provide the particular services requested. The benefit of using a broker rather than 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, have the necessary equipment or the appropriate licensing to transport through the states needed to get your vehicle where it needs to go. Essentially, a broker does the leg work of obtaining a carrier that meets these requirements and can sometimes get a more competitive price by creating competition between carriers on behalf of the shipper.

How to Identify an Auto Carrier

Going with a Round Lake auto carrier implies the customer will be working directly with the person or business that owns the truck which will be transporting your vehicle. With a few exceptions, most auto transport carriers only serve a minimal number of routes. Usually, they don’t stray too far from these routes because of additional fuel costs and the travel time frame it would take, which would slow down other deliveries. It doesn’t necessarily mean you’ll be paying less when working directly with a Round Lake auto carrier either. All services cost money, specifically with auto shipping due to changing fuel prices, so there isn’t a whole lot of wiggle room in many cases. An auto transport broker will already be set up to get in touch with multiple transporters in order to find the most effective 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. Auto carriers aren’t generally easy to locate and contact, since many times they depend on brokers to connect them with consumers.

Things to Consider Before Transporting Your Vehicle

Take any personal items out of your car.

You may not be aware of this, but there is in fact a Department of Transportation Code that forbids car haulers in Round Lake from moving vehicles with personal belongings in them. Popular household goods that may 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 motor vehicle before it gets loaded onto a trailer.

Do not ship your vehicle with a full gas tank.

Prior to your vehicle gets loaded up with a Round Lake auto hauler you should verify your gas level to make sure you have around a quarter tank of gas. The transporting process will demand a small amount of driving, typically only in the loading and unloading process, so some gas will be necessary. However, you won’t want to leave more than a quarter of a tank or a full tank of gas in your vehicle because of the extra weight it adds.

Take pictures of any existing damages on your car.

Always perform an in-depth assessment of the condition of your vehicle prior to shipping it via a Round Lake car hauler. A simple way to do this is by washing your car off and making certain there’s no dirt left on it so that way it’s much easier to discover dents and dings. This will make certain you are aware of any existing damages and can accurately determine if any new damage occurred during the transporting process. It’s ideal to record the condition of your car by merely taking pictures of it on your cell phone as proof, just in case there are any difficulties during transporting it.

Knowing your Bill of Lading.

Once the auto carrier in Round Lake shows up to obtain your vehicle for transport you should be provided with what’s called a Bill of Lading. This is basically a document that acknowledges the business is picking up your vehicle for shipping and will also display any existing damages to your motor vehicle prior to picking it up. First, inspect your vehicle with the driver of the auto trailer so that you both are in agreement on its condition. Any current damages will be documented in the Bill of Lading, which is then signed by both the driver and consumer. Once your automobile is delivered, you’ll be provided with a Bill of Lading that you can use to check for any new damages to your vehicle that may have occurred during the shipping process.

Your vehicle should be insured against damages.

It’s a great idea to ask your auto hauler about their company’s liability insurance coverage in the event your car is damaged during the shipping process. Your chosen Round Lake car hauler should have insurance included in the cost of transporting your vehicle that covers damages. The overall insurance coverage typically ranges between ,000 and 0,000. Auto shippers will utilize a third-party insurer and should not cost extra, but rather it should be included in the rate that you’re already paying to ship your vehicle. Sometimes, your insurance company offers this type of coverage on your vehicle as well, so you can generally check your policy prior to shipping.

Choosing the Best Auto Transport Carrier in Round Lake

There are a number of ways you can make sure you’re getting the absolute best service from your chosen Round Lake 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. You can use these numbers to look up reports on their services with the BBB. You can also look over the company’s terms and conditions to get a better idea of the type of service you’re getting. This way you’ll be able to make the most informed decision possible.

Main difference Between Open Transport & Enclosed Carriers in Round Lake

Going with a Round Lake 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 select how your vehicle is shipped. While most auto transport businesses will move the vehicles by way of a tractor trailer, depending on the company 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.

Most people are acquainted with the open carriers you’ll often see on the highway while traveling, which is the most common type of car shipping. Open air auto carriers will feature two rows of cars, one on top and one on bottom, and are typically around 75 feet in length. 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 consideration based upon on the value of the vehicle you’re shipping.

Get the Most Out of Your Auto Transport Service

In order to choose the right auto transport method for your vehicle, take into account how much security your car will require. The most common vehicles shipped using an enclosed shipping option are antique or classic vehicles. However, if you’re simply transporting an average car that you use every day for common driving needs, then an open trailer would likely be a good fit for you. A good game plan is to get numerous quotes from car shipping carriers or brokers, that way you know you’re receiving the most fair rates. Merely put a little time towards investigating the auto shipping process and the car carrier in Round Lake that you’re considering to do business with, that way you know all your bases are covered.