Vehicle Transportation in Charles City IA

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 Charles City, 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 Charles City, IA.

Auto transport businesses exist for the sake of convenience. Instead of moving their vehicles long ranges on their own, people seek the services of auto transporters to safely relocate their vehicles at an inexpensive price and in a secure environment. However, if you’re not acquainted with the auto carrier process, then the task of selecting the correct hauler and options may appear challenging. The good news is, in this report we’ll help you understand how to choose a car hauler in Charles City that will fit your needs and move your car properly. The vast majority of auto haulers will offer transportation services anywhere in the country from America, from Alaska to Hawaii and will give you with several shipping options. Quite often you’ll have the option of whether to ship your car in an enclosed or open manner. There is also a difference between auto transport brokers and carriers, which we’ll discuss below.

What is the Difference Between Auto Carriers and Brokers in Charles City?

When searching for car transport and car shipping companies in Charles City, there are essentially two different choices you can choose to book with: a broker, and a carrier. The main distinction 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. A carrier, on the other hand, actually owns their trucks and they send one of their trucks to pick-up your vehicle.

What Does an Auto Broker Do?

Auto transport brokers don’t have their own transport carriers and generally are not the companies that will move vehicles. A broker acts as an intermediary who will find the very best auto carrier based upon on routes, your location and the kind of service you require. The benefit of using a broker as opposed to a carrier is that you have 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 correct licensing to transport through the states required to get your vehicle where it needs to go. Essentially, a broker does the leg work of acquiring a carrier that meets these requirements and can sometimes get a more competitive rate by creating competition between carriers on behalf of the shipper.

Finding a Car Carrier in Charles City

A vehicle hauling carrier is usually a double deck truck that can load up to ten vehicles at a time. It is driven by a professional CDL driver trained in loading, unloading and transporting vehicles. The driver may be the proprietor of the auto transport truck who decides on their routes to provide the most productive service. These drivers are the ones who are considered auto carriers and will be responsible for picking up and delivering your car or truck. Some larger carrier companies are authorized brokers as well which gives them the opportunity to broker out your order to an additional carrier. So even if you think you’re working directly with an auto carrier, you might be choosing a different carrier service in the end. Most of the time when customers deals directly with a company, rather than an intermediary, they believe they’ll be gaining a better price, but that’s not automatically true with Charles City auto transport. On the other hand, a broker already has established a network of carriers, so they can shop multiple options to find the best choice for their customers.

Car Shipping Tips

Secure your personal items outside your car.

No car hauler in Charles City is authorized to transport household goods, as per restrictions put forth by the Department of Transportation. This includes common products you may have in your car such as clothing, car seats or external GPS systems. It’s a good idea to sweep your vehicle for any of these items and get rid of them prior to pickup.

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

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

Before shipping your car, always check it for damages.

It’s a good idea to wash your car prior to shipping and make sure there is no dust or mud stuck on it. This will allow you to clearly see if there are any dents, dings or scratches that are already present on your vehicle’s body, which means you won’t erroneously believe the damage happened during shipping. It’s simple to document them by taking pictures, which will also prove the condition of your car in the case that damage does occur during the shipping process.

What is a Bill of Lading?

As soon as the auto carrier in Charles City shows up to obtain your vehicle for transport you should be supplied with what’s called a Bill of Lading. This is merely a document that acknowledges the business is picking up your vehicle for shipping and will also display any existing damages to your car prior to picking it up. First, inspect your vehicle with the driver of the auto trailer so that you both are in understanding on its condition. After the inspection is complete, current damages will be documented and the Bill of Lading will be signed by both the customer and the driver. Once your vehicle is delivered, you’ll be offered with a Bill of Lading that you can use to check for any new damages to your vehicle that may have happened during the shipping process.

Evaluate your insurance coverage options.

Each time you do business with a Charles City auto hauler you should check to make sure they have their own liability insurance. Your chosen auto transport service should already have liability insurance built into their services and their rates. The typical liability coverage ranges between ,000 and 0,000 in coverage, which would be adequate for the vast majority of problems that could arise. This insurance coverage is usually provided by a third-party insurer employed by the auto transport service.

Finding the Best Auto Carrier in Charles City for Your Needs

In order to guarantee you’re receiving the best service from your Charles City car carrier you can always do a bit of research on their history first. You should only use an auto transport service that is licensed, bonded and insured. You can find out more about the firm by getting their MC number or USDOT number. You can use these numbers to look up reports on their services with the BBB. You can also review the company’s terms and conditions to get a far better idea of the type of service you’re getting. A small bit of research as to overall auto transport process goes a long way as well.

Understanding the Difference Between Enclosed Transport and Open Transport Options in Charles City

Charles City auto transport companies make it possible to have your automobile shipped to practically any major city in the United States, but how the cars are actually transported depends on the services provided by the car shipping company. 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 methods 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 frequent type of car shipping. This type of truck is typically between 75 and 80 feet in length and it hauls a two-level trailer with a row of cars on the top and a shorter row of cars on the bottom. 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 depending on the value of the vehicle you’re shipping.

Know Your Auto Transport Options in Charles City

In order to choose the right auto transport method for your vehicle, take into account how much security your vehicle will require. The most common cars 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 multiple quotes from car shipping carriers or brokers, that way you know you’re receiving the most equitable rates. Merely put a little time towards looking into the auto shipping process and the car carrier in Charles City that you’re considering to do business with, that way you know all your bases are covered.