Auto Transport in Charlotte IA

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Are you on the quest for reliable auto transport services in Charlotte? In this guide we’ll give you an overview of the auto shipping industry, how it works and how to make the very best choice. A little research will go a long way in having the best auto transport experience feasible and make sure your motor vehicle makes it from one place to another safely. Most shippers will provide “door-to-door” service, meaning they pick your car up from one location and deliver it to another location of your choosing. Before jumping into the Charlotte auto shipping providers, you should first know the distinction between a broker and a carrier. The primary difference is that brokers simply arrange for transport, while carriers are the ones actually handling the physical delivery. Some agencies act as both a broker and a carrier, but we’ll discuss the two distinctions further in this article.

How to Tell the Difference Between Charlotte Auto Carriers and Brokers

Choosing an auto transport company requires some due diligence and understanding how the industry works before making a decision. It may seem like a complex 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 transporting a vehicle.

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 carry vehicles. A broker acts as an intermediary who will find the very best auto carrier depending on routes, your location and the variety of service you require. Brokers actually have an established network of shippers who have routes that run all over the country, which will provide the customer more possibilities and a better chance to find the best one for them. If you deal directly with an auto transport carrier, they may not currently have the necessary equipment when you need it, or may not have licensing in all the states needed to relocate your vehicle where it needs to go. In short, a broker does the job of getting in contact with carriers in order to locate the one who offers the best prices and proper service, which means you might get a much better rate since it increases competition.

What Is An Auto Transport Carrier?

An auto carrier usually employs a large double deck truck to move various vehicles at once, which you’ve probably seen on the highways at times. It is driven by a professional CDL driver trained in loading, unloading and hauling 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 chance to broker out your order to another carrier. This means that even when you think you are working with a carrier in some instances you go through a broker provider. Most of the time when customers deals specifically with a company, rather than an intermediary, they believe they’ll be obtaining a better price, but that’s not necessarily true with Charlotte auto transport. A broker shops numerous auto transporters and is already organized to contact all these vendors, so they’ll already know the ideal option for your auto transport needs.

Preparing Your Vehicle to be Transported

Take any personal items out of your car.

Auto carriers are prohibited from relocating anything regarded as a household good, which is a law mandated by the Department of Transportation. So auto transport in Charlotte cannot, carry a vehicle that’s loaded up with personal property or other goods. This includes things like GPS systems, DVD players, CDs or other third-party goods that you have put in your vehicle.

Don’t ship your car with a full tank of gas.

You should always ensure that there is always about a quarter tank of gas left in your vehicle when transporting. Your Charlotte auto carrier will likely have to drive the vehicle on and off the trailer during the shipping process, and since it will be at a steep angle it’s a good idea to keep at least a quarter tank of gas in it. However, you’ll want to be cautious not to leave a full tank of fuel in your car when shipping it. A full tank would add a great deal of weight to your vehicle, which could result in problems during the shipping process.

Before shipping your car, look at it for damages.

In order to better determine any scratches or dents on your vehicle it’s a good idea to wash it before examining the body. This will allow you to clearly see if there are any dents, dings or scratches that are already existing on your vehicle’s body, which means you won’t erroneously believe the damage took place during shipping. It’s easy to document them by taking pictures, which will also prove the condition of your car in the case that damage does occur during the transporting process.

What is a Bill of Lading?

As soon as the auto carrier in Charlotte shows up to obtain your car for transport you should be supplied with what’s called a Bill of Lading. This is simply a document that acknowledges the firm is picking up your vehicle for shipping and will also show any existing damages to your vehicle prior to picking it up. It’s a good idea to examine the vehicle with the driver to make sure you are both aware of any existing damages. After the inspection is finished, current damages will be documented and the Bill of Lading will be signed by both the customer and the driver. Once your car is delivered, you’ll be presented with a Bill of Lading that you can use to check for any new damages to your vehicle that may have happened during shipping.

Verify your insurance coverage.

Your insurance company may have protection built into your policy that provides for damages that can occur in the auto hauling process. Even so, any auto transport Charlotte service should already have liability coverage currently built into their prices, which typically 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 firm 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 end or collector’s car.

Getting the Best Auto Transport Service in Charlotte

In order to make sure you’re getting the best service from your Charlotte car carrier you can always do a bit of research on their history first. First, only do business with an auto hauler who is licensed, bonded and insured. The customer can also use the auto transporter’s MC number or USDOT number. These numbers can then be used to look up the company’s record with the Better Business Bureau. You can also look over the company’s terms and conditions to get a far better idea of the type of service you’re receiving. This way you’ll be able to make the most educated decision possible.

Difference Between Charlotte Auto Transports and Enclosed Car Carriers

Charlotte auto transport companies make it possible to have your vehicle shipped to virtually any major city in the United States, but how the cars are actually transported depends on the services provided by the car shipping company. 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.

When a car shipping business says it uses open-air trucks, it uses the type of car carrier that most people relate to car transport. Open air auto carriers will feature two rows of cars, one on top and one on bottom, and are normally 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 depending on the value of the automobile you’re shipping.

Getting the Greatest Deals on Auto Transport in Charlotte

Before deciding on whether you utilize an open trailer or enclosed trailer, first think about how much safety your vehicle really needs. If it is an antique or collector’s car, you’ll most likely want to err on the side of caution and use a fully-enclosed trailer to move your vehicle. However, if you’re simply transporting an average motor vehicle that you use every day for common driving needs, then an open trailer would likely be a good fit for you. As always, try to get at least three or four quotes for car shipping services so you can be sure you’re being charged an satisfactory rate. Merely put a little time towards looking into the auto shipping process and the car carrier in Charlotte that you’re planning to do business with, that way you know all your bases are covered.