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Auto Shipping in Decorah IA

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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.

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Affordable Prices
Competitive pricing with no hidden fees

Unlike other vehicle shipping companies in Decorah, 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 Decorah, IA.

Have questions, need a quote, or want to schedule a transport – just give us a call at (888) 654-1785

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Moving a car or truck is not a very challenging practice, although it may seem that way from the outside, especially if you’ve hardly ever done it before. Transporting a car, truck, motorcycle, or any other type of vehicle is just a matter of finding the proper information and calling the right people, which is this case is an auto transport company in Decorah. Sometimes when you reach out to a transportation supplier you’ll be speaking with what’s called an auto transport broker, rather then the auto carrier themselves. They both provide the same solutions, which is to facilitate the moving of your vehicle, but a broker merely arranges the transport while a carrier actually supplies the transportation. No matter where in the country you’re transporting your automobile, the process is fundamentally the same. The main information you’ll need prior to shipping is your vehicle’s make, model and year. It’s also necessary to have a general time schedule in mind if you’ll need your vehicle transported by a certain date. One of the most essential distinctions to realize is the difference and similarities between an auto transport broker and a carrier.

How an Auto Broker is Different From an Auto Carrier in Decorah

When in search of car transport and car shipping companies in Decorah, there are basically two different options you can choose to book with: a broker, and a carrier. In short, an auto shipping broker reaches out to car haulers who will actually perform the moving of your vehicle. The broker will find the best trucking service for you based on where you are and where your vehicle needs to go. A carrier, on the other hand, actually owns their trucks and they send one of their trucks to pick up your vehicle.

Auto Brokers and Their Role in the Auto Transport Market

In the car shipping business, a broker is a firm that resells your shipping job. When you get in touch with a broker, they will manage the process of finding a carrier for your vehicle and getting it from one area to another. However, they will not actually perform the shipping themselves, as they don’t own the trucks that are used in the shipping process. They will get in touch with a variety of Decorah auto shippers and use one of those auto transport providers to ship your car or other vehicle. Even though the broker doesn’t own the trucks, they will keep in contact with the consumer throughout the shipping procedure. The auto transport broker will act as a channel between the customer and carriers in order to locate the best rates and most efficient service for them.

Selecting a Qualified Car Carrier

An auto carrier typically employs a large double deck truck to move numerous vehicles at once, which you’ve probably seen on the freeways at times. It is driven by a professional CDL driver trained in loading, unloading and moving vehicles. The driver may be the proprietor of the auto transport truck who decides on their routes to provide the most productive service. The truck driver is the individual who is actually responsible for picking up and delivering your vehicle. Some bigger carrier companies are registered brokers as well which gives them the opportunity to broker out your order to another carrier. So even if you think you’re working directly with an auto carrier, you might be employing a different carrier service in the end. Most of the time when customers deals specifically with a company, rather than an intermediary, they believe they’ll be getting a better rate, but that’s not automatically true with Decorah auto transport. A broker shops multiple auto transporters and is already established to contact all these vendors, so they’ll already know the ideal option for your auto transport demands.

Car Shipping Tips

Secure your personal items outside your car.

Auto shippers in Decorah are not allowed by the Department of Transportation to carry anything that would be considered a “household good”. This consists of things like personal GPS devices, external DVD players, DVDs, CDs or any typical household item that you’ve stashed in your vehicle. It’s a good idea to sweep your vehicle for any of these products and remove them prior to pickup.

Don’t overfill your gas tank.

Before your vehicle gets loaded up with a Decorah auto hauler you should check your gas level to make sure you have around a quarter tank of fuel. Some gas is required to start your vehicle and drive it so that it can be loaded and unloaded from the auto shipping trailer properly. You don’t want to have a maximum tank of fuel either, however, as that can add extra weight to the trailer and complicate the process.

Perform an exam on your vehicle’s condition prior to shipping.

To ensure you have proof of the condition of your motor vehicle prior to using a Decorah auto carrier it’s a good idea to search for any dents, scratches or other damage that may already exist. Cleaning your car first will make it a lot easier to identify any dents or dings. Next, take some pictures of videos of your car in order to offer proof of its condition if needed afterwards. By doing this you have documentation of its condition in the event any incidents arise during the auto transport process.

Understanding your Bill of Lading.

Once your Decorah auto transporter arrives to pick up your car, both you and the driver will do an inspection to determine the condition of your vehicle. During this time you can identify any dents, dings or scratches already on your vehicle’s body. 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 will also ensure that both you and the auto transport carrier are in agreement on any existing damage on your car. When the car arrives at its intended location, the customer will be presented with another Bill of Lading. This will confirm that the vehicle has been delivered and will allow the customer to inspect that vehicle again to determine if any new damage has occurred. This process ensures that both the customer and auto carrier are in agreement on the condition of the vehicle.

Verify your insurance coverage.

Each time you do business with a Decorah 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 prices. The average liability coverage ranges between ,000 and 0,000 in coverage, which would be adequate for the vast majority of problems that could occur. This coverage is usually provided by a third-party insurer employed by the auto transport service.

How to Locate the Best Auto Hauler in Decorah

There are a few ways you can make sure that you’re receiving the best service from the auto carrier in Decorah that you’ve chosen. Every qualified auto hauler should be licensed, bonded and insured. You can also get their MC number or USDOT number to check their reports with the BBB (Better Business Bureau). Also, take the time to review the terms and conditions so that you’re familiar with how the service works. Finally, you can check out third-party reviews online and find out what past customers are stating about the auto haulers services.

Open Auto Carriers vs. Enclosed Transports in Decorah

Shipping your vehicle by utilizing an open carrier option is often the most affordable and common. It is the most frequently used and there are more of these carriers around than any other type. These auto carriers are around in abundance, so it helps keep down the fees involved in shipping. So, in general, this is the least expensive way to ship a car. Auto carriers travel consistent routes and will transport up to 10 other vehicles along with yours to maintain effectiveness. This reduces the cost of shipping as it is divided by the all the vehicles onboard.

Researching Auto Transport Companies in Decorah

It’s a good practice to think about what type of safety your car will require while being shipped across the country. Using an open transport is suitable, and almost always less expensive, if you’re shipping a standard vehicle that would typically be exposed to the outdoors on a regular basis anyways. Antique, classic cars and collector’s cars that are specifically kept in secured conditions would benefit the most from an enclosed shipping option. As a customer, it’s a good plan to get several quotes from Decorah auto transporters. However, the lowest price it not necessarily the most effective choice for every circumstance. Do a bit of analysis on the company you’re thinking of going with and on the auto transport business in general. When you finally make your decision, you’ll be comfortable that your vehicle is being transported safely and securely to its final location.