Auto Shipping in Fort Dodge IA

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Unlike other vehicle shipping companies in Fort Dodge, 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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What is involved in relocating your vehicle from one location to another by using an auto transport business in Fort Dodge? In fact, auto shipping consists of a car carrier company relocating the vehicle from one location to another for a customer. This practice can be taken care of by using an open carrier, which is the most common option you’ll see on the road, or an enclosed transport where your vehicle would not be exposed to the outdoors. An open carrier is the most popular, which also means it’s the most cost-effective for ordinary vehicle transport needs. However, first you should know the difference between an auto transport broker and an auto carrier. In short, brokers facilitate the shipping process by hooking up customers with carriers, while the carrier essentially performs the job. Below, we’ll examine the distinction between a broker and carrier, as well as other recommendations that will help you make the ideal auto transport choice.

How an Auto Broker is Distinct From an Auto Carrier in Fort Dodge

Selecting an auto transport company demands some due diligence and understanding how the business works prior to making a decision. The process can be challenging if you don’t know where to start or where to get correct information. We’ll cover the basics of auto shipping as well as the role that car carriers and auto brokers play in supplying clients with transport services.

What Is An Auto Transport Broker?

An automotive transport broker is simply the professional employed by you, the shipper, who assists in the process of procuring an auto transport company in Fort Dodge. This means the customer, or shipper, does not actually deal directly with the auto carrier who will be in charge of picking up and delivering your automobile. An auto shipping broker has an established network of carriers to contact for each consumers, which means they can offer a better variety of rates and options. They will take into account price and how close the auto carrier is to your location, which can end up expediting the shipping process. The broker will be in contact with you, the customer, throughout the entire shipping progression until your vehicle is delivered at its ultimate location.

How to Identify an Auto Hauler

Going with a Fort Dodge auto carrier implies the customer will be dealing directly with the person or business that owns the truck that will be hauling your vehicle. With a few conditions, most auto transport carriers only serve a limited number of routes. Normally, they don’t stray too far from these routes because of added fuel costs and the travel time it would take, which would slow down other deliveries. It doesn’t necessarily mean you’ll be spending less when working directly with a Fort Dodge auto carrier either. A service costs what it costs. Whether that is time, equipment and effort to drive or to find and deal with customers, it all costs money. Dealing with an auto carrier directly may not change the price you pay over going with a broker, since the broker has an assortment of carriers that they can contact for the ideal prices and routes. Auto carriers aren’t always easy to locate and contact, since a lot of times they rely on brokers to connect them with customers.

Preparing Your Vehicle to be Transported

Secure your personal items outside your car.

You might not be aware of this, but there is actually a Department of Transportation Code that forbids car haulers in Fort Dodge from transporting vehicles with personal possessions in them. Common household products that could 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 vehicle before it gets loaded onto a trailer.

Leave a quarter of a tank of fuel in your car.

Be sure to keep around a quarter tank of gas in your vehicle prior to shipping it. Your Fort Dodge auto carrier will probably 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. But, you don’t want to overfill your tank or leave your car with a full tank of gas during shipping. A full tank would add a great deal of weight to your car, which could result in problems during the shipping process.

Examine your vehicle for signs of damage before and after shipping.

When using a Fort Dodge car hauler you should always perform a quick assessment of your vehicle’s condition before it gets loaded on the trailer. The most effective way to do this is by washing 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 ensure you are conscious of any existing problems and can accurately determine if any new damage took place during the shipping process. It’s most effective to record the condition of your car by just taking pictures of it on your cell phone as proof, just in case there are any problems during transporting it.

What is a Bill of Lading?

You’ll be given what’s known as a Bill of Lading once your Fort Dodge car carrier arrives to obtain your vehicle for transport. This Bill of Lading contains the details of your vehicle transport contract and will verify that it is being placed in the temporary care of the auto transport company. At this time, both the consumer 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. An additional Bill of Lading will be given to the customer once the vehicle arrives at its destination, which will verify the condition of the vehicle matches what it was when it was picked up. Any new damage that may have occurred throughout the transportation process, although rare, can be determined easier this way.

Understand your insurance coverage.

You should check with your auto insurance provider to find out if they offer any coverage for your vehicle in case it is damaged during the hauling process. Even so, any auto transport Fort Dodge service should already have liability coverage already 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 firm that the car hauler does business with. Usually, this is enough to cover any issues that could occur during the transportation process, but it’s a good idea to verify with your insurance company as well.

Getting the Best Auto Transport Service in Fort Dodge

In order to guarantee you’re receiving the best service from your Fort Dodge 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. These numbers can then be used to look up the company’s record with the Better Business Bureau. It’s also a wise course of action to quickly evaluate the terms and conditions of the service agreement so that you have a general idea of what in entails. A little bit of investigation as to overall auto transport process goes a long way as well.

Open Car Carriers vs. Enclosed Transports in Fort Dodge

A possible misconception about open transport is that it’s some sort of bargain basement option. This option can be compared to economy class on a flight. It’s the most well-known way for people to take a flight. This very same concept can apply to deciding on an open transport. Approximately 4,000 open auto carriers are traveling throughout the country and are available for service. Even car dealerships contract a transport company to send a car the most affordable way possible. Open carriers will be more affordable than just moving one vehicle by itself using flatbed shipping, for example.

Choosing The Ideal Auto Transport Service in Fort Dodge

Before making a decision 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 standard driving needs, then an open trailer would likely be a good fit for you. As usually, try to get at least three or four quotes for car shipping services so you can be sure you’re being billed an adequate rate. Simply put a little time towards studying the auto shipping process and the car carrier in Fort Dodge that you’re preparing to do business with, that way you know all your bases are covered.