Auto Transportation in La Porte City IA

Answers To Your Questions
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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.

Affordable Prices
Competitive pricing with no hidden fees

Unlike other vehicle shipping companies in La Porte 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 La Porte City, IA.

The vehicle shipping industry can seem overwhelming at first, but by doing a little bit of investigation you can make the most effective decision possible for shipping your car or truck. In order to transport a car, truck or motorcycle it’s really just a matter of having the appropriate information and calling the right La Porte City auto transport service to deal with the job. Quite often when you reach out to a transport supplier you’ll be speaking with what’s called an auto transport broker, as opposed to the auto carrier themselves. They both provide the same options, which is to facilitate the transportation of your vehicle, but a broker simply arranges the transport while a carrier actually supplies the transportation. The process is mostly the same regardless of where in America your trying to ship your car to. The main information you’ll need prior to shipping is your vehicle’s make, model and year. It’s also important to have a general timeframe in mind if you’ll need your vehicle shipped by a certain date. Initially, as a consumer you should know the difference between an auto carrier broker and the actual shipping organization that is the owner of the trucks.

La Porte City Auto Brokers vs. Car Carriers

You’ll essentially have two alternatives when looking for an auto carrier in La Porte City. The main difference 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.

Auto Brokers and Their Purpose in the Auto Transport Market

When you’re shopping for car transport in La Porte City odds are you’ll end up contacting an auto shipping broker. In this case, the customer will not deal directly with the auto carrier, but rather will be setup with the carrier who best fits the customer’s circumstance. The auto transport broker acts as a liaison between the shipper and carrier, which means they can shop around to find the most effective shipping solution for their customers. They’ll find an automobile carrier who travels the route and is within reasonable distance to your location, so it can end up making the entire shipping process quicker. 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 Locate a Car Carrier in La Porte City

When you choose to seek out a La Porte City auto carrier you’ll be dealing with the company who actually owns the truck used for transporting motor vehicles. With a few exceptions, most auto transport carriers only serve a limited number of routes. Typically, they don’t stray too far from these routes because of additional fuel costs and the travel time it would take, which would slow down other deliveries. It doesn’t necessarily mean you’ll be paying less when dealing directly with a La Porte City 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. An auto transport broker will already be set up to contact multiple transporters in order to find the best price and most efficient performance for the customer, so interacting directly with an auto carrier may not make a huge difference for the better in price or service. Auto carriers aren’t generally easy to locate and contact, since many times they rely on brokers to connect them with customers.

Guidelines for Shipping Your Car

Remove all personal items you’re your vehicle.

No car hauler in La Porte City is authorized to transport household goods, as per regulations put forth by the Department of Transportation. This includes common goods you may have in your car such as clothing, car seats or external GPS systems. It’s encouraged to clear away these items from your vehicle prior to pickup to reduce any delays.

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

Be sure to keep around a quarter tank of gas in your vehicle prior to shipping it. Your La Porte City 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 sharp angle it’s a good plan 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 gasoline during transporting. A full tank would add a lot of weight to your car, which could result in problems during the transporting process.

Document any body damage on your vehicle

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

Learning about your Bill of Lading.

When the La Porte City auto transport arrives to begin the shipping process, you and the driver of the carrier can do an examination of your vehicle’s condition. During this time you can determine any dents, dings or scratches already on your vehicle’s body. When you’re satisfied with the assessment, you’ll be presented with what’s called a Bill of Lading. This record simply acknowledges that the auto carrier is taking short-term control of your vehicle. It will also make sure 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 destination, the customer will be presented with another Bill of Lading. This new bill will outline if any new damages have taken place during the shipping process. This process guarantees that both the customer and auto carrier are in agreement on the condition of the vehicle.

Understand your insurance coverage.

It’s a great idea to question your auto hauler about their company’s liability insurance coverage in the event your vehicle is damaged during the shipping process. Any La Porte City car hauler should already have liability insurance, which is incorporated into the total cost of your shipping. The total insurance coverage typically ranges between ,000 and 0,000. Each auto hauler normally uses a third-party insurance company that handles the liabilities on their end. Sometimes, your insurance company offers this type of coverage on your vehicle as well, so you can generally check your policy prior to shipping.

Finding the Best Auto Carrier in La Porte City for Your Needs

There are a vast array of auto transport businesses out there and it can be difficult to choose which one is the most effective for your needs. You can even do a bit of research on the auto transport La Porte City service that you’re thinking about going with. First, you can obtain the company’s MC number or USDOT number. Always make sure that the car carrier service is the company’s insured and licensed, that way you know you’re doing business with a reputable company. You can use these numbers to look up the auto hauler with the Better Business Bureau in order to find out their reputation. Often times it’s a good idea to review the terms and conditions of your service agreement with the auto transporter just so you understand the process a little better.

La Porte City Transport Options: Open vs. Enclosed Trucks

La Porte City auto transport companies make it possible to have your vehicle 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. While most auto transport firms will move the vehicles by way of a tractor trailer, depending on the company you choose, you may have the option to go with either open-air or enclosed transport. 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. 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 account depending on the value of the vehicle you’re shipping.

Know Your Auto Transport Solutions in La Porte City

It’s a good practice to consider what type of protection your vehicle will require while being shipped across the country. If you’re simply shipping a standard or older vehicle, then open-transport options are probably okay for you. Antique, classic cars and collector’s motor vehicles that are specifically kept in protected conditions would benefit the most from an enclosed shipping method. When first browsing auto transport companies in La Porte City you should get several quotes on the price of the transport. However, the lowest rate it not necessarily the ideal choice for every circumstance. Do a little bit of research on the company you’re thinking of going with and on the auto transport business in general. That way, you’re making sure your vehicle is shipped safely and makes it to its location with ease.