888-654-1785
Call For A Quote

Vehicle Transportation in Melbourne IA

transportation checkboxesAnswers 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.

transportation checkboxes

Affordable Prices
Competitive pricing with no hidden fees

Unlike other vehicle shipping companies in Melbourne, 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.

transportation checkboxes

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 Melbourne, IA.

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

picture of auto transporter in Melbourne, IA

Shipping a car or truck is not a really complicated practice, although it may seem that way from the outside, specifically if you’ve never done it before. In order to transport a car, truck or motorcycle it’s actually just a matter of having the appropriate information and getting in touch with the right Melbourne auto transport service to deal with the job. Quite often when you reach out to a transport firm you’ll be speaking with what’s called an auto transport broker, as opposed to the transporter themselves. They both offer you the same solutions, which is to facilitate the transportation of your vehicle, but a broker merely 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 essential to have a general time schedule in mind if you’ll need your vehicle shipped by a certain date. First, as a client you should know the difference between an auto carrier broker and the actual shipping organization that owns the trucks.

Melbourne Auto Brokers vs. Car Carriers

You’ll basically have two options when looking for an auto carrier in Melbourne. The main difference is that a broker does not own their trucks that will be used to carry 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 Role in the Auto Transport Market

A person or group acting as an auto transport broker will not own the fleet of trucks used for shipping. Brokers facilitate auto transportation by connecting customers, referred to as “shippers”, with the carriers that provide the particular services requested. Brokers already have an established network of shippers who have routes that run all over the country, which will provide the customer more choices and a better chance to find the ideal one for them. If you work directly with an auto transport carrier, they may not have the necessary equipment when you need it, or may not have licensing in all the states required to relocate your vehicle where it needs to go. In short, a broker does the work of communicating with carriers in order to locate the one who offers the best rates and proper service, which means you might get a much better rate since it will increase competition.

Finding the Best Auto Hauler

If you choose to do business with a car carrier directly then you will be interacting with the person or persons who own the trucks relocating your vehicle. An auto carrier owns the trucks or trailers that are used to ship vehicles all over the country. Every car carrier in Melbourne has to be licensed and insured, but it’s a good idea to do some research just to make sure. Most auto carriers serve a specific number of locations and routes that they can transport motor vehicles to. Many carriers actually rely on auto shipping brokers to connect them with the right customers who will match the routes they take, which means more efficient service. You’ll end up paying about the same price whether you go with a carrier or broker, however, as expenses are based largely on fuel rates at the time. There ës a fair amount of competition between different auto carriers, so sometimes you can find promotions or discounts they’re offering. Therefore, you can take advantage of the circumstance in order to get a good deal.

Preparing Your Vehicle to be Shipped

Ensure all personal items are removed from your vehicle.

No auto shipper is permitted to transfer any object that would be classified as “household goods”, as per Department of Transportation Code. So auto transport in Melbourne is unable to transport a vehicle that’s loaded up with personal possessions or other goods. Some good examples of household goods that might be in your car or truck are DVD players, GPS systems or car seats.

Do not ship your car with a full gas tank.

Before your vehicle gets loaded up with a Melbourne auto hauler you should verify your gasoline level to make sure you have around a quarter tank of gasoline. The transporting process will demand a small amount of driving, typically only in the loading and unloading process, so some gas will be necessary. However, you won’t want to leave more than a quarter of a tank or a full tank of gas in your car because of the additional weight it adds.

Before shipping your car, always check it for damages.

To make sure you have proof of the condition of your motor vehicle prior to using a Melbourne auto carrier it’s a good idea to search for any dents, scratches or other damage that may already exist. Washing your car first will make it much easier to identify any dents or dings. Next, take some photos of videos of your car in order to provide proof of its condition if needed later on. That way you have documentation of its condition in the event any incidents arise during the vehicle transport process.

Find out what’s in your Bill of Lading.

As soon as your Melbourne auto transporter arrives to pick up your car, both you and the driver will do an evaluation to determine the condition of your vehicle. This inspection will document any current damages on your vehicle, which typically includes scratches, dents and dings. Once that process is complete, the client will be given a Bill of Lading. The document will confirm auto carrier is taking your vehicle for transport. It also confirms the condition of your vehicle, so both the customer and auto transporter can agree on any current damage. 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.

Your motor vehicle should be insured against damages.

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

How to Find the Best Auto Hauler in Melbourne

You’ll have a wide range of auto transporters to pick from when looking for the best service for your vehicle shipping requirements. Thankfully, you can do a little bit of research on your end before making a sound decision on which auto transport Melbourne service to go with. Initially, you can get the company’s MC number or USDOT number. Always make certain that the car carrier service is the company’s insured and licensed, that way you know you’re doing business with a highly regarded company. You’ll also be able to look up any reports on the service with the Better Business Bureau to see what previous consumers are saying. Finally, it’s a good idea to review the terms and conditions in your service agreement with the vehicle shipper so you understand the service you’re getting.

Open Auto Carriers vs. Enclosed Transports in Melbourne

Going with a Melbourne auto transport service you’ll be able to ship your vehicle just about any place in the country, and you’ll also be able to select how your vehicle is shipped. You’ll have the alternative to choose between an open-air carrier or an enclosed trailer, both of which are usually 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 common type of car shipping. Open air auto carriers will feature two rows of cars, one on top and one on bottom, and are generally around 75 feet in length. There are no sides and no roof on the trailer, so the vehicles are open to the elements at all times.

Researching Auto Transport Companies in Melbourne

It’s a good practice to take into consideration what type of safety your car will require while being transported across the country. Using an open transport is ideal, and almost always less costly, if you’re shipping a standard vehicle that would usually 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 multiple quotes from Melbourne auto transporters. However, the lowest rate it not necessarily the most effective choice for every situation. Do a bit of research on the company you’re thinking of going with and on the auto transport industry in general. When you finally make your decision, you’ll be comfortable that your vehicle is being transported carefully and securely to its final destination.