888-654-1785
Call For A Quote

Car Shipping in West Des Moines 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 West Des Moines, 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 West Des Moines, 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 West Des Moines, IA

Are you looking for the absolute best West Des Moines auto transport? In this guide we’ll give you an overview of the auto shipping business, how it works and how to make the very best choice. In order to be sure you get the finest auto shipping rates and the best service, it’s a good idea to do a little bit of research first. For the most part, auto shippers will supply “door-to-door” services, which means they’ll pick it up at your location and take it to another of your choosing. Prior to jumping into the West Des Moines auto shipping solutions, you should first know the distinction between a broker and a carrier. The primary distinction is that brokers simply arrange for transport, while carriers are the ones actually handling the physical delivery. Sometimes a company acts as both a broker and a carrier, but you can find out more information in the following paragraphs.

How to Tell the Difference Between West Des Moines Auto Carriers and Brokers

If you’ve never had your car shipped before, then chances are you’re not aware of the differences between an auto broker and auto carrier in West Des Moines. Even though both choices will end with the same result of getting your car relocated from one place to another, it’s always good to understand the process before selecting a service.

What Is An Auto Transport Broker?

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 hooking up customers, referred to as “shippers”, with the carriers that provide the specific services requested. Brokers actually have an established community of shippers who have routes that run all over the country, which will offer the customer more choices and a better chance to find the best one for them. Working with a single carrier means they may not run the route you require, have the necessary equipment or the suitable licensing to transport through the states required to get your vehicle where it needs to go. In short, a broker does the work of contacting carriers in order to find the one who offers the best prices and appropriate service, which means you might get a better rate since it increases competition.

Finding a Car Carrier in West Des Moines

When you work directly with an auto transport company that usually means you will be interacting with the actual person or company that will be moving your automobile. The auto shipping carriers are the proprietors of the trailers that are used in transporting the cars and are the owners of the company. Every car carrier in West Des Moines must be licensed and insured, but it’s a good idea to do some research just to make sure. These car carriers will serve a particular number of routes and locations in order to offer efficient service and remain successful. Obtaining a carrier by yourself that travels the route in which you need your vehicle transported may be tricky, as many carriers use brokers who will connect them with the correct customers. You’ll end up paying about the same amount whether you go with a carrier or broker, however, as charges are based mostly on fuel rates at the time. There ës a fair quantity of competition between various auto carriers, so sometimes you can obtain promotions or discounts they’re offering. As a result, you can take advantage of the circumstance in order to get a good deal.

Things to Consider Before Shipping Your Car

Make sure all personal items are removed from your vehicle.

Each and every West Des Moines auto carrier is forbidden from transporting something that would be regarded as a “household item” due to restrictions from the Department of Transportation. This means you should get rid of anything that would be regarded as a “household good” from your vehicle before it is picked up by an auto transport service. For instance, car seats, umbrellas and clothing should be removed from your vehicle before it’s loaded onto the truck.

Leave your gas tank a quarter of the ways full.

Prior to shipping your vehicle with a West Des Moines car hauler you should make sure to leave at least a quarter of a tank of gas in your tank. The shipping 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 vehicle because of the additional weight it adds.

Take note of any existing damage on your car.

To make certain you have evidence of the condition of your motor vehicle prior to using a West Des Moines auto carrier it’s a good idea to search for any dents, scratches or other damage that may already exist. The best way to do this is by thoroughly washing your car first so it will be simpler to recognize any dents or damage. 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 records of its condition in the event any incidents occur during the vehicle transport process.

Keep track of your Bill of Lading.

When the West Des Moines car carrier comes to pick up your car you will be given a Bill of Lading. This Bill of Lading consists of the details of your vehicle transport agreement and will validate 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 inspection 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. One more Bill of Lading will be given to the client once the vehicle arrives at its destination, which will confirm the condition of the vehicle matches what it was when it was picked up. Any new harm that may have occurred throughout the transportation process, although rare, can be identified easier this way.

Your car should be insured against damages.

Your insurance company may have protection built into your policy that provides for damages that may take place in the auto hauling process. However, any auto transport West Des Moines service should already have liability coverage already built into their prices, which commonly 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 supplied by an outside company 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.

Finding the Best Auto Carrier in West Des Moines for Your Needs

It’s usually a good idea to do a bit of research on any organization that you’re doing business with before making a commitment. There are loads of auto transporters in West Des Moines to choose from, so how do you know which one is the best? The very first thing you’ll want to do is obtain the company’s MC number or USDOT number. By getting these numbers you’ll be able to look up the auto hauler on the Better Business Bureau’s website to find out more details about them. Lastly, review the terms and conditions of the auto transport services you’re getting and it’s also a good idea to do a bit of research on the auto transport process in general. By doing a little bit of investigation you’ll make sure you’re getting the best deal and service around.

West Des Moines Transport Options: Open vs. Enclosed Trailers

Most people think the open transport auto carrier solution is the always the cheapest. You could compare this option to flying economy class on an airplane versus first class. It’s the most common way for people to take a flight. The very same can be said about open transport. Approximately 4,000 open auto carriers are traveling throughout the country and are available for service. Even car dealerships contract a transport firm to send a car the most affordable way possible. Transporting your vehicle by using an open carrier is the most practical way of transportation, rather than using a single flatbed truck only relocating one car or truck at a time.

Know Your Auto Transport Choices in West Des Moines

It’s a good practice to think about 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. If you have a collector’s car or antique vehicle, then an enclosed shipping option might be better for your vehicle. When first exploring auto transport companies in West Des Moines you should get a few quotes on the price of the transport. This way you’ll understand the general prices, but the cheapest is not always the most effective choice. Do a little bit of analysis on the company you’re thinking of going with and on the auto transport business in general. That way, you’re ensuring your vehicle is shipped safely and makes it to its destination with ease.