Auto Shipping in Battle Creek MI

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Competitive pricing with no hidden fees

Unlike other vehicle shipping companies in Battle Creek, 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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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 Battle Creek, MI.

Moving a automobile is not a very complicated process, although it may seem that way from the outside, particularly if you’ve hardly ever done it before. Shipping a car, truck, motorcycle, or any other type of vehicle is just a matter of discovering the right information and contacting the appropriate people, which is this case is an auto transportation company in Battle Creek. Sometimes, you’ll end up getting in touch with what’s called a broker rather than an actual auto carrier. Both of these businesses fundamentally make sure your vehicle is shipped safety and quickly to a new location. The process is mostly the same regardless of where in America your trying to ship your car to. You’ll want to make sure you have your vehicle’s information handy, such as the make, model and year, as well as the exact location you wish to ship it to. You should also plan ahead if you have a rigid timeframe you need your vehicle shipped in or a particular date it must arrive by. First, as a consumer you should know the difference between an auto carrier broker and the actual shipping company that is the owner of the trucks.

Auto Brokers vs. Auto Carriers in Battle Creek

One of the most crucial distinctions to understand is the distinction between an auto transport broker and a carrier. Before getting into the process of choosing an auto transport service in Battle Creek you should first know the distinction between an auto shipping broker and a carrier. If you’ve never used an auto shipping service before, the process might seem confusing, but in this article we’ll give you all the details you need to make an educated decision.

What Does an Auto Broker Do?

Auto transport brokers don’t have their own transport carriers and typically are not the companies that will move vehicles. A broker acts as an intermediary who will find the best auto carrier depending on routes, your location and the variety of service you require. Brokers already have an established community of shippers who have routes that run all over the country, which will give the customer more options and a far better chance to find the ideal one for them. If you deal directly with an auto transport carrier, they may not possess the required equipment when you need it, or may not have licensing in all the states necessary to relocate your vehicle where it needs to go. Basically, a broker does the leg work of obtaining a carrier that meets these set of guidelines and can sometimes get a more competitive rate by creating competition between carriers on behalf of the shipper.

Choosing a Qualified Car Carrier

Going with a Battle Creek 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. Usually, they don’t stray too far from these routes because of additional fuel costs and the travel time frame it would take, which would slow down other deliveries. It doesn’t necessarily mean you’ll be paying less when working directly with a Battle Creek 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 get in touch with multiple transporters in order to find the perfect price and most efficient performance for the customer, so dealing directly with an auto carrier may not make a tremendous difference for the better in price or service. In reality, carriers often times aren’t easy to find, as brokers handle that side of their business for them.

Tips for Shipping Your Car

Make sure all personal items are removed from your vehicle.

No auto shipper is allowed to transport any object that would be classified as “household goods”, as per Department of Transportation Code. So auto transport in Battle Creek cannot carry a vehicle that’s loaded up with personal items or other goods. This includes things like GPS systems, DVD players, CDs or other third-party goods that you have put in your vehicle.

Don’t ship your automobile with a full gas tank.

Be sure to maintain around a quarter tank of gas in your vehicle prior to transporting it. Your Battle Creek 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 sharp angle it’s a good idea to keep at least a quarter tank of gas in it. However, you’ll want to be careful not to keep a full tank of gas in your car when shipping it. A full tank would add lots of weight to your car, which could result in problems during the transporting process.

Before shipping your car, always check it for damages.

In order to better discover any scuff marks or blemishes on your vehicle it’s a good idea to clean it before inspecting the body. You’ll want to do a thorough inspection of your vehicle’s body before shipping to make sure you’re aware of any existing damages. Simply taking photos or a video of the condition of your vehicle prior to shipping can help avoid any misunderstandings at the time of its delivery.

Keep track of your Bill of Lading.

The client will be provided with what’s called a “Bill of Lading” once your Battle Creek auto transport arrives to retrieve your car. This document is an acknowledgment form that proves the auto carrier is picking up your vehicle for transport. It will also outline any existing damage on your vehicle including dents, scratches or dings. Both the car’s owner and the driver of the auto transport truck should do a walk-around of the car and agree on any damage that is already present. In this case, both parties can come to an agreement on the condition of your vehicle prior to it being shipped, which will help avoid mistakes from happening when it’s delivered. When your motor vehicle arrives at its new location, the customer will be provided with another Bill of Lading verifying the delivery and turning over the car back to the owner.

Understand your insurance coverage.

Your insurance company may have protection built into your policy that provides for damages that may occur in the auto hauling process. However, any auto transport Battle Creek service should already have liability coverage currently 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 business that the car hauler does business with. Generally, 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 Battle Creek

There are a vast array of auto transport businesses out there and it can be hard to choose which one is the most effective for your needs. You can even do a bit of research on the auto transport Battle Creek service that you’re thinking about going with. First, you can acquire the company’s MC number or USDOT number. A dependable auto carrier service should be insured and licensed. You can use these numbers to look up the auto hauler with the Better Business Bureau in order to find out their track record. In many cases 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.

Open Auto Carriers vs. Enclosed Transports in Battle Creek

Going with a Battle Creek 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 choose how your vehicle is shipped. While most auto transport organizations will move the vehicles by way of a tractor trailer, depending on the company you choose, you may have the alternative to go with either open-air or enclosed transport. While both approaches use a truck for transport, they do have their differences.

Most people are familiar with the open carriers you’ll often see on the highway while traveling, which is the most common type of car shipping. This type of truck is usually between 75 and 80 feet in length and it hauls a two-level trailer with a row of cars on the top and a shorter row of cars on the bottom. Your vehicle will be open to the elements at all times, just as it would if you were driving your car, so that is something to take into consideration depending on the value of the car you’re shipping.

Choosing The Best Auto Transport Service in Battle Creek

Before making a decision on whether you employ an open trailer or enclosed trailer, first think about how much protection your vehicle really needs. The most common cars shipped using an enclosed shipping option are antique or classic vehicles. However, if you’re simply transporting an average vehicle that you use every day for common driving needs, then an open trailer would likely be a good fit for you. A good game plan is to get many quotes from car shipping carriers or brokers, that way you know you’re receiving the most fair rates. By putting in a bit of time to research the Battle Creek auto transport company, the process being auto transporting and the rates involved in your service you can make sure you’re not only getting the best deal, but also the perfect service.