Vehicle Shipping in Caledonia MI

Answers 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.

Affordable Prices
Competitive pricing with no hidden fees

Unlike other vehicle shipping companies in Caledonia, 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 Caledonia, MI.

The vehicle transport business can seem daunting at first, but by doing a little bit of investigation you can make the very best selection possible for transporting your automobile. In order to transport a car, truck or motorcycle it’s actually just a matter of having the right information and calling the right Caledonia auto transport service to take care of the job. Sometimes when you reach out to a transportation provider you’ll be speaking with what’s called an auto transport broker, as opposed to the transporter themselves. Both of these businesses essentially make sure your vehicle is shipped safety and easily to a new location. 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 transport is your vehicle’s make, model and year. You should also plan ahead if you have a tight timeframe you need your vehicle shipped in or a certain date it must arrive by. Initially, as a consumer you should know the difference between an auto carrier broker and the actual shipping firm that is the owner of the trucks.

Caledonia Auto Brokers and Their Role in Auto Transport

If you’ve never had your motor vehicle shipped before, then chances are you’re not aware of the distinctions between an auto broker and auto carrier in Caledonia. Basically, using either service will have the same end result, transporting your vehicle from one place to another, but it’s always a good idea to have a basic understanding of the two before making a final choice on which provider to do business with.

How an Auto Transport Broker Sets Up Transportation Solutions

Auto transport brokers don’t have their own transport carriers and generally are not the companies that will carry vehicles. Brokers assist in auto transportation by hooking up customers, referred to as “shippers”, with the carriers that offer the specific services requested. The benefit of using a broker instead of a carrier is that you have much more options because of their existing network of auto carriers. Dealing with a single carrier means they may not run the route you require, have the necessary equipment or the proper licensing to transport through the states needed to get your vehicle where it needs to go. In short, a broker does the job of getting in touch with 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.

How to Find a Car Carrier in Caledonia

When you work specifically with an auto transport professional that usually means you will be interacting with the actual individual or firm that will be moving your vehicle. The auto shipping carriers are the owners of the trailers that are used in shipping the cars and are the owners of the company. All auto transport carriers in Caledonia have to be licensed and insured, but a client should still do their research to validate this. These car carriers will serve a particular number of routes and locations in order to offer efficient service and remain profitable. Obtaining a carrier by yourself that travels the route in which you need your motor vehicle transported may be tricky, as many carriers utilize brokers who will connect them with the ideal customers. Regardless of which option you choose, a broker or carrier, you’ll be paying approximately the same price for your auto transport. There is competitiveness among auto carriers today and the majority of auto carriers offer a number of promotions and discounts to their clients. For that reason, you can take advantage of the circumstance in order to get a good deal.

Preparing Your Vehicle to be Shipped

Take any personal items out of your car.

Auto shippers in Caledonia are not allowed by the Department of Transportation to carry anything that would be considered a “household good”. This includes things like personal GPS devices, external DVD players, DVDs, CDs or any typical household item that you’ve stored in your vehicle. It’s a good idea to sweep your vehicle for any of these products and get rid of them prior to pickup.

Leave your gas tank a quarter of the ways full.

Prior to shipping your vehicle with a Caledonia car hauler you should make certain to leave at least a quarter of a tank of gas in your tank. The shipping process will require a small amount of driving, typically only in the loading and unloading process, so some gas will be necessary. You don’t want to have a maximum tank of fuel either, however, as that can add extra weight to the trailer and complicate the process.

Perform an exam on your vehicle’s condition prior to shipping.

In order to better identify any scuff marks or dings on your vehicle it’s a good idea to clean it before examining the body. 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 happened during shipping. Just taking pictures or a video of the condition of your motor vehicle prior to shipping can help prevent any misunderstandings at the time of its delivery.

Keep track of your Bill of Lading.

When the Caledonia 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 contract and will confirm that it is being placed in the temporary care of the auto transport company. Both parties can do an inspection of the vehicle at this time to document any damages that are on the body. This way both the customer and driver are in agreement on the vehicle’s condition at the time of pickup. The client will receive one more Bill of Lading during the delivery process, which will again examine the condition of your vehicle. Any new harm that may have occurred throughout the transportation process, although rare, can be identified easier this way.

Confirm your insurance coverage.

You should check with your auto insurance provider to find out if they provide any coverage for your vehicle should it be damaged during the hauling process. Even so, any auto transport Caledonia service should already have liability coverage currently built into their prices, which generally 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 problems 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 Caledonia

It’s usually a good idea to do a bit of research on any company that you’re doing business with before making a commitment. There are tons of auto transporters in Caledonia to choose from, so how do you know which one is the best? The first thing you’ll want to do is obtain the company’s MC number or USDOT number. You can also look up their services on the Better Business Bureau’s website to find out what people are expressing about them. You can also learn about the auto transport service by simply reviewing the terms and conditions that come along with the service. By doing a bit of research you’ll make sure you’re getting the best deal and service around.

Difference Between Open Transport & Enclosed Carriers in Caledonia

Going with a Caledonia 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 pick how your vehicle is shipped. You’ll have the choice to choose between an open-air carrier or an enclosed trailer, both of which are normally transported via a tractor trailer rig. 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. There are no sides and no roof on the trailer, so the vehicles are open to the elements at all times.

Know Your Auto Transport Options in Caledonia

Prior to making a decision on whether you employ an open trailer or enclosed trailer, first think about how much safety your motor 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 car that you use every day for common driving needs, then an open trailer would probably be a good fit for you. A good game plan is to get various 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 Caledonia auto transport company, the process being auto transporting and the rates included in your service you can make sure you’re not only getting the best deal, but also the very best service.