Auto Shipping in East Lansing MI

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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 East Lansing, 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 East Lansing, MI.

Are you looking for the absolute best East Lansing auto transport? Then you’ve come to the perfect place and we’ll help you understand the transport process every step of the way. In order to be sure you get the best auto shipping rates and the very best service, it’s a good idea to do a little bit of research first. For the most part, auto shippers will offer “door-to-door” services, which means they’ll pick it up at your location and take it to another of your choosing. When deciding on an auto carrier service, it’s important to first know the distinction between an auto transport brokerage and an auto hauler. The primary distinction is that brokers simply arrange for transport, while carriers are the ones actually handling the physical delivery. Occasionally a company acts as both a broker and a carrier, but you can find out more details in the following paragraphs.

What is the Difference Between Auto Carriers and Brokers in East Lansing?

When searching for car transport and car shipping companies in East Lansing, there are basically two different choices you can choose to book with: a broker, and a carrier. In short, an auto shipping broker reaches out to car haulers who will actually perform the moving of your vehicle. The broker will find the ideal trucking service for you depending on where you are and where your automobile needs to go. An auto shipping carrier is merely the person or company that owns the truck which will pick up and deliver your car.

How an Auto Transport Broker Sets Up Transportation Options

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 offer 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 possibilities and a far better chance to find the best one for them. Working with a single carrier means they may not run the route you need, possess the necessary equipment or the appropriate licensing to transport through the states needed to get your vehicle where it needs to go. Essentially, a broker does the leg work of finding 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.

How to Find a Car Carrier in East Lansing

Going with a East Lansing auto carrier implies the customer will be working directly with the person or firm that owns the truck which will be hauling your vehicle. However, most carriers only serve a limited number of routes so that their services are cost efficient. They do not divert too far from their designated routes because this would mean slower service to all customers and even higher rates. It doesn’t necessarily mean you’ll be paying less when working directly with a East Lansing auto carrier either. All services cost money, especially with auto shipping due to changing fuel rates, so there isn’t a whole lot of wiggle room in many cases. An auto transport broker will already be set up to contact multiple transporters in order to find the best rate and most efficient performance for the customer, so dealing directly with an auto carrier may not make a huge 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.

Things to Consider Before Transporting Your Vehicle

Remove all personal items you’re your vehicle.

No car hauler in East Lansing is permitted to transport household goods, as per regulations put forth by the Department of Transportation. This consists of things like personal GPS devices, external DVD players, DVDs, CDs or any common household item that you’ve kept in your vehicle. It’s a good idea to sweep your vehicle for any of these goods and remove them prior to pickup.

Leave your gas tank a quarter of the ways full.

You should always make sure that there is about a quarter tank of gas left in your vehicle when shipping. Your East Lansing auto carrier will most likely have to drive the vehicle on and off the trailer during the shipping process, and since it will be at a steep angle it’s a good idea to keep at least a quarter tank of gas in it. But, you don’t want to overfill your tank or leave your vehicle with a full tank of fuel during shipping. If your gasoline tank is full, it will end up placing a significant quantity of weight to your vehicle, which could cause issues.

Record any body damage on your vehicle

In order to better determine any scratches or dings on your vehicle it’s a good idea to wash it before examining the body. This will allow you to clearly see if there are any dents, dings or scratches that are already present on your vehicle’s body, which means you won’t incorrectly believe the damage happened during shipping. It’s easy to document them by taking pictures, which will also prove the condition of your vehicle in the case that damage does occur during the transporting process.

Learning about your Bill of Lading.

When the East Lansing car carrier comes to pick up your vehicle you will be given a Bill of Lading. This Bill of Lading contains 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 evaluation of the vehicle at this time to record any damages that are on the body. By doing this both the customer and driver are in agreement on the vehicle’s condition at the time of pickup. The client will receive yet another Bill of Lading during the delivery process, which will again inspect the condition of your vehicle. If any new damages occur, they can be addressed at this time.

Understanding insurance liabilities when transporting your car.

You really should check with your auto insurance provider to find out if they offer any coverage for your vehicle should it be damaged during the hauling process. Auto transport East Lansing companies should already have liability coverage built into their services, which typically covers anywhere from ,000 to 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 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.

Make Sure You Choose the Perfect Car Shipping Provider in East Lansing

You can find out quite a bit about the auto transporter you’re thinking of using by carrying out some online research. There are loads of auto transporters in East Lansing 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. You can also look up their solutions on the Better Business Bureau’s website to find out what people are saying about them. Finally, 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 research you’ll make sure you’re getting the best deal and service around.

Difference Between Open Transport & Enclosed Carriers in East Lansing

Going with a East Lansing 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 businesses will move the vehicles by way of a tractor trailer, depending on the business 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.

When a car shipping firm says it uses open-air trucks, it uses the type of car carrier that most people relate to car transportation. 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 exposed 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.

Getting the Very best Deals on Auto Transport in East Lansing

It’s a good practice to consider what type of protection your vehicle will require while being shipped across the country. Using an open transport is ideal, and almost always less costly, if you’re shipping a standard vehicle that would typically be exposed to the outdoors on a regular basis anyways. If you have a collector’s car or antique vehicle, then an enclosed shipping alternative might be better for your vehicle. As a customer, it’s a good idea to get various quotes from East Lansing auto transporters. This way you’ll understand the general rates, but the cheapest is not always the best choice. Do a bit of research on the company you’re thinking of going with and on the auto transport business in general. When you finally make your decision, you’ll be comfortable that your vehicle is being transported safely and securely to its final destination.