Vehicle Transport in Ionia 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 Ionia, 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 Ionia, MI.

Transporting a motor vehicle is not a really challenging practice, although it may seem that way from the outside, particularly if you’ve never done it before. Transporting a car, truck, motorcycle, or any other type of vehicle is just a matter of obtaining the right information and contacting the perfect people, which is this case is an auto transport company in Ionia. More often than not when you reach out to a transport provider you’ll be speaking with what’s called an auto transport broker, rather then the auto carrier themselves. They both offer the same solutions, which is to facilitate the transportation of your vehicle, but a broker simply 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. You’ll want to make sure you have your vehicle’s info handy, such as the make, model and year, as well as the exact location you wish to ship it to. It’s also important to have a general time schedule in mind if you’ll need your vehicle transported by a certain date. One of the most essential distinctions to realize is the difference and commonalities between an auto transport broker and a carrier.

What is the Distinction Between Auto Carriers and Brokers in Ionia?

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 Ionia you should first know the difference between an auto shipping broker and a carrier. The process is much less complicated than you may think, and we’ll provide all the information you need to make an informed decision.

How do Auto Transport Brokers Work?

An auto shipping broker is basically the logistics management portion of the auto carrier. A broker will monitor market conditions and will have a community of car carriers to contact for each customer they acquire. Auto shipping brokers in Ionia negotiate on a customer’s behalf and make sure customers and carriers are on the same page during shipping. These broker firms will have access to a database of carriers from around the country and can arrange for your car to be picked-up virtually anywhere, sometimes the very same day you call them. This is one of the benefits of using a broker logistics management firm. These brokers also keep in touch with the client throughout the delivery process and will keep them posted as to the progress of their car shipping service.

How to Identify an Auto Carrier

When you deal directly with an auto transport company that means you will be working with the actual person or business that will be moving your vehicle. The auto shipping carriers are the owners of the trailers that are used in transporting the cars and are the owners of the business. Virtually all auto transport carriers in Ionia have to be licensed and insured, but a consumer should still do their research to verify this. These car carriers will serve a specific number of routes and locations in order to offer effective service and remain profitable. Locating a carrier by yourself that travels the route in which you need your vehicle transported may be difficult, as many carriers make use of brokers who will connect them with the correct customers. Regardless of which option you choose, a broker or carrier, you’ll be having to pay approximately the same rate for your auto transport. There ës a fair quantity of competition between different auto carriers, so occasionally you can obtain promotions or discounts they’re offering. For this reason, you can take advantage of the circumstance in order to get a great price.

Steps to Take Before Shipping Your Vehicle

Ensure all personal items are removed from your vehicle.

Each and every Ionia auto carrier is prohibited from transporting anything that would be considered a “household item” due to polices from the Department of Transportation. This means you should remove anything that would be considered 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 trailer.

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

Keep an eye on your gas gauge before shipping with a Ionia car carrier. Just to be safe, make sure your gas level isn’t too low and leave only about a quarter of a tank in your car. The car will need to be driven briefly so that it can be loaded on and off the auto shipping trailer. Alternatively, you don’t want to ship your car with a full tank of gasoline either. A vehicle with a full tank of gas will weigh substantially more than one with simply a quarter tank full, which could present difficulties with the auto transport process.

Pay attention to any existing damage on your car.

Always carry out an in-depth assessment of the condition of your car prior to shipping it via a Ionia car hauler. The best way to do this is by washing your car first, making sure there’s no dirt left on it, and then walking around it and make notes of any dents or dings. This will ensure you are aware of any existing damages and can accurately determine if any new damage happened during the shipping process. Document any damages by taking pictures with your phone or camera, that way you also have evidence of your vehicle’s condition before transporting it.

Keep track of your Bill of Lading.

As soon as your Ionia auto transporter arrives to pick up your car, both you and the driver will do an inspection to determine the condition of your vehicle. During this time you can determine any dents, dings or scratches already on your vehicle’s body. When you’re satisfied with the evaluation, you’ll be presented with what’s called a Bill of Lading. The contract will confirm auto carrier is taking your vehicle for transport. It will also ensure that both you and the auto transport carrier are in agreement on any existing damage on your car. 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. So this process basically protects both the customer and the auto carrier so that there will be no confusion upon delivery.

Confirm your insurance coverage.

Even though the Ionia auto hauler should have liability insurance built into their service, it’s a good idea to check with your own insurance company as well to see if they would cover any damage that occurs as a result of transporting your vehicle. Your selected 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 sufficient for the vast majority of problems that could occur. This coverage is usually provided by a third-party insurer employed by the auto transport service.

Ensure You Choose the Right Car Shipping Business in Ionia

There are a few ways you can make sure that you’re receiving the best service from the auto carrier in Ionia that you’ve chosen. Every experienced auto hauler should be licensed, bonded and insured. You can also get their MC number or USDOT number to check their reports with the BBB (Better Business Bureau). Also, take the time to review the terms and conditions so that you’re familiar with how the service works. It’s also a wise course of action to read any third-party critiques of the company to see what past customers are saying.

Open Auto Carriers vs. Enclosed Transports in Ionia

Usually, shipping a vehicle via open transport will save you the most money. There are more carriers of this type than an enclosed version, and you’ve probably seen them numerous times on the highway. These auto carriers are around in abundance, so it helps keep down the costs involved in shipping. So, in general, this is the most affordable way to ship a car. Auto carriers travel constant routes and will transport up to 10 other vehicles along with yours to maintain efficiency. This reduces the cost of shipping as it is divided by the all the vehicles onboard.

You Can Get Fantastic Auto Transport Deals in Ionia

Prior to deciding on whether you utilize an open trailer or enclosed trailer, first think about how much protection your vehicle really needs. If it is an antique or collector’s car, you’ll 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 motor vehicle that you use every day for standard driving needs, then an open trailer would probably be a good fit for you. As usually, try to get at least three or four quotes for car shipping services so you can be sure you’re being billed an adequate rate. Merely put a little time towards researching the auto shipping process and the car carrier in Ionia that you’re preparing to do business with, that way you know all your bases are covered.