Car Transport in Forest Lake MN

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 Forest Lake, 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 Forest Lake, MN.

The auto transport market offers a convenient way to move your autos across long distances for a relatively low rate. Rather than trying to transfer numerous vehicles on your own, you can simply employ a company to deal with the job quickly and securely. However, if you’re not acquainted with the auto carrier process, then the task of selecting the appropriate hauler and options may seem complicated. In this article we’ll review the alternatives and facts that will help prepare you find the ideal auto transport carrier in Forest Lake. Many car haulers will transport anywhere in America, from Alaska to Hawaii, and provide a variety of carrier options. Usually you’ll have the option of whether to ship your car in an enclosed or open manner. There is also a distinction between auto transport brokers and carriers, which we’ll explain below.

Auto Brokers vs. Auto Carriers in Forest Lake

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

Auto Brokers and Their Role in the Auto Transport Industry

In the car shipping industry, a broker is a firm that resells your shipping job. When you contact a broker, they will manage the process of finding a carrier for your vehicle and getting it from one location to another. However, they will not actually perform the shipping themselves, as they don’t own the trucks that are used in the shipping process. After communicating with a broker, they will reach out to auto transporters in Forest Lake who have the capacities to handle the customer’s shipping requirements. After the job is passed on to the carrier, the broker will stay in contact with the customer until the vehicle is delivered. Essentially, an auto transport broker acts as an intermediary between the customer and the auto transporters that can make contact with many companies in order to find the best service for the shipper.

What Is An Auto Transport Carrier?

An auto carrier, as opposed to a broker, is the person or organization that owns the moving trucks and will be responsible for transporting your car. Working directly with a car carrier will not require a broker, but it may be tough to find the best carrier since many of them rely on brokers to connect them with customers. A customer would be responsible for locating and dealing with the Forest Lake auto transporter, or a number of of them if you are shopping around. In this case, the customer assumes the role of the broker and deals with the auto transport directly. Not every auto shipper will necessarily be able to handle your auto transport needs, as they require licensing to travel through each state and may not be able to achieve your destination based on the states they must go through. Auto carriers can range anywhere from a one person operation to a company with multiple drivers and a fleet of auto shipping trucks.

Car Shipping Tips

Take any personal items out of your car.

Auto carriers are banned from relocating anything considered a household good, which is a law mandated by the Department of Transportation. This means auto transport in Forest Lake will not be allowed to deliver vehicles with your personal objects inside of them. Some examples of household goods that might be in your vehicle are DVD players, GPS systems or car seats.

Leave your gas tank a quarter of the ways full.

Be sure to maintain around a quarter tank of gas in your vehicle prior to transporting it. Your Forest Lake auto carrier will probably have to drive the vehicle on and off the truck during the shipping process, and since it will be at a sharp angle it’s a good plan to keep at least a quarter tank of gas in it. But, you don’t want to overfill your tank or leave your car with a full tank of gasoline during shipping. A full tank would add lots of weight to your vehicle, which could result in complications during the shipping process.

Take pictures of any existing damages on your car.

It’s a wise course of action to wash your car prior to shipping and make sure there is no dust or mud stuck on it. This will allow you to plainly see if there are any dents, dings or scratches that are already existing on your vehicle’s body, which means you won’t mistakenly believe the damage happened during shipping. It’s very easy to document them by taking pictures, which will also prove the condition of your automobile in the case that damage does occur during the shipping process.

Find out what’s in your Bill of Lading.

As soon as the auto carrier in Forest Lake shows up to retrieve your vehicle for transport you should be provided with what’s called a Bill of Lading. This is basically a document that acknowledges the business is picking up your vehicle for shipping and will also display any existing damages to your motor vehicle prior to picking it up. First, inspect your vehicle with the driver of the auto trailer so that you both are in understanding on its condition. After the inspection is complete, current damages will be recorded and the Bill of Lading will be signed by both the customer and the driver. Once your automobile is delivered, you’ll be presented with a Bill of Lading that you can use to check for any new damages to your vehicle that may have occurred during the shipping process.

Understand your insurance coverage.

Your insurance company may have protection built into your policy that provides for damages that can happen in the auto hauling process. Auto transport Forest Lake 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 company that the car hauler does business with. Usually, this is enough to cover any problems that could occur during the transportation process, but it’s a good idea to check with your insurance company as well.

How to Locate the Best Auto Hauler in Forest Lake

To ensure you’re acquiring the best car shipping service in Forest Lake there are a few details you should acquire regarding your auto transport company. Consumers should only do business with transporters who are licensed, bonded and insured. Yet another way to check their service record is by obtaining their MC number or USDOT and doing a lookup with the Better Business Bureau. Ensure to look over the terms and conditions of the shipping agreement and take some time to educate yourself on the general auto transport process. Finally, you can check out third-party reviews online and find out what past consumers are saying about the auto haulers services.

Forest Lake Transport Options: Open vs. Enclosed Trucks

A potential misconception about open transport is that it’s some sort of bargain basement solution. You could compare this option to flying economy class on an airplane versus first class. It’s the way most people travel. This same exact concept can apply to selecting an open transport. Approximately 4,000 open auto carriers are traveling throughout the country and are available for service. Even car dealerships contract a transport company to send a car the most inexpensive way possible. Open carriers will be more inexpensive than just moving one vehicle by itself using flatbed shipping, for example.

You Can Get Great Auto Transport Deals in Forest Lake

Prior to deciding on whether you employ an open trailer or enclosed trailer, first think about how much safety your motor vehicle really needs. The most common vehicles shipped using an enclosed shipping option are antique or classic vehicles. However, if you’re simply transporting an average motor vehicle that you use every day for common driving needs, then an open trailer would likely be a good fit for you. As always, try to get at least three or four quotes for car shipping services so you can be sure you’re being charged an adequate rate. By putting in a bit of time to research the Forest Lake auto transport company, the process being auto transporting and the rates included in your service you can make certain you’re not only getting the best deal, but also the best service.