Vehicle Transportation in Salem MO

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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.

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Unlike other vehicle shipping companies in Salem, 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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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 Salem, MO.

Moving a car or truck is not a really challenging practice, though it may seem that way from the outside, especially if you’ve hardly ever done it before. Transporting a car, truck, motorcycle, or any other type of vehicle is just a matter of finding the proper information and calling the right people, which is this case is an auto transport company in Salem. More often than not when you reach out to a transport firm you’ll be speaking with what’s called an auto transport broker, instead of the transporter 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 essentially 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 ensure you have your vehicle’s details handy, such as the make, model and year, as well as the exact location you wish to ship it to. It’s also necessary to have a general time schedule in mind if you’ll need your vehicle shipped by a certain date. First, as a client you should know the difference between an auto carrier broker and the actual shipping company that is the owner of the trucks.

How to Tell the Difference Between Salem Auto Carriers and Brokers

One of the most important 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 Salem you should first know the difference 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 information you need to make an educated decision.

Auto Brokers and Their Role in the Auto Transport Market

Auto transport brokers don’t have their own transport carriers and usually are not the companies that will carry vehicles. A broker acts as an intermediary who will find the best auto carrier depending on routes, your location and the type of service you require. Brokers already have an established network of shippers who have routes that run all over the country, which will give the customer more options and a better chance to find the ideal one for them. Working with a single carrier means they may not run the route you require, have the necessary equipment or the suitable licensing to transport through the states needed to get your vehicle where it needs to go. In short, a broker does the job of contacting carriers in order to locate the one who offers the best rates and appropriate service, which means you might get a much better rate since it will increase competition.

How to Find a Car Carrier in Salem

When you choose to seek out a Salem auto carrier you’ll be interacting with the company who actually owns the truck used for transporting automobiles. 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 chosen routes because this would mean sluggish service to all customers and even higher rates. It doesn’t necessarily mean you’ll be spending less when dealing directly with a Salem auto carrier either. All services cost money, particularly with auto shipping due to changing fuel fees, 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 most effective price and most efficient performance for the customer, so interacting directly with an auto carrier may not make a huge difference for the better in price or service. In fact, carriers often times aren’t effortless to find, as brokers handle that side of their business for them.

Car Shipping Tips

Remove all personal items you’re your vehicle.

You may not be aware of this, but there is actually a Department of Transportation Code that prohibits car haulers in Salem from transporting vehicles with personal possessions in them. Items that should be taken away from your vehicle prior to shipping include things like car seats, external GPS systems and clothing. So it’s a good idea to check your vehicle and remove any of these items before the truck arrives to pick it up.

Leave your gas tank a quarter of the ways full.

Prior to your vehicle gets loaded up with a Salem auto hauler you should verify your fuel level to make sure you have around a quarter tank of gasoline. Some gas is necessary to start your automobile and drive it so that it can be loaded and unloaded from the auto shipping trailer properly. 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.

Before shipping your car, always check it for damages.

To make sure you have proof of the condition of your motor vehicle prior to using a Salem auto carrier it’s a good idea to search for any dents, scratches or other damage that may already exist. Cleaning your car first will make it easier to identify any dents or dings. Then, take pictures using your phone or camera to record the condition of your car, even if its body doesn’t have any damage. That way you have records of its condition in the event any incidents occur during the auto transport process.

Knowing your Bill of Lading.

When the Salem car carrier comes to pick up your car you will be given a Bill of Lading. This Bill of Lading contains the details of your vehicle transport agreement and will verify that it is being placed in the temporary care of the auto transport company. Both parties can do an examination 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. Another Bill of Lading will be given to the client once the vehicle arrives at its destination, which will confirm the condition of the vehicle matches what it was when it was picked up. Any new harm that may have occurred throughout the transport process, although rare, can be identified easier this way.

Understand your insurance coverage.

Ask about your auto transport carrier’s insurance liability coverage prior to shipping, which each and every carrier should already have. Your chosen Salem car hauler should have insurance included in the cost of transporting your vehicle that addresses damages. The overall insurance coverage typically ranges between ,000 and 0,000. Each auto hauler commonly uses a third-party insurance company that handles the liabilities on their end. Sometimes, your insurance company offers this type of coverage on your vehicle as well, so you can always check your policy prior to shipping.

Getting the Best Auto Transport Service in Salem

In order to make sure you’re getting the best service from your Salem car carrier you can always do a bit of research on their history first. First, only do business with an auto hauler who is licensed, bonded and insured. You can find out more about the business by getting their MC number or USDOT number. These numbers can then be used to look up the company’s record with the Better Business Bureau. You can also review the company’s terms and conditions to get a better idea of the type of service you’re getting. A small bit of investigation as to overall auto transport process goes a long way as well.

Difference Between Open Transport & Enclosed Carriers in Salem

Salem auto transport companies make it possible to have your car shipped to virtually any major city in the United States, but how the cars are actually transported depends on the services offered by the car shipping company. While most auto transport companies will move the vehicles by way of a tractor trailer, depending on the business you choose, you may have the choice 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 acquainted 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 generally 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 based upon on the value of the automobile you’re shipping.

Know Your Auto Transport Choices in Salem

Prior to making a decision on whether you utilize an open trailer or enclosed trailer, first think about how much safety your car really needs. The most common cars shipped using an enclosed shipping option are antique or classic vehicles. On the other hand, if you have an average or older model vehicle, then an open-air trailer should suit your needs just fine. A good game plan is to get numerous quotes from car shipping carriers or brokers, that way you know you’re receiving the most equitable rates. Merely put a little time towards researching the auto shipping process and the car carrier in Salem that you’re preparing to do business with, that way you know all your bases are covered.