Car Transport in Elizabeth City NC

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 Elizabeth City, 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 Elizabeth City, NC.

What is included in relocating your vehicle from one place to another by using an auto transport business in Elizabeth City? In fact, auto shipping involves a car carrier company moving the vehicle from one place to another for a consumer. Customers have the option to choose between an open carrier, which is the most common, or an enclosed carrier that better covers your vehicle. Normally, an open carrier is used to transport most vehicles unless they are expensive or collector’s vehicles. The best place to start in your quest for finding an auto transporter is knowing the difference between a broker and a carrier. Brokers don’t actually ship the vehicle, but they behave as an intermediary between the customer and the service that provides the shipping of the vehicles. Below, we’ll review the distinction between a broker and carrier, as well as other strategies that will help you make the best auto transport choice.

What is an Auto Broker in Elizabeth City?

Chances are if you’ve never utilized an auto transporter in Elizabeth City, then you could possibly be unaware of the difference between an auto shipping broker and carrier. Even though both choices will end with the same result of getting your car moved from one location to another, it’s always good to understand the process before choosing a service.

Auto Transport Brokers and How They Work With Consumers

An auto shipping broker is basically the logistics management portion of the auto carrier. A broker will track market conditions and will have a community of car carriers to contact for each customer they acquire. A car transporter in Elizabeth City will be in contact with these brokers and rely on them to link up customers with their solutions. 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 contact them. This is one of the advantages of using a broker logistics management company. These brokers also keep in touch with the customer throughout the shipping process and will keep them posted as to the progress of their car shipping service.

Locating the Best Auto Hauler

When you choose to seek out a Elizabeth City auto carrier you’ll be interacting with the company who actually owns the truck used for transporting motor vehicles. With a few exceptions, most auto transport carriers only serve a minimal number of routes. Generally, they don’t stray too far from these routes because of extra fuel costs and the travel time it would take, which would slow down other deliveries. It doesn’t necessarily mean you’ll be spending less when working directly with a Elizabeth City 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 often times. Dealing with an auto carrier directly might not change the rate you pay over going with a broker, since the broker has an array of carriers that they can contact for the best prices and routes. Auto carriers aren’t always easy to locate and contact, since a lot of times they depend on brokers to connect them with clients.

Preparing Your Vehicle to be Transported

Secure your personal items outside your vehicle.

No auto shipper is allowed to transfer any item that would be classified as “household goods”, as per Department of Transportation Code. This means auto transport in Elizabeth City will not be allowed to send vehicles with your personal goods inside of them. Some good examples of household goods that might be in your car are DVD players, GPS systems or car seats.

Do not ship your automobile with a full gas tank.

Keep an eye on your gas gauge before transporting with a Elizabeth City 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 vehicle will need to be driven briefly so that it can be loaded on and off the auto shipping truck. Conversely, you don’t want to ship your car with a full tank of gasoline either. A full tank will add considerable weight to your vehicle and could throw off the equilibrium of the transport and result in issues.

Look at your vehicle for signs of damage before and after shipping.

In order to better identify any scuff marks or dings on your vehicle it’s a good idea to wash it before inspecting the body. You’ll want to do a thorough inspection of your vehicle’s body before shipping to make sure you’re aware of any existing damages. It’s easy to document them by taking photos, which will also prove the condition of your car in the case that damage does occur during the transporting process.

Keep track of your Bill of Lading.

Once the auto carrier in Elizabeth City arrives to obtain your vehicle for transport you should be provided with what’s called a Bill of Lading. This is merely a document that acknowledges the business is picking up your vehicle for shipping and will also display any existing damages to your vehicle prior to picking it up. First, inspect your vehicle with the driver of the auto trailer so that you both are in agreement 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 car 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 happened during shipping.

Verify your insurance coverage.

Ask about your auto transport carrier’s insurance liability coverage before shipping, which each and every carrier should already have. Any Elizabeth City car hauler should already have liability insurance, which is incorporated into the total cost of your shipping. The total insurance coverage typically ranges between ,000 and 0,000. Auto shippers will utilize a third-party insurer and should not cost extra, but rather it should be included in the rate that you’re already paying to ship your vehicle. Sometimes, your insurance company offers this type of coverage on your vehicle as well, so you can generally check your policy prior to shipping.

How to Find the Best Auto Hauler in Elizabeth City

There are several ways you can ensure you’re getting the absolute best service from your chosen Elizabeth City car carrier. First, only do business with an auto hauler who is licensed, bonded and insured. The client can also use the auto transporter’s 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 look over the company’s terms and conditions to get a much better idea of the type of service you’re getting. A little bit of investigation as to overall auto transport process goes a long way as well.

Difference Between Open Transport & Enclosed Carriers in Elizabeth City

A potential misconception about open transport is that it’s some sort of bargain basement option. This option can be compared to economy class on a flight. It’s the most frequent way for people to take a flight. This very same concept can apply to deciding on 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 firm to send a car the most cost effective way possible. Transporting your vehicle by using an open carrier is the most economical way of transportation, rather than using a single flatbed truck only relocating one car or truck at a time.

Choosing The Right Auto Transport Service in Elizabeth City

It’s a good practice to think about what type of protection your vehicle will require while being shipped across the country. If you’re simply shipping a standard or older vehicle, then open-transport options are probably fine for you. If you have a collector’s car or antique vehicle, then an enclosed shipping alternative might be better for your vehicle. When first browsing auto transport companies in Elizabeth City you should get several quotes on the price of the transport. This way you’ll understand the general costs, but the cheapest is not always the ideal choice. By performing some study on the auto transport industry and the companies you’re planning on dealing with, you can make sure you’re getting the greatest deal. That way, you’re making sure your vehicle is shipped safely and makes it to its destination with ease.