Vehicle Transport in Southport NC
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The car shipping market can seem daunting at first, but by doing a little bit of homework you can make the most effective decision possible for moving your automobile. Shipping a car, truck, motorcycle, or any other type of vehicle is just a matter of discovering the right information and contacting the perfect people, which is this case is an auto transportation company in Southport. Sometimes, you’ll end up contacting what’s called a broker rather than an actual auto carrier. They both provide the same solutions, which is to facilitate the moving of your vehicle, but a broker simply arranges the transport while a carrier essentially supplies the transportation. No matter where in the country you’re delivering your automobile, the process is fundamentally the same. You’ll want to ensure 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. You should also plan ahead if you have a rigid timeframe you need your vehicle shipped in or a specific date it has to arrive by. First, as a client you should know the difference between an auto carrier broker and the actual shipping business that is the owner of the trucks.
Auto Brokers vs. Auto Carriers in Southport
If you’ve never had your automobile shipped before, then chances are you’re not aware of the differences between an auto broker and auto carrier in Southport. Even though both choices will end with the same result of getting your car relocated from one location to another, it’s always good to understand the process before choosing a service.
How an Auto Transport Broker Sets Up Transportation Solutions
An automotive transport broker is simply the professional chosen by you, the shipper, who assists in the process of acquiring an auto transport company in Southport. This means the customer, or shipper, does not actually deal directly with the auto carrier who will be in charge of picking up and delivering your vehicle. An auto shipping broker has an established network of carriers to contact for each clients, which means they can provide a better variety of rates and options. They’ll find an automobile carrier who travels the route and is within realistic mileage to your location, so it can end up making the entire shipping process quicker. The broker will be in contact with you, the client, throughout the entire shipping progression until your vehicle is delivered at its final location.
How to Locate a Car Carrier in Southport
A car hauling carrier is usually a double deck truck that can load up to ten automobiles at a time. It is driven by a professional CDL driver trained in loading, unloading and hauling vehicles. Sometimes, the driver of the truck is also the owner of the rig, so they decide on their solutions and which routes to drive. The truck driver is the individual who is actually responsible for picking up and delivering your vehicle. Some larger carrier companies are registered brokers as well which gives them the chance to broker out your order to another carrier. This means that even when you think you are working with a carrier in some situations you go through a broker provider. Usually you’d think dealing directly with a carrier means you’ll get a better price, but that’s not necessarily the case when it comes to auto carriers in Southport. A broker shops multiple auto transporters and is already established to contact all these vendors, so they’ll already know the best option for your auto transport requirements.
Things to Consider Before Transporting Your Car
Make certain all personal items are removed from your vehicle.
No car hauler in Southport is authorized 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 typical household item that you’ve kept in your vehicle. It’s a wise course of action to sweep your vehicle for any of these items and get rid of them prior to pickup.
Only leave around a quarter of tank of gas in your car.
You should always make sure that there is about a quarter tank of gas left in your vehicle when shipping. Your Southport 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 sharp angle it’s a good plan to keep at least a quarter tank of gas in it. However, you’ll want to be careful not to keep a full tank of gasoline in your car when transporting it. If your fuel tank is full, it will end up placing a significant quantity of weight to your vehicle, which could cause issues.
Perform an exam on your vehicle’s condition prior to shipping.
To make certain you have evidence of the condition of your car prior to using a Southport auto carrier it’s a good idea to search for any dents, scratches or other damage that may already exist. Cleaning your vehicle first will make it a lot easier to identify any dents or dings. Then, take pictures using your phone or camera to document the condition of your car, even if its body doesn’t have any problems. By doing this you have records of its condition in the event any incidents arise during the vehicle transport process.
Keep track of your Bill of Lading.
You’ll receive what’s called a Bill of Lading once your Southport car carrier arrives to obtain your vehicle for transport. This Bill of Lading contains the details of your vehicle transport contract and will verify that it is being placed in the temporary care of the auto transport company. Both parties can do an assessment 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 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 resolved at this time.
Verify your insurance coverage.
Inquire about your auto transport carrier’s insurance liability coverage prior to shipping, which each and every carrier should already have. Any Southport car hauler should already have liability insurance, which is incorporated into the total cost of your shipping. The overall insurance coverage typically ranges between ,000 and 0,000. Each auto hauler generally uses a third-party insurance company that handles the liabilities on their end. Also, you can check with your own insurance policy to see if it covers damages that can occur during the shipping process.
Make Certain You Choose the Proper Car Shipping Provider in Southport
It’s usually a good idea to do a bit of research on any company that you’re doing business with prior to making a commitment. There are tons of auto transporters in Southport 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. By obtaining these numbers you’ll be able to look up the auto hauler on the Better Business Bureau’s website to find out more details about them. You can also find out about the auto transport service by simply reviewing the terms and conditions that come along with the service. By doing a bit of investigation you’ll make sure you’re getting the best deal and service around.
Southport Transport Options: Open vs. Enclosed Trucks
Southport auto transport businesses make it possible to have your vehicle shipped to virtually any major city in the United States, but how the cars are actually transported depends on the services provided by the car shipping company. You’ll have the option to choose between an open-air carrier or an enclosed trailer, both of which are normally transported via a tractor trailer rig. While both methods use a truck for transport, they do have their distinctions.
When a car shipping company says it uses open-air trucks, it uses the type of car carrier that most people relate to car transport. Open air auto carriers will feature two rows of cars, one on top and one on bottom, and are normally around 75 feet in length. There are no sides and no roof on the trailer, so the vehicles are exposed to the elements at all times.
Searching for Auto Transport Companies in Southport
Prior to making a decision on whether you employ an open trailer or enclosed trailer, first think about how much protection your motor vehicle really needs. The most common cars shipped using an enclosed shipping option are antique or classic vehicles. However, if you’re simply transporting an average vehicle that you use every day for common driving needs, then an open trailer would likely 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 charged an satisfactory rate. Simply put a little time towards investigating the auto shipping process and the car carrier in Southport that you’re preparing to do business with, that way you know all your bases are covered.