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Car Transportation in Salem OR

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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.

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Affordable Prices
Competitive pricing with no hidden fees

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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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 Salem, OR.

Have questions, need a quote, or want to schedule a transport – just give us a call at (888) 654-1785

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What is included in relocating your vehicle from one place to another by using an auto transport business in Salem? In fact, auto shipping involves a car carrier company moving the vehicle from one location to another for a consumer. This procedure can be taken care of by using an open carrier, which is the most well-known option you’ll see on the road, or an enclosed transport where your vehicle would not be subjected to the open air. An open carrier is the most common, which also means it’s the most cost-effective for typical vehicle transport needs. However, first you should know the distinction between an auto transport broker and an auto carrier. Brokers don’t in fact 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 suggestions that will help you make the best auto transport choice.

Salem Auto Brokers vs. Car Carriers

Choosing an auto transport company demands some due diligence and understanding how the business works prior to making a decision. The process can be daunting if you don’t know where to start or where to get accurate details. This article will include the basics and the role that shippers, carriers, and brokers play in the process of hauling a vehicle.

How an Auto Transport Broker Sets Up Car Carrier Options

An auto shipping broker is essentially the logistics management portion of the auto carrier. A broker will track market conditions and will have a community of car carriers to get in touch with for each customer they acquire. Auto shipping brokers in Salem negotiate on a customer’s behalf and make sure customers and carriers are on the same page during shipping. An auto shipping broker will have connections with carriers around the country and will find one who travels the route and has the ideal prices for the consumer. This is one of the benefits of using a broker logistics management business. These brokers also stay in touch with the customer throughout the delivery process and will keep them posted as to the progress of their car shipping service.

What Is An Auto Transport Carrier?

When you choose to seek out a Salem auto carrier you’ll be dealing 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. They do not divert too far from their chosen routes because this would mean slower service to all customers and even higher prices. Dealing with a carrier company doesn’t mean customers will pay less. All services cost money, particularly with auto shipping due to changing fuel prices, 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 best rate 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. Auto carriers aren’t generally easy to locate and contact, since many times they rely on brokers to connect them with consumers.

Tips for Shipping Your Car

Take any personal items out of your vehicle.

All Salem auto haulers are prohibited from transporting what would be deemed “household goods” by the Department of Transportation. You really should do a quick check of your vehicle and remove these items prior to shipping. For example, car seats, umbrellas and clothing should be removed from your vehicle before it’s loaded onto the truck.

Don’t ship your car with a full tank of gas.

Be sure to maintain around a quarter tank of gas in your vehicle prior to transporting it. Your Salem auto carrier will most likely have to drive the vehicle on and off the truck during the shipping process, and since it will be at a steep angle it’s a good idea 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 transporting. If your gasoline tank is full, it will end up adding a significant amount of weight to your vehicle, which could cause difficulties.

Record any body damage on your vehicle

When using a Salem car hauler you should always perform a quick assessment of your vehicle’s condition before it gets loaded on the trailer. A fairly easy way to do this is by washing your car off and making sure there’s no dirt left on it so that way it’s much easier to identify dents and dings. This will make certain you are conscious of any existing problems and can correctly determine if any new damage occurred during the transporting process. It’s most effective to record the condition of your car by merely taking pictures of it on your cell phone as proof, just in case there are any problems during transporting it.

What is a Bill of Lading?

You will receive what’s called a Bill of Lading once your Salem car carrier arrives to obtain your vehicle for transport. This Bill of Lading consists of 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 document any damages that are on the body. So the consumer and driver can come to an agreement as to the vehicle’s condition, and that way there won’t be any confusion once the vehicle is delivered. The client will receive yet another Bill of Lading during the delivery process, which will again inspect the condition of your vehicle. Any new damage that may have occurred throughout the transport process, although rare, can be determined easier this way.

Knowing insurance liabilities when transporting your car.

You really should check with your auto insurance provider to find out if they supply any coverage for your vehicle in case it is damaged during the hauling process. Auto transport Salem companies should already have liability coverage built into their services, which generally 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 provided by an outside firm that the car hauler does business with. This should be enough to cover anything that could happen to the common vehicle, unless you’re transporting a top end or collector’s car.

Getting the Best Auto Transport Service in Salem

There are a vast array of auto transport businesses out there and it can be tough to choose which one is the best for your needs. You can even do a bit of research on the auto transport Salem service that you’re considering going with. First, you can get the company’s MC number or USDOT number. A reputable auto carrier service should be insured and licensed. You can use these numbers to look up the auto hauler with the Better Business Bureau in order to find out their reputation. In many cases it’s a good idea to review the terms and conditions of your service agreement with the auto transporter just so you comprehend the process a little better.

Salem Transport Options: Open vs. Enclosed Trucks

Salem auto transport businesses make it possible to have your car shipped to practically any major city in the United States, but how the cars are actually transported depends on the services offered by the car shipping company. You’ll have the alternative to choose between an open-air carrier or an enclosed trailer, both of which are generally transported via a tractor trailer rig. While both methods use a truck for transport, they do have their distinctions.

When a car shipping firm says it uses open-air trucks, it uses the type of car carrier that most people relate to car transportation. Open air auto carriers will feature two rows of cars, one on top and one on bottom, and are generally around 75 feet in length. Your vehicle will be open 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 Options in Salem

In order to choose the right auto transport method for your vehicle, consider how much security your car will require. The most common cars 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 standard driving needs, then an open trailer would probably 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 billed an adequate rate. Simply 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.