Car Transportation in Athens TN

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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 Athens, TN.

The auto transport industry delivers a practical way to move your autos across long distances for a fairly cheap rate. Instead of transferring their vehicles long ranges on their own, people employ auto transporters to safely relocate their vehicles at an inexpensive price and in a secure environment. However, if you’re not familiar with the auto carrier process, then the task of selecting the right hauler and options may appear challenging. The good news is, in this article we’ll help you comprehend how to pick a car hauler in Athens that will fit your needs and move your car securely. Many car haulers will carry anywhere in America, from Alaska to Hawaii, and provide a variety of carrier alternatives. These possibilities may include enclosed or open transport, where you can decide to have your car relocated under the protection of an enclosure. There is also a difference between auto transport brokers and carriers, which we’ll discuss below.

Auto Brokers vs. Auto Carriers in Athens

You’ll basically have two options when looking for an auto carrier in Athens. In short, an auto shipping broker reaches out to car haulers who will actually perform the moving of your vehicle. A broker will find trucking companies in your area to pick up and deliver your vehicle. An auto shipping carrier is merely the person or company that owns the truck which will pick up and deliver your car.

What Is An Auto Transport Broker?

An automotive transport broker is simply the professional chosen by you, the shipper, who assists in the process of procuring an auto transport company in Athens. In this case, the customer will not deal directly with the auto carrier, but rather will be setup with the carrier who best fits the customer’s situation. The auto transport broker acts as a liaison between the shipper and carrier, which means they can shop around to find the most effective shipping option for their customers. They will take into consideration price and how close the auto carrier is to your location, which can end up expediting the shipping process. Essentially, they will be your point of contact during the entire shipping process until your car is delivered to its destination.

Locating the Best Auto Hauler

A vehicle hauling carrier is usually a double deck truck that can load up to ten vehicles at a time. It is driven by a professional CDL driver trained in loading, unloading and hauling vehicles. The driver may be the owner of the auto transport truck who decides on their routes to provide the most productive service. These drivers are the ones who are considered auto carriers and will be responsible for picking up and delivering your car or truck. Some larger carrier companies are registered brokers as well which gives them the chance to broker out your order to an additional carrier. This means that even when you think you are dealing with a carrier in some circumstances you go through a broker provider. Most of the time when customers deals directly with a company, rather than an intermediary, they believe they’ll be getting a better price, but that’s not automatically true with Athens auto transport. A broker shops multiple auto transporters and is already established to contact all these vendors, so they’ll already know the ideal option for your auto transport needs.

Preparing Your Vehicle to be Shipped

Remove all household goods you’re your vehicle.

Every Athens auto carrier is forbidden from transporting something that would be considered a “household item” due to rules from the Department of Transportation. You will need to do a quick check of your vehicle and remove these items prior to shipping. Some common items that should be removed from your vehicle include car seats, umbrellas and clothing.

Don’t overfill your gas tank.

You should always ensure that there is always about a quarter tank of gas left in your vehicle when shipping. Your Athens 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. However, you’ll want to be cautious not to keep a full tank of gas in your car when shipping it. A full tank would add a great deal of weight to your vehicle, which could result in problems during the transporting process.

Record any body damage on your vehicle

It’s a good idea to wash your car prior to shipping and make sure there is no dust or mud stuck on it. This will allow you to clearly see if there are any dents, dings or scratches that are already existing on your vehicle’s body, which means you won’t incorrectly believe the damage happened during shipping. Just taking pictures or a video of the condition of your automobile prior to shipping can help avoid any confusion at the time of its delivery.

What is a Bill of Lading?

As soon as the auto carrier in Athens arrives to retrieve your car for transport you should be provided with what’s called a Bill of Lading. This is merely a document that acknowledges the firm is picking up your vehicle for shipping and will also show any existing damages to your car 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 vehicle 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.

Understand your insurance coverage.

Inquire about your auto transport carrier’s insurance liability coverage before shipping, which every carrier should already have. Any Athens 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. Each auto hauler typically uses a third-party insurance company that handles the liabilities on their end. Sometimes, your insurance company provides this type of coverage on your vehicle as well, so you can generally check your policy prior to shipping.

Getting the Best Auto Transport Service in Athens

You’ll have a wide variety of auto transporters to choose from when looking for the best service for your vehicle shipping requirements. Fortunately, you can do a little bit of research on your end prior to making a sound decision on which auto transport Athens service to go with. Initially, you can acquire the company’s MC number or USDOT number. Always make certain that the car carrier service is the company’s insured and licensed, that way you know you’re doing business with a reliable company. You can use these numbers to look up the auto hauler with the Better Business Bureau in order to find out their standing. Often times it’s a good idea to review the terms and conditions of your service agreement with the auto transporter just so you understand the process a little better.

Knowing the Difference Between Enclosed Transport and Open Transport Options in Athens

A possible misconception about open transport is that it’s some sort of bargain basement alternative. This option can be compared to economy class on a flight. It’s the most common way for people to take a flight. The very same can be said about open transport. Approximately 4,000 open auto carriers are traveling all through the country and are available for service. Even car dealerships contract a transport firm to send a car the most cost effective way possible. Open carriers will be more inexpensive than just moving one vehicle by itself using flatbed shipping, for example.

Know Your Auto Transport Solutions in Athens

Always take into account how much safety and security your vehicle or vehicles will need during the transport process. 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 Athens you should get several quotes on the price of the transport. However, the lowest price it not necessarily the best choice for every scenario. By doing some study on the auto transport industry and the companies you’re planning on working with, you can make sure you’re getting the best deal. When you finally make your decision, you’ll be confident that your vehicle is being transported properly and securely to its final location.