Vehicle Transportation in Chesapeake VA

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 Chesapeake, 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 Chesapeake, VA.

Hauling a motor vehicle is not a really complicated practice, although it may seem that way from the outside, especially if you’ve hardly ever done it before. Shipping a car, truck, motorcycle, or any other type of vehicle is just a matter of discovering the proper information and contacting the perfect people, which is this case is an auto transport company in Chesapeake. 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 provide the same solutions, which is to facilitate the moving of your vehicle, but a broker merely arranges the transport while a carrier actually 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 info handy, such as the make, model and year, as well as the exact location you wish to ship it to. It’s also essential to have a general time schedule in mind if you’ll need your vehicle transported by a certain date. One of the most important distinctions to realize is the difference and commonalities between an auto transport broker and a carrier.

How to Tell the Difference Between Chesapeake Auto Carriers and Brokers

Chances are if you’ve never used an auto transporter in Chesapeake, then you may be unaware of the difference between an auto shipping broker and carrier. Essentially, using either service will have the same end result, transporting your vehicle from one place to another, but it’s always a good idea to have a basic understanding of the two before making a final choice on which provider to do business with.

What Is An Auto Transport Broker?

A person or group acting as an auto transport broker won’t own the fleet of trucks used for shipping. Brokers assist in auto transportation by connecting customers, referred to as “shippers”, with the carriers that offer the particular services requested. The benefit of using a broker rather than a carrier is that you have much more options because of their existing network of auto carriers. If you work directly with an auto transport carrier, they may not currently have the required equipment when you need it, or may not have licensing in all the states needed to move your vehicle where it needs to go. In short, a broker does the work of contacting carriers in order to locate the one who offers the best prices and proper service, which means you might get a much better rate since it increases competition.

How to Identify an Auto Hauler

An auto transport carrier is the supplier that owns the trucks and employs the movers that do the labor of hauling a vehicle. Dealing directly with a car carrier will not require a broker, but it may be difficult to find the best carrier since many of them count on brokers to connect them with customers. A customer would be responsible for locating and dealing with the Chesapeake auto transporter, or a number of of them if you are shopping around. A broker will not be essential in this case, but you may find your choices constrained. It’s significant to keep in mind that some carriers may not be able to transport a motor vehicle since licensing and legal requirements vary from state to state. A carrier can be a one-man company with one or two trucks, or a big auto transport company with many trucks.

Preparing Your Vehicle to be Transported

Secure your personal items outside your car.

All Chesapeake auto haulers are banned from transporting what would be deemed “household goods” by the Department of Transportation. This means you should remove anything that would be considered a “household good” from your car before it is picked up by an auto transport service. For example, car seats, umbrellas and clothing should be removed from your vehicle before it’s loaded onto the truck.

Only leave around a quarter of tank of gas in your car.

Be sure to keep around a quarter tank of gas in your vehicle prior to shipping it. Your Chesapeake auto carrier will probably 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 idea 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 gas in your car when transporting it. If your gasoline tank is full, it will end up placing a considerable quantity of weight to your vehicle, which could cause issues.

Record any body damage on your vehicle

When using a Chesapeake car hauler you should always perform a swift inspection of your vehicle’s condition before it gets loaded on the trailer. An easy way to do this is by washing your car off and making certain there’s no dirt left on it so that way it’s easier to recognize dents and dings. This will make certain you are conscious of any existing damages and can correctly determine if any new damage happened during the shipping process. It’s ideal to document the condition of your car by simply taking pictures of it on your cell phone as proof, just in case there are any problems during transporting it.

Understand your Bill of Lading.

When the Chesapeake auto transport arrives to start the shipping procedure, you and the driver of the carrier can do an inspection of your vehicle’s condition. This inspection will document any existing damages on your vehicle, which commonly includes scratches, dents and dings. Once that process is complete, the client will be given a Bill of Lading. This record simply acknowledges that the auto carrier is taking temporary possession of your vehicle. It will also ensure that both you and the auto transport carrier are in agreement on any existing damage on your car. When the car arrives at its intended destination, the customer will be presented with another Bill of Lading. This will confirm that the vehicle has been delivered and will allow the customer to inspect that vehicle again to determine if any new damage has occurred. This process ensures that both the customer and auto carrier are in agreement on the condition of the vehicle.

Review your insurance coverage options.

Even though the Chesapeake auto hauler should have liability insurance built into their service, it’s a good plan to check with your own insurance company as well to see if they would cover any damage that occurs as a result of moving your vehicle. Your chosen auto transport service should already have liability insurance built into their services and their rates. The average liability coverage ranges between ,000 and 0,000 in coverage, which would be enough for the vast majority of issues that could arise. This insurance coverage is usually provided by a third-party insurer employed by the auto transport service.

How to Find the Best Auto Hauler in Chesapeake

You will find 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 Chesapeake service that you’re considering going with. Initially, you can acquire the company’s MC number or USDOT number. Always ensure that the car carrier service is the company’s insured and licensed, that way you know you’re doing business with a respected company. You can use these numbers to look up the auto hauler with the Better Business Bureau in order to find out their track record. Ultimately, it’s a good idea to review the terms and conditions in your service agreement with the vehicle shipper so you comprehend the service you’re getting.

Open Auto Carriers vs. Enclosed Transports in Chesapeake

Generally, shipping a vehicle via open transport will save you the most money. It is the most frequently used and there are more of these carriers around than any other type. These auto carriers are around in abundance, so it helps keep down the expenses involved in shipping. So, in general, this is the least expensive way to ship a car. An auto carrier that is going from your area and traveling through to your destination will take that vehicle and add it to a group of up to 10 others heading in that same direction. This minimizes the cost of shipping as it is divided by the all the vehicles onboard.

Know Your Auto Transport Choices in Chesapeake

In order to choose the right auto transport method for your vehicle, consider how much security your vehicle will require. If it is an antique or collector’s car, you’ll perhaps want to err on the side of caution and use a fully-enclosed trailer to move your vehicle. On the other hand, if you have an average or older model vehicle, then an open-air trailer should suit your demands just fine. 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. By putting in a bit of time to research the Chesapeake auto transport company, the process being auto transporting and the rates included in your service you can guarantee you’re not only getting the very best deal, but also the very best service.