Auto Shipping in Tacoma WA

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Unlike other vehicle shipping companies in Tacoma, 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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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 Tacoma, WA.

Shipping a motor vehicle is not a very complex practice, although it may seem that way from the outside, particularly if you’ve hardly ever done it before. Transporting a car, truck, motorcycle, or any other type of vehicle is just a matter of obtaining the right information and getting in touch with the right people, which is this case is an auto transport company in Tacoma. Sometimes, you’ll end up calling what’s called a broker rather than an actual auto carrier. Both of these businesses essentially make sure your vehicle is shipped safety and quickly to a new location. The process is mostly the same regardless of where in America your trying to ship your car to. You’ll want to make sure 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 necessary to have a general timeframe in mind if you’ll need your vehicle shipped by a certain date. One of the most essential distinctions to understand is the difference and commonalities between an auto transport broker and a carrier.

Tacoma Auto Brokers and Their Role in Auto Transport

When searching for car transport and car shipping companies in Tacoma, there are basically two different choices you can choose to book with: a broker, and a carrier. The main difference is that a broker does not own their trucks that will be used to transport your vehicle from one point to another. The broker will find the best trucking service for you depending on where you are and where your automobile needs to go. A carrier, on the other hand, actually owns their trucks and they send one of their trucks to pick-up your vehicle.

What Is An Auto Transport Broker?

An auto shipping broker is fundamentally the logistics management portion of the auto carrier. They offer a platform for communication and keep track of current market conditions in order to quote the most realistic rates. Auto shipping brokers in Tacoma negotiate on a customer’s behalf and make sure customers and carriers are on the same page during shipping. 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 call them. One of the advantages of using an auto shipping broker is that they can provide you with a greater variety of choices when it comes to car haulers. 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.

What Is An Auto Transport Carrier?

An auto carrier, as opposed to a broker, is the individual or organization that owns the moving trucks and will be responsible for transporting your motor vehicle. One advantage of using a carrier is that you are working directly with the company who will be hauling your vehicle, essentially eliminating the middle man. A consumer would be responsible for finding and dealing with the Tacoma auto transporter, or a number of of them if you are shopping around. In this case, the customer assumes the role of the broker and deals with the auto transport directly. It’s important to keep in mind that some carriers may not be able to transport a motor vehicle since licensing and legal requirements differ from state to state. A carrier can be a one-man company with one or two trucks, or a big auto transport company with numerous trucks.

Preparing Your Vehicle to be Transported

Ensure all personal items are removed from your vehicle.

Auto shippers in Tacoma are prohibited by the Department of Transportation to move anything that would be considered a “household good”. This consists of things like personal GPS devices, external DVD players, DVDs, CDs or any common household item that you’ve kept in your vehicle. It’s well-advised to remove these items from your vehicle prior to pickup to reduce any delays.

Leave your gas tank a quarter of the ways full.

Since your vehicle will need to be driven onto and off of the transport trailer, you should make sure your vehicle isn’t super low on gasoline. Also, your vehicle may be placed at an angle on top of an auto carrier, meaning gasoline could shift from one side of the gas tank to another, and if the gasoline level is too low it may not be able to start. Conversely, make sure you don’t have a full tank of gas in your car either, since it would add a lot of weight to your vehicle during shipment.

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

In order to better discover any scratches or dents on your vehicle it’s a good idea to rinse it before inspecting the body. This will allow you to clearly see if there are any dents, dings or scratches that are already present on your vehicle’s body, which means you won’t erroneously believe the damage took place during shipping. Simply taking photos or a video of the condition of your motor vehicle prior to shipping can help avoid any misunderstandings at the time of its delivery.

Knowing your Bill of Lading.

When the Tacoma auto transport arrives to start the shipping procedure, you and the driver of the carrier can do an assessment of your vehicle’s condition. During this time you can determine any dents, dings or scratches already on your vehicle’s body. Once that process is complete, the client will be given a Bill of Lading. The contract will confirm auto carrier is taking your vehicle for transport. It will also guarantee 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. So this process essentially protects both the customer and the auto carrier so that there will be no confusion upon delivery.

Confirm your insurance coverage.

Inquire about your auto transport carrier’s insurance liability coverage before shipping, which every carrier should already have. Your chosen Tacoma car hauler should have insurance included in the cost of transporting your vehicle that addresses damages. The overall insurance coverage typically ranges between ,000 and 0,000. Each auto hauler normally uses a third-party insurance company that handles the liabilities on their end. Sometimes, your insurance company offers this type of coverage on your vehicle as well, so you can always check your policy prior to shipping.

Make Certain You Select the Perfect Car Shipping Business in Tacoma

There are several ways you can ensure you’re getting the absolute best service from your chosen Tacoma car carrier. You should only use an auto transport service that is licensed, bonded and insured. The client can also use the auto transporter’s MC number or USDOT number. You can use these numbers to look up reports on their solutions with the BBB. It’s also a good idea to quickly evaluate the terms and conditions of the service agreement so that you have a general idea of what in entails. This way you’ll be able to make the most informed decision possible.

Distinction Between Tacoma Auto Transports and Enclosed Vehicle Carriers

Tacoma 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 provided by the car shipping company. You’ll have the choice to choose between an open-air carrier or an enclosed trailer, both of which are usually transported via a tractor trailer rig. While both approaches 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. This type of truck is generally between 75 and 80 feet in length and it hauls a two-level trailer with a row of cars on the top and a shorter row of cars on the bottom. There are no sides and no roof on the trailer, so the vehicles are open to the elements at all times.

Searching for Auto Transport Companies in Tacoma

Prior to making a decision on whether you utilize an open trailer or enclosed trailer, first think about how much safety your car really needs. 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. However, if you’re simply transporting an average motor vehicle that you use every day for standard driving needs, then an open trailer would likely be a good fit for you. A good game plan is to get multiple quotes from car shipping carriers or brokers, that way you know you’re receiving the most fair rates. By putting in a bit of time to research the Tacoma auto transport company, the process being auto transporting and the rates included in your service you can guarantee you’re not only getting the best deal, but also the very best service.