Auto Shipping in Martinsburg WV

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Unlike other vehicle shipping companies in Martinsburg, 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 Martinsburg, WV.

What is involved in transferring your vehicle from one location to another by using an auto transport business in Martinsburg? In essence, auto shipping involves a car carrier company relocating the vehicle from one location to another for a customer. This procedure can be taken care of by making use of an open carrier, which is the most frequent option you’ll see on the road, or an enclosed transport where your vehicle would not be exposed to the open air. Generally, an open carrier is used to transport most vehicles unless they are expensive or collector’s automobiles. 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 act as an intermediary between the customer and the service that provides the shipping of the vehicles. In this article, we’ll review the differences between brokers and carriers, as well as some tips to help make your auto transport experience better.

How to Tell the Difference Between Martinsburg Auto Carriers and Brokers

Choosing an auto transport company demands some due diligence and knowing how the industry works prior to making a decision. The process can be challenging if you don’t know where to start or where to get specific details. We’ll cover the basics of auto shipping as well as the role that car carriers and auto brokers play in supplying customers with transport services.

What Does an Auto Broker Do?

An automotive transport broker is simply the professional hired by you, the shipper, who assists in the process of procuring an auto transport company in Martinsburg. 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. The auto transport broker acts as a liaison between the shipper and carrier, which means they can shop around to find the most reliable shipping solution for their customers. They’ll find an auto carrier who journeys the route and is within reasonable distance to your location, so it can end up making the entire shipping process quicker. Essentially, they will be your point of contact during the entire shipping process until your car is delivered to its destination.

Choosing a Qualified Car Carrier

When you deal specifically with an auto transport company that usually means you will be working with the actual individual or company that will be moving your vehicle. An auto carrier owns the trucks or trailers that are used to ship motor vehicles all over the country. Every car carrier in Martinsburg needs to be licensed and insured, but it’s a great idea to do some research just to make sure. These car carriers will serve a specific number of routes and locations in order to offer efficient service and remain profitable. Many carriers actually rely on auto shipping brokers to connect them with the right customers who will match the routes they take, which means more reliable service. Regardless of which option you choose, a broker or carrier, you’ll be having to pay roughly the same rate for your auto transport. There is competition among auto carriers today and most auto carriers offer you a number of promotions and discounts to their clients. As a result, you can take advantage of the circumstance in order to get a good price.

Preparing Your Vehicle to be Shipped

Secure your personal items outside your vehicle.

Auto shippers in Martinsburg are prohibited by the Department of Transportation to carry anything that would be considered a “household good”. This includes things like personal GPS devices, external DVD players, DVDs, CDs or any typical household item that you’ve stashed in your vehicle. It’s a good plan to sweep your vehicle for any of these products and remove them prior to pickup.

Leave a quarter of a tank of fuel in your car.

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 move from one side of the gas tank to another, and if the gas level is too low it may not be able to start. Make sure to not have a full gas tank, however, as it can add significant weight to your vehicle which could lead to shipping difficulties.

Pay attention to any existing damage on your car.

When using a Martinsburg car hauler you should always perform a swift examination of your vehicle’s condition before it gets loaded on the trailer. The most effective way to do this is by washing your car first, making sure there’s no dirt left on it, and then walking around it and make notes of any dents or dings. This will ensure you are conscious of any existing problems and can accurately determine if any new damage took place during the shipping process. Document any damages by taking photos with your phone or camera, that way you also have evidence of your vehicle’s condition ahead of transporting it.

Recognize your Bill of Lading.

When the Martinsburg car carrier comes to pick up your vehicle you will be given a Bill of Lading. This Bill of Lading consists of 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 evaluation of the vehicle at this time to document 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. An additional Bill of Lading will be given to the customer once the vehicle arrives at its destination, which will confirm the condition of the vehicle matches what it was when it was picked up. Any new harm that may have occurred throughout the transportation process, although rare, can be determined easier this way.

Understand your insurance coverage.

Ask about your auto transport carrier’s insurance liability coverage before shipping, which every carrier should already have. Any Martinsburg 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. Auto shippers will utilize a third-party insurer and should not cost extra, but rather it should be included in the rate that you’re already paying to deliver your vehicle. Sometimes, your insurance company provides this type of coverage on your vehicle as well, so you can always check your policy prior to shipping.

Getting the Best Auto Transport Service in Martinsburg

To make sure you’re getting the best car shipping service in Martinsburg there are a few details you should gather regarding your auto transport company. Customers should only do business with transporters who are licensed, bonded and insured. Yet another way to verify their service record is by obtaining their MC number or USDOT and doing a lookup with the Better Business Bureau. Make certain to look over the terms and conditions of the shipping agreement and take some time to educate yourself on the overall auto transport process. Lastly, you can check out third-party reviews online and find out what past consumers are expressing about the auto haulers services.

Distinction Between Martinsburg Auto Transports and Enclosed Car Carriers

Martinsburg 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. While most auto transport companies will move the vehicles by way of a tractor trailer, depending on the business you choose, you may have the choice to go with either open-air or enclosed transport. While both methods use a truck for transport, they do have their differences.

When a car shipping business says it uses open-air trucks, it uses the type of car carrier that most people relate to car transportation. This type of truck is typically 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. Your vehicle will be exposed to the elements at all times, just as it would if you were driving your car, so that is something to take into consideration depending on the value of the motor vehicle you’re shipping.

Searching for Auto Transport Companies in Martinsburg

In order to choose the right auto transport method for your vehicle, consider how much protection your car will require. If it is an antique or collector’s car, you’ll most likely want to err on the side of caution and utilize a fully-enclosed trailer to move your vehicle. However, if you’re simply transporting an average vehicle that you use every day for typical driving needs, then an open trailer would probably 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 adequate rate. By putting in a bit of time to research the Martinsburg auto transport company, the process being auto transporting and the rates involved in your service you can make certain you’re not only getting the very best deal, but also the best service.