Car Shipping in Lakeport CA

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 Lakeport, 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 Lakeport, CA.

Hauling a car or truck is not a very complex process, though it may seem that way from the outside, specifically if you’ve hardly ever done it before. In order to move a car, truck or motorcycle it’s actually just a matter of having the best information and getting in touch with the right Lakeport auto transport service to handle the job. Quite often when you reach out to a transport provider you’ll be speaking with what’s called an auto transport broker, in lieu of the auto carrier themselves. They both offer you the same solutions, which is to facilitate the moving of your vehicle, but a broker merely arranges the transport while a carrier essentially supplies the transportation. No matter where in the country you’re transporting your motor vehicle, the process is basically the same. The main data you’ll need prior to shipping is your vehicle’s make, model and year. You should also plan ahead if you have a strict timeframe you need your vehicle shipped in or a certain date it must arrive by. Initially, as a customer you should know the difference between an auto carrier broker and the actual shipping company that is the owner of the trucks.

What is the Difference Between Auto Carriers and Brokers in Lakeport?

Selecting an auto transport company involves some due diligence and knowing how the business works before making a decision. The process can be daunting if you don’t know where to begin or where to get accurate information. We’ll cover the basics of auto shipping as well as the role that car carriers and auto brokers play in providing consumers with transport services.

What Is An Auto Transport Broker?

Auto transport brokers don’t have their own transport carriers and generally are not the companies that will move vehicles. A broker acts as an intermediary who will find the very best auto carrier depending on routes, your location and the type of service you require. Brokers actually have an established network of shippers who have routes that run all over the country, which will give the customer more choices and a far better chance to find the ideal one for them. If you deal directly with an auto transport carrier, they may not have the required equipment when you need it, or may not have licensing in all the states required to move your vehicle where it needs to go. In short, a broker does the work of getting in contact with 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.

Locating the Best Auto Hauler

An auto carrier normally employs a large double deck truck to move various vehicles at once, which you’ve probably seen on the freeways at times. These vehicles are driven by certified CDL drivers who are qualified and licensed to haul motor vehicles. The driver may be the owner of the auto transport truck who decides on their routes to provide the most efficient service. The truck driver is the person who is actually responsible for picking up and delivering your vehicle. Some bigger carrier companies are registered brokers as well which gives them the chance to broker out your order to another carrier. So even if you think you’re working directly with an auto carrier, you might be choosing a different carrier service in the end. Most of the time when customers deals directly with a company, rather than an intermediary, they think they’ll be obtaining a better price, but that’s not automatically true with Lakeport auto transport. On the other hand, a broker already has established a network of carriers, so they can search multiple options to find the best choice for their clients.

Guidelines for Shipping Your Car

Take any personal items out of your vehicle.

Every Lakeport auto carrier is forbidden from transporting anything that would be considered a “household item” due to restrictions from the Department of Transportation. This means you should get rid of anything that would be regarded as a “household good” from your car before it is picked up by an auto transport service. Some common items that should be removed from your vehicle include car seats, umbrellas and clothing.

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

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

Take pictures of any existing damages on your car.

Always conduct an in-depth evaluation of the condition of your car prior to shipping it via a Lakeport car hauler. A simple 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 easier to discover dents and dings. This will make sure you are conscious of any existing damages and can correctly determine if any new damage happened during the transporting process. It’s most effective 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.

Keep track of your Bill of Lading.

The consumer will be provided with what’s called a “Bill of Lading” once your Lakeport auto transport arrives to pick up your car. This document is an acknowledgment form that attests the auto carrier is picking up your vehicle for transport. It will also outline any existing damage on your vehicle including dents, scratches or dings. The car owner and consumer can do an assessment together so that they agree on the car’s current condition. This way, both parties acknowledge existing damage and can compare that report to a subsequent examination after the vehicle is delivered to its final location. When your current motor vehicle shows up at its new location, the client will be presented with another Bill of Lading verifying the delivery and turning over the car back to the owner.

Knowing insurance liabilities when transporting your car.

Your insurance company may have protection built into your policy that provides for damages that may take place in the auto hauling process. Even so, any auto transport Lakeport service should already have liability coverage currently built into their prices, which usually covers anywhere between ,000 and 0,000 worth of damages. The customer won’t have to shell out extra for this insurance, since it should already be built into the auto hauler’s fees. This should be enough to cover anything that could happen to the common vehicle, unless you’re transporting a high end or collector’s car.

Choosing the Best Auto Transport Carrier in Lakeport

There are a vast array of auto transport businesses out there and it can be difficult to choose which one is the best for your needs. Fortunately, you can do a little bit of research on your end before making a sound decision on which auto transport Lakeport service to go with. First, you can acquire the company’s MC number or USDOT number. A dependable auto carrier service should be insured and licensed. You’ll also be able to look up any reports on the service with the Better Business Bureau to see what previous customers are saying. 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.

Distinction Between Lakeport Auto Transports and Enclosed Auto Carriers

Lakeport auto transport businesses make it possible to have your automobile 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. 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.

Most people are familiar with the open carriers you’ll often see on the highway while traveling, which is the most frequent type of car shipping. Open air auto carriers will feature two rows of cars, one on top and one on bottom, and are typically around 75 feet in length. There are no sides and no roof on the trailer, so the vehicles are exposed to the elements at all times.

Get the Most Out of Your Auto Transport Service

Prior to making a decision on whether you employ an open trailer or enclosed trailer, first think about how much protection your vehicle really needs. The most common cars shipped using an enclosed shipping option are antique or classic vehicles. However, if you’re simply transporting an average car 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 satisfactory rate. By putting in a bit of time to research the Lakeport 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 best deal, but also the best service.