Car Shipping in Panama City Beach FL

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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 Panama City Beach, 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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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 Panama City Beach, FL.

What is included in moving your vehicle from one place to another by using an auto transport business in Panama City Beach? In fact, auto shipping consists of a car carrier company relocating the vehicle from one location to another for a customer. This practice can be taken care of by using an open carrier, which is the most well-known option you’ll see on the road, or an enclosed transport where your vehicle would not be subjected to the outdoors. An open carrier is the most common, which also means it’s the most inexpensive for common vehicle transport needs. However, first you should learn the difference between an auto transport broker and an auto carrier. Brokers don’t actually ship the vehicle, but they behave 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.

Panama City Beach Auto Brokers and Their Role in Auto Transport

One of the most important distinctions to understand is the difference between an auto transport broker and a carrier. Before getting into the process of choosing an auto transport service in Panama City Beach you should first know the difference between an auto shipping broker and a carrier. If you’ve never used an auto shipping service before, the process might seem challenging, but in this article we’ll give you all the details you need to make an educated decision.

What Is An Auto Transport Broker?

Auto transport brokers don’t have their own transport carriers and typically are not the companies that will transport vehicles. Brokers facilitate auto transportation by hooking up 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 active network of auto carriers. Dealing with a single carrier means they may not run the route you require, possess the necessary equipment or the appropriate licensing to transport through the states needed to get your vehicle where it needs to go. In short, a broker does the job of getting in contact with carriers in order to find the one who offers the best rates and proper service, which means you might get a much better rate since it will increase competition.

Locating the Best Auto Hauler

Going with a Panama City Beach auto carrier implies the customer will be dealing directly with the person or firm that owns the truck which will be transporting your vehicle. With a few exceptions, most auto transport carriers only serve a minimal number of routes. Normally, they don’t stray too far from these routes because of additional fuel costs and the travel time it would take, which would slow down other deliveries. It doesn’t necessarily mean you’ll be spending less when dealing directly with a Panama City Beach auto carrier either. A service costs what it costs. Whether that is time, equipment and effort to drive or to find and deal with clients, it all costs money. An auto transport broker will already be set up to contact multiple transporters in order to find the perfect price and most efficient performance for the customer, so working directly with an auto carrier may not make a tremendous difference for the better in price or service. Auto carriers aren’t generally easy to locate and contact, since a lot of times they count on brokers to connect them with clients.

Things to Consider Before Shipping Your Motor Vehicle

Remove all personal items you’re your vehicle.

Each and every Panama City Beach auto carrier is prohibited from transporting anything that would be considered a “household item” due to restrictions from the Department of Transportation. This means you should remove anything that would be regarded as a “household good” from your motor vehicle 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.

Don’t ship your car with a full gas tank.

Even though your vehicle will not be driven much during the shipping process, it may be needed during the loading and unloading process. Also, your car may be positioned 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 fuel level is too low it may 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 vehicle during shipment.

Take pictures of any existing damages on your car.

In order to better identify any scratches or dents on your vehicle it’s a good idea to clean it before examining 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 incorrectly believe the damage took place during shipping. It’s easy to document them by taking pictures, which will also prove the condition of your motor vehicle in the case that damage does occur during the transporting process.

Knowing your Bill of Lading.

You’ll receive what’s known as a Bill of Lading once your Panama City Beach car carrier arrives to retrieve your vehicle for transport. This Bill of Lading contains the details of your vehicle transport agreement and will verify that it is being placed in the temporary care of the auto transport company. Both parties can do an inspection of the vehicle at this time to record any damages that are on the body. So the client and driver can come to an agreement as to the vehicle’s condition, and that way there won’t be any confusion once the vehicle is delivered. Another Bill of Lading will be given to the client 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 identified 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. Your chosen Panama City Beach 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 commonly uses a third-party insurance company that handles the liabilities on their end. Also, you can check with your own insurance policy to see if it covers damages that can occur during the shipping process.

Make Sure You Choose the Proper Car Shipping Supplier in Panama City Beach

It’s always a good idea to do a bit of research on any business that you’re doing business with before making a commitment. There are plenty of auto transporters in Panama City Beach to choose from, so how do you know which one is the best? First, you can obtain the company’s MC number or USDOT number. The auto carrier should always be licensed, bonded and insured. By getting these numbers you’ll be able to look up the auto hauler on the Better Business Bureau’s website to find out more details about them. You can also learn about the auto transport service by simply reviewing the terms and conditions that come along with the service. This way you’ll have a basic knowledge about how auto transporting functions.

Open Auto Carriers vs. Enclosed Transports in Panama City Beach

Most people think the open transport auto carrier option is the generally the cheapest. You could compare this option to flying economy class on an airplane as opposed to first class. 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 throughout the country and are available for service. Even car dealerships contract a transport company to send a car the most inexpensive way possible. Shipping your vehicle by using an open carrier is the most practical way of transportation, rather than using a single flatbed truck only moving one car or truck at a time.

Getting the Greatest Deals on Auto Transport in Panama City Beach

Always take into account how much safety and security your vehicle or vehicles will need during the transport process. Using an open transport is suitable, and almost always more affordable, if you’re shipping a standard vehicle that would usually be exposed to the outdoors on a regular basis anyways. Antique, classic cars and collector’s vehicles that are specifically kept in safeguarded conditions would benefit the most from an enclosed shipping solution. As a customer, it’s a good plan to get various quotes from Panama City Beach auto transporters. This way you’ll understand the general prices, but the cheapest is not always the most effective choice. Do a little bit of research on the company you’re thinking of going with and on the auto transport business in general. When you finally make your decision, you’ll be comfortable that your vehicle is being transported carefully and securely to its final destination.