Car Transportation in Elba AL

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 Elba, 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 Elba, AL.

The vehicle shipping industry can seem overwhelming at first, but by doing a little bit of investigation you can make the best decision possible for hauling your vehicle. In order to move a car, truck or motorcycle it’s really just a matter of having the proper information and phoning the right Elba auto transport service to manage the job. In many cases when you reach out to a transportation supplier you’ll be speaking with what’s called an auto transport broker, instead of the transporter themselves. Both of these businesses fundamentally make sure your vehicle is transported safety and speedily 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 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. 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. First, as a consumer you should know the difference between an auto carrier broker and the actual shipping business that owns the trucks.

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

First of all, every customer should understand what it means to be an auto transport broker as opposed to a carrier. Before choosing between an auto broker and an auto transport company in Elba it’s essential to have a good understanding of the distinctions between the two, as well as how the industry works. If you’ve never used an auto shipping service before, the procedure might seem complicated, but in this article we’ll give you all the details you need to make an educated decision.

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. A broker acts as an intermediary who will find the best auto carrier depending on routes, your location and the variety of service you require. Brokers already have an established network of shippers who have routes that run all over the country, which will give the customer more options and a far better chance to find the ideal one for them. If you deal directly with an auto transport carrier, they may not possess the required equipment when you need it, or may not have licensing in all the states required to relocate your vehicle where it needs to go. Basically, a broker does the leg work of finding a carrier that meets these conditions and can sometimes get a more competitive rate by creating competition between carriers on behalf of the shipper.

Deciding on a Qualified Car Carrier

If you decide to do business with a car carrier directly then you will be dealing with the person or persons who own the trucks relocating your vehicle. An auto carrier owns the trucks or trailers that are used to ship vehicles all over the country. All auto transport carriers in Elba have to be licensed and insured, but a consumer should still do their research to confirm this. These car carriers will serve a specific number of routes and locations in order to provide reliable service and remain profitable. Finding a carrier by yourself that travels the route in which you need your vehicle transported may be challenging, as many carriers employ brokers who will connect them with the right customers. Regardless of which option you choose, a broker or carrier, you’ll be having to pay roughly the same price for your auto transport. There ës a fair amount of competition between various auto carriers, so sometimes you can obtain promotions or discounts they’re offering. Therefore, you can take advantage of the situation in order to get a great price.

Preparing Your Vehicle to be Transported

Remove all personal items you’re your vehicle.

No car hauler in Elba is authorized to transport household goods, as per restrictions put forth by the Department of Transportation. This consists of things like personal GPS devices, external DVD players, DVDs, CDs or any typical household item that you’ve kept in your vehicle. It’s a wise course of action to sweep your vehicle for any of these goods and remove them prior to pickup.

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

Although your car will not be driven much during the shipping process, it may be required during the loading and unloading process. Also, your car may be positioned at an angle on top of an auto carrier, meaning gas could shift from one side of the gas tank to another, and if the fuel 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 substantial weight to your vehicle which could lead to shipping difficulties.

Pay attention to any existing damage on your car.

To ensure you have evidence of the condition of your car prior to using a Elba auto carrier it’s a good idea to search for any dents, scratches or other damage that may already exist. Cleaning your car first will make it much easier to identify any dents or dings. Then, take photos using your phone or camera to record the condition of your vehicle, even if its body doesn’t have any problems. Using this method you have documentation of its condition in the event any problems occur during the vehicle transport process.

Understanding your Bill of Lading.

The consumer will be given a Bill of Lading once your chosen auto carrier in Elba comes to pick up your vehicle. This document will affirm that the auto shipping is hauling your vehicle and will also verify its condition prior to shipping. It’s a wise course of action to examine the vehicle with the driver to make sure you are both aware of any existing damages. Any current damages will be documented in the Bill of Lading, which is then signed by both the driver and consumer. Once your vehicle is delivered, you’ll be presented with a Bill of Lading that you can use to check for any new damages to your vehicle that may have occurred during shipping.

Understand your insurance coverage.

Your insurance company may have protection built into your policy that provides for damages that can take place in the auto hauling process. Auto transport Elba companies should already have liability coverage built into their services, which generally covers anywhere from ,000 to 0,000 worth of damages. The cost of this insurance is built into the overall price of your vehicle transportation and is supplied by an outside business that the car hauler does business with. Generally, this is enough to cover any issues that could occur during the transportation process, but it’s a good idea to verify with your insurance company as well.

Choosing the Best Auto Transport Carrier in Elba

There are several ways you can ensure you’re getting the absolute best service from your chosen Elba car carrier. You should only use an auto transport service that is licensed, bonded and insured. The consumer can also use the auto transporter’s MC number or USDOT number. You can use these numbers to look up reports on their services with the BBB. It’s also a wise course of action to quickly evaluate the terms and conditions of the service agreement so that you have a general idea of what in entails. A small bit of investigation as to overall auto transport process goes a long way as well.

Main difference Between Open Transport & Enclosed Carriers in Elba

Shipping your vehicle by utilizing an open carrier option is often the most inexpensive and common. There are more carriers of this type than an enclosed version, and you’ve most likely seen them many times on the highway. The abundance of these carriers and their reputation helps contribute to the cheap price tag. So, generally, this is the least expensive way to ship a car. An auto carrier that is going from your area and traveling through to your location 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.

Get the Most Out of Your Auto Transport Service

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 likely 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 needs just fine. 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 adequate rate. Merely put a little time towards studying the auto shipping process and the car carrier in Elba that you’re preparing to do business with, that way you know all your bases are covered.