Car Transportation in Grand Marais MN
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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.
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Competitive pricing with no hidden fees
Unlike other vehicle shipping companies in Grand Marais, 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 Grand Marais, MN.
What is involved in transferring your vehicle from one location to another by using an auto transport business in Grand Marais? To put it simply, it’s the act of relocating a car from one state to another through some type of car transport method. This practice can be taken care of by utilizing 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 subjected to the outdoors. An open carrier is the most popular, which also means it’s the most reasonably priced for standard vehicle transport needs. However, first you should recognize the distinction 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. Below, we’ll examine the difference between a broker and carrier, as well as other suggestions that will help you make the ideal auto transport choice.
Grand Marais Auto Brokers vs. Car Carriers
Selecting an auto transport company demands some due diligence and knowing how the business works prior to making a decision. It may seem like a difficult process, but we’ll help make it less complicated for everyone. We’ll cover the fundamentals of auto shipping as well as the role that car carriers and auto brokers play in supplying consumers with transport services.
How an Auto Transport Broker Sets Up Car Carrier Options
When you’re shopping for car transport in Grand Marais chances are you’ll end up calling an auto shipping broker. 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 efficient shipping option for their customers. They’ll find an auto carrier who journeys the route and is within reasonable mileage 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 shipped to its destination.
Locating a Car Carrier in Grand Marais
An auto carrier typically employs a large double deck truck to move multiple vehicles at once, which you’ve likely seen on the highways at times. It is driven by a professional CDL driver trained in loading, unloading and hauling vehicles. The driver may be the operator of the auto transport truck who decides on their routes to provide the most productive service. These drivers are the ones who are considered auto carriers and will be responsible for picking up and delivering your car or truck. Some bigger carrier companies are registered brokers as well which gives them the chance to broker out your order to an additional carrier. So even if you think you’re interacting directly with an auto carrier, you might be choosing a different carrier service in the end. Most of the time when customers deals specifically with a company, rather than an intermediary, they think they’ll be gaining a better price, but that’s not automatically true with Grand Marais auto transport. A broker shops various auto transporters and is already organized to contact all these vendors, so they’ll already know the best option for your auto transport needs.
Preparing Your Vehicle to be Transported
Secure your personal items outside your vehicle.
No car hauler in Grand Marais is permitted to transport household goods, as per rules put forth by the Department of Transportation. This includes common objects you might have in your car such as clothing, car seats or external GPS systems. It’s a great idea to sweep your vehicle for any of these goods and get rid of them prior to pickup.
Don’t ship your vehicle with a full tank of gas.
Keep an eye on your gas gauge before transporting with a Grand Marais car carrier. Just to be safe, make sure your gas level isn’t too low and keep only about a quarter of a tank in your car. The vehicle will need to be driven briefly so that it can be loaded on and off the auto shipping truck. Alternatively, you don’t want to ship your car with a full tank of fuel either. A vehicle with a full tank of gas will weigh significantly more than one with only a quarter tank full, which could complicate the auto transport process.
Take pictures of any existing damages on your car.
Always carry out an in-depth assessment of the condition of your vehicle prior to shipping it via a Grand Marais car hauler. A simple way to do this is by washing your car off and ensuring there’s no dirt left on it so that way it’s easier to identify dents and dings. This will make sure you are conscious of any existing problems and can correctly determine if any new damage happened during the shipping process. It’s best 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.
Know your Bill of Lading.
Once the auto carrier in Grand Marais shows up to obtain your vehicle for transport you should be supplied with what’s called a Bill of Lading. This document will confirm that the auto shipping is transporting your car and will also confirm its condition prior to shipping. It’s a wise course of action to inspect the vehicle with the driver to make sure you are both conscious of any existing damages. After the inspection is complete, current damages will be documented and the Bill of Lading will be signed by both the customer and the driver. Once your automobile 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 taken place during shipping.
Review your insurance coverage options.
Your insurance company may have protection built into your policy that provides for damages that can occur in the auto hauling process. Auto transport Grand Marais companies should already have liability coverage built into their services, which typically 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 company that the car hauler does business with. This should be enough to cover anything that could happen to the standard vehicle, unless you’re transporting a high end or collector’s car.
Ensure You Choose the Proper Car Shipping Business in Grand Marais
There are several ways you can make sure you’re getting the absolute best service from your selected Grand Marais car carrier. You should only use an auto transport service that is licensed, bonded and insured. You can find out more about the firm by getting their MC number or USDOT number. You can use these numbers to look up reports on their services with the BBB. You can also look over the company’s terms and conditions to get a much better idea of the type of service you’re getting. A small bit of research as to overall auto transport process goes a long way as well.
Difference Between Open Transport & Enclosed Carriers in Grand Marais
Shipping your vehicle by utilizing an open carrier option is often the most inexpensive and common. It is the most frequently used and there are more of these carriers around than any other type. The variety of these carriers and their reputation helps contribute to the inexpensive price tag. So, generally, this is the cheapest way to ship a car. An auto carrier that is going from your area and traveling through to your destination will take that vehicle and add it to a group of up to 10 others heading in that same direction. This reduces the cost of shipping as it is divided by the all the vehicles onboard.
Getting the Very best Deals on Auto Transport in Grand Marais
Before deciding on whether you employ an open trailer or enclosed trailer, first think about how much safety your vehicle really needs. The most common cars shipped using an enclosed shipping option are antique or classic vehicles. On the other hand, if you have an ordinary or older model vehicle, then an open-air trailer should suit your demands just fine. A good game plan is to get various quotes from car shipping carriers or brokers, that way you know you’re receiving the most equitable rates. Merely put a little time towards studying the auto shipping process and the car carrier in Grand Marais that you’re planning to do business with, that way you know all your bases are covered.