Car Transportation in Ham Lake MN
Answers To Your Questions
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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 Ham Lake, 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 Ham Lake, MN.
Are you searching for the absolute best Ham Lake auto transport? Then you’ve come to the perfect place and we’ll help you fully understand the transport procedure every step of the way. In order to be sure you get the best auto shipping rates and the best services, it’s a good idea to do a little bit of research first. Most shippers will offer you “door-to-door” service, meaning they pick your car up from one location and deliver it to another location of your choosing. Before jumping into the Ham Lake auto shipping services, you should first know the difference between a broker and a carrier. In short, a broker will seek out the ideal carrier for your particular auto shipping requirements, while the carrier is the actual person supplying the truck. Some businesses act as both a broker and a carrier, but we’ll discuss the two distinctions further in this article.
Ham Lake Auto Brokers vs. Car Carriers
First of all, every customer should understand what it means to be an auto transport broker versus a carrier. Prior to choosing between an auto broker and an auto transport company in Ham Lake it’s important to have a decent understanding of the differences between the two, as well as how the industry works. The procedure is much simpler than you might think, and we’ll provide all the details you need to make an educated decision.
Auto Transport Brokers and How They Work With Customers
A person or group acting as an auto transport broker will not own the fleet of trucks used for shipping. A broker acts as an intermediary who will find the best auto carrier based upon on routes, your location and the type of service you require. The benefit of using a broker rather than a carrier is that you have much more options because of their existing network of auto carriers. If you deal directly with an auto transport carrier, they may not possess the necessary equipment when you need it, or may not have licensing in all the states necessary to relocate your vehicle where it needs to go. Essentially, a broker does the leg work of acquiring a carrier that meets these conditions and can sometimes get a more competitive price by creating competition between carriers on behalf of the shipper.
What Is An Auto Transport Carrier?
If you decide to do business with a car carrier directly then you will be working with the person or persons who own the trucks relocating your vehicle. The auto shipping carriers are the proprietors of the trailers that are used in shipping the cars and are the owners of the company. Every car carrier in Ham Lake must be licensed and insured, but it’s a good idea to do some research just to make sure. Most auto carriers serve a certain number of locations and routes that they can transport motor vehicles to. Finding a carrier by yourself that travels the route in which you need your motor vehicle transported may be difficult, as many carriers make use of brokers who will connect them with the right customers. You’ll end up having to pay about the same rate whether you go with a carrier or broker, however, as charges are based mainly on fuel rates at the time. There is competition among auto carriers today and most auto carriers offer a number of promotions and discounts to their clients. Therefore, you can take advantage of the circumstance in order to get a great bargain.
Preparing Your Vehicle to be Shipped
Secure your personal items outside your car.
Auto carriers are forbidden from relocating anything considered a household good, which is a law mandated by the Department of Transportation. So auto transport in Ham Lake is unable to transport a vehicle that’s loaded up with personal belongings or other goods. Some good examples of household goods that might be in your car or truck are DVD players, GPS systems or car seats.
Only leave around a quarter of tank of gas in your car.
Be sure to maintain around a quarter tank of gas in your vehicle prior to transporting it. Your Ham Lake auto carrier will most likely have to drive the vehicle on and off the truck during the shipping process, and since it will be at a sharp angle it’s a good idea to keep at least a quarter tank of gas in it. But, you don’t want to overfill your tank or leave your car with a full tank of gasoline during shipping. A full tank would add lots of weight to your vehicle, which could result in complications during the shipping process.
Before shipping your car, examine it for damages.
When using a Ham Lake car hauler you should always perform a swift inspection of your vehicle’s condition before it gets loaded on the trailer. The most effective way to do this is by cleaning 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 guarantee you are conscious of any existing damages and can correctly determine if any new damage took place 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.
Find out what’s in your Bill of Lading.
You’ll be given what’s called a Bill of Lading once your Ham Lake car carrier arrives to retrieve your vehicle for transport. This Bill of Lading contains the details of your vehicle transport contract and will validate that it is being placed in the temporary care of the auto transport company. At this time, both the customer and driver of the auto carrier should do an inspection of the vehicle in order to document any existing damages. This way both the customer and driver are in agreement on the vehicle’s condition at the time of pickup. The customer will receive another Bill of Lading during the delivery process, which will again examine the condition of your vehicle. If any new damages occur, they can be dealt with at this time.
Understanding insurance liabilities when transporting your car.
Each time you do business with a Ham Lake auto hauler you should check to ensure they have their own liability insurance. Your chosen auto transport service should already have liability insurance built into their services and their rates. The typical liability coverage ranges between ,000 and 0,000 in coverage, which would be enough for the vast majority of problems that could occur. This coverage is usually provided by a third-party insurer employed by the auto transport service.
Choosing the Best Auto Transport Carrier in Ham Lake
To make sure you’re acquiring the best car shipping provider in Ham Lake there are a few details you should gather regarding your auto transport company. Clients should only do business with transporters who are licensed, bonded and insured. You can also acquire their MC number or USDOT number to check their reports with the BBB (Better Business Bureau). Also, take the time to review the terms and conditions so that you’re familiar with how the service works. Finally, you can check out third-party reviews online and find out what past customers are expressing about the auto haulers services.
Open Car Carriers vs. Enclosed Transports in Ham Lake
Usually, shipping a vehicle via open transport will save you the most money. It is the most frequently used and there are more of these carriers around than any other type. These auto carriers are around in abundance, so it helps keep down the costs involved in shipping. So, in general, this is the least expensive way to ship a car. An auto carrier that is going from your area and journeying 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 lowers the cost of shipping as it is divided by the all the vehicles onboard.
Deciding on The Ideal Auto Transport Service in Ham Lake
It’s a good practice to take into consideration what type of protection your vehicle will require while being transported across the country. If you’re simply shipping a standard or older vehicle, then open-transport options are probably okay for you. If you have a collector’s car or antique vehicle, then an enclosed shipping option might be better for your vehicle. As a customer, it’s a good idea to get several quotes from Ham Lake auto transporters. However, the lowest rate it not necessarily the ideal choice for every circumstance. By performing some research on the auto transport industry and the companies you’re planning on dealing with, you can make sure you’re getting the very best deal. When you ultimately make your decision, you’ll be confident that your vehicle is being transported safely and securely to its final location.