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Vehicle Transport in Long Prairie MN

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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.

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Affordable Prices
Competitive pricing with no hidden fees

Unlike other vehicle shipping companies in Long Prairie, 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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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 Long Prairie, MN.

Have questions, need a quote, or want to schedule a transport – just give us a call at (888) 654-1785

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Are you on the quest for reliable auto transport services in Long Prairie? Then you’ve come to the right place and we’ll help you fully understand the transport procedure every step of the way. In order to be sure you get the finest auto shipping rates and the very best service, 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 place and deliver it to another place of your choosing. Before jumping into the Long Prairie auto shipping providers, you should first know the distinction between a broker and a carrier. The primary distinction is that brokers simply arrange for transport, while carriers are the ones actually handling the physical delivery. Some businesses act as both a broker and a carrier, but we’ll discuss the two distinctions further in this article.

How to Tell the Difference Between Long Prairie Auto Carriers and Brokers

When in search of car transport and car shipping companies in Long Prairie, there are essentially two different choices you can choose to book with: a broker, and a carrier. In short, an auto shipping broker reaches out to car haulers who will actually perform the moving of your vehicle. The broker will find the best trucking service for you depending on where you are and where your vehicle needs to go. An auto shipping carrier is merely the person or company that owns the truck which will pick up and deliver your car.

What Does an Auto Broker Do?

An automotive transport broker is simply the professional hired by you, the shipper, who assists in the process of acquiring an auto transport company in Long Prairie. 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. An auto shipping broker has an established network of carriers to contact for each clients, which means they can offer a greater variety of rates and options. They’ll find an automobile carrier who journeys the route and is within reasonable mileage to your location, so it can end up making the entire shipping process quicker. The broker will be in contact with you, the consumer, throughout the entire shipping progression until your vehicle is delivered at its final location.

How to Identify an Auto Hauler

A car hauling carrier is usually a double deck truck that can load up to ten vehicles at a time. It is driven by a professional CDL driver trained in loading, unloading and transporting vehicles. Sometimes, the operater of the truck is also the owner of the rig, so they decide on their solutions and which routes to travel. These drivers are the ones who are considered auto carriers and will be responsible for picking up and delivering your car or truck. Some larger carrier companies are authorized brokers as well which gives them the opportunity to broker out your order to another carrier. So even if you think you’re dealing directly with an auto carrier, you might be employing 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 obtaining a better rate, but that’s not necessarily true with Long Prairie auto transport. On the other hand, a broker already has established a network of carriers, so they can search multiple options to find the most effective choice for their clients.

Car Shipping Advice

Ensure all personal items are removed from your vehicle.

All Long Prairie auto haulers are prohibited from transporting what would be considered “household goods” by the Department of Transportation. This means you should remove anything that would be regarded as a “household good” from your automobile 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.

Don’t overfill your gas tank.

When using a Long Prairie auto transport company you should keep an eye on your fuel gauge before the time of shipping. It’s advised to leave about a quarter of a tank in your car just to be on the safe side. The car will need to be driven briefly so that it can be loaded on and off the auto shipping trailer. On the other hand, you don’t want to fill your gas tank an excessive amount either. A full tank will add significant weight to your vehicle and could throw off the equilibrium of the transport and result in complications.

Document any body damage on your vehicle

In order to document the condition of your car prior to turning it over to a Long Prairie auto carrier, it’s a good plan to take photos of any scratches, dents, dings or other damage present prior to shipping. The best way to do this is by thoroughly washing your car first so it will be easier to identify any dents or damage. Then, take photos using your phone or camera to document 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 incidents arise during the vehicle transport process.

Knowing your Bill of Lading.

You will be given what’s called a Bill of Lading once your Long Prairie 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 consumer and driver of the auto carrier should do an inspection of the vehicle in order to document any existing damages. So the client and driver can come to an agreement as to the vehicle’s condition, and that way there won’t be any misunderstandings once the vehicle is delivered. One more 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. If any new damages occur, they can be dealt with at this time.

Understand your insurance coverage.

Each time you do business with a Long Prairie auto hauler you should check to make sure they have their own liability insurance. Your selected auto transport service should already have liability insurance built into their services and their prices. The typical liability coverage ranges between ,000 and 0,000 in coverage, which would be sufficient for the vast majority of issues that could arise. These auto carriers usually have their coverage through a third-party and is already built into the price you’re paying for shipping.

Getting the Best Auto Transport Service in Long Prairie

You’ll have a wide range of auto transporters to pick from when looking for the best service for your vehicle shipping needs. Fortunately, you can do a little bit of research on your end prior to making a final decision on which auto transport Long Prairie service to go with. Initially, you can obtain the company’s MC number or USDOT number. Always make certain that the car carrier service is the company’s insured and licensed, that way you know you’re doing business with a reliable company. 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. Ultimately, it’s a good idea to review the terms and conditions in your service agreement with the vehicle shipper so you comprehend the service you’re getting.

Long Prairie Transport Options: Open vs. Enclosed Trailers

The vehicles moved with open auto transport carriers are not protected from weather elements like rain, sun, hail and snow, and from dust and even birds. If using an open carrier then you could expect direct exposure to the elements and weather conditions throughout the areas it’s moving through. An enclosed auto transport carrier is a great car shipping option you can use especially if you will transport a classic or custom car. It is the reverse of an open car carrier shipping service. An enclosed carrier is just as it sounds, meaning your vehicle will transported in an enclosed environment and safe from the open air. Enclosed carriers often can only carry a few vehicles at the same. In most cases up to five cars.

Deciding on The Right Auto Transport Service in Long Prairie

Always think about how much safety and security your vehicle or vehicles will need during the transport process. Using an open transport is suitable, and almost always cheaper, if you’re shipping a standard vehicle that would typically be exposed to the outdoors on a regular basis anyways. If you have a collector’s car or antique vehicle, then an enclosed shipping option might be better for your vehicle. When first browsing auto transport companies in Long Prairie you should get several quotes on the price of the transport. However, the lowest price it not necessarily the most effective choice for every situation. By doing some research on the auto transport industry and the companies you’re planning on dealing with, you can make sure you’re getting the best deal. That way, you’re making sure your vehicle is shipped safely and makes it to its location with ease.