Vehicle Shipping in Northfield MN

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 Northfield, 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 Northfield, MN.

Are you searching for the absolute best Northfield auto transport? Then you’ve come to the right place and we’ll help you understand the transport procedure every step of the way. A little research will go a long way in having the best auto transport experience feasible and make sure your vehicle makes it from one place to another securely. Almost all shippers will offer “door-to-door” service, meaning they pick your car up from one place and deliver it to another location of your choosing. When making a decision on an auto carrier service, it’s essential to first know the distinction between an auto transport brokerage and an auto hauler. In short, a broker will seek out the ideal carrier for your specific auto shipping needs, while the carrier is the actual person supplying the truck. Some agencies act as both a broker and a carrier, but we’ll discuss the two distinctions further in this article.

How an Auto Broker is Different From an Auto Carrier in Northfield

When in search of car transport and car shipping companies in Northfield, there are essentially two different options you can choose to book with: a broker, and a carrier. The main difference is that a broker does not own their trucks that will be used to transport your vehicle from one point to another. The broker will find the best trucking service for you depending on where you are and where your vehicle needs to go. A carrier, on the other hand, actually owns their trucks and they send one of their trucks to pick-up your vehicle.

How do Auto Transport Brokers Work?

Auto transport brokers don’t have their own transport carriers and typically are not the companies that will transport vehicles. Brokers assist in auto transportation by hooking up customers, referred to as “shippers”, with the carriers that provide the particular services requested. Brokers actually have an established community of shippers who have routes that run all over the country, which will give the customer more possibilities and a far better chance to find the best one for them. If you work directly with an auto transport carrier, they may not have the necessary 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 locating a carrier that meets these criteria and can sometimes get a more competitive price by creating competition between carriers on behalf of the shipper.

Locating a Car Carrier in Northfield

An auto carrier usually employs a large double deck truck to move numerous vehicles at once, which you’ve likely seen on the highways at times. These vehicles are driven by certified CDL drivers who are qualified and licensed to haul vehicles. Sometimes, the driver of the truck is also the proprietor of the rig, so they decide on their services 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. At times a carrier may also act as a broker, so if they are unable to transport your vehicle, then they will find a different driver who can do the work. So even if you think you’re working directly with an auto carrier, you might be employing a different carrier service in the end. Most of the time when customers deals directly with a company, rather than an intermediary, they believe they’ll be gaining a better rate, but that’s not necessarily true with Northfield 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 demands.

Car Shipping Tips

Make certain all personal items are removed from your vehicle.

Auto carriers are forbidden from relocating anything regarded as a household good, which is a law mandated by the Department of Transportation. This means auto transport in Northfield will not be allowed to send vehicles with your personal items inside of them. Some examples of household goods that might be in your car or truck are DVD players, GPS systems or car seats.

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

When employing a Northfield auto transport company you should keep an eye on your fuel gauge prior to the time of shipping. Just to be safe, make sure your gas level isn’t too low and leave only about a quarter of a tank in your vehicle. Your car may be driven briefly just to load it onto and off of the vehicle trailer and you don’t want to keep your gasoline level way too low. On the other hand, you don’t want to ship your car with a full tank of gas either. A car with a full tank of gas will weigh significantly more than one with simply a quarter tank full, which could complicate the auto transport process.

Before shipping your car, always check it for damages.

Always conduct an in-depth assessment of the condition of your vehicle prior to shipping it via a Northfield car hauler. A simple way to do this is by washing your car off and making certain there’s no dirt left on it so that way it’s much easier to recognize dents and dings. This will make sure you are conscious of any existing problems and can correctly determine if any new damage took place during the transporting process. It’s ideal to record the condition of your car by simply taking pictures of it on your cell phone as proof, just in case there are any issues during transporting it.

Keep track of your Bill of Lading.

You will be given what’s known as a Bill of Lading once your Northfield car carrier arrives to retrieve your vehicle for transport. This Bill of Lading contains the details of your vehicle transport contract and will confirm that it is being placed in the temporary care of the auto transport company. At this time, both the client 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 client will receive yet another Bill of Lading during the delivery process, which will again inspect the condition of your vehicle. If any new damages occur, they can be addressed at this time.

Knowing insurance liabilities when transporting your car.

Although the Northfield auto hauler should have liability insurance built into their service, it’s a good plan to check with your own insurance company as well to see if they would cover any damage that occurs as a result of moving your vehicle. Your chosen auto transport service should already have liability insurance built into their services and their costs. The typical liability coverage ranges between ,000 and 0,000 in coverage, which would be sufficient for the vast majority of issues that could occur. This coverage is usually provided by a third-party insurer employed by the auto transport service.

Locating the Best Auto Carrier in Northfield for Your Needs

There are a few ways you can make sure that you’re getting the best service from the auto carrier in Northfield that you’ve chosen. Every certified auto hauler should be licensed, bonded and insured. Yet another way to check their service record is by obtaining their MC number or USDOT and doing a lookup with the Better Business Bureau. Make certain to look over the terms and conditions of the shipping agreement and take some time to educate yourself on the overall auto transport process. It’s also a wise course of action to read any third-party reviews of the company to see what past clients are saying.

Difference Between Open Transport & Enclosed Carriers in Northfield

The vehicles moved with open auto transport carriers are not shielded from weather elements like rain, sun, hail and snow, and from dust and even birds. If using an open carrier then you could expect exposure to the elements and weather conditions throughout the areas it’s moving through. If you’re shipping a custom, classic or collector’s vehicle, then you may want to opt for an enclosed auto carrier. It is the reverse of an open car carrier shipping option. In an enclosed car carrier, the vehicles are housed in a covered truck. Enclosed carriers usually can only carry a few vehicles at the same. In many cases up to five automobiles.

Know Your Auto Transport Choices in Northfield

In order to choose the right auto transport method for your vehicle, take into account how much security your vehicle will require. If it is an antique or collector’s car, you’ll most likely want to err on the side of caution and utilize 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 satisfactory rate. By putting in a bit of time to research the Northfield auto transport company, the process being auto transporting and the rates included in your service you can guarantee you’re not only getting the best deal, but also the best service.