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Vehicle Transport in Dowagiac MI

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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 Dowagiac, 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 Dowagiac, MI.

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 trying to figure out the practice of moving a vehicle from one place to another utilizing an auto transporter in Dowagiac? Simply put, it’s the act of moving a car from one state to another by means of some type of car shipping method. This procedure can be taken care of by using 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 open air. An open carrier is the most popular, which also means it’s the most cost-effective for standard vehicle transport needs. The best place to begin in your quest for finding an auto transporter is understanding the distinction between a broker and a carrier. In short, brokers facilitate the shipping process by hooking up customers with carriers, while the carrier essentially performs the job. In this article, we’ll review the distinctions between brokers and carriers, as well as some tips to help make your auto transport experience smoother.

Dowagiac Auto Brokers and Their Role in Auto Transport

You’ll essentially have two choices when looking for an auto carrier in Dowagiac. 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 automobile needs to go. An auto shipping carrier is simply the person or company that owns the truck which will pick up and deliver your car.

How an Auto Transport Broker Sets Up Transportation Solutions

An auto shipping broker is basically the logistics management portion of the auto carrier. A broker will monitor market conditions and will have a community of car carriers to get in touch with for each customer they receive. A car transporter in Dowagiac will be in contact with these brokers and rely on them to link up clients with their solutions. An auto shipping broker will have relationships with carriers around the country and will find one who travels the route and has the best prices for the consumer. One of the advantages of using an auto shipping broker is that they can offer you with a better variety of choices when it comes to auto haulers. These brokers also keep in touch with the customer throughout the delivery process and will keep them posted as to the progress of their car shipping service.

Locating a Car Carrier in Dowagiac

Going with a Dowagiac auto carrier means the customer will be dealing directly with the person or business that owns the truck that will be transporting your vehicle. However, most carriers only serve a limited number of routes so that their services are cost efficient. They do not divert too far from their designated routes because this would mean slower service to all customers and even higher rates. Dealing with a carrier company doesn’t mean clients will pay less. A service costs what it costs. Whether that is time, equipment and effort to drive or to find and deal with clients, it all costs money. An auto transport broker will already be set up to contact multiple transporters in order to find the perfect rate and most efficient performance for the customer, so dealing directly with an auto carrier may not make a tremendous difference for the better in price or service. In fact, carriers often times aren’t effortless to find, as brokers handle that side of their business for them.

Car Shipping Advice

Remove all household goods you’re your vehicle.

No auto shipper is permitted to transfer any item that would be categorized as “household goods”, as per Department of Transportation Code. So auto transport in Dowagiac cannot, move a vehicle that’s loaded up with personal property or other goods. Some examples of household goods that might be in your car are DVD players, GPS systems or car seats.

Only leave about a quarter of tank of gas in your car.

You should always ensure that there is about a quarter tank of gas left in your vehicle when transporting. Your Dowagiac 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 plan 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 fuel during transporting. A full tank would add a great deal of weight to your car, which could result in complications during the transporting process.

Take note of any existing damage on your car.

Always perform an in-depth evaluation of the condition of your car prior to shipping it via a Dowagiac car hauler. A fairly easy way to do this is by washing your car off and making sure there’s no dirt left on it so that way it’s easier to discover dents and dings. This will guarantee you are aware of any existing problems and can correctly determine if any new damage occurred during the transporting process. Record any damages by taking pictures with your phone or camera, that way you also have proof of your vehicle’s condition ahead of transporting it.

Find out what’s in your Bill of Lading.

You will receive what’s called a Bill of Lading once your Dowagiac car carrier arrives to obtain your vehicle for transport. This Bill of Lading contains the details of your vehicle transport contract and will verify that it is being placed in the temporary care of the auto transport company. Both parties can do an evaluation of the vehicle at this time to record any damages that are on the body. So the customer and driver can come to an agreement as to the vehicle’s condition, and that way there won’t be any confusion once the vehicle is delivered. The customer will receive yet another Bill of Lading during the delivery process, which will again inspect the condition of your vehicle. Any new damage that may have occurred throughout the transport process, although rare, can be identified easier this way.

Understand your insurance coverage.

You should check with your auto insurance provider to find out if they provide any coverage for your vehicle in case it is damaged during the hauling process. Even so, any auto transport Dowagiac service should already have liability coverage already built into their prices, which typically covers anywhere between ,000 and 0,000 worth of damages. The consumer won’t have to pay extra for this insurance, since it should already be built into the auto hauler’s rates. This should be enough to cover anything that could happen to the typical vehicle, unless you’re transporting a top quality or collector’s car.

Finding the Best Auto Carrier in Dowagiac for Your Needs

You will find a vast array of auto transport businesses out there and it can be hard to choose which one is the most effective for your needs. Fortunately, you can do a little bit of research on your end before making a sound decision on which auto transport Dowagiac service to go with. Initially, you can get the company’s MC number or USDOT number. A dependable auto carrier service should be insured and licensed. 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.

Main difference Between Open Transport & Enclosed Carriers in Dowagiac

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 you are opting for this type of car carrier transport, you need to be aware that your vehicle will be exposed to all those elements. 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 opposite of an open car carrier shipping option. In an enclosed car carrier, the vehicles are housed in a covered truck. Enclosed carriers often can only carry a few vehicles at the same. In many cases up to five automobiles.

Getting the Best Deals on Auto Transport in Dowagiac

It’s a good practice to consider what type of safety your vehicle will require while being shipped across the country. Using an open transport is suitable, and almost always cheaper, if you’re shipping a standard vehicle that would generally be exposed to the outdoors on a daily basis anyways. Antique, classic cars and collector’s motor vehicles that are specifically kept in protected conditions would benefit the most from an enclosed shipping option. As a customer, it’s a good idea to get several quotes from Dowagiac auto transporters. This way you’ll know the general costs, but the cheapest is not always the most effective choice. By performing some study 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. That way, you’re ensuring your vehicle is shipped safely and makes it to its location with ease.