Car Shipping in Houghton MI

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 Houghton, 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 Houghton, MI.

Auto transport firms exist for the sake of convenience. Instead of trying to transfer multiple vehicles on your own, you can simply employ a company to deal with the job swiftly and safely. However, if you’re not familiar with the auto carrier process, then the task of selecting the ideal hauler and options may seem complicated. The good news is, in this guide we’ll help you understand how to pick a car hauler in Houghton that will fit your needs and move your car properly. Many car haulers will transport anywhere in America, from Alaska to Hawaii, and offer you a variety of carrier options. Quite often you’ll have the choice of whether to ship your car in an enclosed or open manner. There is also a distinction between auto transport brokers and carriers, which we’ll discuss below.

Auto Brokers vs. Auto Carriers in Houghton

Odds are if you’ve never used an auto transporter in Houghton, then you may be unaware of the distinction between an auto shipping broker and carrier. Essentially, using either service will have the same end result, transporting your vehicle from one place to another, but it’s always a good idea to have a basic understanding of the two before making a final choice on which provider to do business with.

What Is An Auto Transport Broker?

An auto shipping broker is a provider that will hook up customers to the most reliable auto shipper for their requirements. For example, when you contact a broker, you will be paying them the total cost for transporting your motor vehicle from point A to point B. It’s important to note, the broker doesn’t actually own the trucks, but rather they have set up a network of carriers to hook up customers with. They will contact a variety of Houghton auto shippers and use one of those auto transport services to ship your car or other vehicle. Even though the broker doesn’t own the trucks, they will keep in contact with the customer throughout the shipping procedure. The auto transport broker will act as a medium between the customer and carriers in order to locate the very best rates and most efficient service for them.

Getting the Best Auto Hauler

When you choose to seek out a Houghton auto carrier you’ll be dealing with the company who actually owns the truck used for transporting motor vehicles. However, most carriers only serve a minimal number of routes so that their services are cost effective. They do not divert too far from their designated routes because this would mean sluggish service to all customers and even higher rates. It doesn’t necessarily mean you’ll be spending less when working directly with a Houghton auto carrier either. All services cost money, especially with auto shipping due to changing fuel fees, so there isn’t a whole lot of wiggle room in many cases. An auto transport broker will already be set up to get in touch with multiple transporters in order to find the perfect price and most efficient performance for the customer, so dealing directly with an auto carrier may not make a huge difference for the better in price or service. In fact, carriers often times aren’t simple to find, as brokers handle that side of their business for them.

Steps to Take Before Shipping Your Car

Remove all household goods you’re your vehicle.

Every Houghton auto carrier is prohibited from transporting something that would be considered a “household item” due to polices from the Department of Transportation. This means you should get rid of 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 ship your automobile with a full gas tank.

Prior to shipping your vehicle with a Houghton car hauler you should make sure to leave at least a quarter of a tank of gas in your tank. The shipping process will demand a small amount of driving, typically only in the loading and unloading process, so some gas will be necessary. However, you won’t want to leave more than a quarter of a tank or a full tank of gas in your automobile because of the additional weight it adds.

Before shipping your car, examine it for damages.

In order to record the condition of your vehicle before turning it over to a Houghton auto carrier, it’s a good idea to take photos of any scratches, dents, dings or other damage existing prior to shipping. Cleaning your vehicle first will make it less difficult to identify any dents or dings. Then, take photos using your phone or camera to document the condition of your vehicle, even if its body doesn’t have any problems. That way you have records of its condition in the event any incidents occur during the auto transport process.

Recognize your Bill of Lading.

The consumer will be offered what’s called a “Bill of Lading” once your Houghton auto transport arrives to pick up your car. This contract is an acknowledgment form that attests the auto carrier is picking up your vehicle for transport. It will also outline any present damage on your vehicle including dents, scratches or dings. Both the car’s owner and the driver of the auto transport truck should do a walk-around of the car and concur on any damage that is already present. This way, both parties identify existing damage and can compare that report to a subsequent inspection after the vehicle is delivered to its final destination. When your current vehicle arrives at its new location, the client will be presented with another Bill of Lading confirming the delivery and turning over the car back to the owner.

Understand your insurance coverage.

Each time you do business with a Houghton 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 costs. The typical liability coverage ranges between ,000 and 0,000 in coverage, which would be enough for the vast majority of issues that could occur. These auto carriers normally have their coverage through a third-party and is already built into the price you’re paying for shipping.

Choosing the Best Auto Transport Carrier in Houghton

In order to make sure you’re receiving the best service from your Houghton car carrier you can always do a bit of research on their history first. First, only do business with an auto hauler who is licensed, bonded and insured. You can find out more about the business by getting their MC number or USDOT number. These numbers can then be used to look up the company’s record with the Better Business Bureau. It’s also a great idea to quickly review the terms and conditions of the service arrangement so that you have a general idea of what in entails. A little bit of research as to overall auto transport process goes a long way as well.

Houghton Transport Options: Open vs. Enclosed Trailers

A possible misconception about open transport is that it’s some sort of bargain basement option. This option can be compared to economy class on a flight. It’s the way most people travel. The same can be said about open transport. Approximately 4,000 open auto carriers are traveling throughout the country and are available for service. Even car dealerships contract a transport firm to send a car the most cost effective way possible. Open carriers will be more cost-effective than just moving one vehicle by itself using flatbed shipping, for example.

Get the Most Out of Your Auto Transport Provider

Prior to deciding on whether you utilize an open trailer or enclosed trailer, first think about how much protection your motor vehicle really needs. 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. However, if you’re simply transporting an average car that you use every day for common driving needs, then an open trailer would likely be a good fit for you. 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 Houghton auto transport company, the process being auto transporting and the rates included in your service you can make certain you’re not only getting the very best deal, but also the best service.