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Auto Transportation in Banner Elk NC

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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 Banner Elk, 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 Banner Elk, NC.

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

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What is included in relocating your vehicle from one place to another by using an auto transport business in Banner Elk? To put it simply, it’s the act of transporting a car from one state to another through some type of car shipping process. Clients have the option to choose between an open carrier, which is the most prevalent, or an enclosed carrier that better covers your vehicle. Normally, an open carrier is used to transport most vehicles unless they are high-priced or collector’s automobiles. However, first you should know the distinction between an auto transport broker and an auto carrier. In short, brokers support the shipping procedure by connecting customers with carriers, while the carrier essentially performs the job. In this article, we’ll evaluate the differences between brokers and carriers, as well as some tips to help make your auto transport experience smoother.

What is an Auto Broker in Banner Elk?

If you’ve never had your car shipped before, then chances are you’re not aware of the differences between an auto broker and auto carrier in Banner Elk. Even though both options will end with the same result of getting your car moved from one place to another, it’s always good to realize the process before selecting a service.

Auto Brokers and Their Role in the Auto Transport Industry

In the car shipping business, a broker is a firm that resells your shipping job. For example, when you contact a broker, you will be paying them the total cost for transporting your vehicle from point A to point B. It’s significant to note, the broker does not actually own the trucks, but rather they have established a network of carriers to hook up customers with. After getting in touch with a broker, they will reach out to auto transporters in Banner Elk who have the capacities to handle the customer’s shipping demands. After the job is passed on to the carrier, the broker will stay in contact with the purchaser until the vehicle is delivered. The auto transport broker will act as a medium between the customer and carriers in order to find the best rates and most reliable service for them.

How to Find a Car Carrier in Banner Elk

If you decide to do business with a car carrier directly then you will be interacting with the person or people who own the trucks moving your vehicle. The auto shipping carriers are the owners of the trailers that are used in shipping the cars and are the owners of the business. Every car carrier in Banner Elk has to be licensed and insured, but it’s a good plan to do some research just to make sure. Most auto carriers serve a specific number of locations and routes that they can transport cars to. Many carriers actually rely on auto shipping brokers to connect them with the proper customers who will match the routes they take, which means more efficient service. Regardless of which option you choose, a broker or carrier, you’ll be paying roughly the same rate for your auto transport. There ës a fair amount of competition between different auto carriers, so occasionally you can find promotions or discounts they’re offering. For this reason, you can take advantage of the situation in order to get a great price.

Preparing Your Vehicle to be Shipped

Secure your personal items outside your car.

Auto shippers in Banner Elk are not allowed by the Department of Transportation to move anything that would be considered a “household good”. This includes things like personal GPS devices, external DVD players, DVDs, CDs or any common household item that you’ve stashed in your vehicle. It’s a good plan to sweep your vehicle for any of these products and get rid of them prior to pickup.

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

Since your vehicle will have to be driven onto and off of the transport trailer, you should make sure your vehicle isn’t super low on gasoline. Also, your vehicle may be placed at an angle on top of an auto carrier, meaning gas could move from one side of the gas tank to another, and if the gasoline level is too low it might not be able to start. Alternatively, make sure you don’t have a full tank of gas in your car either, since it would add a lot of weight to your vehicle during transporting.

Take pictures of any existing damages on your car.

When using a Banner Elk car hauler you should always perform a swift inspection of your vehicle’s condition before it gets loaded on the trailer. A fairly easy way to do this is by washing your car off and ensuring there’s no dirt left on it so that way it’s easier to discover dents and dings. This will ensure you are conscious of any existing damages and can correctly determine if any new damage occurred during the shipping process. It’s ideal to document the condition of your car by just taking pictures of it on your cell phone as proof, just in case there are any problems during transporting it.

Recognize your Bill of Lading.

Once your Banner Elk auto transporter arrives to pick up your car, both you and the driver will do an inspection to determine the condition of your vehicle. This inspection will document any existing damages on your vehicle, which normally includes scratches, dents and dings. Once that process is complete, the customer will be given a Bill of Lading. The document will confirm auto carrier is taking your vehicle for transport. It also verifies the condition of your vehicle, so both the customer and auto transporter can agree on any current damage. When the car arrives at its intended destination, the customer will be presented with another Bill of Lading. This new bill will outline if any new damages have taken place during the shipping process. So this process essentially safeguards both the customer and the auto carrier so that there will be no misunderstandings upon delivery.

Understand your insurance coverage.

It’s a good idea to question your auto hauler about their company’s liability insurance coverage in the event your vehicle is damaged during the shipping process. Your chosen Banner Elk car hauler should have insurance included in the cost of transporting your vehicle that addresses damages. The overall insurance coverage typically ranges between ,000 and 0,000. Each auto hauler commonly uses a third-party insurance company that handles the liabilities on their end. Sometimes, your insurance company offers this type of coverage on your vehicle as well, so you can generally check your policy prior to shipping.

Locating the Best Auto Carrier in Banner Elk for Your Needs

To ensure you’re acquiring the best car shipping service in Banner Elk there are a few details you should acquire regarding your auto transport company. Customers should only do business with transporters who are licensed, bonded and insured. Another way to check their service record is by obtaining their MC number or USDOT and doing a lookup with the Better Business Bureau. Also, take the time to review the terms and conditions so that you’re familiar with how the service works. It’s also a wise course of action to read any third-party testimonials of the company to see what past clients are saying.

Distinction Between Banner Elk Auto Transports and Enclosed Car Carriers

A potential misconception about open transport is that it’s some sort of bargain basement solution. You could compare this option to flying economy class on an airplane compared to first class. It’s the most common way for people to take a flight. 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 company to send a car the most inexpensive way possible. Open carriers will be more inexpensive than just moving one vehicle by itself using flatbed shipping, for example.

Get the Most Out of Your Auto Transport Provider

In order to choose the right auto transport method for your vehicle, take into account how much protection your vehicle will require. If it is an antique or collector’s car, you’ll probably want to err on the side of caution and use a fully-enclosed trailer to move your vehicle. However, if you’re simply transporting an average vehicle that you use every day for common driving needs, then an open trailer would probably be a good fit for you. As usually, try to get at least three or four quotes for car shipping services so you can be sure you’re being charged an adequate rate. By putting in a bit of time to research the Banner Elk auto transport company, the process being auto transporting and the rates involved in your service you can guarantee you’re not only getting the best deal, but also the very best service.