Auto Transport in Catalina AZ

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 Catalina, 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 Catalina, AZ.

Are you on the quest for efficient auto transport services in Catalina? In this guide we’ll give you an overview of the auto shipping industry, how it operates and how to make the best decision. A little research will go a long way in having the best auto transport experience feasible and make sure your motor vehicle makes it from one location to another safely. For the most part, auto shippers will offer “door-to-door” services, which means they’ll pick it up at your location and take it to another of your choosing. When deciding on an auto carrier service, it’s necessary to first know the distinction between an auto transport brokerage and an auto hauler. 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.

Auto Brokers vs. Auto Carriers in Catalina

If you’ve never had your motor vehicle shipped before, then chances are you’re not aware of the distinctions between an auto broker and auto carrier in Catalina. Even though both choices 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 picking a service.

What Is An Auto Transport Broker?

In the car shipping community, a broker is a firm that resells your shipping job. When you get in touch with a broker, they will handle the process of finding a carrier for your motor vehicle and getting it from one location to another. It’s important to note, the broker does not actually own the trucks, but instead they have set up a network of carriers to hook up customers with. After getting in touch with a broker, they will reach out to auto transporters in Catalina 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 client until the vehicle is delivered. Basically, an auto transport broker acts as an intermediary between the customer and the auto transporters that can contact many providers in order to find the best service for the shipper.

What Is An Auto Transport Carrier?

Going with a Catalina auto carrier implies the customer will be working directly with the person or business that owns the truck which will be hauling your vehicle. With a few exceptions, most auto transport carriers only serve a limited number of routes. Normally, they don’t stray too far from these routes because of added fuel costs and the travel time it would take, which would slow down other deliveries. It doesn’t necessarily mean you’ll be spending less when working directly with a Catalina auto carrier either. All services cost money, particularly with auto shipping due to changing fuel rates, 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. Auto carriers aren’t generally easy to locate and contact, since a lot of times they rely on brokers to connect them with customers.

Tips for Shipping Your Car

Take any personal items out of your car.

Most individuals are not aware of a Department of Transportation Code that forbids auto transport services in Catalina from transporting personal goods included in vehicles. Typical household products that could possibly be in your vehicle such as a car seat, GPS device or an umbrella should be removed prior to your vehicle being shipped. Make sure to do a quick inspection of the interior of your automobile before it gets loaded onto a trailer.

Leave your gas tank a quarter of the ways full.

Even though your car will not be driven much during the shipping process, it may be required during the loading and unloading process. Also, your car may be positioned 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 gas level is too low it may not be able to start. Conversely, make certain you don’t have a full tank of gas in your car either, since it would add a great deal of weight to your vehicle during shipment.

Pay attention to any existing damage on your car.

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

What is a Bill of Lading?

When the Catalina auto transport arrives to start the shipping process, you and the driver of the carrier can do an examination of your vehicle’s condition. This inspection will document any current 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 will also ensure that both you and the auto transport carrier are in agreement on any existing damage on your car. When the car arrives at its intended destination, the customer will be presented with another Bill of Lading. This new bill will describe if any new damages have taken place during the transporting process. So this process basically protects both the customer and the auto carrier so that there will be no confusion upon delivery.

Understand your insurance coverage.

Although the Catalina auto hauler should have liability insurance built into their services, it’s a good plan to check with your own insurance company as well to see if they would include any damage that occurs as a result of hauling your vehicle. Your selected auto transport service should already have liability insurance built into their services and their costs. The average liability coverage ranges between ,000 and 0,000 in coverage, which would be sufficient for the vast majority of problems that could come up. These auto carriers generally have their coverage through a third-party and is already built into the price you’re paying for shipping.

Locating the Best Auto Carrier in Catalina for Your Needs

There are a number of ways you can guarantee you’re getting the absolute greatest service from your selected Catalina car carrier. First, only do business with an auto hauler who is licensed, bonded and insured. You can find out more about the firm by getting their MC number or USDOT number. You can use these numbers to look up reports on their services with the BBB. You can also review the company’s terms and conditions to get a much better idea of the type of service you’re receiving. A little bit of investigation as to overall auto transport process goes a long way as well.

Catalina Transport Options: Open vs. Enclosed Trailers

Generally, shipping a vehicle via open transport will save you the most money. There are more carriers of this type than an enclosed version, and you’ve probably seen them numerous times on the highway. These auto carriers are around in abundance, so it helps keep down the costs involved in shipping. So, generally, this is the most affordable way to ship a car. Auto carriers travel steady routes and will transport up to 10 other vehicles along with yours to maintain effectiveness. This decreases the cost of shipping as it is divided by the all the vehicles onboard.

Deciding on The Right Auto Transport Service in Catalina

It’s a good practice to think about what type of safety your vehicle will require while being shipped across the country. Using an open transport is ideal, and almost always more affordable, if you’re shipping a standard vehicle that would typically be exposed to the outdoors on a daily basis anyways. If you have a collector’s car or antique vehicle, then an enclosed shipping solution might be better for your vehicle. When first browsing auto transport companies in Catalina you should get a few quotes on the price of the transport. This way you’ll know the general costs, but the lowest priced is not always the ideal choice. Do a bit of analysis on the company you’re thinking of going with and on the auto transport business in general. When you eventually make your decision, you’ll be comfortable that your vehicle is being transported safely and securely to its final destination.