Car Transportation in Middlefield CT

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 Middlefield, 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 Middlefield, CT.

What is involved in relocating your vehicle from one location to another by using an auto transport business in Middlefield? Simply put, it’s the act of relocating a car from one state to another through some type of car transport method. This procedure can be taken care of by utilizing an open carrier, which is the most common option you’ll see on the road, or an enclosed transport where your vehicle would not be exposed to the open air. Normally, an open carrier is used to transport most vehicles unless they are expensive or collector’s automobiles. The best place to begin in your quest for locating an auto transporter is understanding the difference between a broker and a carrier. Brokers don’t in fact ship the vehicle, but they behave as an intermediary between the customer and the service that provides the shipping of the vehicles. In this article, we’ll evaluate the differences between brokers and carriers, as well as some guidelines to help make your auto transport experience smoother.

How to Tell the Difference Between Middlefield Auto Carriers and Brokers

Hiring an auto transport company requires some due diligence and knowing how the business works prior to making a decision. The process can be daunting if you don’t know where to begin or where to get specific information. We’ll cover the fundamentals of auto shipping as well as the role that car carriers and auto brokers play in supplying customers with transport services.

Auto Transport Brokers and How They Work With Customers

A person or group acting as an auto transport broker won’t own the fleet of trucks used for shipping. A broker acts as an intermediary who will find the best auto carrier depending on routes, your location and the type of service you require. Brokers actually have an established network of shippers who have routes that run all over the country, which will provide the customer more options and a better chance to find the best one for them. Working with a single carrier means they may not run the route you require, have the necessary equipment or the proper licensing to transport through the states required to get your vehicle where it needs to go. In short, a broker does the work of contacting carriers in order to locate the one who offers the best prices and appropriate service, which means you might get a better rate since it will increase competition.

Locating a Car Carrier in Middlefield

When you work specifically with an auto transport professional that usually means you will be interacting with the actual person or company that will be moving your automobile. The auto shipping carriers are the proprietors of the trailers that are used in shipping the cars and are the owners of the company. Virtually all auto transport carriers in Middlefield have to be licensed and insured, but a consumer should still do their research to verify this. Most auto carriers serve a specific number of locations and routes that they can transport motor vehicles to. Many carriers basically rely on auto shipping brokers to connect them with the right customers who will fit the routes they take, which means more effective service. You’ll end up paying about the same rate whether you go with a carrier or broker, however, as expenses are based largely on fuel rates at the time. There is competition among auto carriers today and most auto carriers provide a number of promotions and discounts to their clients. Therefore, you can take advantage of the circumstance in order to get a good bargain.

Car Shipping Advice

Take any personal items out of your vehicle.

Auto shippers in Middlefield are prohibited by the Department of Transportation to transport anything that would be considered a “household good”. This consists of common products you might have in your car such as clothing, car seats or external GPS systems. It’s encouraged to clear away these items from your vehicle prior to pickup to avoid any delays.

Don’t ship your car with a full tank of gas.

Be sure to maintain around a quarter tank of gas in your vehicle prior to transporting it. Your Middlefield auto carrier will most likely have to drive the vehicle on and off the trailer during the shipping process, and since it will be at a steep 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 gasoline during transporting. A full tank would add a lot of weight to your car, which could result in problems during the shipping process.

Take note of any existing damage on your car.

In order to record the condition of your car ahead of turning it over to a Middlefield auto carrier, it’s a good plan to take pictures of any scratches, dents, dings or other damage present before to shipping. The best way to do this is by thoroughly washing your car first so it will be easier to identify any dents or damage. Next, take some pictures of videos of your car in order to deliver proof of its condition if needed later on. This way you have records of its condition in the event any incidents arise during the vehicle transport process.

Learning about your Bill of Lading.

You’ll be given what’s known as a Bill of Lading once your Middlefield car carrier arrives to retrieve your vehicle for transport. This Bill of Lading contains the details of your vehicle transport contract and will validate that it is being placed in the temporary care of the auto transport company. Both parties can do an inspection of the vehicle at this time to record any damages that are on the body. By doing this both the customer and driver are in agreement on the vehicle’s condition at the time of pickup. One more Bill of Lading will be given to the customer once the vehicle arrives at its destination, which will verify the condition of the vehicle matches what it was when it was picked up. If any new damages occur, they can be resolved at this time.

Your car should be insured against damages.

Your insurance company may have protection built into your policy that provides for damages that can take place in the auto hauling process. Auto transport Middlefield companies should already have liability coverage built into their services, which generally covers anywhere from ,000 to 0,000 worth of damages. The cost of this insurance is built into the overall price of your vehicle transportation and is supplied by an outside firm that the car hauler does business with. Usually, this is enough to cover any issues that could occur during the transportation process, but it’s a good idea to check with your insurance company as well.

How to Find the Best Auto Hauler in Middlefield

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. Thankfully, you can do a little bit of research on your end before making a sound decision on which auto transport Middlefield service to go with. First, you can obtain the company’s MC number or USDOT number. Always make sure that the car carrier service is the company’s insured and licensed, that way you know you’re doing business with a highly regarded company. You can use these numbers to look up the auto hauler with the Better Business Bureau in order to find out their standing. In many cases it’s a good idea to review the terms and conditions of your service agreement with the auto transporter just so you realize the process a little better.

Difference Between Open Transport & Enclosed Carriers in Middlefield

Middlefield auto transport companies make it possible to have your car shipped to virtually any major city in the United States, but how the vehicles are actually transported depends on the services offered by the car shipping company. While most auto transport organizations will move the vehicles by way of a tractor trailer, depending on the company you choose, you may have the option to go with either open-air or enclosed transport. While both approaches use a truck for transport, they do have their differences.

When a car shipping company says it uses open-air trucks, it uses the type of car carrier that most people relate to car transportation. Open air auto carriers will feature two rows of cars, one on top and one on bottom, and are typically around 75 feet in length. Your vehicle will be open to the elements at all times, just as it would if you were driving your car, so that is something to take into account depending on the value of the vehicle you’re shipping.

Searching for Auto Transport Companies in Middlefield

In order to choose the right auto transport method for your vehicle, consider how much security your vehicle will require. The most common cars shipped using an enclosed shipping option are antique or classic vehicles. However, if you’re simply transporting an average motor vehicle that you use every day for standard driving needs, then an open trailer would likely be a good fit for you. A good game plan is to get various quotes from car shipping carriers or brokers, that way you know you’re getting the most equitable rates. By putting in a bit of time to research the Middlefield auto transport company, the process being auto transporting and the rates involved in your service you can make sure you’re not only getting the very best deal, but also the very best service.