Car Transportation in Northbrook IL

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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 Northbrook, 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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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 Northbrook, IL.

Are you on the hunt for efficient auto transport services in Northbrook? In this article we’ll give you an overview of the auto shipping industry, how it works and how to make the very best choice. In order to be sure you get the finest auto shipping rates and the best services, it’s a good idea to do a little bit of research first. Most shippers will offer you “door-to-door” service, which means they pick your car up from one location and deliver it to another location of your choosing. When making a decision on an auto carrier service, it’s important to first know the difference between an auto transport brokerage and an auto hauler. The primary difference is that brokers simply arrange for transport, while carriers are the ones actually handling the physical delivery. Some companies act as both a broker and a carrier, but we’ll discuss the two distinctions further in this article.

How an Auto Broker is Different From an Auto Carrier in Northbrook

First of all, every customer should understand what it means to be an auto transport broker as opposed to a carrier. Before getting into the process of choosing an auto transport service in Northbrook you should first know the difference between an auto shipping broker and a carrier. The process is much simpler than you may think, and we’ll provide all the information you need to make an educated decision.

What Is An Auto Transport Broker?

In the car shipping market, a broker is a firm that resells your shipping job. For instance, when you call a broker, you will be paying them the total cost for transporting your motor vehicle from point A to point B. However, they will not actually perform the shipping themselves, as they don’t own the trucks that are used in the shipping process. They will get in touch with a variety of Northbrook auto shippers and use one of those auto transport services to ship your car or other vehicle. After the job is passed on to the carrier, the broker will stay in contact with the consumer until the vehicle is delivered. 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.

What Is An Auto Transport Carrier?

When you choose to seek out a Northbrook auto carrier you’ll be working with the company who actually owns the truck used for transporting automobiles. With a few exceptions, most auto transport carriers only serve a limited number of routes. Generally, 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. Dealing with a carrier company doesn’t mean customers will pay less. 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. Dealing with an auto carrier directly may not change the price you pay over going with a broker, since the broker has a variety of carriers that they can get in touch with for the ideal rates and routes. Auto carriers aren’t always easy to locate and contact, since many times they count on brokers to connect them with clients.

Preparing Your Vehicle to be Shipped

Remove all household goods you’re your vehicle.

Auto shippers in Northbrook are not allowed by the Department of Transportation to carry 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 advised to clear away these items from your vehicle prior to pickup to prevent any delays.

Don’t overfill your gas tank.

You should always make sure that there is always about a quarter tank of gas left in your vehicle when shipping. Your Northbrook auto carrier will 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 idea to keep at least a quarter tank of gas in it. However, you’ll want to be cautious not to leave a full tank of fuel in your car when shipping it. If your gas tank is full, it will end up adding a considerable quantity of weight to your vehicle, which could cause issues.

Look at your vehicle for signs of damage before and after shipping.

When using a Northbrook car hauler you should always perform a quick inspection of your vehicle’s condition before it gets loaded on the trailer. An 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 identify dents and dings. This will make sure you are conscious of any existing damages and can accurately determine if any new damage occurred during the transporting process. It’s ideal to document the condition of your car by merely taking pictures of it on your cell phone as proof, just in case there are any difficulties during transporting it.

Keep track of your Bill of Lading.

You will receive what’s called a Bill of Lading once your Northbrook car carrier arrives to obtain your vehicle for transport. This Bill of Lading contains the details of your vehicle transport agreement and will verify that it is being placed in the temporary care of the auto transport company. At this time, both the consumer and driver of the auto carrier should do an inspection of the vehicle in order to document any existing damages. By doing this both the customer and driver are in agreement on the vehicle’s condition at the time of pickup. The client will receive one more Bill of Lading during the delivery process, which will again inspect the condition of your vehicle. Any new harm that may have occurred throughout the transportation process, although rare, can be determined easier this way.

Understand your insurance coverage.

It’s a great idea to question your auto hauler about their company’s liability insurance coverage in the event your car is damaged during the shipping process. Your chosen Northbrook car hauler should have insurance included in the cost of transporting your vehicle that addresses damages. The total insurance coverage typically ranges between ,000 and 0,000. Each auto hauler generally uses a third-party insurance company that handles the liabilities on their end. Also, you can check with your own insurance policy to see if it covers damages that can take place during the shipping process.

How to Locate the Best Auto Hauler in Northbrook

There are a couple of ways you can make sure that you’re receiving the best service from the auto carrier in Northbrook that you’ve chosen. Every certified auto hauler should be licensed, bonded and insured. Yet another way to check their service record is by obtaining their MC number or USDOT and doing a lookup with the Better Business Bureau. Make sure to look over the terms and conditions of the shipping agreement and take some time to educate yourself on the general auto transport process. It’s also a wise decision to read any third-party critiques of the company to see what past customers are saying.

Difference Between Open Transport & Enclosed Carriers in Northbrook

Most people think the open transport auto carrier option is the generally the cheapest. 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. Over 4,000 open auto carriers ship cars throughout the country. Even car dealerships contract a transport firm to send a car the most inexpensive way possible. Shipping your vehicle by using an open carrier is the most practical way of transportation, rather than using a single flatbed truck only moving one car or truck at a time.

You Can Get Fantastic Auto Transport Deals in Northbrook

It’s a good practice to think about what type of protection your car will require while being transported across the country. Using an open transport is suitable, and almost always less costly, if you’re shipping a standard vehicle that would usually be exposed to the outdoors on a regular basis anyways. If you have a collector’s car or antique vehicle, then an enclosed shipping alternative might be better for your vehicle. When first exploring auto transport companies in Northbrook you should get various quotes on the price of the transport. This way you’ll understand the general prices, but the cheapest is not always the best choice. Do a bit of research on the company you’re thinking of going with and on the auto transport business in general. That way, you’re making sure your vehicle is shipped safely and makes it to its location with ease.