Vehicle Shipping in Hopkinsville KY

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Unlike other vehicle shipping companies in Hopkinsville, 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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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 Hopkinsville, KY.

Are you trying to figure out the process of moving a vehicle from one location to another using an auto transporter in Hopkinsville? To put it simply, it’s the act of transporting a car from one state to another through some type of car transport process. Clients have the option to choose between an open carrier, which is the most popular, or an enclosed carrier that better protects your vehicle. Typically, an open carrier is used to transport most vehicles unless they are high-priced or collector’s automobiles. The ideal place to start in your quest for finding an auto transporter is understanding the difference between a broker and a carrier. In short, brokers support the shipping procedure by hooking up customers with carriers, while the carrier essentially performs the job. Below, we’ll examine the distinction between a broker and carrier, as well as other tips that will help you make the ideal auto transport choice.

How to Tell the Difference Between Hopkinsville Auto Carriers and Brokers

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

What Does an Auto Broker Do?

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 very best auto carrier based upon on routes, your location and the variety of service you require. The advantage of using a broker rather than a carrier is that you have more options because of their active network of auto carriers. Working with a single carrier means they may not run the route you require, possess the necessary equipment or the correct licensing to transport through the states required to get your vehicle where it needs to go. Basically, a broker does the leg work of locating a carrier that meets these criteria and can sometimes get a more competitive rate by creating competition between carriers on behalf of the shipper.

How to Locate a Car Carrier in Hopkinsville

Going with a Hopkinsville auto carrier means the customer will be dealing directly with the person or business that owns the truck which will be transporting your vehicle. However, most carriers only serve a limited number of routes so that their services are cost efficient. Usually, they don’t stray too far from these routes because of additional fuel costs and the travel time frame it would take, which would slow down other deliveries. Dealing with a carrier company does not 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 often times. An auto transport broker will already be set up to get in touch with multiple transporters in order to find the perfect rate and most efficient performance for the customer, so interacting 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 easy to find, as brokers handle that side of their business for them.

Preparing Your Vehicle to be Shipped

Ensure all personal items are removed from your vehicle.

No car hauler in Hopkinsville is authorized to transport household goods, as per rules put forth by the Department of Transportation. This consists of common things you might have in your car such as clothing, car seats or external GPS systems. It’s a wise course of action to sweep your vehicle for any of these things and get rid of them prior to pickup.

Leave your gas tank a quarter of the ways full.

Keep an eye on your fuel gauge prior to shipping with a Hopkinsville car carrier. It’s highly recommended to leave about a quarter of a tank in your car just to be on the safe side. Your car may be driven briefly just to load it onto and off of the vehicle trailer and you don’t want to keep your gasoline level too low. Conversely, you don’t want to ship your car with a full tank of fuel either. A car with a full tank of gas will weigh substantially more than one with simply a quarter tank full, which could complicate the auto transport process.

Take note of any existing damage on your car.

In order to better identify any scratches or blemishes on your vehicle it’s a good idea to clean it before inspecting the body. You’ll want to do a detailed inspection of your vehicle’s body before shipping to make sure you’re aware of any existing damages. It’s effortless to document them by taking photos, which will also prove the condition of your vehicle in the case that damage does occur during the shipping process.

Find out what’s in your Bill of Lading.

You’ll be given what’s known as a Bill of Lading once your Hopkinsville car carrier arrives to retrieve your vehicle for transport. This Bill of Lading consists of the details of your vehicle transport contract and will confirm 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 document any damages that are on the body. So the consumer and driver can come to an agreement as to the vehicle’s condition, and that way there won’t be any misunderstandings once the vehicle is delivered. The customer will receive yet another Bill of Lading during the delivery process, which will again inspect the condition of your vehicle. If any new damages occur, they can be dealt with at this time.

Understand your insurance coverage.

Each time you do business with a Hopkinsville auto hauler you should check to make certain they have their own liability insurance. Your chosen auto transport service should already have liability insurance built into their services and their prices. The average liability coverage ranges between ,000 and 0,000 in coverage, which would be sufficient for the vast majority of issues that could arise. These auto carriers usually have their coverage through a third-party and is already built into the price you’re paying for shipping.

Finding the Best Auto Carrier in Hopkinsville for Your Needs

In order to guarantee you’re getting the best service from your Hopkinsville 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. The customer can also use the auto transporter’s MC number or USDOT number. You can use these numbers to look up reports on their services with the BBB. It’s also a great idea to quickly evaluate the terms and conditions of the service contract 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.

Understanding the Difference Between Enclosed Transport and Open Transport Options in Hopkinsville

Hopkinsville auto transport businesses make it possible to have your automobile shipped to virtually any major city in the United States, but how the cars are actually transported depends on the services offered by the car shipping company. While most auto transport firms will move the vehicles by way of a tractor trailer, depending on the business 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 distinctions.

When a car shipping company says it uses open-air trucks, it uses the type of car carrier that most people relate to car transport. This type of truck is normally between 75 and 80 feet in length and it hauls a two-level trailer with a row of cars on the top and a shorter row of cars on the bottom. Your vehicle will be exposed 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 motor vehicle you’re shipping.

Get the Most Out of Your Auto Transport Provider

Always think about how much safety and security your vehicle or vehicles will need throughout the transport process. If you’re simply shipping a standard or older vehicle, then open-transport options are probably okay for you. If you have a collector’s car or antique vehicle, then an enclosed shipping option might be better for your vehicle. When first browsing auto transport companies in Hopkinsville you should get several quotes on the price of the transport. However, the lowest price it not necessarily the ideal choice for every circumstance. Do a bit of research on the company you’re thinking of going with and on the auto transport industry in general. That way, you’re ensuring your vehicle is shipped safely and makes it to its destination with ease.