Car Transport in Ellicott City MD

Answers To Your Questions
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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 Ellicott City, 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 Ellicott City, MD.

The vehicle shipping business can seem intimidating at first, but by doing a little bit of investigation you can make the very best choice possible for moving your car or truck. In order to transport a car, truck or motorcycle it’s actually just a matter of having the proper information and getting in touch with the right Ellicott City auto transport service to deal with the job. Sometimes, you’ll end up calling what’s called a broker rather than an actual auto carrier. Both of these businesses essentially make sure your vehicle is shipped safety and easily to a new location. No matter where in the country you’re delivering your vehicle, the process is essentially the same. You’ll want to make certain you have your vehicle’s details handy, such as the make, model and year, as well as the exact location you wish to ship it to. It’s also essential to have a general time schedule in mind if you’ll need your vehicle delivered by a certain date. One of the most essential distinctions to realize is the difference and commonalities between an auto transport broker and a carrier.

How to Tell the Difference Between Ellicott City Auto Carriers and Brokers

Before choosing an car hauling service you should have a basic understanding of the industry and how it works. It may seem like a tricky procedure, but we’ll help make it less complicated for everyone. We’ll cover the fundamentals of auto shipping as well as the role that car carriers and auto brokers play in providing customers with transport services.

Auto Brokers and Their Role in the Auto Transport Market

An auto transport broker is simply the professional chosen by you, the shipper, who assists in the process of procuring an auto transport company in Ellicott City. This means the customer, or shipper, does not actually deal directly with the auto carrier who will be in charge of picking up and delivering your motor vehicle. The auto transport broker acts as a liaison between the shipper and carrier, which means they can shop around to find the most reliable shipping option for their customers. They will take into consideration price and how close the auto carrier is to your location, which can end up expediting the shipping process. Fundamentally, they will be your point of contact during the entire shipping process until your car is delivered to its destination.

How to Identify an Auto Transporter

A car hauling carrier is usually a double deck truck that can load up to ten automobiles at a time. It is driven by a professional CDL driver trained in loading, unloading and moving vehicles. The driver may be the proprietor of the auto transport truck who decides on their routes to provide the most productive service. These drivers are the ones who are considered auto carriers and will be responsible for picking up and delivering your car or truck. Some bigger carrier companies are authorized brokers as well which gives them the opportunity to broker out your order to an additional carrier. So even if you think you’re working directly with an auto carrier, you might be employing a different carrier service in the end. Most of the time when customers deals directly with a company, rather than an intermediary, they believe they’ll be getting a better price, but that’s not necessarily true with Ellicott City auto transport. A broker shops multiple auto transporters and is already established to contact all these vendors, so they’ll already know the best option for your auto transport requirements.

Guidelines for Shipping Your Car

Take any personal items out of your car.

You might not be aware of this, but there is in fact a Department of Transportation Code that forbids car haulers in Ellicott City from moving vehicles with personal belongings in them. Popular household objects that could 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 swift inspection of the interior of your automobile before it gets loaded onto a trailer.

Leave a quarter of a tank of fuel in your gas tank.

Although your car will not be driven much during the shipping process, it may be necessary during the loading and unloading process. Also, your car may be positioned at an angle on top of an auto carrier, meaning gasoline could move from one side of the gas tank to another, and if the gas level is too low it might not be able to start. Make certain to not have a full gas tank, however, as it can add significant weight to your vehicle which could result in shipping troubles.

Document any body damage on your vehicle

It’s a wise course of action to wash your car prior to shipping and make sure there is no dust or mud stuck on it. This will allow you to clearly see if there are any dents, dings or scratches that are already present on your vehicle’s body, which means you won’t mistakenly believe the damage occurred during shipping. Simply taking photos or a video of the condition of your vehicle prior to shipping can help prevent any confusion at the time of its delivery.

Keep track of your Bill of Lading.

You’ll be given what’s known as a Bill of Lading once your Ellicott City car carrier arrives to retrieve your vehicle for transport. This Bill of Lading consists of the details of your vehicle transport agreement and will validate that it is being placed in the temporary care of the auto transport company. Both parties can do an assessment of the vehicle at this time to record any damages that are on the body. So the customer and driver can come to an agreement as to the vehicle’s condition, and that way there won’t be any confusion once the vehicle is delivered. Another Bill of Lading will be given to the client once the vehicle arrives at its destination, which will verify the condition of the vehicle matches what it was when it was picked up. Any new damage that may have occurred throughout the transport process, although rare, can be identified easier this way.

Your vehicle should be insured against damages.

You really should check with your auto insurance provider to find out if they supply any coverage for your vehicle should it be damaged during the hauling process. Even so, any auto transport Ellicott City service should already have liability coverage currently built into their prices, which generally covers anywhere between ,000 and 0,000 worth of damages. The client won’t have to shell out extra for this insurance, since it should already be built into the auto hauler’s charges. Generally, this is enough to cover any problems 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 Ellicott City

There are a number of ways you can make sure you’re getting the absolute greatest service from your selected Ellicott City car carrier. 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 reviews on their services with the BBB. It’s also a good idea to quickly review the terms and conditions of the service agreement so that you have a general idea of what in entails. This way you’ll be able to make the most knowledgeable decision possible.

Ellicott City Transport Options: Open vs. Enclosed Trucks

Going with a Ellicott City auto transport service you’ll be able to ship your vehicle just about any place in the country, and you’ll also be able to pick how your vehicle is shipped. 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 differences.

Most people are familiar with the open carriers you’ll often see on the highway while traveling, which is the most common type of car shipping. This type of truck is usually 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. There are no sides and no roof on the trailer, so the vehicles are open to the elements at all times.

Getting the Greatest Deals on Auto Transport in Ellicott City

It’s a good practice to consider what type of protection your car will require while being transported across the country. If you’re simply shipping a standard or older vehicle, then open-transport alternatives are probably fine for you. Antique, classic cars and collector’s cars that are specifically kept in protected conditions would benefit the most from an enclosed shipping method. As a customer, it’s a good idea to get several quotes from Ellicott City auto transporters. However, the lowest rate 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 business in general. That way, you’re guaranteeing your vehicle is shipped safely and makes it to its destination with ease.