888-654-1785
Call For A Quote

Car Transportation in Potomac MD

transportation checkboxesAnswers 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.

transportation checkboxes

Affordable Prices
Competitive pricing with no hidden fees

Unlike other vehicle shipping companies in Potomac, 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.

transportation checkboxes

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 Potomac, MD.

Have questions, need a quote, or want to schedule a transport – just give us a call at (888) 654-1785

picture of auto transporter in Potomac, MD

Transporting a automobile is not a very complicated practice, though it may seem that way from the outside, particularly if you’ve never done it before. In order to transport a car, truck or motorcycle it’s actually just a matter of having the appropriate information and getting in touch with the right Potomac auto transport service to handle the job. In many cases when you reach out to a transportation company you’ll be speaking with what’s called an auto transport broker, as opposed to the auto carrier themselves. They both offer you the same solutions, which is to facilitate the transportation of your vehicle, but a broker simply arranges the transport while a carrier essentially supplies the transportation. The process is mostly the same regardless of where in America your trying to ship your car to. You’ll want to make certain you have your vehicle’s information handy, such as the make, model and year, as well as the exact location you wish to ship it to. It’s also important to have a general timeframe in mind if you’ll need your vehicle transported by a certain date. One of the most significant distinctions to realize is the difference and similarities between an auto transport broker and a carrier.

Auto Brokers vs. Auto Carriers in Potomac

When searching for car transport and car shipping companies in Potomac, there are essentially two different choices you can choose to book with: a broker, and a carrier. In short, an auto shipping broker reaches out to car haulers who will actually perform the moving of your vehicle. A broker will find trucking companies in your area to pick up and deliver your vehicle. An auto shipping carrier is simply the person or company that owns the truck which will pick up and deliver your car.

Auto Transport Brokers and How They Work With Customers

An auto transport broker is simply the professional hired by you, the shipper, who aids in the process of procuring an auto transport company in Potomac. 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 solution 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 shipped to its destination.

Finding a Car Carrier in Potomac

Going with a Potomac auto carrier means the customer will be dealing directly with the person or firm 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. They do not divert too far from their designated routes because this would mean slower service to all customers and even higher rates. Dealing with a carrier company doesn’t mean clients will pay less. A service costs what it costs. Whether that is time, equipment and effort to drive or to find and deal with customers, it all costs money. An auto transport broker will already be set up to contact multiple transporters in order to find the most effective price 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. Auto carriers aren’t always easy to locate and contact, since many times they rely on brokers to connect them with consumers.

Preparing Your Vehicle to be Shipped

Secure your personal items outside your vehicle.

Auto shippers in Potomac are not allowed by the Department of Transportation to carry anything that would be considered a “household good”. This includes common products you may have in your car such as clothing, car seats or external GPS systems. It’s a good plan to sweep your vehicle for any of these items and get rid of them prior to pickup.

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

Before your vehicle gets loaded up with a Potomac auto hauler you should verify your fuel level to make sure you have around a quarter tank of gas. Some gas is necessary to start your automobile and drive it so that it can be loaded and unloaded from the auto shipping trailer properly. However, you won’t want to leave more than a quarter of a tank or a full tank of gas in your automobile because of the additional weight it adds.

Before shipping your car, examine it for damages.

It’s a wise course of action to wash your car prior to shipping and make sure there is no dirt or mud stuck on it. This will allow you to plainly 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 took place during shipping. It’s easy to document them by taking photos, which will also prove the condition of your vehicle in the case that damage does occur during the transporting process.

What is a Bill of Lading?

You will be given a Bill of Lading when your chosen Potomac auto transport arrives and begins the process of loading your automobile on their truck. This document is an acknowledgment form that attests the auto carrier is picking up your vehicle for transport. It will also outline any present damage on your vehicle including dents, scratches or dings. Both the car’s owner and the operater of the auto transport truck should do a walk-around of the car and agree on any damage that is already present. In this case, both parties can come to an agreement on the condition of your vehicle prior to it being shipped, which will help avoid mistakes from occurring when it’s delivered. When your current vehicle shows up at its new location, the client will be provided with another Bill of Lading verifying the delivery and turning over the car back to the owner.

Verify your insurance coverage.

Inquire about your auto transport carrier’s insurance liability coverage before shipping, which every carrier should already have. Any Potomac car hauler should already have liability insurance, which is incorporated into the total cost of your shipping. The total insurance coverage typically ranges between ,000 and 0,000. Auto shippers will utilize a third-party insurer and should not cost extra, but rather it should be included in the rate that you’re already paying to deliver your vehicle. Sometimes, your insurance company offers this type of coverage on your vehicle as well, so you can always check your policy prior to shipping.

Finding the Best Auto Carrier in Potomac for Your Needs

To make certain you’re getting the best car shipping service in Potomac there are a few details you should gather regarding your auto transport company. Every qualified auto hauler should be licensed, bonded and insured. Another way to examine their service record is by obtaining their MC number or USDOT and doing a lookup with the Better Business Bureau. Also, take the time to review the terms and conditions so that you’re acquainted with how the service works. It’s also a wise course of action to read any third-party critiques of the company to see what past clients are saying.

Difference Between Potomac Auto Transports and Enclosed Vehicle Carriers

A potential misconception about open transport is that it’s some sort of bargain basement solution. You could compare this option to flying economy class on an airplane versus first class. It’s the way most people travel. The very 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 cost effective way possible. Shipping your vehicle by using an open carrier is the most inexpensive way of transportation, rather than using a single flatbed truck only relocating one car or truck at a time.

Researching Auto Transport Companies in Potomac

It’s a good practice to consider what type of protection your car will require while being shipped across the country. Using an open transport is ideal, and almost always cheaper, if you’re shipping a standard vehicle that would normally be exposed to the outdoors on a daily basis anyways. Antique, classic cars and collector’s vehicles that are specifically kept in secured conditions would benefit the most from an enclosed shipping solution. When first browsing auto transport companies in Potomac you should get various quotes on the price of the transport. This way you’ll know the general prices, but the lowest priced is not always the best choice. Do a little bit of analysis on the company you’re thinking of going with and on the auto transport business in general. When you finally make your decision, you’ll be comfortable that your vehicle is being transported carefully and securely to its final location.