Car Transport in Decatur MI

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 Decatur, 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 Decatur, MI.

Transporting a car or truck is not a very challenging practice, although it may seem that way from the outside, particularly if you’ve hardly ever done it before. In order to transport a car, truck or motorcycle it’s actually just a matter of having the best information and calling the right Decatur auto transport service to handle the job. Sometimes, you’ll end up getting in contact with what’s called a broker rather than an actual auto carrier. 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 actually supplies the transportation. No matter where in the country you’re shipping your vehicle, the process is fundamentally the same. The main data you’ll need prior to transport is your vehicle’s make, model and year. You should also plan ahead if you have a strict timeframe you need your vehicle shipped in or a specific date it must arrive by. Initially, as a customer you should know the difference between an auto carrier broker and the actual shipping firm that owns the trucks.

Decatur Auto Brokers and Their Role in Auto Transport

If you’ve never had your car shipped before, then chances are you’re unaware of the distinctions between an auto broker and auto carrier in Decatur. Basically, using either service will have the same end result, transporting your automobile from one place to another, but it’s always a good idea to have a basic understanding of the two before making a final decision on which provider to do business with.

How an Auto Transport Broker Sets Up Transportation Solutions

In the car shipping community, a broker is a firm that resells your shipping job. For example, when you call a broker, you will be paying them the total cost for transporting your vehicle from point A to point B. However, they will not actually carry out the shipping themselves, as they don’t own the trucks that are used in the shipping process. They will make contact with a variety of Decatur 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. In essence, an auto transport broker acts as an intermediary between the customer and the auto transporters that can contact many businesses in order to find the best service for the shipper.

What Is An Auto Transport Carrier?

An auto transport carrier is the business that owns the trucks and employs the movers that do the labor of hauling a motor vehicle. One advantage of using a carrier is that you are working directly with the company who will be transporting your vehicle, essentially eliminating the middle man. The client will be accountable for finding a company that handles auto transport in Decatur, either a single one or several if you are shopping around for the very best price. A broker will not be necessary in this case, but you may find your choices constrained. It’s important to keep in mind that some carriers may not be able to transport a vehicle since licensing and legal requirements vary from state to state. A carrier can be a one-man company with one or two trucks, or a big auto transport company with numerous trucks.

Preparing Your Vehicle to be Shipped

Take any personal items out of your car.

You might not be aware of this, but there is actually a Department of Transportation Code that forbids car haulers in Decatur from transporting vehicles with personal possessions in them. Items that should be removed from your vehicle prior to shipment include things like car seats, external GPS systems and clothing. So it’s a good plan to check your vehicle and take away any of these items before the truck comes to pick it up.

Only leave around a quarter of tank of gas in your car.

You should always make sure that there is always about a quarter tank of gas left in your vehicle when shipping. Your Decatur auto carrier will likely have to drive the vehicle on and off the truck 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 shipping. A full tank would add a great deal of weight to your car, which could result in problems during the transporting process.

Before shipping your car, examine it for damages.

Always carry out an in-depth evaluation of the condition of your car prior to shipping it via a Decatur car hauler. A simple way to do this is by washing your car off and ensuring there’s no dirt left on it so that way it’s easier to discover dents and dings. This will guarantee you are aware of any existing damages and can correctly determine if any new damage occurred during the shipping process. It’s ideal to record the condition of your car by simply taking pictures of it on your cell phone as proof, just in case there are any issues during transporting it.

Find out what’s in your Bill of Lading.

Once the auto carrier in Decatur shows up to retrieve your car for transport you should be provided with what’s called a Bill of Lading. This document will affirm that the auto shipping is hauling your car and will also validate its condition prior to shipping. It’s a great idea to inspect the vehicle with the driver to make sure you are both aware of any existing damages. Any current damages will be reported in the Bill of Lading, which is then signed by both the driver and customer. Once your automobile is delivered, you’ll be presented with a Bill of Lading that you can use to check for any new damages to your vehicle that may have happened during the shipping process.

Verify your insurance coverage.

Although the Decatur auto hauler should have liability insurance built into their services, it’s a good idea to check with your own insurance company as well to see if they would include any damage that occurs as a result of hauling your vehicle. Normally, the auto transport service you’re using will already have insurance built into the cost of their services, so there won’t be any excess costs involved. The average liability coverage ranges between ,000 and 0,000 in coverage, which would be enough for the vast majority of issues that could come up. This insurance coverage is usually provided by a third-party insurer employed by the auto transport service.

Choosing the Best Auto Transport Carrier in Decatur

There are a vast array of auto transport businesses out there and it can be difficult to choose which one is the best for your needs. Thankfully, you can do a little bit of research on your end prior to making a sound decision on which auto transport Decatur service to go with. Initially, you can acquire the company’s MC number or USDOT number. Always ensure that the car carrier service is the company’s insured and licensed, that way you know you’re doing business with a reputable company. You can use these numbers to look up the auto hauler with the Better Business Bureau in order to find out their standing. Often times it’s a good idea to review the terms and conditions of your service agreement with the auto transporter just so you comprehend the process a little better.

Difference Between Decatur Auto Transports and Enclosed Vehicle Carriers

Shipping your vehicle by using an open carrier option is often the most inexpensive and common. It is the most frequently used and there are more of these carriers around than any other type. These auto carriers are around in abundance, so it helps keep down the costs involved in shipping. In general, this will be the most inexpensive method of transporting your vehicle. Auto carriers travel consistent routes and will transport up to 10 other vehicles along with yours to maintain efficiency. This lowers the cost of shipping as it is divided by the all the vehicles onboard.

You Can Get Great Auto Transport Deals in Decatur

Before making a decision on whether you employ an open trailer or enclosed trailer, first think about how much safety your vehicle really needs. The most common cars shipped using an enclosed shipping option are antique or classic vehicles. On the other hand, if you have an ordinary or older model vehicle, then an open-air trailer should suit your requirements just fine. As usually, try to get at least three or four quotes for car shipping services so you can be sure you’re being charged an adequate rate. By putting in a bit of time to research the Decatur auto transport company, the process being auto transporting and the rates involved in your service you can ensure you’re not only getting the very best deal, but also the best service.