Car Transport in Ludington MI

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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 Ludington, 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 Ludington, MI.

Are you trying to figure out the process of moving a vehicle from one location to another using an auto transporter in Ludington? To put it simply, it’s the act of transporting a car from one state to another by means of some type of car shipping method. This procedure can be taken care of by utilizing an open carrier, which is the most well-known option you’ll see on the road, or an enclosed transport where your vehicle would not be subjected to the outdoors. An open carrier is the most popular, which also means it’s the most inexpensive for ordinary vehicle transport needs. The ideal place to begin in your quest for locating an auto transporter is understanding the distinction between a broker and a carrier. Brokers don’t in fact ship the vehicle, but they behave as an intermediary between the customer and the service that provides the shipping of the vehicles. Below, we’ll review the distinction between a broker and carrier, as well as other recommendations that will help you make the best auto transport choice.

How to Tell the Difference Between Ludington Auto Carriers and Brokers

Choosing an auto transport company involves some due diligence and knowing how the business works before making a decision. The process can be challenging if you don’t know where to begin or where to get accurate details. This article will cover the basics and the role that shippers, carriers, and brokers play in the process of hauling a vehicle.

Auto Brokers and Their Role in the Auto Transport Market

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 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 Ludington auto shippers and use one of those auto transport providers to ship your car or other vehicle. Even though the broker doesn’t own the trucks, they will keep in contact with the customer throughout the shipping process. In essence, an auto transport broker acts as an intermediary between the customer and the auto transporters that can get in touch with many companies in order to find the best service for the shipper.

Finding a Car Carrier in Ludington

Going with a Ludington auto carrier means the customer will be dealing directly with the person or business that owns the truck that will be transporting your vehicle. However, most carriers only serve a minimal 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. All services cost money, particularly with auto shipping due to changing fuel prices, so there isn’t a whole lot of wiggle room often times. Dealing with an auto carrier directly might not change the rate you pay over going with a broker, since the broker has an array of carriers that they can contact for the best rates and routes. Auto carriers aren’t always easy to locate and contact, since a lot of times they rely on brokers to connect them with clients.

Things to Consider Before Transporting Your Car

Remove all household goods you’re your vehicle.

No auto shipper is permitted to transport any object that would be classified as “household goods”, as per Department of Transportation Code. So auto transport in Ludington cannot move a vehicle that’s loaded up with personal property or other goods. This includes things like GPS systems, DVD players, CDs or other third-party goods that you have put in your vehicle.

Don’t overfill your gas tank.

When utilizing a Ludington auto transport company you should keep an eye on your gas gauge before the time of shipping. It’s advised to leave about a quarter of a tank in your vehicle 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 leave your gas level too low. However, you don’t want to fill your gas tank an excessive amount either. A vehicle with a full tank of gas will weigh substantially more than one with simply a quarter tank full, which could present difficulties with the auto transport process.

Examine your vehicle for signs of damage before and after shipping.

When using a Ludington car hauler you should always perform a quick examination of your vehicle’s condition before it gets loaded on the trailer. The most effective way to do this is by cleaning your car first, making sure there’s no dirt left on it, and then walking around it and make notes of any dents or dings. This will make sure you are conscious of any existing problems and can accurately determine if any new damage happened during the transporting process. It’s most effective to document the condition of your car by just taking pictures of it on your cell phone as proof, just in case there are any difficulties during transporting it.

Find out what’s in your Bill of Lading.

As soon as your Ludington auto transporter arrives to pick up your car, both you and the driver will do an inspection to determine the condition of your vehicle. During this time you can determine any dents, dings or scratches already on your vehicle’s body. Once that process is complete, the customer will be given a Bill of Lading. The contract will confirm auto carrier is taking your vehicle for transport. It will also ensure that both you and the auto transport carrier are in agreement on any existing damage on your car. When the car arrives at its intended destination, the customer will be presented with another Bill of Lading. This will confirm that the vehicle has been delivered and will allow the customer to inspect that vehicle again to determine if any new damage has occurred. So this process basically protects both the customer and the auto carrier so that there will be no confusion upon delivery.

Confirm your insurance coverage.

It’s a good idea to question your auto hauler about their company’s liability insurance coverage in the event your car is damaged during the shipping process. Any Ludington 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. Each auto hauler commonly uses a third-party insurance company that handles the liabilities on their end. Sometimes, your insurance company offers this type of coverage on your vehicle as well, so you can generally check your policy prior to shipping.

Finding the Best Auto Carrier in Ludington for Your Needs

There are a couple of ways you can make sure that you’re receiving the best service from the auto carrier in Ludington that you’ve chosen. Clients should only do business with transporters who are licensed, bonded and insured. Yet another way to examine their service record is by obtaining their MC number or USDOT and doing a lookup with the Better Business Bureau. Ensure to look over the terms and conditions of the shipping agreement and take some time to educate yourself on the overall auto transport process. It’s also a great idea to read any third-party testimonials of the company to see what past clients are saying.

Open Vehicle Carriers vs. Enclosed Transports in Ludington

Shipping your vehicle by using an open carrier option is often the most affordable and common. There are more carriers of this type than an enclosed version, and you’ve most likely seen them numerous times on the highway. The abundance of these carriers and their reputation helps contribute to the cheap price tag. In general, this will be the most affordable method of transporting your vehicle. An auto carrier that is going from your area and traveling through to your location will take that vehicle and add it to a group of up to 10 others heading in that same direction. This minimizes the cost of shipping as it is divided by the all the vehicles onboard.

Researching Auto Transport Companies in Ludington

In order to choose the right auto transport method for your vehicle, think about how much protection your vehicle will require. The most common vehicles shipped using an enclosed shipping option are antique or classic vehicles. However, if you’re simply transporting an average vehicle that you use every day for standard driving needs, then an open trailer would probably be a good fit for you. As usually, try to get at least three or four quotes for car shipping services so you can be sure you’re being billed an adequate rate. By putting in a bit of time to research the Ludington auto transport company, the process being auto transporting and the rates included in your service you can guarantee you’re not only getting the very best deal, but also the very best service.