Car Transportation in Lathrop MO

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 Lathrop, 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 Lathrop, MO.

Are you on the hunt for efficient auto transport services in Lathrop? Then you’ve come to the perfect place and we’ll help you fully understand the transport procedure every step of the way. In order to be sure you get the finest auto shipping rates and the best services, it’s a good idea to do a little bit of research first. Most shippers will offer you “door-to-door” service, meaning they pick your car up from one place and deliver it to another place of your choosing. When deciding on an auto carrier service, it’s necessary to first know the difference between an auto transport brokerage and an auto hauler. The primary difference is that brokers simply arrange for transport, while carriers are the ones actually handling the physical delivery. Occasionally a company acts as both a broker and a carrier, but you can find out more details in the following paragraphs.

What is an Auto Broker in Lathrop?

One of the most crucial distinctions to understand is the distinction between an auto transport broker and a carrier. Before getting into the process of choosing an auto transport service in Lathrop you should first know the distinction between an auto shipping broker and a carrier. If you’ve never used an auto shipping service before, the process might seem confusing, but in this article we’ll give you all the information you need to make an educated decision.

How do Auto Transport Brokers Work?

In the car shipping business, 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 motor vehicle from point A to point B. It’s significant to note, the broker doesn’t actually own the trucks, but instead they have set up a network of carriers to connect customers with. They will contact a variety of Lathrop auto shippers and use one of those auto transport services to ship your car or other vehicle. Even though the broker doesn’t own the trucks, they will keep in contact with the client all through the shipping procedure. Essentially, an auto transport broker acts as an intermediary between the customer and the auto transporters that can contact many providers in order to find the best service for the shipper.

Choosing a Qualified Car Carrier

A vehicle 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 hauling vehicles. Sometimes, the operater of the truck is also the proprietor of the rig, so they decide on their solutions and which routes to drive. 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 chance to broker out your order to an additional carrier. This means that even when you think you are working with a carrier in some situations you go through a broker service. Normally you’d think dealing directly with a carrier means you’ll get a better price, but that’s not always the case when it comes to auto carriers in Lathrop. On the other hand, a broker already has established a network of carriers, so they can search multiple options to find the best choice for their clients.

Car Shipping Advice

Secure your personal items outside your vehicle.

You might not be aware of this, but there is actually a Department of Transportation Code that forbids car haulers in Lathrop from hauling vehicles with personal possessions in them. Items that should be taken away from your vehicle prior to shipping include things like car seats, external GPS systems and clothing. Make sure to do a quick inspection of the interior of your car before it gets loaded onto a trailer.

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

Be sure to keep around a quarter tank of gas in your vehicle prior to shipping it. Your Lathrop auto carrier will most likely have to drive the vehicle on and off the truck during the shipping process, and since it will be at a sharp angle it’s a good idea to keep at least a quarter tank of gas in it. However, you’ll want to be mindful not to leave a full tank of gasoline in your car when transporting it. A full tank would add a lot of weight to your vehicle, which could result in complications during the transporting process.

Pay attention to any existing damage on your car.

To make certain you have proof of the condition of your vehicle prior to using a Lathrop auto carrier it’s a good idea to search for any dents, scratches or other damage that may already exist. Cleaning your car first will make it much easier to identify any dents or dings. Then, take photos using your phone or camera to document the condition of your car, even if its body doesn’t have any damage. That way you have records of its condition in the event any problems arise during the vehicle transport process.

Recognize your Bill of Lading.

Once your Lathrop auto transporter arrives to pick up your car, both you and the driver will do an evaluation to determine the condition of your vehicle. During this time you can determine any dents, dings or scratches already on your vehicle’s body. When you’re satisfied with the evaluation, you’ll be presented with what’s called a Bill of Lading. The document will confirm auto carrier is taking your vehicle for transport. It will also make sure 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. This process ensures that both the customer and auto carrier are in agreement on the condition of the vehicle.

Confirm your insurance coverage.

Even though the Lathrop auto hauler should have liability insurance built into their service, 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 moving your vehicle. Usually, the auto transport service you’re using will already have insurance built into the price of their services, so there won’t be any further costs involved. The average liability coverage ranges between ,000 and 0,000 in coverage, which would be adequate 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.

How to Find the Best Auto Hauler in Lathrop

You can find out quite a bit about the auto transporter you’re thinking of using by performing some online research. There are tons of auto transporters in Lathrop to choose from, so how do you know which one is the best? First, you can obtain the company’s MC number or USDOT number. The auto carrier should always be licensed, bonded and insured. By getting these numbers you’ll be able to look up the auto hauler on the Better Business Bureau’s website to find out more details about them. You can also learn about the auto transport service by simply reviewing the terms and conditions that come along with the service. This way you’ll have a basic knowledge about how auto transporting works.

Lathrop Transport Options: Open vs. Enclosed Trucks

Going with a Lathrop auto transport service you’ll be able to ship your vehicle just about anywhere in the country, and you’ll also be able to choose how your vehicle is shipped. While most auto transport businesses will move the vehicles by way of a tractor trailer, depending on the business you choose, you may have the alternative to go with either open-air or enclosed transport. While both approaches use a truck for transport, they do have their differences.

When a car shipping business says it uses open-air trucks, it uses the type of car carrier that most people relate to car transportation. This type of truck is generally 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 based upon on the value of the vehicle you’re shipping.

Searching for Auto Transport Companies in Lathrop

Always take into account how much safety and security your vehicle or vehicles will need during the transport process. Using an open transport is ideal, and almost always cheaper, if you’re shipping a standard vehicle that would commonly be exposed to the outdoors on a regular basis anyways. Antique, classic cars and collector’s cars that are specifically kept in safeguarded conditions would benefit the most from an enclosed shipping method. As a customer, it’s a good plan to get various quotes from Lathrop auto transporters. This way you’ll understand the general prices, but the cheapest is not always the most effective choice. By doing some study on the auto transport industry and the companies you’re planning on dealing with, you can make sure you’re getting the very best deal. That way, you’re guaranteeing your vehicle is shipped safely and makes it to its location with ease.