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Car Transportation in Lockwood MO

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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.

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Affordable Prices
Competitive pricing with no hidden fees

Unlike other vehicle shipping companies in Lockwood, 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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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 Lockwood, MO.

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

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What is involved in relocating your vehicle from one place to another by using an auto transport business in Lockwood? In fact, auto shipping consists of a car carrier company moving the vehicle from one location to another for a customer. This procedure can be taken care of by utilizing an open carrier, which is the most common option you’ll see on the road, or an enclosed transport where your vehicle would not be exposed to the open air. Generally, an open carrier is used to transport most vehicles unless they are expensive or collector’s vehicles. The best place to begin in your quest for locating an auto transporter is understanding the difference between a broker and a carrier. In short, brokers facilitate the shipping process by connecting customers with carriers, while the carrier essentially performs the job. Below, we’ll review the difference between a broker and carrier, as well as other ideas that will help you make the best auto transport choice.

Lockwood Auto Brokers and Their Role in Auto Transport

First of all, every customer should understand what it means to be an auto transport broker versus a carrier. Before getting into the process of choosing an auto transport service in Lockwood you should first know the difference between an auto shipping broker and a carrier. If you’ve never used an auto shipping service before, the process might seem challenging, but in this article we’ll give you all the details you need to make an educated decision.

Auto Brokers and Their Role in the Auto Transport Market

Auto transport brokers don’t have their own transport carriers and typically are not the companies that will move vehicles. Brokers facilitate auto transportation by connecting customers, referred to as “shippers”, with the carriers that offer the particular services requested. The benefit of using a broker as opposed to a carrier is that you have more options because of their active network of auto carriers. Working with a single carrier means they may not run the route you need, possess the necessary equipment or the proper licensing to transport through the states needed to get your vehicle where it needs to go. Essentially, a broker does the leg work of finding a carrier that meets these set of guidelines and can sometimes get a more competitive rate by creating competition between carriers on behalf of the shipper.

Finding a Car Carrier in Lockwood

If you decide to do business with a car carrier directly then you will be interacting with the person or persons who own the trucks relocating your vehicle. The auto shipping carriers are the proprietors of the trailers that are used in shipping the cars and are the owners of the company. All auto transport carriers in Lockwood have to be licensed and insured, but a customer should still do their homework to validate this. These car carriers will serve a particular number of routes and locations in order to provide effective service and remain profitable. Locating a carrier by yourself that travels the route in which you need your vehicle transported may be challenging, as many carriers make use of brokers who will connect them with the ideal customers. You’ll end up having to pay about the same price whether you go with a carrier or broker, however, as charges are based largely on fuel rates at the time. There is competition among auto carriers today and most auto carriers offer you a number of promotions and discounts to their clients. For that reason, you can take advantage of the circumstance in order to get a good bargain.

Tips for Shipping Your Car

Take any personal items out of your vehicle.

Auto carriers are forbidden from relocating anything regarded as a household good, which is a rule mandated by the Department of Transportation. So auto transport in Lockwood cannot, move a vehicle that’s loaded up with personal belongings or other goods. This includes things like GPS systems, DVD players, CDs or other third-party goods that you have put in your vehicle.

Leave your gas tank a quarter of the ways full.

Prior to your vehicle gets loaded up with a Lockwood auto hauler you should verify your gasoline level to make sure you have around a quarter tank of gasoline. The transporting process will demand a small amount of driving, usually only in the loading and unloading process, so some gas will be necessary. You don’t want to have a full tank of fuel either, however, as that can add extra weight to the trailer and complicate the process.

Document any body damage on your vehicle

To ensure you have proof of the condition of your car prior to using a Lockwood auto carrier it’s a good idea to search for any dents, scratches or other damage that may already exist. The best way to do this is by thoroughly washing your car first so it will be simpler to recognize any dents or damage. Then, take photos using your phone or camera to record 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.

You will be given a Bill of Lading when your selected Lockwood auto transport arrives and starts the process of loading your car on their trailer. This contract is an acknowledgment form that shows 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 driver 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 happening when it’s delivered. When your 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.

Evaluate your insurance coverage opportunities.

Although the Lockwood auto hauler should have liability insurance built into their services, it’s a good plan 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. Normally, the auto transport service you’re using will already have insurance built into the price tag 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 sufficient for the vast majority of problems that could occur. This insurance coverage is usually provided by a third-party insurer employed by the auto transport service.

Finding the Best Auto Carrier in Lockwood for Your Needs

You can find out quite a bit about the auto transporter you’re thinking of using by doing some online research. There are plenty of auto transporters in Lockwood 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 obtaining these numbers you’ll be able to look up the auto hauler on the Better Business Bureau’s website to find out more information about them. Finally, review the terms and conditions of the auto transport services you’re getting and it’s also a good idea to do a bit of research on the auto transport process in general. By doing a bit of research you’ll make sure you’re getting the best deal and service around.

Knowing the Difference Between Enclosed Transport and Open Transport Solutions in Lockwood

Typically, shipping a vehicle via open transport will save you the most money. There are more carriers of this type than an enclosed version, and you’ve most likely seen them numerous times on the highway. These auto carriers are around in abundance, so it helps keep down the price involved in shipping. So, in general, this is the least expensive way to ship a car. Auto carriers travel consistent routes and will transport up to 10 other vehicles along with yours to maintain performance. This lowers the cost of shipping as it is divided by the all the vehicles onboard.

Choosing The Right Auto Transport Service in Lockwood

It’s a good practice to take into consideration what type of safety your car will require while being shipped across the country. Using an open transport is suitable, and almost always cheaper, if you’re shipping a standard vehicle that would normally be exposed to the outdoors on a regular basis anyways. If you have a collector’s car or antique vehicle, then an enclosed shipping solution might be better for your vehicle. When first browsing auto transport companies in Lockwood you should get several quotes on the price of the transport. However, the lowest price it not necessarily the best choice for every circumstance. Do a bit of research on the company you’re thinking of going with and on the auto transport industry in general. When you ultimately make your decision, you’ll be confident that your vehicle is being transported properly and securely to its final location.