Car Shipping in St Joseph 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 St Joseph, 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 St Joseph, MO.

Are you trying to figure out the process of moving a vehicle from one location to another using an auto transporter in St Joseph? Simply put, it’s the act of relocating a car from one state to another through some type of car shipping process. This process can be taken care of by making use of 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. An open carrier is the most common, which also means it’s the most cost-effective for common vehicle transport needs. However, first you should understand the distinction between an auto transport broker and an auto carrier. In short, brokers assist in the shipping process by hooking up customers with carriers, while the carrier essentially performs the job. Below, we’ll review the distinction between a broker and carrier, as well as other tips that will help you make the most effective auto transport choice.

What is an Auto Broker in St Joseph?

Hiring an auto transport company requires some due diligence and knowing how the industry works before making a decision. The process can be challenging if you don’t know where to begin or where to get specific information. We’ll cover the fundamentals of auto shipping as well as the role that car carriers and auto brokers play in supplying clients with transport services.

What Is An Auto Transport Broker?

In the car shipping community, 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 make contact with a variety of St Joseph auto shippers and use one of those auto transport providers to ship your car or other vehicle. After the job is passed on to the carrier, the broker will stay in contact with the customer until the vehicle is delivered. Basically, an auto transport broker acts as an intermediary between the customer and the auto transporters that can contact many companies in order to find the best service for the shipper.

How to Find a Car Carrier in St Joseph

If you choose to do business with a car carrier directly then you will be working with the person or persons who own the trucks moving your vehicle. The auto shipping carriers are the proprietors of the trailers that are used in transporting the cars and are the owners of the company. Most auto transport carriers in St Joseph have to be licensed and insured, but a client should still do their research to confirm this. Most auto carriers serve a specific number of locations and routes that they can transport cars to. Many carriers actually rely on auto shipping brokers to connect them with the ideal customers who will fit the routes they take, which means more reliable service. You’ll end up having to pay about the same rate whether you go with a carrier or broker, however, as costs are based mainly on fuel rates at the time. There is competition among auto carriers today and most auto carriers provide a number of promotions and discounts to their clients. For this reason, you can take advantage of the circumstance in order to get a good price.

Car Shipping Advice

Take any personal items out of your vehicle.

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

Do not ship your vehicle with a full gas tank.

When utilizing a St Joseph auto transport company you should keep an eye on your fuel gauge before the time of shipping. It’s recommended to leave about a quarter of a tank in your car just to be on the safe side. The car will need to be driven briefly so that it can be loaded on and off the auto shipping truck. On the other hand, you don’t want to ship your car with a full tank of gasoline either. A full tank will add substantial weight to your vehicle and could throw off the stability of the transport and result in difficulties.

Take note of any existing damage on your car.

Always carry out an in-depth assessment of the condition of your vehicle prior to shipping it via a St Joseph car hauler. The best 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 ensure you are conscious of any existing problems and can correctly determine if any new damage occurred during the shipping process. It’s ideal 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 problems during transporting it.

Keep track of your Bill of Lading.

When the St Joseph car carrier comes to pick up your car you will be given a Bill of Lading. This Bill of Lading contains the details of your vehicle transport contract and will verify that it is being placed in the temporary care of the auto transport company. Both parties can do an inspection of the vehicle at this time to document any damages that are on the body. By doing this both the customer and driver are in agreement on the vehicle’s condition at the time of pickup. The customer will receive yet another Bill of Lading during the delivery process, which will again inspect the condition of your vehicle. If any new damages occur, they can be addressed at this time.

Verify your insurance coverage.

Inquire about your auto transport carrier’s insurance liability coverage prior to shipping, which each and every carrier should already have. Your chosen St Joseph car hauler should have insurance included in the cost of transporting your vehicle that addresses damages. 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. Also, you can check with your own insurance policy to see if it covers damages that can occur during the shipping process.

Choosing the Best Auto Transport Carrier in St Joseph

In order to make certain you’re getting the best service from your St Joseph car carrier you can always do a bit of research on their history first. First, only do business with an auto hauler who is licensed, bonded and insured. You can find out more about the company by getting their MC number or USDOT number. You can use these numbers to look up reports on their services with the BBB. You can also look over the company’s terms and conditions to get a much better idea of the type of service you’re getting. A small bit of investigation as to overall auto transport process goes a long way as well.

Understanding the Difference Between Enclosed Transport and Open Transport Solutions in St Joseph

Going with a St Joseph auto transport service you’ll be able to ship your vehicle just about any place in the country, and you’ll also be able to pick how your vehicle is shipped. You’ll have the alternative to choose between an open-air carrier or an enclosed trailer, both of which are typically transported via a tractor trailer rig. While both methods use a truck for transport, they do have their distinctions.

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. Open air auto carriers will feature two rows of cars, one on top and one on bottom, and are generally around 75 feet in length. There are no sides and no roof on the trailer, so the vehicles are exposed to the elements at all times.

Selecting The Ideal Auto Transport Service in St Joseph

Always take into account how much safety and security your vehicle or vehicles will need during the transport process. Using an open transport is suitable, and almost always less costly, 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 vehicles that are specifically kept in secured conditions would benefit the most from an enclosed shipping method. When first browsing auto transport companies in St Joseph you should get various quotes on the price of the transport. This way you’ll understand the general rates, but the cheapest is not always the ideal choice. Do a little bit of research 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 properly and securely to its final location.