Car Transportation in Livingston MT

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 Livingston, 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 Livingston, MT.

The car shipping market can seem intimidating at first, but by doing a tiny bit of investigation you can make the most effective selection possible for shipping your car or truck. Transporting a car, truck, motorcycle, or any other type of vehicle is just a matter of discovering the proper information and calling the appropriate people, which is this case is an auto transport company in Livingston. Sometimes, you’ll end up contacting what’s called a broker rather than an actual auto carrier. They both offer you the same solutions, which is to facilitate the moving of your vehicle, but a broker simply arranges the transport while a carrier essentially supplies the transportation. No matter where in the country you’re transporting your vehicle, the process is fundamentally the same. You’ll want to ensure you have your vehicle’s info handy, such as the make, model and year, as well as the exact location you wish to ship it to. It’s also important to have a general time schedule in mind if you’ll need your vehicle transported by a certain date. First, as a consumer you should know the difference between an auto carrier broker and the actual shipping company that is the owner of the trucks.

What is the Distinction Between Auto Carriers and Brokers in Livingston?

When looking for car transport and car shipping companies in Livingston, there are basically two different options you can choose to book with: a broker, and a carrier. The main difference is that a broker does not own their trucks that will be used to carry your vehicle from one point to another. The broker will find the best trucking service for you depending on where you are and where your vehicle needs to go. A carrier, on the other hand, actually owns their trucks and they send one of their trucks to pick up your vehicle.

Auto Transport Brokers and How They Interact With Consumers

Auto transport brokers don’t have their own transport carriers and generally are not the companies that will transport vehicles. A broker acts as an intermediary who will find the best auto carrier based upon on routes, your location and the variety of service you require. The advantage of using a broker rather than a carrier is that you have more options because of their existing network of auto carriers. Dealing with a single carrier means they may not run the route you require, have the necessary equipment or the proper licensing to transport through the states needed to get your vehicle where it needs to go. Basically, a broker does the leg work of locating a carrier that meets these conditions and can sometimes get a more competitive rate by creating competition between carriers on behalf of the shipper.

Selecting a Qualified Car Carrier

When you choose to seek out a Livingston auto carrier you’ll be interacting with the company who actually owns the truck used for transporting automobiles. With a few conditions, most auto transport carriers only serve a minimal number of routes. They do not divert too far from their designated routes because this would mean sluggish service to all customers and even higher rates. It doesn’t necessarily mean you’ll be spending less when working directly with a Livingston auto carrier either. A service costs what it costs. Whether that is time, equipment and effort to drive or to find and deal with clients, it all costs money. An auto transport broker will already be set up to get in touch with multiple transporters in order to find the best price and most efficient performance for the customer, so working directly with an auto carrier may not make a huge difference for the better in price or service. Auto carriers aren’t always easy to locate and contact, since many times they count on brokers to connect them with customers.

Guidelines for Shipping Your Car

Remove all household goods you’re your vehicle.

No car hauler in Livingston is permitted to transport household goods, as per rules put forth by the Department of Transportation. This includes common things you might have in your car such as clothing, car seats or external GPS systems. It’s advised to clear away these items from your vehicle prior to pickup to prevent any delays.

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

When using a Livingston auto transport company you should keep an eye on your gas gauge prior to the time of shipping. It’s suggested to leave about a quarter of a tank in your vehicle just to be on the safe side. The vehicle will need to be driven briefly so that it can be loaded on and off the auto shipping trailer. Alternatively, you don’t want to ship your car with a full tank of gas either. A car with a full tank of gas will weigh significantly more than one with simply a quarter tank full, which could present difficulties with the auto transport process.

Before shipping your car, always check it for damages.

In order to better discover any scuff marks or dings on your vehicle it’s a good idea to rinse it before inspecting the body. This will allow you to clearly see if there are any dents, dings or scratches that are already present on your vehicle’s body, which means you won’t erroneously believe the damage took place during shipping. It’s very easy to document them by taking photos, which will also prove the condition of your car in the case that damage does occur during the transporting process.

Find out what’s in your Bill of Lading.

You will be given a Bill of Lading when your selected Livingston auto transport arrives and starts the process of loading your vehicle on their truck. This contract is an acknowledgment form that proves the auto carrier is picking up your vehicle for transport. The Bill of Lading also records any damage that was already existing on your vehicle. The driver and client can do an inspection together so that they agree on the car’s present condition. This way, both parties recognize existing damage and can compare that report to a subsequent examination after the vehicle is delivered to its final location. When your current motor 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.

Your motor vehicle should be insured against damages.

It’s a wise course of action to question your auto hauler about their company’s liability insurance coverage in the event your car is damaged during the shipping process. Any Livingston car hauler should already have liability insurance, which is incorporated into the total cost of your shipping. The overall insurance coverage typically ranges between ,000 and 0,000. Auto shippers will employ 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.

Make Sure You Choose the Right Car Shipping Firm in Livingston

There are several ways you can ensure you’re getting the absolute greatest service from your selected Livingston car carrier. You should only use an auto transport service that is licensed, bonded and insured. The client can also use the auto transporter’s MC number or USDOT number. These numbers can then be used to look up the company’s record with the Better Business Bureau. It’s also a good idea to quickly evaluate the terms and conditions of the service contract so that you have a general idea of what in entails. A little bit of research as to overall auto transport process goes a long way as well.

Difference Between Livingston Auto Transports and Enclosed Vehicle Carriers

Most people think the open transport auto carrier solution is the always the cheapest. This option can be compared to economy class on a flight. It’s the most well-known way for people to take a flight. This same exact concept can apply to deciding on an open transport. Approximately 4,000 open auto carriers are traveling all through the country and are available for service. Even car dealerships contract a transport company to send a car the most cost effective way possible. Open carriers will be more economical than just moving one vehicle by itself using flatbed shipping, for example.

Deciding on The Right Auto Transport Service in Livingston

In order to choose the right auto transport method for your vehicle, take into account how much security your car will require. If it is an antique or collector’s car, you’ll likely want to err on the side of caution and use a fully-enclosed trailer to move your vehicle. However, if you’re simply transporting an average vehicle that you use every day for typical driving needs, then an open trailer would likely be a good fit for you. A good game plan is to get many quotes from car shipping carriers or brokers, that way you know you’re getting the most fair rates. Merely put a little time towards studying the auto shipping process and the car carrier in Livingston that you’re considering to do business with, that way you know all your bases are covered.