Car Transportation in Athens OH

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The auto transport market offers a practical way to move your vehicles across long distances for a relatively low rate. Rather than trying to transport multiple vehicles on your own, you can simply employ a company to deal with the job quickly and safely. If you’re not acquainted with the auto carriers in Athens, then the procedure might seem complicated at first. In this article we’ll review the options and facts that will help prepare you find the perfect auto transport carrier in Athens. Most car haulers will carry anywhere in America, from Alaska to Hawaii, and offer you a variety of carrier choices. Usually you’ll have the choice of whether to ship your car in an enclosed or open manner. But first, we’ll explain the difference between an auto transport broker and an actual carrier who moves the vehicles.

Athens Auto Brokers vs. Car Carriers

Hiring an auto transport company requires 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 specific information. We’ll cover the fundamentals of auto shipping as well as the role that car carriers and auto brokers play in providing clients with transport services.

How an Auto Transport Broker Sets Up Transportation Solutions

Auto transport brokers don’t have their own transport carriers and typically are not the companies that will transport vehicles. A broker acts as an intermediary who will find the very best auto carrier depending on routes, your location and the type of service you require. The advantage of using a broker as opposed to 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 correct licensing to transport through the states needed to get your vehicle where it needs to go. Essentially, a broker does the leg work of obtaining a carrier that meets these requirements and can sometimes get a more competitive price by creating competition between carriers on behalf of the shipper.

Auto Carriers and How They Work in Athens

An auto carrier, as opposed to a broker, is the person or company that owns the moving trucks and will be responsible for transporting your vehicle. Dealing directly with a car carrier will not require a broker, but it may be tough to find the best carrier since many of them depend on brokers to connect them with customers. A consumer would be responsible for locating and dealing with the Athens auto transporter, or a number of of them if you are shopping around. In this case, the customer assumes the role of the broker and deals with the auto transport directly. Not every auto shipper will automatically be able to handle your auto transport needs, as they require licensing to travel through each state and may not be able to reach your destination based on the states they must go through. A carrier can be a one-man company with one or two trucks, or a big auto transport company with numerous trucks.

Steps to Take Before Transporting Your Vehicle

Take any personal items out of your vehicle.

No auto shipper is authorized to transport any object that would be categorized as “household goods”, as per Department of Transportation Code. This means auto transport in Athens will not be allowed to ship vehicles with your personal objects inside of them. Some good examples of household goods that might be in your vehicle are DVD players, GPS systems or car seats.

Don’t overfill your gas tank.

When employing a Athens 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 car 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 keep your gasoline level too low. On the other hand, you don’t want to fill your gas tank an excessive amount either. A car with a full tank of gas will weigh significantly more than one with only a quarter tank full, which could complicate the auto transport process.

Take pictures of any existing damages on your car.

In order to document the condition of your vehicle prior to turning it over to a Athens auto carrier, it’s a good plan to take pictures of any scratches, dents, dings or other damage existing before to shipping. The best way to do this is by thoroughly washing your car first so it will be simpler to identify any dents or damage. Then, take pictures using your phone or camera to record the condition of your car, even if its body doesn’t have any problems. Using this method you have records of its condition in the event any incidents occur during the auto transport process.

Understanding your Bill of Lading.

When the Athens auto transport arrives to begin the shipping procedure, you and the driver of the carrier can do an evaluation of your vehicle’s condition. During this time you can identify any dents, dings or scratches already on your vehicle’s body. When you’re satisfied with the assessment, you’ll be presented with what’s called a Bill of Lading. This document simply acknowledges that the auto carrier is taking temporary control of your vehicle. It also confirms the condition of your vehicle, so both the customer and auto transporter can agree on any existing damage. 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 guarantees that both the customer and auto carrier are in agreement on the condition of the vehicle.

Understand your insurance coverage.

Your insurance company may have protection built into your policy that provides for damages that may happen in the auto hauling process. Auto transport Athens companies should already have liability coverage built into their services, which typically covers anywhere from ,000 to 0,000 worth of damages. The customer won’t have to spend extra for this insurance, since it should already be built into the auto hauler’s charges. Generally, this is enough to cover any problems that could occur during the transportation process, but it’s a good idea to check with your insurance company as well.

How to Find the Best Auto Hauler in Athens

There are several ways you can ensure you’re getting the absolute best service from your selected Athens 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. You can use these numbers to look up reports on their solutions with the BBB. 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. This way you’ll be able to make the most knowledgeable decision possible.

Athens Transport Options: Open vs. Enclosed Trucks

Most people think the open transport auto carrier option is the generally the cheapest. This option can be compared to economy class on a flight. It’s the most frequent way for people to take a flight. The very same can be said about 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 affordable way possible. Transporting your vehicle by using an open carrier is the most economical way of transportation, rather than using a single flatbed truck only relocating one car or truck at a time.

Deciding on The Right Auto Transport Service in Athens

In order to choose the right auto transport method for your vehicle, consider how much protection your car 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 motor vehicle that you use every day for common driving needs, then an open trailer would probably be a good fit for you. A good game plan is to get numerous quotes from car shipping carriers or brokers, that way you know you’re getting the most equitable rates. Simply put a little time towards looking into the auto shipping process and the car carrier in Athens that you’re planning to do business with, that way you know all your bases are covered.