888-654-1785
Call For A Quote

Vehicle Shipping in Ellwood City PA

transportation checkboxesAnswers 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.

transportation checkboxes

Affordable Prices
Competitive pricing with no hidden fees

Unlike other vehicle shipping companies in Ellwood City, 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.

transportation checkboxes

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 Ellwood City, PA.

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

picture of auto transporter in Ellwood City, PA

Transporting a car or truck is not a very complex practice, though it may seem that way from the outside, especially if you’ve hardly ever done it before. Shipping a car, truck, motorcycle, or any other type of vehicle is just a matter of obtaining the proper information and getting in touch with the perfect people, which is this case is an auto transport company in Ellwood City. Often times when you reach out to a transport firm you’ll be speaking with what’s called an auto transport broker, rather then the auto carrier themselves. They both provide 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 shipping your vehicle, the process is essentially the same. The main information you’ll need prior to shipping is your vehicle’s make, model and year. It’s also essential to have a general timeframe in mind if you’ll need your vehicle transported by a certain date. First, as a customer you should know the difference between an auto carrier broker and the actual shipping business that owns the trucks.

What is an Auto Broker in Ellwood City?

First of all, every customer should understand what it means to be an auto transport broker versus a carrier. Before choosing between an auto broker and an auto transport company in Ellwood City it’s important to have a decent understanding of the differences between the two, as well as how the market works. The procedure is much less complicated than you may think, and we’ll provide all the details you need to make an educated decision.

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 move vehicles. Brokers assist in auto transportation by hooking up customers, referred to as “shippers”, with the carriers that offer the specific services requested. Brokers actually have an established community of shippers who have routes that run all over the country, which will give the customer more choices and a better chance to find the ideal one for them. If you deal directly with an auto transport carrier, they may not possess the required equipment when you need it, or may not have licensing in all the states needed to move your vehicle where it needs to go. In short, a broker does the job of getting in contact with carriers in order to locate the one who offers the best rates and appropriate service, which means you might get a better rate since it will increase competition.

Finding a Car Carrier in Ellwood City

Going with a Ellwood City auto carrier implies the customer will be dealing directly with the person or company that owns the truck that will be transporting your vehicle. With a few conditions, most auto transport carriers only serve a limited number of routes. They do not divert too far from their designated routes because this would mean slower service to all customers and even higher rates. It doesn’t necessarily mean you’ll be paying less when working directly with a Ellwood City auto carrier either. All services cost money, particularly with auto shipping due to changing fuel prices, so there isn’t a whole lot of wiggle room in many cases. Dealing with an auto carrier directly might not change the rate you pay over going with a broker, since the broker has a wide range of carriers that they can contact for the best rates and routes. Auto carriers aren’t always easy to locate and contact, since many times they depend on brokers to connect them with consumers.

Steps to Take Before Transporting Your Car

Make sure all personal items are removed from your vehicle.

No car hauler in Ellwood City is allowed to transport household goods, as per restrictions put forth by the Department of Transportation. This consists of common items you might have in your car such as clothing, car seats or external GPS systems. It’s encouraged to remove these items from your vehicle prior to pickup to avoid any delays.

Leave your gas tank a quarter of the ways full.

Ahead of shipping your vehicle with a Ellwood City car hauler you should make certain to leave at least a quarter of a tank of gas in your tank. The shipping process will demand a small amount of driving, generally only in the loading and unloading process, so some gas will be necessary. You don’t want to have a maximum tank of fuel either, however, as that can add extra weight to the trailer and complicate the process.

Take photos of any existing damages on your car.

In order to better discover any scuff marks or dents on your vehicle it’s a good idea to clean it before inspecting the body. You’ll want to do a detailed inspection of your vehicle’s body before shipping to make sure you’re aware of any existing damages. It’s very easy to document them by taking photos, which will also prove the condition of your vehicle in the case that damage does occur during the transporting process.

Find out what’s in your Bill of Lading.

When the Ellwood City auto transport arrives to begin the shipping procedure, you and the driver of the carrier can do an examination of your vehicle’s condition. During this time you can identify any dents, dings or scratches already on your vehicle’s body. Once that process is complete, the customer will be given a Bill of Lading. This document simply acknowledges that the auto carrier is taking temporary control of your vehicle. It will also ensure 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 new bill will outline if any new damages have taken place during the shipping process. So this process essentially safeguards both the customer and the auto carrier so that there will be no confusion upon delivery.

Your vehicle should be insured against damages.

Each time you do business with a Ellwood City auto hauler you should check to make certain they have their own liability insurance. Your chosen auto transport service should already have liability insurance built into their services and their prices. The average liability coverage ranges between ,000 and 0,000 in coverage, which would be sufficient for the vast majority of issues that could occur. This coverage is usually provided by a third-party insurer employed by the auto transport service.

Getting the Best Auto Transport Service in Ellwood City

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 Ellwood City 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. You can also look up their services on the Better Business Bureau’s website to find out what people are saying 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 investigation you’ll make sure you’re getting the best deal and service around.

Ellwood City Transport Options: Open vs. Enclosed Trailers

Most people think the open transport auto carrier solution 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. This same concept can apply to deciding on an open transport. Over 4,000 open auto carriers ship cars throughout the country. Even car dealerships contract a transport firm to send a car the most cost effective way possible. Open carriers will be more inexpensive than just moving one vehicle by itself using flatbed shipping, for example.

Choosing The Ideal Auto Transport Service in Ellwood City

Prior to deciding on whether you utilize an open trailer or enclosed trailer, first think about how much safety your car really needs. If it is an antique or collector’s car, you’ll probably want to err on the side of caution and utilize a fully-enclosed trailer to move your vehicle. However, if you’re simply transporting an average car that you use every day for common driving needs, then an open trailer would likely be a good fit for you. A good game plan is to get multiple quotes from car shipping carriers or brokers, that way you know you’re receiving the most fair rates. By putting in a bit of time to research the Ellwood City auto transport company, the process being auto transporting and the rates included in your service you can make certain you’re not only getting the very best deal, but also the perfect service.