Vehicle Shipping in Stephens City VA

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Unlike other vehicle shipping companies in Stephens 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.

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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 Stephens City, VA.

Are you on the hunt for reliable auto transport services in Stephens City? In this article we’ll give you an overview of the auto shipping industry, how it operates and how to make the best decision. A little research will go a long way in having the best auto transport experience possible and make sure your automobile makes it from one place to another properly. For the most part, auto shippers will provide “door-to-door” services, which means they’ll pick it up at your location and take it to another of your choosing. When deciding on an auto carrier service, it’s essential to first know the distinction between an auto transport brokerage and an auto hauler. In short, a broker will search out the best carrier for your particular auto shipping requirements, while the carrier is the actual person supplying the truck. At times a company acts as both a broker and a carrier, but you can find out more information in the following paragraphs.

Stephens City Auto Brokers vs. Car Carriers

Selecting an auto transport company involves some due diligence and understanding how the business works before making a decision. It may seem like a challenging process, but we’ll help make it less complicated for everyone. This article will cover the basics and the role that shippers, carriers, and brokers play in the process of hauling a vehicle.

How an Auto Transport Broker Sets Up Transportation Options

A person or group acting as an auto transport broker won’t own the fleet of trucks used for shipping. A broker acts as an intermediary who will find the very best auto carrier depending on routes, your location and the kind of service you require. Brokers actually have an established community of shippers who have routes that run all over the country, which will offer the customer more possibilities and a far better chance to find the ideal one for them. If you work directly with an auto transport carrier, they may not currently have the required equipment when you need it, or may not have licensing in all the states necessary to relocate your vehicle where it needs to go. Basically, a broker does the leg work of obtaining a carrier that meets these set of guidelines and can sometimes get a more competitive price by creating competition between carriers on behalf of the shipper.

Locating a Car Carrier in Stephens City

A vehicle hauling carrier is usually a double deck truck that can load up to ten automobiles at a time. These vehicles are driven by certified CDL drivers who are qualified and licensed to haul automobiles. The driver may be the owner of the auto transport truck who decides on their routes to provide the most productive service. These drivers are the ones who are considered auto carriers and will be responsible for picking up and delivering your car or truck. Some bigger carrier companies are authorized brokers as well which gives them the opportunity to broker out your order to another carrier. This means that even when you think you are working with a carrier in some instances you go through a broker service. Most of the time when customers deals directly with a company, rather than an intermediary, they believe they’ll be obtaining a better price, but that’s not necessarily true with Stephens City auto transport. A broker shops multiple auto transporters and is already established to contact all these vendors, so they’ll already know the ideal option for your auto transport needs.

Preparing Your Vehicle to be Shipped

Take any personal items out of your vehicle.

Auto shippers in Stephens City are prohibited by the Department of Transportation to move anything that would be considered a “household good”. This includes things like personal GPS devices, external DVD players, DVDs, CDs or any typical household item that you’ve stored in your vehicle. It’s advised to remove these items from your vehicle prior to pickup to reduce any delays.

Do not overfill your gas tank.

Be certain to maintain around a quarter tank of gas in your vehicle prior to transporting it. Your Stephens City auto carrier will most likely have to drive the vehicle on and off the truck during the shipping process, and since it will be at a sharp angle it’s a good idea to keep at least a quarter tank of gas in it. But, you don’t want to overfill your tank or leave your car with a full tank of gas during transporting. If your fuel tank is full, it will end up placing a substantial amount of weight to your vehicle, which could cause problems.

Record any body damage on your vehicle

When using a Stephens City car hauler you should always perform a swift examination of your vehicle’s condition before it gets loaded on the trailer. The best way to do this is by washing 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 accurately determine if any new damage happened during the shipping process. It’s ideal to record the condition of your car by merely taking pictures of it on your cell phone as proof, just in case there are any problems during transporting it.

Understanding your Bill of Lading.

When the Stephens City car carrier comes to pick up your car you will be given a Bill of Lading. This Bill of Lading consists of 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 evaluation of the vehicle at this time to record any damages that are on the body. So the consumer and driver can come to an agreement as to the vehicle’s condition, and that way there won’t be any misunderstandings once the vehicle is delivered. An additional Bill of Lading will be given to the customer once the car arrives at its destination, which will verify the condition of the vehicle matches what it was when it was picked up. Any new harm that may have occurred throughout the transport process, although rare, can be identified easier this way.

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 Stephens City companies should already have liability coverage built into their services, which typically covers anywhere from ,000 to 0,000 worth of damages. The client won’t have to shell out extra for this insurance, since it should already be built into the auto hauler’s charges. Generally, this is enough to cover any issues that could occur during the transportation process, but it’s a good idea to check with your insurance company as well.

Choosing the Best Auto Transport Carrier in Stephens City

You can find out quite a bit about the auto transporter you’re thinking of using by carrying out some online research. There are tons of auto transporters in Stephens City to choose from, so how do you know which one is the best? The first thing you’ll want to do is obtain the company’s MC number or USDOT number. 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. This way you’ll have a basic knowledge about how auto transporting operates.

Difference Between Open Transport & Enclosed Carriers in Stephens City

The motor vehicles moved with open auto transport carriers are not safeguarded from weather elements like rain, sun, hail and snow, and from dust and even birds. If you’re looking for this type of car carrier transport, you need to be aware that your vehicle will be exposed to all those elements. An enclosed auto transport carrier is a great car shipping option you can use especially if you will transport a classic or custom car. It is the opposite of an open car carrier shipping service. An enclosed carrier is just as it sounds, which means your vehicle will moved in an enclosed environment and safe from the outside. Enclosed carriers generally can only carry a few vehicles at the same. In the majority of cases up to five cars.

Deciding on The Best Auto Transport Service in Stephens City

It’s a good practice to consider what type of safety your vehicle will require while being shipped across the country. If you’re simply shipping a standard or older vehicle, then open-transport options are probably okay for you. Antique, classic cars and collector’s motor vehicles that are specifically kept in safeguarded conditions would benefit the most from an enclosed shipping solution. When first browsing auto transport companies in Stephens City you should get several quotes on the price of the transport. This way you’ll know the general prices, but the lowest priced is not always the best choice. By performing some study on the auto transport industry and the companies you’re planning on dealing with, you can make sure you’re getting the greatest deal. That way, you’re guaranteeing your vehicle is shipped safely and makes it to its location with ease.