The process of transporting vehicles is actually quite simple. If you will be using a service to transport your vehicle from one point to another for any reason, you will want to know more about how transporting vehicles works. Once you have done your comparison shopping car transportation begins with making your reservation.

Make your reservation.  You will need information on the vehicle, the origin, the destination, the people who will be there to account for the vehicle, the dates you want to reserve, and a payment method to make the deposit. Payment options will vary from company to company.

Get the car ready for transport.  You will need to clean out the car on the inside and wash the outside so the inspections are easier to conduct. Remove all personal belongings—except those approved to be secured in the trunk. Retract the antenna or remove it. Remove GPS systems and satellite radios. Disable alarms, and remove luggage racks. Make sure the car only has between 1/8 and ¼ tank of fuel. Ask the specific auto carrier if there are any other requirements you need to follow to get your car ready.

Have someone meet the delivery truck at the origin to pick up the vehicle.  This person will need to be designated beforehand with the company if you are not available. This person will be there to assist the driver with the pickup, and sign off on any required paperwork.

Provide a set of keys to the driver to ensure they can load and unload the vehicle.  These are necessary to operate the vehicle while it is not being transported and are required of all transport companies. The keys will be returned when the car reaches its destination and are only used to load and unload the vehicle from the trailer.

Provide contact phone numbers for the driver and company so you can be reached throughout transporting vehicles.   The company will need several different ways to contact you so you can track the progress of your vehicle throughout the trip. This contact information is also needed in case something happens during transport that could cause delays or allow the vehicle to arrive earlier than planned.

Have someone meet the delivery truck and the destination to be there when the vehicle arrives to inspect it and sign off on its safe delivery.  As with the person who is there for vehicle pickup, this person is to assist the driver with the delivery of the vehicle to ensure it is delivered in the same condition it left in and to sign off on paperwork to show the job is complete. If payment is due at this point, this person will need to make it.

Now that you know the steps in the process of transporting vehicles, you will know exactly what to expect. Knowing what to expect will help you be completely aware of what’s going on while your car is being moved where it needs to go.

Did you know auto transport services are a wonderful and cost effective way to take care of your vehicle while moving it a long distance to save money on fuel and wear and tear on the vehicle? If you’re moving across the country, a vehicle collector, or a vehicle dealer, using auto transport services is a good idea to preserve the vehicle. If you have more than one vehicle you need to get moved from one place to another, you may be able to find a company offering a multiple car discount to help save money.

Auto transport services are available in either open or closed transport. In most cases, open transport suites the needs of the average consumer. Closed transport is available to protect the vehicle from the elements, and is usually used by car collectors. If you decided to use closed transport, you can expect to pay nearly double what you would for open transport. Both are insured against damages. Each company offers enough insurance to completely replace your vehicle, up to $750,000. This is to protect you as the consumer, the company, and the vehicle being transported.

Once you take time to consider the cost of fuel to drive the car to its destination, plus the cost of lodging and food necessary to care for the driver, in addition to any lost wages due to having to take time away from work to drive the car—it’s much more expensive to do the auto transport yourself than it is to hire an auto transport service. The further in advance you plan, the better deal you can find when it comes to a quote you can afford with a vehicle shipping service. In shopping around, you will be able to find the best deal possible to save you the most money.

Many different kinds of vehicles can be shipped with auto transport, including: Cars, Trucks, Motorcycles, ATV’s, Recreational Vehicles, Antique Cars, Custom Cars, Heavy Machinery and Boats. The price will vary on many different factors including the origin of the vehicle, the destination of the vehicle, the type of vehicle you are transporting, along with the time line you are working with. The agent with the auto transport company will be able to help you find out what you need to do in order to properly ship your vehicle.

In many cases, you should not ship any personal belongings in your vehicle. These could get jarred during the transport and cause issues for the driver and the vehicle. Personal belongings are not insured, unless they are less than 100 pounds in weight, and properly secured in the trunk. The cargo is insured up to $125,000.

To prepare a vehicle for auto transport, you’ll want to ensure it is in running condition, clean on the inside and out, and prepared with all fluids such as oil and coolant. Remove all GPS systems and stereo systems that are not part of the vehicle. Provide a set of keys to the auto carriers to assist with loading and unloading your vehicle when it is picked up and dropped off. This will add around 5 miles to your vehicle in most cases.

Planning on using an auto shipping service to ship your vehicle soon? Here’s what you need to know before you choose between auto shippers to send your car.

Take time to shop around and research.  There are many different vehicle transportation companies to choose from, so a considerable amount of time should be spent contacting various companies for information and finding out about them. The more time you spend finding out about the different companies out there, the more educated your buying decision will be, and you will be able to choose the best company for your needs. Part of this research lies in finding out how long the vehicle transport will take. Some companies will be able to pick up and deliver the car sooner than others, so it will depend a lot on your time line.

Consider your payment options.  The payment options you have will vary from company to company, which is another reason why you should shop around to get the best deal you can. Enclosed shipping rates will cost almost double of regular open transport. Getting several different rate quotes will help you decide which company to use. Most companies require a deposit of some sort to secure your reservation. Some companies will allow this deposit to be refunded within a certain amount of time should you decide not to use a vehicle transport service. This policy will vary from company to company, so you’ll want to check on it with your specific company.

Look at the reputation of the company.  Consider asking for testimonials, and looking at the Better Business Bureau records to see what other people think of the company. If you see too many people who have had issues with transporting vehicles, you should probably move to the next company. If you give a company with a bad rep a chance because their the lowest cost option available, you may take a big chance with your vehicle. If a company is unwilling to provide references or testimonials, this is a sign you should move to another, because they are hiding something. A company with a good rep has no problem providing references to potential customers.

Consider their licensing and insurance.  Licensing and insurance is a very important aspect of auto shippers. This should be considered before price, because if the business is not properly licensed and insured, you should move on to another one. This will protect your vehicle against all damages and other issues that may arise—though most companies do not have to use their insurance often because they take care of all vehicles.

Remember, you get what you pay for. The cheapest doesn’t always mean best. Finding the right auto shippers for you involves finding a balance between price, reputation, insurance, and timing. Not all companies are created equally and just because a car transport company exists doesn’t mean it’s the one you should use. If you don’t take the time to comparison shop, you may find yourself with some negative issues at hand later on.

When it comes to using an auto shipping service to ship your vehicle, there are many different choices and options to consider. Here’s what you’ll need to look for when you are trying to choose an auto shipping company that will best suite your needs.

Budget:  Each auto shipping company will be able to provide you with a quote. If you’re not happy with the quote, ask what impacts the pricing and see if there are any adjustments you can make to your needs to reduce the quote. If not, move on to another company until you find one that can fit in your budget. If you find that no one can meet your budget needs, you may need to go back to the drawing board to get a better look at your options to see what you can change around to make something fit your budget, or see what you can do to increase your budget.

Open and Closed Transport:  Most of the time, open transport is all you need. If you want to protect your vehicle from the elements for any reason though, you’ll need to use the enclosed option. It is important to note this option will nearly double the total cost of transporting your vehicle.

Time Line:  Can the company you choose get your vehicle there within the time you expect? What is their record like? Are your time expectations reasonable? Consider how far the vehicle must travel, and how far in advance you are making the reservation. If you need to save a bit more cash, move the dates around so they are further in advance, if you can possibly do so. Plan ahead to ensure a company can meet your needs, considering that most destinations require a 5 business day travel time.

Insurance:  Most reputable auto shipping companies will be insured to the hilt against all damages, and even insure the cargo you carry in the trunk of the vehicle. This is the best way to use car transport because no matter what happens, your investment is protected. Make sure the company you are considering working with is insured and if not, move on to another option without a second thought. If you do not, you may regret it, especially if something happens to your vehicle and causes damage.

Their Requirements:  Make sure you are fully aware of anything the auto shipping company requires of you and the person receiving the vehicle before you book the reservation. Many companies will have the same requirements, but assuming all of the requirements are the same could lead to some unnecessary trouble for you later on. Make sure your car is ready to be shipped to save yourself some hassle, too.

When choosing an auto shipping company, you will want to take time to shop around. Most importantly, make sure you can get the information you need in enough time to book your reservation with the company you choose in plenty of time to ensure you get the best rate.