Auto Transport Carriers Near Me

1. Car shipping myths
2. DIY auto transport is easier
3. It’s going to cost you a whole lot
4. You can’t ship inoperable vehicles
5. Distance determines cost
6. It’s a hassle
7. You can ship things with your car
8. Auto Transport Brokers vs Auto Transport Carriers
9. Are Auto Transport Brokers necessary?
10. Auto Transport Carriers with A1 Auto Transport
11. Types of services offered
12. Terminal locations
13. Experience and Customer Reviews
14. Insurance
15. Payment Methods
16. Policies
17. Auto shipping quotes
18. How auto shipping works
19. Prepping for auto transport

Finding the right auto transport carrier is all about knowing your options and applying your needs to them. Start with the auto transport carriers nearest to you, and expand your search as needed to suit your needs.

A1 Auto Transport has a long list of auto carriers spanning the entire country, offering various services both domestically and internationally. Use our Directory of carriers to help you find the best auto transport carriers near you.

Find out why car shipping companies are important, and how you can choose the best auto carrier company:

6 Car shipping myths

A lot of people are hesitant about car shipping. Some feel like it’s not a necessary service and they can do it themselves. For others, there are a lot of misconceptions or myths that turn them off.

Let’s put an end to these myths once and for all, so you can feel comfortable with and understand auto transport services:

DIY auto transport is easier

This could not be farther from the truth. Think about how you feel about driving an hour away sometimes, and apply that to going to another state or across the country.

It can be tiring, and you don’t want to be exhausted in the middle of nowhere with a hundred miles to go. You’ll need to make stops on the way too, like when you need to use the bathroom, eat or take a nap. Unless you plan to make a road trip out of it with some company, you’ll get bored by your third hour of listening to music and seeing nothing stimulating along the way.

The training and experience of these drivers have made traveling long distances less tedious. They’re also experts at maximizing efficiency and are guaranteed to get the transport done faster than you ever could.

It’s going to cost you a whole lot

We won’t hold you on this one, auto transport does require shelling out a few hundred dollars. But, that’s because a lot of things go into making it possible. And, it’s nowhere as expensive as the risk you take when trying to do it yourself.

Your auto transport fees not only cover the work of the driver, but also fuel costs, maintenance, lodging, mileage, and any special services you may require for your vehicle.

It’s important to work with a company that is both affordable and reliable so you get value for your money. Use online quote tools to find the most competitive rates from auto transport carriers near you.

You can’t ship inoperable vehicles

If you have an inoperable car, like a project car, classic vehicle, or something you haven’t found the time to bring to a shop, you can most certainly ship it with an auto carrier. These types of cars do not have to be towed and can be lifted onto the carrier for transport.

Many companies will accommodate these needs once you specify, and you don’t have to leave your car behind just because it won’t run.

Distance determines cost

This is true to some extent, but distance is not the primary factor that influences the cost. There are other factors which play an important role like the time of the year, the type of vehicle, the method of transport and how soon you need it to be transported.

On less-traveled routes, or in remote areas, you can also find that costs will vary versus transport to a popular terminal.

Speak to a representative from your auto transport company of choice to learn how your auto transport fees are determined, and how you can make transport as cost-effective as possible.

Some companies offer special discounts for traveling across the country, especially for military personnel, students, and senior citizens. Find out about special discounts you can get with A1 Auto Transport.

It’s a hassle

It’s only going to be a hassle if you work with a bad car transport company. Reputable and competent carriers exist within the auto transport industry, and it isn’t always a run around to get things done.

If you work with companies with exemplary service reports, and notable experience in the business, you’ll likely never face these supposed problems. At A1 Auto Transport, the staff is properly trained to deal with a wide array of customer problems, and lend advice on the best possible solutions. We follow up with our customers and maintain an open line of communication to provide reassurance on progress to ensure an overall stress-free experience.

You can ship things with your car

Being able to send off your car with household goods and other items to your new home or business may sound great and all, but that is an entirely different service. Auto transport carriers are responsible for bringing vehicles, and the carriers are designed in such a way that they can only support a certain amount of weight. This is why bigger, heavier vehicles cost more to ship.

Now imagine if everyone on the carrier decides to load up their trunks and the inside of their vehicles with stuff. It may mean that the carrier will have to transport fewer vehicles at a time or burn more fuel. Auto transport companies also don’t allow this for security reasons and require your vehicle to be completely empty before shipping.

If you are interested in moving services, find out if this service is offered by your vehicle transport company.

In some instances, you may be allowed to ship your car with personal belongings, like say when transporting a car to another country. You can only do this when shipping in a shipping container, and you will have to pay more money to do so than you would when shipping a car alone, especially open-air.

Auto Transport Brokers vs Auto Transport Carriers

In the auto transport industry, there are usually two different types of companies involved in transport.

The first is the Auto Transport Brokers. These companies act as a middleman between the customer and the actual truck driver companies. They find the best fit between the two and facilitate the initial stages of the transport process. This includes finding the best rates, among the most suitable companies for special transport needs and other factors.

The second is the Auto Transport Carriers. They’re the ones who own the trucks, have the drivers, and do the physical aspect of vehicle transport. Auto transport carriers are also required by law to have specific licenses to operate and transport.

Are Auto Transport Brokers necessary?

Some customers may wish to eliminate the middleman, i.e the auto transport broker, and work directly with carriers to avoid paying broker fees. In some instances, this may be possible, but in many cases, brokers are still necessary. The reason for this is that a lot of carrier companies only have a few trucks and cannot handle certain requests. Brokers match customers with the right carrier from their network of companies and can handle a large volume of requests. They can also help customers find the best prices and quality of service through comparison.

You may also find companies that are both brokers and carriers, that will outsource work to other carriers when they reach capacity.

Auto Transport Carriers with A1 Auto Transport

A1 Auto Transport is an auto transport referral website with a huge network of carriers to help facilitate the best car shipping services for our valued customers.

Finding the right auto transport carrier for your car means doing a bit of research. We only recommend the best, but not all companies will be the right fit.

Here’s what you should look out for when choosing an auto transport carrier:

Types of services offered

Most auto carriers will offer basic open-air shipping to and from their terminals. This is dependent on the size of the company and the number/types of trucks available.

Enclosed auto shipping is not always guaranteed, so be sure to inquire about this service. The same is true for door-to-door, especially in remote locations.

If you require special services such as expedited service, find out beforehand if the carrier has the capacity or is willing to do so. You must also ask about special services for luxury, classic and sports cars, and if the company can transport inoperable vehicles.

Terminal locations

Though A1 Transport may be able to facilitate transport services from anywhere in the U.S, it does not mean all carriers in our network have terminals all over the country. The truth is, many carriers can only operate within a specific area and will have to obtain special permits for every state they pass through.

If your carrier is based on one side of the country, it may not be the best option to use a carrier that is limited to that area and will have to go out of the way to get your vehicle. This will only cost you more money, so take the location into account.

Experience and Customer Reviews

Experience is usually a good indicator of a company’s competence, but it isn’t the only way to compare and find the best auto carrier. You should also use authentic customer reviews to find out more about the quality of service.

Insurance

Every auto carrier is responsible for some amount of coverage by U.S law. Always inquire about coverage, and the steps you need to take in getting more for your vehicle, especially if it’s on the more expensive end of the spectrum.

Your carrier should also be a licensed and bonded company for your protection.

Payment Methods

Most carriers will accept cash or cards for auto transport fees, but it doesn’t hurt to find out how flexible the methods are. For example, you might find it more convenient to use P2P apps like Paypal or CashApp, over say, writing a check or bringing cash to the depot.

Policies

One of the most important policies to pay attention to with your carrier is their cancellation policy. Things can come up at any time between now and your pickup date, and you need to be aware of what will happen in that event.

Auto shipping quotes

The best thing you can do for yourself is to compare auto shipping quotes. Most carrier websites will allow you to do this with no obligation to purchase. This will help you determine your budget and figure out the best rates.

Use A1 Auto Transport’s free online quote tool to find out how much it will cost to transport a car or other motor vehicle.

How auto shipping works

Auto shipping is a complicated process with a lot of moving parts. It’s certainly more than hooking up a car to a truck and shipping it where it needs to go. If it was that easy anybody could do it. Heck, you could probably do it yourself!

Auto transport companies do a lot of behind-the-scenes work to find the best way to ship a car. They map out the best routes beforehand, taking into account road, traffic, and weather conditions they will encounter along the way. They prearrange lodging, prepare for rest and fuel stops and get all the permits necessary for each state.

An auto shipping company conducts regular maintenance on vehicles to make sure they can withstand long journeys and facilitate the vehicles, and work with experienced truck drivers to get the job done.

So, when it’s time to go out onto the road, they’ll face minimal delays and transport vehicles safely and efficiently.

Companies that offer international car shipping services have a lot more on their plate and jump through even more hurdles to get cars where they need to go. This intricate and complex process is simplified by the people who have the expertise.

Prepping for auto transport

Truthfully, customers don’t have to do very much in the auto shipping process. Besides providing details about the vehicle and where they want it to go, all that’s left is preparing it for auto transport.

Prepping a car for auto transport is fairly simple and won’t take you more than an hour. Try to get it done before pickup day so the truck driver will face no delay.

Here’s your checklist for prepping your vehicle:

• Gather the necessary documents required by the agent
• Remove all personal belongings
• Wash and clean your car for inspection
• Ensure all fluids are at optimal levels and leave no more than ¼ tank of gas
• Disable the alarm, navigation system, and anything that can be disruptive during transport
• Deactivate or remove toll tags to avoid charges during transport
• Have your keys ready for the truck driver

Happy Car Shipping!