So you’ve done your research for Auto Transport Services and found the company to ship your car, what’s next? Now it’s time to prepare your vehicle for transport. Preparation of your auto is fundamental in ensuring a smooth car transport experience for you and for our carriers. With proper preparation you minimize the risk of damage to your auto and prevent any additional costs that may occur. We’ve put together the following tips and advice to prepare vehicle for transport.
1. Record Existing Damage
No one knows your vehicle better than you. You’re the first to know about any scratches, dings and dents on your car when they happen. Noting all pre-existing damage on your auto will make it easier for you and carrier to identify new damage on your auto if it may occur.
- Wash Vehicle: Thoroughly washing your vehicle’s exterior gives you and driver a better visual of any pre-existing damage.
- Record Damage: Take notes of pre-existing damage for your records. Later you will share and compare your notes with driver.
- Take Pictures: Get pictures (with dates) of pre-existing damage. You can also take pictures of your car from different angles if you wish.
- Get Driver Acknowledgement: Share your notes of pre-existing damage with driver. Have driver acknowledge damage on his bill of lading/inspection report.
2. Remove Personal & After Market Items
By law, auto transport companies are not authorized to transport any personal or household items in vehicles they’re shipping. Although some carriers make the exception of allowing under 50 lbs. of items confined in the trunk space, placing personal objects in your car is completely up to your discretion. Before you fill your auto with items consider the following:
- Damage to Items May Occur: Autos are not completely motionless while in transport. There is small scale movement on the car that could be forceful enough to damage sensible items.
- Carrier Can Deny Transport: If carriers feel an auto is not ready for transport because of personal items in the vehicle, carriers can choose not to take vehicle.
- After Market Items: Unless your vehicle is equipped with these items, we suggest removing custom car stereos, sound systems, TV’s, DVD players, GPS systems etc.
- Antennas: Remove or fully retract antennas.
- Toll Passes: Carriers transit through numerous tolls as they make their way to delivery. Avoid toll charges by shutting off or removing toll passes from your car.
3. Perform Mechanical Inspection
A mechanical inspection of the following items should be performed:
- Breaks: Vehicle must have a fully functioning break system including emergency break.
- Battery: Batteries must have a full charge and remain charged. If you’ve had previous battery issues we ask that you replace battery.
- Ignition: If there’s a process or trick to starting up your car communicate those instructions to the driver.
- Gas: Due to safety and weight restrictions we ask for gas tank to be no more than 1/4 full.
- Tires: Tires need to be fully inflated and must roll.
- Fluids: Top off all vehicle fluids such as motor oil, transmission fluid and coolant. Check for any fluid leaks. Fluids could leak onto other cars on the carrier and as a result damage their exterior paint.
Trust the experts
Because we are a reputable long distance car transport Service, getting your car from point A to point B is hassle-free. Allow us to deliver your car to your door, taking care of everything smoothly to prevent any problems along the way.
Customized service
What separates us from other auto transport companies? While transporting your car, Lite Auto Transport Collaborates with you. Choose us to transfer your car, and you may enjoy a hassle-free, easy-to-understand shipping experience.
Committed consultants
At the car shipping service, our committed team of advisors works tirelessly to put you in touch with the best automobile transport services. They will manage your shipping 24/7.
Premium Choice
Why do clients recommend the auto transporter of Lite Auto Transport as the preeminent car transport services provider? See our online testimonials to discover why we are widely recognized as an industry leader in car delivery services.
No Payment Upfront
You read that correctly. There is no initial payment required. Leading car shipping companies do not charge for your shipment until the carrier has been dispatched. As a result, you can proceed with the reservation with the Lite auto transport company immediately and set aside concerns regarding the invoice for a later time.
Insurance Included
Automobile transport providers include insurance coverage in their delivery quotes. Before joining our carrier network, the auto transporters that we select have to meet strict insurance requirements.
Over 17,000 auto carriers
Each carrier in our car transport company’s extensive, vetted network is an experienced and reputable expert in vehicle transport services. These automotive transport companies place the highest priority on the security of your vehicle, handling it as if it were their vehicle.
All our drivers are Licensees and Insure by (DOT) Department of Transportation Washington DC
Extra hours
We are not a trucking company operating from 8 to 5. We are operational for an entire year, 365 days a year, and maintain extended work hours. We are consistently available to address inquiries regarding vehicle transportation and what sets us apart from other shipping car services.
How Much Do Car Shipping Companies Charge?
The national auto transport market determines prices charged by vehicle transportation companies as of right now. The type of automobile you want to transfer, where it has to go, its size, its condition (or if it has been modified), the total distance it needs to travel, the method of transport (open or enclosed trailer transportation), and, lastly, the season you book will all affect how much auto shipping firms charge you in total.
Remember to look for further discounts and deals. Use our chat feature our car shipping calculator Emailed , or give us a call at +1 818-813-8194 to get a free quote.
Vehicle Size and Weight
Longer, taller or extra-heavy vehicles could require unique handling from car shipping firms, resulting in different quotes.
Condition of Vehicle
Because it takes more manpower and tools for auto shipping companies to handle the trip, transporting non-operational autos results in greater expenses. We can transport your car without additional cost if it can roll, steer, and brake.
Method of Transport
The more affordable and conventional option is open transport. Enclosed transport requires special treatment, which could result in a different price.
Distance of Shipping
The total cost is higher, while the cost per mile is lower over longer distances. You can save more on auto shipping the farther your car goes.
Recommended By The Industry’s Finest
Door to door transport
Door-to-door delivery is a practical method of transporting your vehicle. The truck driver shall retrieve and return your vehicle in the closest proximity to your door, following safety and legal considerations, to the addresses you furnish. It is important to consider that certain cities impose limitations on entering large vehicles into specific residential zones.
Car shipping California
Interested in shipping a vehicle to or from California ? Shipping a vehicle to California is less difficult than one might expect.
Choosing Lite auto transport provider that possesses expertise in organizing both door-to-port and port-to-port auto transport is crucial. Lite transport your vehicle securely by our car shipping Florida service.
Motorcycle transport
offers competitive pricing on motorcycle transport throughout the entire year. We employ seasoned chauffeurs with the knowledge, machinery, and skills to load, secure, and transport motorcycles, scooters, ATVs, UTVs, and power sports vehicles. Dial +1 818 813-8194 to receive a quotation for custom motorcycle shipping.
PCS military transportation
PCS relocations are typically lengthy and require extensive preparation. Lite Auto Transport can facilitate your relocation by transporting your vehicles. PSC vehicle shipping discounts are extended to veterans, active-duty personnel, and members of the Reserves and National Guard, in addition to their military dependents. Your service is appreciated. Thank you.
Transport Your Car Anywhere In The US
Transport your vehicle to or from The Empire State from anywhere.
From The Golden State Car shipping service to anywhere.
Auto shipping options available to and from The Lone Star State.
Auto transport service to and from The Sunshine State, Florida.
We offer
- Door to Door
Straight from/to your home or office
- Open
Quick and affordable option
- Enclosed
Safe and clean option
- Expedited
Guaranteed pick-up date
We serve
- Relocating people
Private or corporate moves
- Online car buyers
Bought and shipped online
- Motorcycle enthusiasts
Scenic drives and road adventures
- College students
Move from/to the college campus
- Snowbirds
Move to the endless summer
- Classic car lovers
With passion for classics
- Car resellers
Delivered to your client
- Military
The home of the brave Thank You for Your Service.
For Over 10 years ,Lite Auto Transport has been providing clients with reliable, affordable auto transport options. Our knowledgeable staff members work with customers on an individual basis, keeping them informed of their vehicle’s status and adding a personal touch to the overall process.
Our customers trust us because of this one-on-one, personal focus that ensures they aren’t just a number in our eyes. We know that your car is important to you & never have to wonder where it is or when it gets there, because with Www.Liteautotransport.Com let’s you know.
Our great vehicle transport rates and prompt service set us apart from the competition. We will schedule your vehicle on the right truck to fit your needs. This gives you, our customer, the best possible auto transport delivery at the lowest competitive price.
We service the entire continental United States.
No matter where you need to ship your automobile to, we can provide you with dependable vehicle transport anywhere throughout the United States.
Regardless of the distance traveled, we work hard to keep our prices for car shipping as low as possible. We provide lower rates for car & motorcycle transport than many of our competitors.
What Is Car Shipping?
Car shipping transports your vehicle from one location to another on a truck so you don’t have to drive it and add miles to the odometer. If you’re moving across the country or to another state, shipping your car can make your move easier since it gives you one less thing to worry about transporting.
There are two types of car shipping companies: brokers and carriers.
- Brokers don’t ship vehicles themselves. Instead, they connect customers with networks of carriers that do. Using a broker can be cheaper and give you more flexibility.
- Carriers do the actual shipping. Some carriers work directly with customers, but most people shipping their cars typically work with brokers.
Types Of Car Shipping
Along with types of car shipping companies, there are also different shipping options that you’ll choose from. Not all auto transport companies offer every kind of service, so you should research what you need and see which company best suits you.
Open Shipping
Open vehicle shipping is the cheapest and most common type. It’s the cheapest option because your car is on an open trailer that can fit multiple vehicles. While it’s unlikely your vehicle will get damaged on an open shipping trailer, it’s still possible. Factors like weather and debris could scratch, dent, or otherwise damage your car.
Enclosed Shipping
Enclosed shipping transports your car inside an enclosed trailer. This type of shipping keeps your vehicle safe from damage that it could be exposed to on an open trailer. However, this added protection typically comes at a higher price. This is because enclosed trailers can’t hold as many vehicles.
Drivers with luxury or classic cars often choose this option so their cars are safer in transit.
Other Car Shipping Options
Open or enclosed carrier isn’t the only choice to make when shipping your car. Here are the other car shipping options you’ll need to consider:
- Door-to-door shipping: This is the most convenient option for car shipping. The carrier picks your vehicle up and drops it off as close to your home as possible.
- Terminal-to-terminal shipping: While this is usually less expensive than door-to-door transport, it can be more of a hassle because your car has to be dropped off at a shipping terminal and picked up from another one.
- Expedited service: You should schedule your shipment at least two weeks out to help ensure carriers are available. Choosing expedited shipping means a carrier can pick your car up within a few days. But while carriers can guarantee when your car will get picked up, they might not guarantee when it will be delivered.
- Single-car: Sometimes you want extra care and are willing to pay the price to ensure your car is as protected as possible. Shipping your car alone in an enclosed carrier is one of the most expensive options, and it’s best for luxury or classic cars that you’re not willing to risk getting damaged.
Depending on where you’re sending your vehicle, you might be able to select port, freight, or container shipping. These are all expensive options, and they’re less common.
How Car Shipping Works
If you’ve never shipped your car before, you might not know how it works. Here are the eight steps of the process:
- Gather your information: To get quotes, you’ll need to give transporters your vehicle and personal information, pickup and drop-off locations, and preferred timeline.
- Choose your shipping method: The shipping services you choose — like open versus closed or door-to-door versus terminal-to-terminal — will affect your quotes and which company you choose.
- Select a car shipping company: Get quotes from a few of the best car shipping companies so you can compare prices and options for your shipment.
- Book your shipment: Once you choose a transport company, you’ll book your shipment. You’ll either pay up front online or pay part of the cost now and then pay the rest in cash or another form when the carrier drops your car off.
- Prepare your vehicle for shipment: Before the carrier arrives, clear your car of personal belongings. Your gas tank should only be a quarter full to keep your vehicle as light as possible.
- Inspect your car: When the carrier gets there, you’ll both inspect your vehicle for any damage prior to shipping. Take pictures of your car so you have them in case anything happens. You and the carrier will sign the bill of lading at this time.
- Track your shipment: You can usually contact your carrier or broker to get an update on where your car is. Some companies have GPS tracking you can check online.
- Pick your vehicle up: Whether you pick it up from a terminal or it’s dropped off at your house, you’ll inspect your car with the carrier once again. You’ll both sign the bill of lading again, and the shipment will be complete. Fast & Reliable Auto Transport Company Across The Country
Lite Auto Transport is a top rated vehicle transport company in the United States.
Why Should You Book One Of The Best Vehicle Transportation Services?
How Much Does Shipping A Car Cost?
Shipping costs are highly variable, so it can be hard to know what to expect without getting a quote. With that in mind, here are some of the main factors that influence your car shipping cost:
- Shipping distance: Shipping your vehicle farther costs less per mile than shipping it shorter distances, but it costs more overall.
- Services chosen: Depending on which services you choose, your shipment could be more expensive. For example, if you choose an enclosed carrier and door-to-door shipping, you’ll pay more than if you choose an open carrier and terminal-to-terminal shipping.
- Time of year: Certain seasons are more expensive than others for vehicle transport. In general, car shipping is most expensive in the summer and January.
- Carrier competition: If you use a marketplace to source a carrier, there will be more competition between them, which could get you a lower price.
- Fuel costs: If gas prices are high, you’ll pay more to ship your car.
- Vehicle operability: If your vehicle doesn’t run, the carrier will have to winch it onto the truck, which costs more.
- Vehicle size: A bigger vehicle weighs more, which increases the cost to ship it.
Should You Ship Your Car?
If you’re moving to a new state or across the country, it could be a good idea to ship your car to your new home. While driving your car may seem like the most cost-effective option, it can actually cost you more than shipping your vehicle after you consider the costs for gas, tolls, hotels, and food. Driving a long distance can be mentally and physically taxing as well.
You should also consider the mileage and wear and tear you’d put on your car by driving it to your destination instead of having it shipped there. Shipping could be the best choice if you need your vehicle transported far or you don’t have the ability to drive it yourself.
Average Car Shipping Costs
In our 2023 poll of 1,000 car shipping customers, 65 percent of those surveyed said they shipped their vehicles 1,600 miles or less. 60 percent of respondents paid $1,450 or less for their shipments.
This is in line with the quotes our team received from shipping companies. Here are the average costs for open and enclosed shipping based on the quotes we received in October 2022:
- Open shipping for 500 miles: $730
- Open shipping for 1,500 miles: $1,422
- Enclosed shipping for 1,500 miles: $1,773
- Open shipping for 3,000 miles: $2,452
Book your Auto transport With Confidence
⭐AUTO TRANSPORT 🚗VEHICLE SHIPPING🚙 CAR TRANSPORT🏍 CAR SHIPPING🚜 (Covering Every City, Every State & Every Highway)
Auto Shipping, Car shipping, Ship my Car, Automobile Transportation, Relocate, affordable car shipping, transport, help me move, move my car
☑️We offer Nationwide Auto Shipping
🔅Transporting Running or Non-Running Cars,
🔅Trucks, Motorcycles, Etc.
🔅Multiple-Vehicle services,
🔅Open Transport and Enclosed Transport
Door-to-Door Service
Transporting Running or Non-Running Cars, Trucks, Motorcycles, Etc.
Multiple-Vehicle Discounts!
Open Transport and Enclosed Transport
Shipping across the U.S.
Family owned, fully licensed and bonded and insured
copart auto haulers
manheim vehicle shipping
dealership trades
salvage iaai cars
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We DO NOT sell leads. If you contact us, you will hear from us ONLY.
**FULLY Licensed, Bonded and INSURED
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**Fill Out www.liteautotransport.com for a Free Quote.
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***Text 929-203-0415*** pick up and delivery zip codes make model of car and if drivable
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Lite Auto Transport
Brokers: Everything You Need to Know!
People need auto transport brokers to ship cars for a variety of reasons. They may be moving because of a job relocation and they need to get their vehicle delivered to their new home. Many find their dream car from a seller in different state and they need to get their new purchase shipped to them.
Some have purchased a new vehicle and want to gift their old one to a child heading off to college, or a family member in need across the country. Maybe they’re a snowbird. Whatever the reason, they need to get their car shipped to another state and that’s where car transport brokers come into play.
What is an Auto Transport Broker?
When you’re in the market to ship a car, and you look for a car shipping service online, you’re going to find two kinds of companies: auto transport brokers and car carriers (aka auto haulers, car haulers, car transporters, auto transporters).
Auto transport brokers are the middlemen between you and car carriers. They don’t own their own fleet of trucks, so they don’t actually pick up and deliver vehicles for their customers. They “broker” their shipments to carriers. Car carries, on the other hand, have their own fleet of trucks and do the actual shipping of vehicles.
How Do Auto Transport Brokers Work?
Brokers have a network of small and large car carriers that they work with. When a customer has a vehicle that has to be shipped a broker will reach out to their carriers to find someone to fill the order. Experienced auto transport brokers that have been in the business for a while, like L.A.T, will have a network of hundreds, if not thousands, of carriers in their network.
The primary benefit of using a broker is the flexibility they provide. They don’t have their own trucks so they aren’t tied to specific regions, or routes, they can serve. Instead, they have access to hundreds of carriers across the country (often through load boards like Central Dispatch) to find the right one to meet the needs of any customer, no matter what kind of vehicle they have, where it’s going, or when it’s going, or using Super Dispatch
We wrote an extensive article comparing auto transport brokers vs. carriers that you’ll want to check out. It goes into great detail what the pros and cons are of each and will help you determine if working with a broker is better for you or if working with a carrier makes more sense.
Should I Use a Broker for Auto Transport?
The reality is most auto transport companies you’re going to find are brokers (or combination brokers/carriers). Finding carriers exclusively is difficult because most of them don’t have a prominent presence online. They typically rely on brokers for their business so they don’t usually have websites, social media profiles, etc.
Having said that, if you do find a carrier and they have trucks available on the specific shipping route for your car, you will save some money. Brokers make money by marking up the fees carriers charge them. For example, a carrier might charge a broker $500 for a given transport. The broker will mark up that fee and charge the customer accordingly. They might charge the customer $580, or whatever mark up they want to make.
Even though you will likely save a little money working directly with a carrier, it’s far more convenient and faster using a broker for auto transports!
What Makes the Best Auto Transport Brokers?
First and foremost, experience separates the best brokers from the mediocre brokers. If you work with a broker that has been around for a while (i.e. years), they’ll know all the ins and outs of the auto trucking industry and will have a network of reliable and trustworthy carriers they can work with.
Great communications and strong customer service are also attributes that the best auto transport brokers will have. A vehicle is usually the first or second most valuable asset that you own. You don’t want to trust it with just anyone. You want to be sure that the company you’re working with is going to communicate with you throughout the shipping process and will be there for you if you have any questions or problems.
Finally, the best brokers will have a long and safe track record and will have adequate insurance coverage in the event there is any damage during transit.
How Do You Find the Best Auto Transport Brokers?
O.K., so you know what makes the best auto transport brokers but how do you find them? Here are some tips that will help you find a broker that you can trust with your vehicle.
- Get quotes from many auto shipping brokers so you can get an understanding of what the general price range is going to be to ship your car. Most companies today offer free auto shipping quotes on their websites with no obligation or the need to talk to a broker so it’s easy to get multiple quotes.