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ON THIS PAGE: 
YOUR Ultimate Guide to Auto Transport Services
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Our auto carriers are licensed, bonded and fully insured.
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Auto transport will involve many different steps, people and planning. An auto transport company, for example, provides open and/or enclosed auto carriers to ship automobiles from one destination to another. If you need to move your car somewhere, these auto shipping companies are the people that can do it for you.
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LOAD CARRIER WITH GOPRO Watch how an auto carrier is loaded one car at a time from the driver's point of view. Everything from the prospective of a Go-Pro. A great visual experience that will show you exactly how your vehicle would be loaded and secured. |
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Be sure to ask your car shipper for a copy of the protection policy that way you can see how much the vehicle is covered in case of damage. If damage is present on delivery that was not there at pickup, then the car shipper you hired for the lowest price should be able to walk you through the steps in filing a claim. |
Bumper to bumper auto transport insurance protection policy which covers your car in case of damage during transport.
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Enclosed transport is the safest way to ship a car
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Enclosed car transport is a type of auto transport that adds protection for vehicles mainly used for higher end cars. It's a great car shipping option if you need to transport a classic, exotic or luxury car.
Enclosed car carriers can often only carry a few vehicles at the same time, in most cases, up to 7 automobiles. |
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The safe feeling you will have watching your beloved car loaded into a closed car transport trailer will keep you at ease till delivery knowing no matter what, you automobile is fully insured. Be sure to ask your car shipping service provider to send you a copy of the insurance policy prior to loading your car. This can be easily sent to your email on request. |
Bumper to Bumper Protection
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Easy to understand insurance policy
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Auto transporters are legally responsible for carrying liability insurance per the United States Department of Transportation and the FMCSA (Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration).
You are not required to have insurance to ship a car. This must be provided by the auto carrier assigned to pickup and deliver your vehicle. |
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Depending on where you are and when you’re going, these car transport companies can vary widely in their availability and services.
While some states seem to have a shortage of car transport options, others seem to have more car delivery services than actual cars in the state. Everything is based on who is available. States with some of the largest cities in the country are generally a lot easier to ship cars to and from than states with smaller economies and metropolitan areas. The five easiest cities to ship cars in and out of are Los Angeles, Dallas, Chicago, Miami, and Seattle. |
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When you hear the term “top load,” the phrase refers to the area of the auto transport truck where your car is placed. Top load placement means that your vehicle will be placed on the top, or highest, level of the transport trailer. Reserving this spot may require an additional fee ranging from $150-50 depending on weight and size of the vehicle. This is all based on availability. Some drivers may even do it for free. That is completely up to the drivers discretion. Discuss these details with the driver direct if you wish. |
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Door-to-door auto transport refers to a form of car shipping in which an auto transport company picks up or delivers a vehicle as close to a predefined location as possible.
It might not bear the literal meaning of having your car delivered right outside your door. In most cases, drivers prefer front door delivery as it avoids them having to wait for anyone on pickup or delivery. They just arrive, load or unload and go. |
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The cost to ship a car from state to state can range anywhere from $200-$2000 depending on many different details which would come into play when calculating your car shipping rate. Rates are mainly generated by taking the following factors into consideration: ➡️ Vehicle size & weight, ➡️ Route Variations, ➡️ Availability and ➡️ Current Diesel Fuel Rates. |
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Some of these include Route Availability, Vehicle specs (weight/size), Mileage, Carrier Type and Current Diesel Fuel Rates. All this data is calculated to generate the cost to transport a vehicle. |
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Be careful and always do your own research into a companies background. A simple Google search can reveal a lot. A 'good' company is only as 'good' as their reputation. |
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When you hire a car shipper to load your vehicle and haul it to another state, keep in mind and remember, your car, truck, van or SUV will most likely be loaded and secured onto a car carrier trailer holding anywhere from 4 to 12 other vehicles going to the same destination.
Safety is the main objective to completing a successful auto transport assignment. In order to maintain a safe trip, here are some things the customer can do to help! |
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Is Open Auto Transport Carrier Really Safe?
That all depends on the auto carrier which has been assigned to your order.
In all cases, any auto transportation provider operating within the United States of America should have the required cargo insurance policy enforced by the F.M.C.S.A. This means that your vehicle should be fully protected against any damage inflicted during transport. Be sure to ask for insurance documentation prior to pick up. The insurance docs could be easily requested by the auto transportation logistics coordinator who is responsible for dispatching your vehicle to the auto carrier. Make sure to check the expiration date on the insurance policy and also reassure yourself that your vehicle is completely insured during transport. With all these details in order regarding the insurance during shipment, your vehicle should be in good hands as the last thing anyone wants is an added claim to their policy. This assures you that the driver will take care of your vehicle with the respect it deserves. What Type Of Cars Can Be Loaded?
This all depends on the size and weight of your vehicle. A standard car or truck can pretty much fit in any option you choose to ship your car.
Pretty much any standard sized vehicle in the category of sedan, regular sized trucks, normal sized S.U.V.'s and even some vans again depending on the size which are determined by length and height. The total size of a vehicle able to fit on an open auto transport carrier would depend on the other vehicles which would be loaded along with it. If you have seen an open auto trailer, you will notice that the top level can be adjusted to different heights which would allow for the loading and unloading of many different types of vehicles. In any case, expect the vehicle to be strapped down to the frame of the trailer. Thick leather straps or light chains are used around the wheelbase and securely fastened to the metal frame of the open-air auto carrier trailer. This avoids the vehicle from bouncing around during transport and ensures that the unit will be delivered in the same condition as it was picked up. Please Note: Low clearance vehicles may require alternate methods. Can Open Carrier Transport Save Me Money?
The cheapest option to ship your car is the most common, the open auto transport carrier.
When shipping your vehicle on an open-air auto transporter, you are most likely being transported along with six to sometimes nine other vehicles which are all loaded and secured. Having so many vehicles on a load to deliver allows the driver to ease up on the total rates per unit. Of course car shipping rates are all dependent on: ✔️ Vehicle Specs (Size/Weight) ✔️ Carrier Availability ✔️ Route Variables ✔️ Current Diesel Fuel Rates The higher the demand for service on the route you require will determine the total cost of the transportation in question. Rates will always fluctuate as they reflect gas prices, mainly diesel fuel. There is never really any set rates for shipping a vehicle in this industry as everything in the end revolves around fuel prices. Even when gas prices may be at their highest, going open auto hauler will always be your safest and most affordable option when shipping a car state-to-state. Can Personal Items Be Loaded?
Most auto hauling companies prohibit the inclusion of personal items in vehicles being shipped. This is for three very good reasons:
➡️ License & Insurance It is against FMCSA regulations for carriers to transport personal possessions within a vehicle. Carriers risk fines for transporting any personal possessions. In addition, the auto transport carrier insurance policy typically does not cover the loss or damage of personal possessions included in a vehicle being shipped. ➡️ Weight Auto haulers have strict limits on the weight of loaded trucks and trailers. Additional, unanticipated weight of personal items could cause carriers to be overweight. In this situation, the carrier has to make a choice to drive overweight (risking fines and significant delays) or not take the vehicle. ➡️ Safety Extra weight in the car could cause damage to the undercarriage during loading and unloading. If items of perceived value are visible through the car’s windows they may attracted unwanted attention from thieves or vandals when carriers park at truck stops. No hazardous materials (e.g. explosives, flammables, poisons, compressed gases, oxidants, corrosives, etc.), firearms, ammunition, items of unusual value (e.g. cash, money, bonds, precious metals, stones, and gems), alcoholic beverages, tobacco products, drugs or medicines (either prescribed or illegal), antlers, furs, or pornographic material. To avoid the potential loss of personal items and to make sure that vehicles can be delivered on time, please avoid shipping any personal items in your vehicles. Although we will ship customer’s personal items upon request we ask that you limit the weight of personal items to 100 lbs. Additionally personal items stored inside the vehicle must not be above the window line and must not inhibit the driver’s seat from moving all the way back. Does Viceroy Deliver Door to Door?
Our expert car carrier drivers prefer to auto transport door to door on most routes.
Delivering your car door to door would avoid our auto shipper waiting for a customer to meet. They just simply arrive, load & go! Of course, if the roads prohibit or the law restricts in the area, then the auto hauling driver would contact the customer ahead of time to secure a more accessible pickup/delivery location close by. Keep in mind, our dispatch team is always on stand by to assist with any & All auto transport information or updates. Will My Car Stay On The Same Truck?
Yes.
Our auto haulers prefer to Not move your vehicles around once they are loaded onto the auto transporter. Before the route begins, our car shipping logistics teams plan the routes before hand & carefully schedule all auto transportation loads to flow smoothly. The same auto carrier driver that picks your car up will be the same auto hauler that drops your car off. We provide all contact information for the car shipper driver direct so you may stay in touch from pickup to delivery is completed. Can I Track My Car By GPS?
As things advance technologically speaking, some car shipping companies will offer some sort of tracking system.
Keep in mind, Satellite tracking & GPS monitoring can get quite expensive. Most car carriers are simply owner-operators who do not own GPS equipment & would rather not due to expenses. GPS tracking is mainly reserved for military Auto Shipping or high profile car transportation. That is why we connect you direct with your auto hauler. Is My Car Insured During Transport?
Yes.
Your vehicle would be completely insured under the cargo protection policy required by law to operate in the United States under D.O.T. Proof of auto transport insurance can be provided by the car carrier direct prior to pickup. Complete both car shipping vehicle inspections with the car carrier driver on pickup & delivery to ensure the vehicles condition. Our claims department is always here to assist you with all of your needs. 100% Guaranteed! How does the Payment process work?
The payment is split in 2 parts. The first would be a reservation fee to validate the order.
The remaining balance would be owed on Delivery in certified funds: Cash, Money order or Bank Certified check. This is the industries standard way to reserve a spot on a car carrier. How long does it take to ship a car?
The delivery time to ship a car varies depending on the route. Keep in mind, most car haulers can carry 5-9 vehicles at a time.
This may requires 5-9 different stops for both pickup and delivery. Also factor in loading and unloading at each stop along with drive time. Every route is different and times for delivery are determined once the order is added to schedule. Here are some common examples: Miami to New York City 3-5 days. Seattle to Chicago 5-7 days. Houston to Charlotte 3-5 days. Boston to Los Angeles 7-10 days. Am I able to communicate with the driver?
We connect you with the driver direct by providing you the contact information for the carrier selected.
Even though you will be in direct communication with the driver, please remember to always keep your dispatching agent as your primary contact. Our dispatch office can manage everything from here. Is the price quoted a guaranteed price?
The initial quote is an estimate based on your required needs.
Once the order has been booked and your spot is reserved, the quote would then become your final price. All details pertaining to your order will be sent to you in writing by email. The total amount should also be reflected on the bill of lading or vehicle inspection sheet at both pickup and delivery. Are pickup and delivery date guaranteed?
There is a two-day pickup window which is required for scheduling.
Once the order has been added to schedule, the driver would have a better idea of exactly when pick up and delivery would take place. More accurate times for both pickup and delivery would be coordinated between you and the driver direct. We would also email you the driver direct contact info along with estimated times for both points. Does Expediting my order speed up transport?
To expedite a vehicle would require a 2 man driver team which would rotate shifts.
They specifically drive nonstop to destinations. Drivers are only allowed to operate 500 miles per shift by law. With a two-man driver team, they are able to travel Non-Stop. This service may cost the customer 25 to 40% more than the standard hauling delivery time depending on mileage and Route variations. |
