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Can I pay in full with a credit card

YES you can. We can arrange to charge your credit card on your behave to pay the carrier via wire. This option has a small fee of 3.5% to 5% depending on the credit card type.

Can I pay in full with a credit card?

What is the process if there is damage to my vehicle upon delivery?

auto damageWhat is the process if there is damage to my vehicle upon delivery?

Please call the offices of American Transport immediately. In most cases, we have only 30 days to file a claim and if not reported to us within 30 days we cannot offer assistance or be held responsible for any damage that might have occurred.

Additionally, you must clearly indicate any resulting damage that occurred during shipping on the “Bill of Lading” or delivery receipt issued by the driver at the time of delivery.

Choosing Between an Auto Transport Broker vs. an Auto Transport Carrier (American Transport is both a Carrier/Broker)

auto broker American Transport

 

Plainly put, car shipping is a big deal. Placing your valuable vehicle in the hands of perfect strangers can be a bit nerve racking by itself. Most often, however, there is also some other event taking place when an auto transport company is hired. When you’re focused on relocating due to a new job, buying that new car, retiring to the city of your dreams or finally buying that classic car you’ve drooled over since high school, you want to know for sure your car will be moved with the highest level of care and at the best price. That’s why choosing between a broker and a carrier can be extremely important.

Core Differences in Auto Transport Companies

The basics are the same regardless of which type of auto transport company you choose. Your car will get shipped from point A to point B. But that’s generally where the similarities end. From there you find a list of pros and cons that can help you make a decision on whether to use a broker or carrier.

Let’s define those terms to start with. In the car shipping industry, a broker is a company that resells your job. For instance, when you call a broker, they will charge you a fee for shipping your car. However, they will not actually perform the shipping themselves. They will call several carriers and sell your car shipping job to them. After the job is passed on to the carrier, the broker steps out of the picture.

A carrier, on the other hand, actually takes your car from destination A to destination B. Think of it as going straight to a wholesaler when you’re buying furniture or jewelry. Rather than going to a retail store when you buy these items, you cut out the middleman and buy them for a better price direct from the wholesaler. In the same way, rather than using a broker, you have the option of contacting carriers directly.

Pros and Cons of Choosing Either an Auto Transport Carrier or an Auto Transport Broker

Selection

The biggest benefit of using a broker for car shipping is selection. A broker may either have a pre-approved list of carriers or may post the vehicle online for any carrier to select. When using a carrier, you would be responsible or contacting each one individually which might take a bit of time. However, there are other factors at play when shipping a car.

Fees and Cancellations

Brokers attempt to source carriers at rates below what they have quoted in order to make a profit. That’s how they stay in business. You will be expected to pay a deposit, which is generally nonrefundable. The carrier will collect the balance of the transportation costs when the vehicle is delivered through cash or certified funds only. Many will also allow you to cancel your order at anytime prior to pick-up with a 100% refund. To be sure, always ask first!

Guaranteed Pick-Up

Because brokers don’t have full control over every carrier they use, they can’t guarantee when your car will be picked up. When comparing transit time you need to be careful to make an apples-to-apples comparison. A brokered move may have a shorter transit time from pick up to delivery but it may take more days to get the vehicle picked up. Make sure that you include all of the days in any comparison.

Door-to-Door Service

Depending on the carrier, the size of their truck, or the entry into your neighborhood, you might be asked to meet the driver at a nearby shopping center or other landmark for delivery. This is due to their inability to take big equipment into an area that is difficult to maneuver. Unfortunately, brokers cannot always assess the carrier’s ability to take your vehicle directly to your door. Again, never assume. Ask the broker or auto transport carrier what their policies are to be sure.

As you can see, there are big differences between auto transport brokers and auto transport carriers that go beyond price. Before you sign any contracts or releases, make sure you are dealing with the type of company you prefer and, to ensure the safety of your car and a flawless transaction, check out each company thoroughly before making your decision.

5 Easy Tips to Improve your Auto Transport Experience

You asked for it, and we delivered. Here it is…a simple list of 5 tips that can improve your auto transport experience exponentially. Without further ado, here they are!: 5 Easy tips to improve your auto transport experience

  • Don’t Go For the Cheapest Quote!
  • This is something that far too many people go for. If you go for a cheap quote, you’re probably going to get burned. The problem is that anyone can give you a cheap quote, but no one can get you cheap auto transport. It’s expensive and you get what you pay for
  • Always Check Out the Credentials of an Auto Transport Company
  • This is pretty straightforward. It’s also a standard for smart shopping of any type. Always make sure that the people you work with are reputable.
  • Be Reasonable With Your Expectations
  • Understand that auto transport involves some heavy duty logistical planning. It’s not easy to plan routes, and when things go wrong it can delay transport by a couple of hours.
  • Figure Out What Kind of Service You Need Before Booking
  • Figuring out what you need before you book is going to save you from a bunch of time and money. Get all your ducks in a row before you book! Cancellations can be expensive, and so can rescheduling a transport.
  • Choose your Route Carefully
  • Just because an auto transport company offers ‘door to door’ transport doesn’t mean your vehicle needs to be shipped directly to your door. You can choose any door you like for shipping, and in many cases making a slight adjustment can save you hundreds of dollars. Here’s an example. Say I live in Manhattan and I want to ship a car to myself. If I send it right to my apartment in Harold Square, it’s going to cost me about $1,000. If i try to ship the same car to Newark, however, it’ll only cost $800! Be smart about your route!

The Truth About Auto Transport Quotes

You want to move your vehicle from Massachusetts to Florida. Next question is how do i do it. You go to google in type in Auto Transport Quotes. You see there are a lot of pages that give free quotes some even give you 9-10 free quotes(brokers pay for leads)from different companies. Here is the problem with that first all these companies are Brokers not carriers which mean they DO NOT have their own trucks. In addition, they will low ball your quoting hoping one of the carriers will take it off the centraldispatch.com board.  The truth is if it’s to good to be true it probably is your car will sit for days or weeks with no carrier picking it up. Also, when the time comes the broker may call you to tell about the  increase in price due to an increase in  insurance or diesel fuel. What are you going to do say no and not move your car and let it sit. This is called the old bait and switch and happens all the time in the auto industry. It is a game and the brokers know how to play it. Please use a local company who you can trust.

WHAT IS THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN AN OPEN AND AN ENCLOSED AUTO CARRIER AND THE AUTO TRANSPORT RATES


What is the difference between open and enclosed carriers. An open carrier is similar to those you see transporting cars to and from dealerships. These carriers range in size and capacity. Vehicles that are moved via an open carrier are exposed to inclement weather and road conditions. Enclosed carriers also range in size and capacity. Since these carriers are covered, the vehicles in transit are not exposed to weather or road conditions. Enclosed carriers are recommended for custom and antique or classic cars. This mode of transport is more costly than the open carrier.The auto transport rates can vary from 300-500 dollars from an open trailer to en enclosed trailer