Auto Transport: A Comprehensive Guide

Auto transport or car shipping plays a very important role in today’s economy. This industry enables businesses and individuals to move their cars/automobiles across countries, states and cities without stress. 

With service providers in this niche, you can conveniently relocate to a new city, state or country, buy a car from a dealership that’s outside your location or move overseas! Imagine that you are in a job where you have to move to a new location often; how easy will it be to move your vehicle without auto transporters? 

This brings us to service members who are often deployed from one station to the other. They rely heavily on a branch of the auto industry that specializes in military auto transport service to cater to their specific needs. You can go to www.a1autotransport.com/military-auto-transport/ for more details. Meanwhile this article will share some information on auto transportation generally. 

We will explore how the process works and share some quick tips that will help you get the best of this service. Additionally, we’ll help you understand how military auto transport differs from regular car shipping and the benefits that active service personnel can derive from it. 

What Is Auto Transport?  

Auto transport or car shipping is the process through which cars are moved from one point to another with specialized carriers. These carriers are specially designed to safeguard the vehicles transported from being damaged in transit. They also come in different configuration to cater to the different types of vehicles to be transported and the routes they will ply. 

These services are mostly used for the following: –

1. Relocation 
2. Seasonal migration 
3. Online car purchases 
4. Vehicle restoration 
5. Military relocation 
6. Dealership and auction transport
   

Types of Auto Transport Services

There are different types of car shipping services, and each cater to different types of automobiles and customer preferences.  These services include but are not limited to the ones mentioned below: –

Open Carrier 

This is the most commonly used and pocket-friendly methods for car shipping. This method entails loading the vehicles on open carriers and securing them to the floor board and with other safety measures. The advantages include cost-effectiveness and faster shipping times due to availability of many service providers. 

The major disadvantage however is that vehicles are exposed to the elements, dust and road debris and can sustain cosmetic damage in transit. 

Enclosed Carrier 

This entails shipping cars in a covered trailer or carrier and this protects them from the elements, road debris and dust which is the major advantage of this method. However, it is more expensive than the open carrier method and it is not as readily available too. 

This method is great for transporting exotic or vintage vehicles since it provides additionally protection because the trailer is covered. 

Door-to-Door Transport 

With this method, the transporter picks up and delivers the vehicle at a specified address. This method delivers maximum convenience by saving you the journey to a terminal. Additionally, it gives you more liberty to choose your pick-up and delivery time and location.  

The disadvantages include: – (1) It is a more expensive option (2) Residential areas may have limited access for large transport carriers. 

Terminal-to-Terminal Transport 

In this method, the customer drops off the vehicle at a designated terminal and picks it up at the nearest terminal to their destination. The advantages to this method include flexible timing for drop-off and pick-up and less expensive than door-to-door option. While for the disadvantages, there’s the high level of inconvenience and the possibility of demurrage if you don’t pick up your car on time.

Military Auto Transport 

This niche in the car shipping industry caters to the relocation or shipping needs of military personnel on active duty and that of their families. These officers often receive what is known as Permanent Change of Station (PCS) orders and when that comes, they need to move fast and as hassle-free as possible. Some of the properties that must be moved efficiently are vehicles. 

Who Qualifies for Military Auto Transport? 

The following are people who quality for military auto shipping: –

1. Members of the Navy, Army, Marines, Air Force and Coast Guard that are still in active duty. 
2. National Guard and Reserve members that meet certain criteria 
3. Retired military personnel but not on every occasion. 
   
   

Benefits of Military Auto Transport 

If you are military personnel that fit the criteria stated above, the following are benefits that you stand to gain from using military auto transport service: –

1. Flexible Scheduling – Due to the fact that military relocation often come with unpredictability, these service providers often provide greater flexibility in timing and schedules for their clients. 
2. Discounted Rates 
3. Base-to-Base and Door-to-Door Service– A good number of transporters deliver directly to their customer’s military bases for extra convenience. 
4. Storage Options – Transporters also provide temporary storage for clients while they settle in their new base.
   

How to Prepare for Military Auto Transport 

The following are quick tips for preparing for military car shipping: –

1. Keep a copy of your Permanent Change of Station orders handy 
2. Make sure the automobile is inspected and clean 
3. Remove any equipment or decal related to the military unless you are instructed to leave it in the vehicle. 
4. Make sure that the transporter knows and understands the protocols of military bases. Click here for some information. 
   

Choosing the Right Auto Transport Company 

Choosing the right shipper to help you move your vehicle is essential if you want to get the full benefits of car shipping services. The following quick tips will help you make an informed decision: –

1. Make sure the company is licensed and insured. This means that they must be registered with the Department of Transportation (DOT) and they must carry adequate insurance. 
2. Read customer reviews to be sure that you are working with a reliable company and that they will meet your expectation. 
3. Ensure that their pricing is transparent. 
4. Make sure that the company has experience with the type of relocation yours involves. 

Conclusion

Relocation can be quite stressful but with a good logistics company and a competent auto transporter, it can be made easier. For military personnel, it is in your best interest to have a reliable auto transport company on speed dial. This will save you a lot of hassles whenever you have to move.