Auto Transport Tips

With our proven track record and commitment to service excellence, occasionally we are privileged enough to be trusted with transporting some of the most exotic and rare vehicle specimens. From Italian supercars to purpose built racecars and showcars, we thought we had seen it all, but one sunny day this summer we were in for a surprise! Recently we were asked by one of our clients to perform a special task, managing the transportation of one of the world's most exotic and most expensive production vehicles: the Bugatti Veyron.

With a sticker price of over $1 million dollars, sporting 1000 horsepower and a top speed of 252 miles per hour, the Bugatti is truly a vehicle with no peer. So how do you transport this very special supercar? Three easy steps:

1. Enclosed transport. When your car absolutely has to get there in pristine showroom condition, demand the best with enclosed transport. Protect your exotic from the wear and tear of our crowded freeways by placing your car in the hands of our expert drivers.

2. Find an empty trailer. All of our auto transport drivers are fully insured with a minimum of $1 million dollars insurance set aside just for cargo. In the case of the Bugatti however, our driver's insurance would cover just this single supercar and no others could be allowed on the trailer! Talk about VIP transport!

3. Call United Auto Transport. Within hours of this very special request, the Bugatti was secured upon our enclosed trailer and off to its destination. For us here at UAT there is no satisfaction like a job done well!

Car shipping can be a complicated and confusing experience. As a vehicle transport broker, United Auto Transport is dedicated to streamlining this process and make it as easy for the customer as possible.

Although many brokers do own their own trucks, most car moves are arranged through brokers with individual shipping companies. Normally trucking companies only run specific routes between predetermined cities and regions. To be able to stay in business, shipping companies must strive to always move as many cars as possible every time they depart on their route so they tend to specialize in routes that prove to be popular. Therefore, vehicle transport brokers are beneficial both to the customer and the car shipper.

For customers, brokers can quickly find shipping companies that are able to move the car in the direction the customer wishes. United Auto Transport has a lengthy database of trusted trucking companies that have consistently done quality jobs and delivered maximum satisfaction. For transport companies, brokers can provide the amount of cars necessary for their truckers to make a living without worrying about strictly sticking to the most popular routes and locating customers for their routes. Also in this way door to door delivery services are possible for us.

Why is door to door shipping important?

Some transport companies use car transport terminals where the customer drops off and picks up their cars in predetermined locations, usually car lots. This is not the preferred way to move your vehicle due to the fact that by using a terminal, your car may sit in storage (or in the open exposed to inclement weather) for days on end, waiting for a truck to come and pick up the vehicle. Also, with a terminal setup, your transport is not a direct one. Your car may visit several terminals on the way to its destination and therefore also be loaded and unloaded by several different trucks. This causes more wear and tear on your vehicle and increases the possibility that damage will occur. With the door to door transport services we provide, only one trucker handles your car and it stays on the car transport from start to finish so we always know who exactly has your car and where it is.

For more information on transporting your car feel free to call us at 1-800-963-5505.

Typically car haulers are able to transport a wide variety of vehicles, both running and in non-running condition (which usually incurs an extra fee). Most auto transport carriers require cars have a clearance of at least four inches (4") in order to be successfully loaded on to the hauler. They are also capable of transporting vehicles that are not automobiles such as motorcycles, boats, RVs and more. There are however limitations on the width and dimension of vehicles not built to run on federal roadways such as boats, so be sure to inquire with your transporter first about what they can move before you book your order!

Happy New Year from United Auto Transport! We will be closed on New Year's Day but look forward to talking to you after that!

Many people regard their cars as one of their most valuable possessions. Choosing a car carrier to move your car with is therefore extremely important. What about after your car is ready for transport however?

Although cars are loaded on specialized automobile carriers behind the truck, they may sometimes suffer some of the same wear and tear experienced by everyday driving. This may include things such as dirt accumulating on the vehicle as well as rock chips and other minor road hazards. Also vandalism may occur if valuble objects are visible within the interior of the car, which is why we recommend keeping the car's interior clean and removing all unnecessary objects.

Our experienced and fully insured drivers are fully aware of the best ways to avoid these hazards and deliver your car in the same condition as it was loaded. This may not be enough for some however, and one of the most complete ways to protect your prized possession against these possible hazards is to request enclosed auto transport, where your car is shipped in an enclosed carrier and protected from the elements. For some the extra cost involved with requesting an enclosed transport is worth the peace of mind of the safest delivery possible.

A bill of lading certifies the receiving and delivery of a vehicle (or other cargo). It should be verified and signed at both the point of pickup and dropoff.

Here's a quote from Wikipedia's Bill of Lading article.

It is evidence that a valid contract of carriage exists and it incorporates the full terms of the contract between the consignor and the carrier by reference (i.e. the short form simply refers to the main contract as an existing document, whereas the long form of a bill of lading (connaissement intégral) issued by the carrier sets out all the terms of the contract of carriage);

It is a receipt signed by the carrier confirming whether goods matching the contract description have been received in good condition (a bill will be described as clean if the goods have been received on board in apparent good condition and stowed ready for transport); and

It is also a document of transfer, but not a negotiable instrument, i.e. it governs all the legal aspects of physical carriage but, unlike a cheque or other negotiable instrument, it does not affect ownership of the goods actually being carried. This matches everyday experience in that the contract a person might make with a commercial carrier like FedEx is separate from any contract for the sale of the goods to be carried.

Some moves take longer than others. This is because there are certain routes of auto transportation that are more common than others. For example, one of the most common and popular routes is from California to Florida, which results in a large number of companies driving that route constantly and makes that move less expensive and faster to move.

If a certain route is not as common due to the origin and the destination of the vehicle and the number of vehicles being moved to and from that location annually, it may take longer for a driver to be dispatched to that location. Other considerations that affect the time of transport include whether or not your vehicle is located near a major freeway or is headed to an international port or Canada.

To get an estimation on the time it will take to move your vehicle, feel free to call us or submit a free car shipping quote request online!