Lakeside Car Shipping Company, CA

Safe And Reliable Lakeside Auto Transport Services With A-1 Auto Transport

Lakeside is a community in San Diego County, California. The area is located 21 miles east of downtown San Diego and is home to Lake Jennings, San Vicente Reservoir, and El Capitan Reservoir, which offer residents and visitors to enjoy recreational water activities like wakeboarding and jet skiing. The presence of ranches, Lake Rodeo Grounds, and a permanent rodeo facility has made Lakeside's reputation as 'cowboy town' and 'rodeo town.'

If you're thinking of moving your Car to Lakeside, you should be careful not to trust any auto transport that appears first on the search engine. A car is an expensive and delicate investment that requires maximum care during transport. Before settling on a vehicle shipping company, you first need to understand the auto transport process and things to consider when choosing a company.

Auto Transport Pricing & Time To Ship Your Car Examples

*Prices and times are estimated. They can vary depending on the season and what type of vehicle you are shipping.

The Car Transport Process

The car shipping process might seem confusing and intimidating, especially if it's your first-time utilizing auto transport services. First, you need to clearly understand what you're looking for in a car transport company.

At a glance, here is a checklist of things you should understand before searching for a suitable car transport company.

• Your location
• Destination
• Specific details about your car (color, make, year of manufacture, model, estimated value)
• Specific handling details
• Expected recipient

The auto transport company will issue a non-obligation quote for shipping services based on the above details. If the customer is comfortable with the mentioned price, the two parties will sign an agreement before the car transport process begins.

The company will send a representative to pick your vehicle on the agreed pick-up date. How your car is picked and delivered to Lakeside will depend on how the car shipping company operates. Often, the transporter who picks your car from your home is the one to deliver it to the required destination. In other cases, the car shipping service representative will pick your car and move it to the company terminus before the actual transport begins.

Since most auto transport companies rely on economies of scale, they may delay delivery until multiple cars move in the same direction. Once the car arrives at the required destination, an authorized person should verify and accept delivery. The receiver will inspect the car, and if there are no issues, the remaining payment will be made, and the auto transport process will be complete.

How To Avoid Unreliable Car Transport Companies

Just like any other industry, you will not miss unscrupulous transporters in the auto transport industry. While the internet has made the search for auto transport companies pretty straightforward, it has increased the risk of scammers coming your way.

There are plenty of legitimate auto transport companies out there, but it is equally important to understand how to identify the right shipper.

Check their licensing status

It's a requirement for all car shipping companies in the US to register with the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA). A legitimate shipping company should also have a USDOT number and MC number. Be sure to ask the company representative to prove the existence of these numbers before signing any agreement. You may also want to check the transporters' history with FMCSA.

Pay Attention to The Website

Auto transport scammers know many customers begin searching for a shipping company online. This is why they will create fake websites to lure susceptible customers. Luckily, there is a way you can detect red flags when going through the website:

• A poorly designed website
• The website has little or no information about their services
• They have a single page
• Numerous typos and misspelled words
• No contact information or contacts provided are not working
• No credentials displayed (MC# or USDOT)

Check Reviews

Before choosing a car transport company, be sure to go through their reviews to get a feeling of what their previous customers think about their services. This information can be found on Yelp, Google Business, Facebook, and the Better Business Bureau.

Without a doubt, you would not want to choose a company with several negative reviews. A reputable company should have many good reviews and a few negative reviews if any. It's essential to note how the company deals with a few negative reviews. At the same time, try and stay away from a company that does not have reviews or customer feedback platforms.

Check Payment Methods

Another critical thing to consider when choosing an auto transport company is the payment options offered by the transporter. A scammer will ask you to make your payment through untraceable payment methods like wire transfers or cash.

Go for a company that accepts an assortment of or credit, debit, bank transfer, or invoice payments. Aside from security, you should also check the availability of the payment method provided by the shipping company.

Insurance Cover

It's a requirement for all moving companies offering car transport services to have an up-to-date insurance cover. Before signing up to a car transport company, read through all the insurance clauses to ensure your car is covered entirely. The insurance cover only takes liability for your car; therefore, it's important to unload your items from the car before handing them over to the auto transport company.

Preparing Your Car for Shipping

Hiring a car transport company is the best solution for conveniently moving your car to a new location. It's not enough to choose the best auto transport company in the market; there are a few things you can do to prepare your vehicle for shipping.

Gather Your Car's Document

Before receiving the car, the transporter will need proof that the car belongs to you. To avoid delays or inconveniences, you should gather your vehicle's document in advance. Some of the documents you may be required to show include proof of car insurance, driver's license, bill of sale or ownership, vehicle title, and any other depending on the auto transport company.

Thoroughly Wash Your Car

Washing your car before hand over makes it easier for you to identify any scratches or dings on your car. This is because dirt or dust can make it difficult to pinpoint dings and scratches during the inspection. Identifying any damages that could have occurred during transport is easier with a clean vehicle. Furthermore, moving around with a clean-looking car gives you confidence!

Take The Car for General Maintenance

Before handing over the car to the shipping company, you may want to take it for general maintenance to be secure. Some of the issues to look at include fluid levels, battery condition, tires including the spare, undercarriage leaks, and any other thing advised by your mechanic.

Unload Your Items

You don't want items to get damaged or stolen during transport, so it's best to take everything out of your vehicle. Leaving some of the items you may need in the new location can appear to be a non-issue but is never a good idea. Unload items like air fresheners, phone chargers, jewelry, and any other item you may have in your vehicle.

Ensure Low Fuel

Ensure the gas tank is ¼ full before handing it over to the shipping company. Filling the car poses a safety hazard and adds unnecessary weight to the car. Given that the vehicle is being hauled by a carrier, additional weight only increases the shipping cost.

Professional Car Transport With A-1 Auto Transport

Now that you understand everything about the auto transport process, it's easier for you to pick a car transport company that suits your needs. A-1 Auto Transport is a reliable car transport company that offers car transport services to Lakeside or any other location in the US.

Our auto transport options range from enclosed carriers, open carriers, door-to-door deliveries, and terminal to terminal deliveries. All the customers we have served are happy with our services; you can read their opinions in the customer review section on our website.

If you have any questions or concerns about our services, contact us through email or call and we'll respond soon. Visit the A-1 Auto Transport website now and make your booking!

Neighborhood Areas We Serve

Our auto transport services are proud to help with your move in any of the neighborhoods you see below. And if you don't see your neighborhood listed here, don't worry because we can most likely provide our auto transport service there.

Includes ZIP codes:

92040