Door to door car transport service is the easiest car hauling scenario for the auto shipping customer. It allows for convenient pick-up and delivery times for the vehicle hauling client. In fact, door-to-door car shipping is offered by nearly all auto transport companies. It is a common auto hauling method.
Learn about door to door car transport service
What does door to door service mean?
- If you are buying a car from a dealership or private party, door-to-door auto transport means your vehicle will be picked up from whom you bought the vehicle and delivered to your address.
- If you are moving, sending a child to college or simply taking an extended trip or vacation and want to have your vehicle with you at your destination, door-to-door auto hauling service means the vehicle will be picked up at your address and delivered to your destination address.
Sometimes residential zoning laws and weight restrictions prohibit big trucks from entering neighborhoods. In that case the delivery will take place at a safe, convenient and mutually-agreed upon nearby location. A good rule of thumb is if you see tractor trailers regularly in your neighborhood, then pickup or delivery to your door shouldn’t be a problem. Terminal-to-terminal may mean you will have to travel to the nearest terminal storage yard used by the auto transporter.
A J&S truck loaded up with trucks!
Door to door transport is often less expensive than terminal to terminal transport
- If your car is shipped terminal-to-terminal, there are terminal storage fees that accumulate each day the vehicle is kept in the terminal yard.
Door to door car delivery service is more convenient than terminal to terminal service
- If you live in a rural location or not near a major metropolitan area a terminal may be several hundred miles away from you, which can add travel costs for you to get to the closest terminal yard to either pickup or drop off your vehicle.
Door to door vehicle transport service protocols
When you book door to door car delivery, you can expect:
- The auto hauling company or their driver will call you the day before they pick up your vehicle to confirm the pickup of the vehicle. Then they will call again about an hour or two before they arrive the day they pick up the vehicle so you know approximately when to expect them.
- The auto truck transport driver will call you the day before they deliver the vehicle and again a couple hours before they arrive on the day they deliver your vehicle to give you a heads up. This is to help make your car hauling transaction as smooth and stress free as possible.
Fully loaded and ready to be delivered!
Door to door car transport tips
- Go about your day as usual. The auto hauler will contact you before their arrival for pickup and delivery. If you aren’t available at the pickup or delivery times and locations, it is best to have a trusted representative there for you to do the vehicle inspection with the driver. Once the inspection is complete, you or your representative and the driver will agree upon and sign the condition report.
- Once the vehicle is loaded onto the car hauling trailer, the driver will give you or your representative a copy of the Bill Of Lading. Keep this document as it is very important for insurance purposes if you need to file a damage claim.
- Door to door auto delivery is available in MOST locations. Some situations may prevent door to door service. If you live on a hillside or mountainous area, the car hauler may not be able to make it all the way to your door step safely. Also, if big rigs are prohibited in an area or if the street is too small for the auto hauler to get in and maneuver, or if there are low hanging trees the car shipper will contact you and make arrangements to meet you at a nearby, convenient are that is safe for loading and unloading of the vehicle.
- Be mindful when you are booking your interstate car transport. Make sure you are getting door to door service if that is what you want. If you have any doubt regarding the service provided by your car delivery service, call them and ask if the quote you received is for door to door or terminal to terminal.
One last thing: always check out the car transport service you’ve chosen with ratings groups, government agencies and customer review sites. Good reviews mean more often than not mean you’ve made a wise auto hauling decision.
