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Shipping Hybrid and Electric Vehicles (Podcast)

August 26, 2021

Jeremy Louisos from Preowned Auto Logistics talks with John Maher about shipping hybrid and electric vehicles. He explains the process of shipping these vehicles and provides owners with advice on how much battery charge they should have when shipping their hybrid or electric vehicles.

John Maher: Hi, I’m John Maher and I’m here today with Jeremy Louisos, Senior Vice President at Preowned Auto Logistics, a car shipping and auto transport and logistics company in Massachusetts. And today our topic is shipping hybrid and electric vehicles. Welcome, Jeremy.

Jeremy Louisos: Hey John, thanks for having me.

Increase in Shipping Hybrid and Electric Vehicles

John: Sure. So Jeremy, have you been seeing more hybrid and electric vehicles being shipped recently? I’m certainly seeing more and more of them on the road.

Jeremy: For sure. So I think as the market just produces more of these vehicles, there’s more of these vehicles out there. We’ve definitely seen more. I was thinking back here the first time I ever jumped into a fully electric… it was a Tesla. First time I jumped in a Tesla was over 10 years. And it was kind of a rare one to see, but man, those kinds of vehicles and hybrids in general they’re just all over the place now. So as the market has expanded, we have certainly seen more of those vehicles being transported.

Considerations for Shipping Hybrid and Electric Vehicles

John: Right. Yeah, I’m certainly seeing those Teslas on the road more and more now. Almost every time I go out on the highway, I pass one at some point. Yeah. So are there any special considerations that need to be addressed before shipping a hybrid or an electric vehicle?

Jeremy: I mean, not really. So from our standpoint, what we’re doing is we’re inspecting the vehicle as we normally would with any other vehicle. The vehicle needs to be driven onto the truck like any other vehicle. It gets strapped down like any other vehicle, unloaded and passed off just like any other vehicle. So for us, there really isn’t that much difference to the driver. There’s not a whole ton different to that process. Obviously, the gas versus electricity consideration might be the only factor.

Ideal Battery Charge When Shipping Electric Vehicles

John: Yeah. So that brings up what I wanted to ask about, which was the sort of gas versus electric batteries. Normally when you go to pick up a car, you recommend that that car have a quarter to a half of a tank of gas, I think, in it so that it’s not too heavy.

But at the same time, there’s enough gas so that it can be driven on and off the truck a few times during the move as needed. What do you recommend in terms of having to charge up the batteries? Is it just, “Okay, we prefer that you have 100% battery charge before we pick up your car.” That kind of thing?

Jeremy: Yeah, that’d be the safest bet. So like you outlined, with the gas vehicles we need at least a quarter of a tank. As close to a quarter half tank maybe a max, ideal max of a weight consideration. We need to be able to drive the vehicle onto the truck and drive it off of the truck. So it’s not going to be using much of that gas. We want to make sure it’s available to not get in any situation where we’re having to go get gas.

And the same thing applies with the electric vehicles, except for the fact that the additional electricity doesn’t weigh down the vehicle anymore.

John: Right.

Jeremy: So why not throw a 100% charge onto that thing? It’ll make it easier for us to drive it on, drive it off. We’ve had some situations where the driver gets on scene and they go to load the vehicle and there’s no charge. And we’ll figure it out, right? We’ll get some extension cords, do what we got to do. But it just makes everything a lot smoother if that vehicle can easily be operated enough to be driven on and off the truck. So I think a 100% charge, if you can get that done, that would be great. But at least enough to drive it on and off the truck.

Is There a Risk of Battery Depletion While Shipping Electric/Hybrid Vehicles?

John: Not having an electric vehicle myself, I don’t even know the answer to the question. But are there any issues in terms of the depletion of a battery by just sitting there over the course of a few days if you’re traveling across the country with a car? Do you have to worry about the battery draining just while it’s sitting on the back of the truck or anything like that?

Jeremy: So I always recommend you look at your manufacturer’s recommendations on something like that, but we have not seen that be a challenge at all.

John: That’s good. Yeah. And you should probably check it out too, depending on the season. Maybe in the winter time, your battery might drain in the cold weather more than it would in the warmer weather or something like that. So like you said, “Always best to sort of check on the specs.”

Jeremy: Yep, exactly.

Driver Experience With Electric/Hybrid Vehicles

John: Do all the truck drivers understand how to deal with hybrid and electric vehicles? And I know a lot of newer cars have these sort of keyless ignitions where you just have to have the key fob somewhere near the car and then it will unlock. And you can just hit the start button and it will start right up. And do all the truck drivers understand how to deal with those types of cars?

Jeremy: Yeah, no, that’s such an interesting question. So I think back to when I had started with seeing my first electric vehicle or being in my first electric vehicle over 10 years ago, now my first Tesla. I think to the public and especially folks that have not jumped into EV or anything like that yet. This technology seems pretty new. It’s funny how the industry that we’re in and especially the drivers, they’re probably some of the first people to see the new wave of vehicles when they come out.

John: Right.

Jeremy: So for them, I mean, this is something that they’ve been doing for over a decade. They’ve been working with these cars. I think it was probably a driver who taught me how to start my first Tesla. So these guys are pros. They see it first. They’ve been doing it for a while. No concerns there whatsoever.

Contact PAL to Ship Hybrid/Electric or Gas Vehicles

John: Right. Any final thoughts on shipping hybrid and electric vehicles?

Jeremy:  Yeah, I guess the final takeaway would be for us, it really ends up being another vehicle that we’d be pleased to help you ship. It’s the same deal. We’re pros. We know how to gas, electric hybrid and send it our way. We’d be happy to ship it for you.

John: All right. Well, that’s really great information, Jeremy. Thanks again for speaking with me.

Jeremy: It was a pleasure. Thank you, John.

John: And for more information, or to request a quote for your auto shipping needs, visit the website at preownedautologistics.com or call 8-7-7-5-4-2-1-9-5-5.

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Advanced Technology Integration for Dealerships (Podcasts)

August 19, 2021

Jeremy Louisos from Preowned Auto Logistics (PAL) talks with John Maher about advanced technology integration for dealerships. He explains the challenges dealerships have when shipping vehicles or moving vehicles between their locations. Then, he talks about how the PAL portal can be integrated with dealership management systems (DMS) to provide real-time, automated inventory tracking.  

John Maher: Hi, I’m John Maher. I’m here today with Jeremy Louisos, Senior Vice President at Preowned Auto Logistics, a car shipping and auto transport and logistics company in Massachusetts. And our topic today is advanced technology integration for dealerships. Welcome, Jeremy.

Jeremy Louisos: Hey, John. Thanks for having me.

The Technology Dealerships Use for Inventory Tracking

John: Absolutely. So Jeremy, tell me a little bit about what types of advanced technology dealerships use for things like inventory and location tracking of the cars that are in their inventory and things like that.

Jeremy: I would say that it really varies quite a bit. We work with a number of dealerships that approach that challenge differently. I think we’re pretty far away from the days where there was just a keyboard, and I don’t mean a keyboard for a computer, a board with rows of keys and that was how they would manage with key tags.

They’re still using the key tags, still have the board of keys there, but they’ve brought technology computers in. At least some basic inventory management for most of the dealerships that we work with. There are some, especially larger groups that might get a little bit more sophisticated and there are some groups that are pretty light on the technology side. They’re using a basic system. I mean, some are even running off of things like Excel still.

We see a wide range, but some of the basics that are pretty uniform across most of the customers we work with is they’re going to have a way of keeping track of what’s on their lot. So, a vehicle comes in, they’re going to enter it into their DMS, a dealership management system, or maybe an inventory management system. They’re going to have some way of logging in a new vehicle, assigning a stock number, and putting the basics of the vehicle in.

And then it will track its time at the dealership. A lot of that software will allow the dealerships to write deals, connect with customers. Some more sophisticated software might even integrate with some marketing tools, allow them to push their inventory to different places on the internet. And then once the vehicle has been sold, they close it out and they know that it’s no longer part of their inventory.

So all the systems work on that level. What we found is a lot of those systems have the limitation of really managing what is onsite. And it’s a little trickier, especially when you have these larger motor groups, to pull it all together, which is a place that we’d like to come in and help a little bit.

Inventory Challenges for Dealerships With Multiple Locations

John: Right. So like you said, when you have these larger motor groups, you’ve got maybe dozens even of locations all around, in different states and things like that.

And not only did they each have their own inventory, but they have inventory of their cars that they’re trading back and forth and, “You take that one and we’ll take that one,” and that sort of thing. So that must add to the complexity of a system like that where they have to keep track of all these cars on multiple lots.

Jeremy: Exactly. Yeah, exactly. Yeah. It can become a real challenge. The more locations you have, the more vehicles you have coming and going, it can become a trickier challenge for these dealerships for sure.

John: Right.

Jeremy: But that’s where we like to introduce ourselves.

Technology to Track Internal Shipping for Dealerships

John: Preowned Auto Logistics handles a lot of that car shipping, and not just shipping of customers cars to other locations when they’re moving, but shipping of cars for dealerships. Whether it’s from one dealership to a different automotive group or within an automotive group from one location to another.

And so, what is the technology that PAL has that you can offer to a dealership and to integrate with their systems, to help them with these issues?

Jeremy: This is where it gets really exciting for me. This is a part of this industry that I really love. So we laid out the challenge. We have folks that have vehicles coming and going from different locations. They might have different buyers that are purchasing, they might have trade-ins that have come in. They might be swapping.

Maybe the groups are working that out or the dealerships are working that out, where they’re sending one to a sister store. Or there could be a central management team that’s moving lots of inventory. And so new stuff coming in and stuff swapping out, stuff being sold. It’s coming and going everywhere.

Reducing Unnecessary Communication About Vehicle Locations

Jeremy: One of the things that we found early on, we were getting lots of communications. Folks were emailing, calling, trying to figure out, “Hey, I have the keys for this car, but I don’t know where the vehicle is,” or, “My management system is showing that this car was supposed to be at this store, but someone’s asking me at the other store if they have it.”

And so we initially were trying to cut down on that communication. And a lot of these folks, especially the regional managers, they were saying, “Just go to Preowned Auto Logistics, go to PAL. They’ll tell you where that vehicle is.” We realized, man, we’re moving these things all over the place for these dealerships. But by a virtue of us keeping that transportation record, we pride ourselves on keeping a very clean database. By having that record, we end up having the perfect database to know where all the dealerships’ vehicles are at any given time.

And so we thought, “Wow, wouldn’t it be cool to somehow pass that information out,” something a little more automated than just waiting for the panicked phone call. Give the customers peace of mind, we’ll cut down on communication, but this is really a value add for our clients.

So the first iteration of that for us were these nightly email updates. Our management system, our database, would send out notifications and we still use this techno … This is a great way to start on that auto transportation technology path in my opinion. We’ll flip that on, just any client that comes into our data ecosystem, we’ll just flip them onto those nightly email updates and they just get a rundown.

They can see every vehicle that was moved within a period of that day, every vehicle they have shipped with us, or even in a shipping status like it’s been dispatched or it’s on a truck, or it landed at the dealership that day. And they always get that rundown and know exactly where everything is for location. That’s especially helpful for those smaller dealerships that have that single shingle. And they’re just viewing their inventory, it cuts down that communication.

Online Customer Portal for Real-Time Vehicle Tracking

Jeremy: But what about the folks that are running a whole bunch of stores? Well, that’s where we upped the game a little bit and we rolled out … I think we’ve been running strong for about six or seven years with our PAL Portal. This is an online customer portal where a customer can jump on the internet, log into their PAL Portal. And now they can see in real time those same statuses they would get in the nightly update, but they can also do things like VIN search.

Really the first feature that folks fall in love with, “Hey, where the heck is this vehicle? Well, I’m going to pop into my PAL Portal that I have running in the background all day, pop that VIN in.” And you can see every move that that vehicle has ever made. And you’ll say, “Bingo, it’s at this store. We moved it last week from New Jersey to New Mexico.”

And so by giving our customers that level of access in real time, man, it really ups the level of visibility, clarity. Cuts down on their challenge of having to manage all the inventory.

John: Right.

Jeremy: Yeah, so there’s a lot there and really, that’s a good place to start, but the rabbit hole goes deeper.

Integrating PAL Portal and Dealership Management System

John: Right. So tell me a little bit more about how the PAL Portal then gets integrated maybe into the DMS or IMS system that a dealership already has, so that they talk well with each other.

Jeremy: So we’ve invested heavily in technology. There’s two things that we really pride ourselves on. It’s customer service… that has to be number one. We have a team of experts here that know the industry inside and out. They can help you with anything and we’ll bend over backwards to do so. But to keep up, that’s the bedrock, but you need the technology piece.

So we’ve really focused on growing our technology as we’ve developed, especially the last 10 years, we’ve put a big emphasis on that. So we actually have in-house developers that can do really automagic things, how I like to put it. So you might have your DMS, your dealership management system, you have a car checked in. And then you say, “All right, well, this is one that I want to ship to, let’s say, an auction.”

You will have a status that you change it to, a transportation status or to auction status or whatever your management system might say. We can set up … There’s a few different ways we can do it. We can do it through old fashioned FTP sends. A lot of what we do now is through APIs, the system will generate a transmission in our system. That status update will trigger an order generated in our system.

We send out a confirmation email or however the client likes to communicate with us, verify that things are good to go, and that’s it. There was no need to call, email, there was nothing. Just by doing what they do, deciding to transport that vehicle, they’ve now automagically connected with their auto transportation service and we’re off to the races.

So that right now to me is about as cutting edge as what’s out there. We can provide the dealerships, the information as to where everything is. And then when they’re looking to make the decisions as to how they want to move this stuff around, we are in real time creating orders and making those moves, without them doing anything other than clicking a button in their own system.

Setting Up Advanced Technology for Dealerships

John: And what’s involved in getting that set up, how long does that generally take?

Jeremy: Yeah, it really depends on the setup. We’ve done some really complicated, large setups that, as challenging as they, we’ve got it down to about a week. For a lighter setup we might be able to get it done in a few days.

So we’re not talking about a big time commitment, especially for our customers. We have the stuff built, we know it, we’re experts at it. We can get folks set up very quickly.

Advantages of Integrating the PAL Portal and DMS

John: And again, just what are some of the advantages then once a dealership has the PAL Portal and their DMS connected like that. What’s the feedback that you get from dealerships in terms of how it changes the way that they do their business?

Jeremy: It’s funny, I think at our best you don’t know we’re there.

John: Yeah.

Saves Time by Automating Processes

Jeremy: So at our best, this stuff’s just happening. And the dealerships, these folks have a very important job in front of them. They’re selling cars and it’s a tough gig, especially right now. And it’s just, they’re so focused on that, that we rather them not notice us at all. For them the experience is just happening.

It’s when we have someone that maybe has been working at one location and then they go to a new dealership that’s not using us. And they say, “Oh, what the heck is going on here? I got to do all this work again?” So that’s when we get the feedback, it’s when they’re not using it anymore.

John: Right.

Jeremy: But yeah, typically the feedback is, yeah, this stuff is … We don’t have to think about it… it makes it nice and easy. They love it.

Offers Instant Quotes and Estimated Times of Arrival

And if I could just throw one thing in, John, and I could talk about this stuff for days. I hate to go on and on, but the final step here is we can actually tie in their … Some dealerships are using a number of peripheral services that can also be brought in. So we can provide instant transportation quotes and ETA’s, and all that kind of stuff once we do the advanced integration.

So that’s a newer one we’ve just been doing the past few years. But to me, if we’re talking cutting edge, that’s the one I’d want to put on … Anyone listening? That’s the one to have on your radar, it’s some cool stuff.

Contact PAL to Learn About Technology for Dealerships

John: Right, awesome. All right. Well, that’s really great information, Jeremy. Thanks again for speaking with me today.

Jeremy: Appreciate it.

John: And for more information or to request a quote for your auto shipping needs or to learn more about the PAL Portal, visit the website at preownedautologistics.com or call eight, seven, seven, five, four, two, one, nine, five, five.

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Door-to-Door Car Shipping

August 15, 2021

Make shipping your car even more effortless when you opt for door-to-door car shipping with Preowned Auto Logistics. This auto transport service is easy to use and helps you arrange for your car’s pickup from your location instead of needing to drop it off at our terminal. Learn more about our door-to-door car shipping services below.

How Door-to-Door Car Shipping Works

When you choose to use our door-to-door car shipping, your driver will come directly to your location for pickup. We will inspect the vehicle before loading and again upon delivery to ensure the vehicle is in the same condition. After loading the car onto the truck, your driver will deliver it directly to your new location. All you have to do is provide addresses for the pickup and drop-off locations; we’ll do the rest.

Benefits of Door-to-Door Auto Shipping

Easier

Although finding a Preowned Auto Logistics drop-off terminal is easy because of our numerous locations, our door-to-door services are an even better option for saving you time on your move.

Saves Time

When you choose to use the door-to-door car shipping service, you can book your auto transport and then spend your time getting everything else ready for your move. We’ll handle the pickup and delivery, and all we’ll need from you is a signature. Shipping your car from door to door eliminates your need to drop off your vehicle at the closest PAL location.

Convenience

Dropping off your car can be easy under the right circumstances, but setting a time for a friend to pick you up from the PAL terminal can be a hassle. When we pick up your vehicle from your driveway, you won’t have to arrange transportation away from our drop-off facility. Instead, your driver will come straight to you.

Risk-Free

Because we perform multiple inspections of your vehicle, you will be able to rest assured that PAL’s door-to-door car shipping will take care of your car from beginning to end. Our risk-free services are just one of the reasons customers come back to us time and time again.

Is Door-to-Door Car Shipping Worth It?

Depending on the vehicle you are shipping, the accessibility of your pickup location, and your budget for shipping your car, door-to-door shipping can be a great way to save you stress and time. We will work with you to assess your needs on a case-by-case basis to get the service that works best for you and your vehicle.

The door-to-door auto transport services are more expensive than using a drop-off terminal. However, in some cases, the increased convenience and time saved are well worth it. When you call for your custom quote, we’ll work with you to determine what services will suit your needs.

Why Should You Choose Preowned Auto Logistics?

Preowned Auto Logistics is the most trusted auto shipping company in the Northeast. We provide high-quality customer service from friendly and knowledgeable staff to give you a stress free experience. Paying for your car’s shipping is easy because we accept all major credit cards, PayPal, cash, and checks.

You can enjoy our risk-free service that helps you save time and money on moving your car all over the USA. Our reliable door-to-door service provides you with the best car shipping experience.

Get The Best Rate on Door-to-Door Auto Shipping﹘ Request a Quote Today

When you book your door-to-door auto shipping with PAL, you can stress less about your move! Give us a call at 877.542.1955 and receive a custom quote.

FAQs

Q: How do I get my vehicle ready for pickup?

A: There are a few simple steps to getting your car ready for pickup. Follow this easy checklist, and you’ll be all set for your car shipping service with PAL:

  1. Remove any Fast/Sun Pass from the vehicle or cover it in aluminum foil or a foil shielding bag. PAL will not be responsible for any tolls incurred during transit from Pass readings.
  2. To avoid excess weight, ensure your vehicle has ¼ of a tank of gas.
  3. Thoroughly clean the vehicle so that your driver can perform a complete inspection of the exterior and interior before loading it onto the truck.
  4. Remove all personal items from the vehicle; this includes GPS, chargers, and Bluetooth adaptors.

Learn more about how to prepare your vehicle for successful transport.

Q: Do I need to be present for pickup and drop-off?

A: A signature will be required for pickup and drop-off when your driver performs the inspection of the vehicle. This paperwork requires the customer’s signature to ensure both parties agree that the car is in the same condition at pickup and delivery. In some cases, you can arrange for a representative to sign for you.

Q: Will my vehicle be driven?

A: No. Your car is only driven on and off of the truck. It will NEVER BE DRIVEN otherwise. Please let your driver know ahead of time if the vehicle is not operational to allow us to plan for loading and unloading the car.

Customer Reviews

“Super experience!  I was referred by a friend, and they didn’t disappoint. Mike quoted a fee, and that is what it was. Quick and easy over the phone. Easy to pay. I was called in a few days, and Joseph came to pick it up. It was obvious that this wasn’t his first rodeo. Don’t think you could find better company. Great staff. Thanks so much for turning a problem into a solution. Thanks. Be well. Stay safe”

– Dale Mabry

“Lisa was extremely helpful from beginning to end. She was able to get a driver to transport my car within 3 days of booking it and kept me updated through the entire process. The driver was able to drop my car off right in my driveway, making the whole transfer easy.

– Isabella Randazzo

Read more customer reviews

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Moving Tips — Shipping Your Car (Podcast)

August 9, 2021

Mike Scenna, Sales Manager at Preowned Auto Logistics, sits down with John Maher to discuss moving tips. In this podcast, he explains how to get your vehicle to your new home during a long distance move when it’s not feasible to drive your car, and they look at the advantages of shipping your car compared to driving it to the new location.

John Maher: Hi, I’m John Maher and I’m here today with Mike Scenna, Sales Manager at Preowned Auto Logistics, a car shipping and auto transport and logistics company in Massachusetts. Today our topic is moving tips, shipping your car. Welcome Mike.

Mike Scenna: Hey John. Thanks for having me.

Why Shipping Your Vehicle Is Better Than Driving

John: Sure. So Mike, when you’re moving, why is shipping your car generally better than just getting in it and driving your car to your destination?

Mike: Sure. So this is obviously a question I get asked a lot and there are tons of reasons why shipping your car is better than driving it. For starters, it’s kind of an exhausting journey, depending on how far you’re going to drive a car. If it’s across the country, you’re talking about several days on the road, several hours on the road a day, staying at hotels, navigating through places that you’re not necessarily familiar with, which comes with planning the trip.

So aside from just the time you’re spending on the road, there’s time prior to get ready, to just kind of plan out your route, decide where you’re going to stay at night, and where are you going to eat. There’s a lot that goes into it. It takes up quite a bit of your time. It takes a lot less time to just get on a plane and fly somewhere and have your car waiting for you on the other end.

Also, it’s a really common misconception that it’s cheaper to drive. People want to just hop in their car and drive somewhere because they think it’s going to cost too much money to ship the car, which is really not true. If you take the time to break down the cost of how much you’re going to spend on gas, the depreciation of the vehicle from adding those miles to it, the hotel costs, the food, the time off of work, these things add up quickly. And we usually find that it ends up costing you more money to drive somewhere than it does to ship your car. So, I mean, yeah, time and money, you’re saving on both of them by shipping rather than driving.

Shipping Vehicles Helps Avoid Long, Tiring Drives

John: Right. And I think you can’t underestimate the exhaustion of making those types of trips, especially if it’s a long way and you have to do it over two or three days. I know that the most that I like to drive in the car in a day is maybe about 10 hours or so. I think I’ve done as much as about 15, but that’s like a killer long day for one person to drive. How long have you driven in one car in one day?

Mike: Yeah. And like you said, that’s a lot. Me personally, my max is about 10 that I’ve done and that’s about the most I want to do. And I only did it one time. So that’s the other part of it. It sounds like you have some experience with long drives and I’ve done it once before, but most people don’t and if you haven’t done a road trip or driven across the country, chances are the most you’ve ever driven is really two or three hours.

So you go to plan a trip and you’re five, six hours into your drive and you say to yourself, wow, this is not something I want to do. I’ve never done it before and I did not think it was going to be like this. I was not ready for this.

John: Right and now you’re stuck. You’re eight or 10 hours away from home and you’ve got the prospect of two more days ahead of you of doing the same thing. And you’re like, why did I ever do this?

Mike: Right. And that was my experience. It was out to Austin, Texas and yet my car ended up on a truck shipped back and I was on a plane.

How Far in Advance to Book Car Shipping

John: Right, right. So how far in advance should you plan for your car shipping? If you do decide, you know what? Driving is probably not for me. I am going to ship it. How much warning does a car shipping company need?

Mike: Sure. There are lots of companies out there that are able to accommodate a last minute request. Personally, here we can usually help people out pretty last minute, like a day before a couple of days before. But I always tell people if you want to be prepared and make sure things go exactly the way you’re looking for them to go, it’s good to reach out about six weeks prior to the move.

Logistics of Shipping a Vehicle During a Move

John: Okay. Yeah. Good information. And then if I’m moving, but I can’t arrange for my moving company that’s coming and packing up my house, all the boxes and putting them in a truck and moving, and I’ve also contacted a car shipping company to come and ship my car. But I can’t manage to arrange for both of those things to happen on the same day, what are some of the logistical issues with this? Maybe they have to pick up the car a day or two before the movers come, or maybe I’m gone already and then they have to come to pick up my car and I’m not there because it’s two days later. What are some of the things like that, that you deal with?

Mike: Yeah. So that’s a great point and a great question. I get asked all the time, people set up their move and they say, “All right, this is the day the movers are coming, Mike, and this is the date. So we need the car picked up this day.” And they just sort of assume everything needs to happen on the same day.

And once we talk through it with them, we’re able to help them realize why they’re looking for this to happen on the same day? It might be better for you to have your car picked up earlier, or maybe it is the same day that you do need, we can help you with that. But you just really need to think about what you need on the origin end and what you need to get done, where you need to be.

Do you need a car? Do you not need a car? And what it’s like at the destination. And so maybe you have a car where you’re packing up and you don’t necessarily need a second one up here and you think, okay, I don’t want this to happen on the same day. We’d rather have it picked up a week prior and know that it’s at the destination when we get there and we have a car.

I’ve helped people out before who’ve had other experiences and have told me that they had everything done on the same day and they got where they needed to be and realized, wow, I’m going to have to wait a week. I’m up here for a week without my car and had to rent a car. So it’s really about what your resources are like on each end and what makes the most sense for you to do.

Getting Your Car to Your New Home Before You Arrive

John: Maybe the couple of days before you’re actually moving, before the moving company is coming, maybe you don’t really need your car. I mean, I’ve gone an entire weekend at least, or a few days just kind of hanging around my house and not really driving anywhere or using my car. So you could have a window there, especially if you’re still packing up boxes in your house. You’re spending a lot of time in your house, just packing. Maybe you don’t really need your car and you could arrange for the car shippers to come a couple of days ahead of time, pick it up and get it to your destination before you get there.

Mike: Right. And chances are, if you’re moving… So you’re at your house, you’ve been at for years, this is where your friends and family are. You’re going somewhere new, somewhere unfamiliar. You probably have friends and family in the area that can drive you around and help you out until the day of the move.

But when you get to that other end, that’s where you realize what you really rely on the vehicle. Now you’re somewhere where you don’t know anyone. You need to immediately go out and do some food shopping. You have some last minute items you have to go out and grab and if you’re sitting there without the car, it can cause a lot of money taking Uber’s or renting a car. So most of the time it’s easier to be without the car on that origin end.

Shipping Two Vehicles During a Long-Distance Move

John: I think you alluded to one possible solution, which would be, if you have two cars. Say a husband and wife and they each have a car, do you ever pick up one of the cars, say a week before the move and get that out there to the destination. And then you move and then your second car gets picked up a little bit later and moved because then at least that way you have one car at each location when you need it when you’re there, is that an option?

Mike: Yep and that’s what we do the majority of the time. Most households own more than one car and almost always we’re staggering the shipment of the vehicles for that reason. And, I find it actually kind of surprising when I bring that up. These people have that kind of aha moment where they were looking, what day are you going to pick both cars up?

And we say to them, why don’t we do it like this? We’ll pick the first one up a week, two weeks ahead of time. You’ll have to share a car for a week or two, but when you get where you’re going, you’ll have a car there and you can have that other car shipped… you keep that right up until the day that you actually leave. So you’re not without a car on the origin. So, yeah, we always suggest that to people, and the majority of the time they go with that option.

Guidance for the Car Shipping Process

John: Right. But I could understand them not thinking that that’s even an option. A, that it might cost a lot more to do that and then B, the movers aren’t coming and picking up half the stuff in my house and moving it out there and then coming back for the other half or that kind of thing. So I think that just doesn’t enter into people’s mind that that’s even a possibility.

Mike: Yes. Yeah. That’s a good point. Like you just said, they don’t think of it like these are the cars I own, I have to move them. Let’s come and get them. Like you just said, it’s not half the house and then the other half. So it’s not really something people think of and we try to keep that in mind here. We know we ship automobiles, something that people don’t need to do often. So when we get a call in or request, we like to walk people through the process and ask the questions that may have not entered their mind and really help make the experience as polished and easy as possible.

Contact Preowned Auto Logistics for Car Shipping

John: All right. Well, that’s really great information, Mike. Thanks again for speaking with me today.

Mike: Yeah. Thanks, John.

John: And for more information, or to request a quote for your auto shipping needs, visit the website at Preownedautologistics.com or call 877-542-1955.

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Customer Service and Car Shipping

August 5, 2021

When you ship your car using an auto transport company, you’ll want to find a company that can meet all your needs and offers incredible customer service. At PAL, we provide that personal touch to your experience that sets us apart from our competitors. If you are considering shipping your car, motorcycle, or other vehicles, learn why so many choose to use Preowned Auto Logistics for their car shipping needs.

Why is Customer Service with Car Shipping Important?

Shipping your car means you are entrusting a company with your vehicle for the duration of the transportation. For many people, this gives them a stress-free experience moving their vehicle across the country or overseas. That peace of mind comes from choosing an auto shipping company that you can trust.

At PAL, we are dedicated to providing an outstanding customer experience. Our drivers are all highly experienced transportation professionals that make customer service their top priority. We want you to feel good about your car shipping services, from drop-off to delivery every time.

How PAL Makes Car Shipping Easy

At PAL, we make car shipping easy by providing options and reliability so that you can choose the services that best fit your needs. Our team has over twenty years of experience providing high-quality auto transport services across the USA and internationally. We provide open and enclosed car shipping services so that you can choose the right type of transportation for your vehicle, whether it’s a luxury sports car or a family sedan.

Our drop-off terminals located throughout the US make it easy to find a PAL facility near you! Additionally, we offer door-to-door services. If you choose our door-to-door option, your driver will pick up your vehicle straight from your location and deliver it directly to your new destination.

You can use PAL to ship all kinds of vehicles, including luxury vehicles, motorcycles, power-sports vehicles, boats, and other recreational vehicles. No matter what you need to ship, PAL is here to make your experience easy.

Reasons to Choose Auto Transport with Preowned Auto Logistics

Reliability

PAL is the most trusted auto shipping company in the Northeast. We pride ourselves on our experienced drivers dedicated to providing you updates on your vehicle’s transportation throughout the journey. Our customers come back time and time again because they know PAL will get your vehicle delivered on time every time.

Professionalism

Everyone at Preowned Auto Logistics works to ensure your experience is stress-free and easy. We will happily answer any of your questions about your vehicle’s transportation and even offer on-demand updates from your driver!

Fully Insured Modern Fleet

No matter what you need to ship, PAL has the equipment to make it happen! We have an extensive carrier network to provide the auto shipping experience you need to feel good about your vehicle’s transportation. No matter what kind of shipping service you choose with PAL, your car will be fully insured while in transit.

Friendly and Knowledgeable

Our friendly staff is one of the reasons that so many of our customers come back to PAL whenever they need their cars shipped. Preowned Auto Logistics is a family-owned business, so we understand the value of adding a personal touch to every customer’s experience. Whenever you speak with our team, we’ll be ready to answer any of your questions, provide you with timely quotes, and more.

Customers Rave About PAL

PAL is one of the top car shipping companies in the USA because of our outstanding customer service and car shipping options. But, don’t take our word for it!  Read hundreds of reviews from previous customers who loved their experience with PAL.

Sample Customer Reviews

“It was great working with Josh!! Communication was on point, and car was delivered on the exact date. Would definitely recommend this company over any other shipping company!!!”

– Chinda Tham

“I recently hired preowned auto logistics to ship a brand new car from MA to MN. I worked with Jake, and he was professional, helpful, and communicative throughout the whole process, especially when I had to change the departure date.  The driver called my daughter the day before he got to MN, and they worked out a delivery time and  place that worked for both of them.”

– Michele Cohen

Read more customer reviews

Get The Best Rate on Car Shipping﹘ Request a Quote Today

Preowned Auto Logistics provides risk-free car shipping across the USA and all over the globe! Give us a call at 877.542.1955 and receive a custom quote for your auto transport needs.

FAQs

Q: Is my car insured during shipment?

A: Yes! We cover your car fully while it is in our care under our cargo insurance policy. This policy does not cover any personal items left inside the vehicle, so please remember to remove everything before drop-off.

Q: Do you offer door-to-door services?

A: Yes! Our door-to-door service is available for anyone who wants to have their car delivered straight to their door. This service provides additional convenience at a higher cost than terminal services, so most customers choose to use a terminal drop-off for their car shipping.

Q: Do you haul boats, trucks, motorcycles, and power-sport vehicles?

A: Yes! We can haul all of your vehicles! Just talk to our team at PAL to learn about shipping motorcycles, recreational vehicles, and more!

 

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Moving Tips: Permanent Vs Seasonal Moves (Podcast)

August 2, 2021

Mike Scenna, Sales Manager at Preowned Auto Logistics, talks about the pros and cons of shipping your vehicle during a permanent or seasonal move. He covers the differences between these two types of moves and helps listeners examine the extra costs of driving and storing vehicles, compared to shipping.

John Maher: Hi, I’m John Maher. I’m here today with Mike Scenna, Sales Manager at Preowned Auto Logistics, car shipping and auto transport and logistics company in Massachusetts. Today, our topic is moving tips, permanent versus seasonal moves. Welcome, Mike.

Mike Scenna: Hey John, thanks for having me.

Differences in Permanent and Seasonal Moves

John: Sure. So Mike, what are some differences when people are moving permanently, maybe they bought a new house, in another state even, and they’re completely packing up their house and everything in their house, they’re moving to another state, versus moving seasonally where you might just be moving to a different state for the winter, so you’re going to Florida for the winter, and then you’re moving back to your regular house for the rest of the year. What are some of the differences there?

Mike: Yeah, sure. Lots of differences. Either way, moving permanently or seasonally, it’s a really big task. There’s a lot that goes into it. It’s something that most people don’t have a ton of experience with, but there are a lot of differences to look into whether you’re moving permanently or moving seasonally.

Permanent Moves

Mike: Permanently, of course, you’re uprooting your entire life. Like you said, you’re completely emptying out the house and you’re getting all your stuff into a truck and moving to another house that you have to fill up from scratch. It’s completely empty. The first thing you really need to think about when moving permanently is this isn’t a one-, two-, three-day process. It’s not even a one-week process. It’s really a month or two process. You want to start thinking about packing probably a month or two prior to the move.

Depending on how long you’ve lived somewhere, people tend to accumulate things a lot quicker than they realize, so if you’ve been somewhere for 20 years, you probably have almost two months worth of organizing and packing. You want to keep that in mind, get a good grasp on how much stuff you have to pack up. You have to get movers in place and you need to talk to your movers and decide what’s the extent of what they’re going to do. Are they going to do some packing for you? Are they going to be loading the truck for you? Is it just driving the truck? There’s a lot of questions you need to ask when hiring a moving company.

If you’re going to do it yourself and rent a U-Haul, there’s even more questions to ask. What kind of materials are you using to pack up your items in order to prevent damage while they are on the truck? How are you packing the truck? How long are you going to be spending driving the truck? It’s just something you really want to think through.

And then of course, if you’re going to another state, you’re talking about changing residency, identification, information changes, registration on vehicles, all kinds of things like that that you’re going to want to take time to do. You don’t want to do all of that in one day, so you’ve really got to line up what it’s going to be like living at the new destination ahead of time.

Seasonal Moves

Mike: Seasonally, it’s not a small task, but not as much. Really, you want to think about what you’re going to need when you get where you’re going based on how long you’ll be there. What you need when you go somewhere for a week is a lot different than what you need when you go somewhere for, say, four or five months.

And, how often are you moving seasonally? Is it just this one season you’re going to move, or is this going to be something that you’re going to do on an annual basis? So you can start to decide, am I going to pay to ship all of these things if I’m only doing it occasionally, or does it make more sense to buy all new items for this place because I’ll be going back and forth for the next 20 years?

Just a lot of questions. You’ve just got to really stay on top of what you’re doing and prepare.

When to Call the Moving Company Before a Move

John: And how much, before the move, especially with a permanent move, do you think how far in advance should you call the moving company and get them scheduled and iron out all of those details?

Mike: Sure. That first phone call should really be as soon as you know you’re moving. Ideally, that amount of time should be, I would say, at least five or six months, because you want to make sure that the moving company is available for the time you need.

Those first couple of months are just a back and forth, a lot of questions and figuring out logistics until you come down to that two-month timeframe where it’s packing and getting ready for the actual move. So as much time as possible, but if you can get to that six-month mark starting the process, I think it helps quite a bit.

Communicating Effectively With Moving Companies

John: Right. And you said, make sure that you’re talking to the moving company and you know exactly what they’re planning on doing and that sort of thing. You don’t want to think that they are going to come and pack all the stuff in your house into boxes, and then they arrive and they go, “Why isn’t everything all packed into boxes?” And you have that miscommunication. That would be a bad situation.

Mike: Right. And it happens. So yeah, you definitely want to try to avoid it.

Logistics of Living in Two Homes During the Year

John: You mentioned before, with people moving seasonally, that you have to weigh that decision of how much do you want to keep moving back and forth, especially if you have someplace that you’re going every year, say.

Do people tend to buy two sets of most of the things that they need? They have a winter home and a summer home, and then maybe they have a lot of the things that they need either, if they own the house where they’re going to for, say, that winter, they can obviously keep it there. But if it’s a condo or something like that, that they own for just part of the year, they’re going to have to put that in storage, but maybe in storage nearby in that location?

What are some of those issues in terms of either purchasing things that are duplicate that they might need and storing things in other locations for when they’re not around?

Mike: Yeah. It depends on the individual situation. We see here, most commonly for seasonal movers is like you had just mentioned, someone who has a winter and summer home. So they’re up north in the summer and they’re heading down south in the winter and it’s somewhere close to a six months and six months split.

If that’s the case and you own both properties, it might seem overwhelming in the beginning to furnish a new place and buy all new sets of clothes, but in the long run, it will ultimately save you money. You can get very expensive shipping items back and forth across the country, also just as expensive storing them. So it definitely makes sense to own two sets of everything if you own two places and plan on going back and forth every year.

If you travel seasonally and go to different destinations and maybe you don’t go away for so long, you have your permanent address and you go places for a month or two, you could save some money by looking into things like places that are furnished with most of the things that you need there, that way you’re only bringing clothes and some essentials.

Again, shipping items can get very expensive, so no matter what your situation is, you always want to, if it’s seasonal moving, you want to limit the amount of items that you’re shipping back and forth.

Shipping Vs Driving for Permanent and Seasonal Moves

John: Right. What about shipping your car versus driving your car to your destination and how is that different for a permanent move versus a seasonal move?

Mike: Sure. Really, on both of them, it depends on your situation. Depending on how far you go, if you have the time to drive the car, or if it makes more sense to just hop on a plane and ship it.

If you’re moving permanently, it might be a little bit easier to make the drive. You get everything in the moving truck and you hop in the car and make the drive yourself. You’re only putting the miles on your car, that one time and it could be, you could have the time off work and it could make sense to just drive it. But in plenty of cases, it makes more sense to ship your vehicle for a permanent move.

Seasonally, depending on how much you drive in each area, that driving back and forth could really add miles to the car quickly so you might want to consider shipping it back and forth if it’s going to make two trips across the country each year.

And then you have to just really factor in costs and everything. How long is it going to take you to drive? How many hotels are you going to have to stay at? How many times you’re going to have to stop and eat? How much is gas going to cost? What’s the value of the wear and tear on the car? So just like anything when it comes to moving and vehicle shipping, it’s all about preparation and planning, so you just really want to know what to expect from your trip.

Challenges of Owning Separate Vehicles for Vacation Homes

John: Right. I’d imagine that some people might have two cars as well, the one that they keep up north and one that they keep down south as well.

But now you’re looking at other issues like having to register that car in both places, paying for registration, maybe you don’t have a garage that you’re storing it in, and one of those, so you have to pay somebody to garage your car for six months out of the year. there’s a lot of issues with that as well, right?

Mike: Yeah, you made some great points. We ship here a lot of folks seasonally from the Northeast down to Florida, and there are a lot of factors. As you said, there is car payment and registration, insurance. But aside from that, people need to look into the storage of the car. It gets really hot down in Florida and in the south, in the summer.

You can’t just be a car in the driveway. You can get a lot of problems from the sun just baking the car for several months, so if you’re going to leave it down south, most people store them in their own garage, but it also needs to be an air-conditioned storage. Florida’s full of auto places for vehicle storage that are AC storage. It’s very important to make sure it’s in storage with an AC. Again, you have to add all those costs up and decide which makes the most sense: to ship it or to pay for car payments, registration, insurance, storage.

Contact Us for an Auto Shipping Quote Today

John: All right. Well, that’s really great information, Mike. Thanks again for speaking with me today.

Mike:  Yeah, of course. Thanks, John.

John: And for more information or to request a quote for your auto shipping needs, visit the website at pre-owned auto logistics.com or call 877-542-1955.

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What You Need to Know About Motorcycle Shipping

July 30, 2021

Whether you are moving across the country for a new job or buying a motorcycle from across the country, motorcycle shipping is a reliable and risk-free way to transport your bike over long distances. Below, we’ll show you how motorcycle shipping works, answer FAQs about motorcycle shipping and explain the benefits of using PAL for shipping your motorcycle.

How Motorcycle Shipping Works

Shipping your motorcycle across the country or overseas isn’t as difficult as it seems. When transporting your bike across the USA, the shipping methods include train transportation and trailer transportation. Trailer transportation is the most common and provides the most effortless pickup and delivery processes.

When you choose to ship your motorcycle with Preowned Auto Logistics, you can either drop off your motorcycle at one of our facilities or request our door-to-door service. Our drivers will inspect your bike and load it onto the trailer to be transported to the new destination. Once your motorcycle arrives at the new destination, we will inspect it to ensure it is in the same condition it left in. This service makes it easy for you to travel without having to worry about driving your motorcycle across the country.

Benefits of Shipping Your Motorcycle

Driving your motorcycle across the country may seem like a fun road trip. However, when you are moving for work, buying or selling a motorcycle, or need to transport your bike without driving it, motorcycle shipping is a great option.

Whenever you drive your motorcycle, you are at risk for an accident; however, driving long distances on the highway increases the risk dramatically. You are bound to encounter problems like poor weather conditions, reckless drives, debris on the road, and more. Shipping your motorcycle is the safest way to get you and your bike to your new destination. Additionally, it will save you time and money to ship your motorcycle instead of driving it yourself.

What to Look for in a Motorcycle Shipping Company

Whenever you ship an expensive item like a car or a motorcycle, you’ll want to do some research about the company that’s moving your vehicle. Look for an auto shipping company that is highly reputable and provides coverage for your vehicle while in transit. You’ll want to ask your carrier about the shipping conditions for your bike, whether it will be an enclosed shipping trailer or an open shipping trailer. Additionally, you’ll need to ask the carrier about the pick-up and drop-off options.

How to Avoid Motorcycle Shipping Scams?

Once you’ve found a few carriers you like, get a quote for shipping your motorcycle. It’s essential to get multiple quotes so that you know what the standard pricing looks like. If you see any numbers that seem much below the average, you can safely assume that it is a scam. Many scammers try to bait you with low prices and then request additional payments. Some will even take the initial payment and then disappear after taking your money. Weed out potential threats by learning what most companies charge for motorcycle shipping.

How to Prepare Your Bike for Shipping

Once you’ve picked a company, you’ll need to set up a time to drop off your motorcycle or have it picked up from your home. Then, it’s time to get your bike ready to ship!

Remove All Personal Items

Before your bike is picked up for transportation, you should remove all personal items. This should include cameras, GPS, side bags, etc.

Battery & Fuel

Your carrier will need to load and unload the motorcycle, but you shouldn’t ship it with a full tank. Aim for ½ of a tank or less to ensure there’s enough fuel to move the bike, but not too much. Be sure to charge the battery before pickup.

Check Tires & Test for Leaks

Check for any leaks in your system, and be sure to repair them before transportation. Additionally, you should inflate your tires.

Unlock the Steering Wheel & Remove the Keys

Before pickup, be sure to unlock the steering wheel and remove the keys. This will help your driver load the bike onto the trailer and get it safely secured.

Why Should You Choose Preowned Auto Logistics?

At Preowned Auto Logistics, we take the safety of your motorcycle seriously. We provide numerous drop-off locations throughout the USA, so that PAL is always just a phone call away.

Our drivers are all highly experienced transportation drivers with clean driving histories. We provide regular updates during transportation so that you’ll always know when your motorcycle is arriving at the new location. If you are looking for risk-free, high-quality customer service for your motorcycle shipping, choose Preowned Auto Logistics.

Get The Best Rate on Motorcycle Shipping﹘ Request a Quote Today

Get your motorcycle shipped across the country quickly and efficiently when you choose Preowned Auto Logistics. Give us a call at 877.542.1955 and receive a custom quote.

FAQs

Q: How long does it take to ship a motorcycle?

A: Shipping within the United States usually takes 10-14 days. Be sure to ask your carrier about an expected delivery date upon booking.

Q: How do I spot a motorcycle shipping scam?

A: First, remember that if an offer seems too good to be true, it probably is. Second, get everything in writing and be sure to read the fine print.

Q: How much does it cost to ship a motorcycle across the country?

A: The precise cost will vary from company to company and by the mileage required, but a good rule of thumb is to look for companies that charge approximately $300-$600 per 1000 miles.

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Moving Tips: Contacting Your Moving Company (Podcast)

July 26, 2021

Mike Scenna, Sales Manager from Preowned Auto Logistics, sits down to discuss moving tips with John Maher. He provides tips on moving and when to contact the movers. Then, he explains why most moving companies no longer move vehicles and why you need to book professional shipping for vehicles during a move.

John Maher: Hi, I’m John Maher, and I’m here today with Mike Scenna, Sales Manager at Preowned Auto Logistics, a car shipping and auto transport and logistics company in Massachusetts. Today, our topic is moving tips, contacting your moving company. Welcome Mike.

Mike Scenna: Hey John, thanks for having me.

How Far in Advance to Call a Moving Company

John: Sure. So Mike, when should a person contact a moving company about their upcoming move? How far in advance of a move should you call a company?

Mike: I always tell people as soon as possible. So as soon as you know for sure you’re moving, is when you should reach out to a moving company. If something comes up kind of suddenly, of course, you don’t have the option to let someone know right away, or maybe you know an extreme amount of time out that you’re moving, and it might seem kind of unreasonable.

I would say that, as far as actual time, a good amount of time is six months. Usually about six months ahead of a move is a good time to make sure you’re in touch with a moving company about the move.

Why You Should Call Six Months Before the Move

John: That seems like a long time. What is it that you’re accomplishing by calling them that far in advance? What do they need to prepare for?

Mike: Sure. First and foremost is availability. When you’re moving, you’re most likely selling a property, and moving into another one that you purchased, and you’re working out a lot of things. When you need to be out of the house that you owned and are selling, and when you’re allowed to be in the new house that you purchase. So you’re dealing with a window of time that you have to have all of the items out of one house, and you’re hoping to be able to go into the next house right after that.

So you want to make sure you get the dates that you’re looking for, because it could cost you a lot of money if you wait until the last minute, and call a bunch of moving companies, and they’re not available. Now, you’re getting all this stuff out of the house, because it needs to be out of the house, and you could be paying for storage, extra money to leave the items on a moving truck until you’re ready to get the movers to actually bring the items to the new house. So mainly, timing and availability of getting what you need done when you need it done, but there’s also just a lot of preparation that goes into moving as well.

At least two months out, you’re starting to pack, you’re starting to organize things in your house that you need to get ready to move. You want to label things properly in boxes to make it easier on the other end, and you want to get rid of a lot of items that you don’t need. When you spend a lot of time in a house, you start to collect things, and a lot of them… you know how it goes, you have things in the house that you probably don’t even know they’ve been there for the last 10 years.

You don’t want to pay to move something that you might just throw away when you get to the new house, so organizing that takes quite a bit of time. And then the move itself, the physical move itself can take a few days to a week, sometimes even a couple of weeks. So a lot of moving parts, and you just want to make sure you really give yourself time to do this in the most efficient way possible.

Calling Moving Companies Without Exact Dates

John: What if you’ve put your house on the market, you’re obviously going to be selling, maybe you’re looking at buying a house in another state or something like that, or even somewhere else within your own state. And so you have a rough time frame of when you’re going to be moving, but you don’t have the exact dates nailed down.

Is it still worth calling the moving company just to kind of set them up for, “Hey, I’m going to be moving. It’s going to be roughly this month that I’m going to be moving, but I don’t know exactly what the dates are.” Is it worth putting a bug in their ear, if you will, and having them get you on their books, even if you don’t have a firm date?

Mike: Yes, absolutely, for several reasons. One, you’re putting the bug in their ear. You have a move coming up, you want to use this company, you’re letting them know roughly around this time. Some moving companies, you might even be able to pay a deposit, and they tentatively hold dates, and wait until you have something more concrete.

And then you also have a consultant, helping you as things are happening. These people do this for a living, so they’re going to be able to tell you, “You could start packing up these items, the garage could probably start getting packed regardless of when you move. It’s not going to hurt to have these things in boxes.” So yeah, it’s always good to be prepared, and I don’t think you can ever reach out too early, or even if you don’t have a concrete date yet.

Questions to Ask Moving Companies

John: What are some of the important considerations that people should think about when they’re contacting a moving company? Questions that they should ask of the moving company that will ensure that things will go smoothly?

Mike: The most important thing to talk about, and questions to ask is, what the moving company is going to be doing versus what you’ll be doing. Most moving companies offer a certain level of services. You could pay a moving company to come in, and pack your entire house, all the way down to your clothes, your silverware, your plates, every item in the house.

They’ll pack it safely and effectively in a way to make sure that nothing gets broken, and you get all of your items on the other end. That could get pretty expensive, having a company do that. They could be spending quite a bit of time, and it’s going to take a lot of people and a lot of resources.

Not a lot of people want to spend top dollar to get absolutely everything done for them, so you might want to be packing some the house yourself, and save some money by putting the items in boxes yourself. You’ll just want to get with the moving company, and ask questions about costs for specific services, and really get on the same page on what they’ll be doing, and what you’ll be doing.

Because if not, and the moving company shows up on moving day, and there was a miscommunication and people aren’t on the same page, there can be delays in time, which can add money. There can be additional services that they need to perform that they weren’t aware wouldn’t be done when they got there, and that can add to cost too. So really just taking the time to go through the details of the move. There’s never too many questions asked. You want to really make sure you’re on the same page.

Do Moving Companies Ship Cars?

John: Right, yeah. Like you said, you don’t want them to show up and then realize that you had a miscommunication, and they thought you were going to be more packed up than you are or something like that. What about your car when it comes to moving? Do typical moving companies also ship cars or should you look into a separate car shipping company for moving your car?

Mike: To be completely honest with you, there really aren’t a ton of moving companies that are shipping cars. It’s something that used to be done more and seems to be occurring less and less. There are a few ways that moving companies could ship cars.

One is they actually put the car right inside of the truck with all of your items. They get these ramps that come off the back of the truck, and they drive the car in first, and then pack all of the items around it. It’s something I don’t see as much anymore, due to a lot of damage on the car. You can imagine packing a household worth of items around a car…

John: Right, and you don’t want to have a big, heavy box, or a piece of furniture, or something landing on your car.

Mike: Right, land on the roof or a window. So seeing a lot of damage, they got away from that. The other option is they could put a dolly behind the truck. That’s what we call it. It lifts the front two wheels, it’s called a dolly, and tow the car itself. But that’s a different type of insurance to move a vehicle versus moving household items, and you don’t see a lot of moving companies carrying that anymore, especially with the emergence of a lot of auto transport companies, and a lot of very cost-effective options out there to ship cars.

How to Ship Your Vehicle During a Move

John: So then in terms of shipping your car, if you do have to call a separate car shipping company, what’s the timeframe for that? Is it similar to calling and contacting your moving company?

Mike: Not as much going into the car. There are a lot of companies like ourselves that can make this process very easy, and take care of pretty much everything for you. You could call us today, and there’s a chance we can get a car shipped for you tomorrow. But if you want to be prepared, and really get exactly what you’re looking for, I would say about six weeks prior to a move is a good time to reach out.

John: All right. Well, that’s really great information, Mike. Thanks again for speaking with me today.

Mike: Yeah, of course. Thank you for having me.

Contact Us for a Shipping Quote Today

John: And for more information, or to request a quote for your auto shipping needs, visit the website at preownedautologistics.com, or call (877) 542-1955.

https://www.preownedautologistics.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/Contacting-Your-Moving-Company.jpg 400 800 madhvi https://www.preownedautologistics.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/25th-logo-1-300x164-1.png madhvi2021-07-26 08:00:152021-07-26 08:00:15Moving Tips: Contacting Your Moving Company (Podcast)

Enclosed Auto Transport with PAL

July 23, 2021

Shipping your car across the country can leave you wondering about the safety of your vehicle on the road. If you are worried about exposing your vehicle to unexpected weather conditions, choose enclosed auto transport with PAL. Below, we’ll discuss the benefits of enclosed auto transport and how you can save time and money using Preowned Auto Logistics.

How Enclosed Auto Shipping Works

When shipping your car or motorcycle across long distances, there are two types of trailer transportation options: open and enclosed. Open transportation trailers are the kind we are familiar with seeing on the highway, loaded with cars. This type of shipping is a safe and cost-effective way to move your vehicle.  Enclosed auto transport uses a sealed trailer to move the vehicles so that they are not exposed to the elements during transit. Many owners transporting motorcycles, sports cars, or luxury vehicles choose to use enclosed auto transport. It is available for anyone who wants to give their car an extra layer of protection during transportation.

Benefits of Using Enclosed Auto Shipping

Unlike open trailer transportation, enclosed auto shipping offers the highest level of protection for your vehicle. Your carrier will load your vehicle into a sealed transportation trailer to be completely protected from the elements. When you use an enclosed auto shipping service, you won’t have to worry about poor weather conditions affecting your vehicle during transportation.

Enclosed auto shipping is the safest way to move your car across the country for you and your vehicle. It is also a cost-effective alternative to driving your vehicle yourself, and it keeps your vehicle from depreciating due to added mileage or increased wear and tear.

If you have a specialty vehicle or an exotic sports car with low ground clearance, using an enclosed auto shipping service is the perfect way to move your vehicle. We make it easy to load and unload cars into the trailer for shipping whether the vehicle has low clearance, large tires, or other features that require accommodations.

What to Look for in an Enclosed Shipping Company

Choose an enclosed auto shipping company for moving your luxury vehicle or exotic sports car with a high level of insurance coverage. Additionally, you’ll need to consider how accommodating the company’s enclosed trailer is for your vehicle. If your car needs a lower clearance for loading or higher overhead clearance, ask your carrier how their trailer can make accommodations. The carrier you choose should be ready and willing to answer any questions about your vehicles’ transportation.

How to Prepare Your Car for Shipping

After you’ve found an enclosed auto shipping provider like Preowned Auto Logistics, gotten a quote, and settled on a pick-up and drop-off date, it’s time to get your car ready for transport.

Remove All Personal Items

Before pickup, you need to remove all of your personal items from the vehicle. This ensures that your car will not incur any interior damage in transit. Additionally, most auto shipping companies will require the vehicle to be empty before pick up.

Battery & Fuel

Your driver will need to load your car and unload it upon delivery, so be sure to have enough fuel in the tank for loading and unloading, but try not to ship it with a full tank. Be sure that your battery is charged before pick up to avoid further problems loading and unloading the car.

Check Tires & Test for Leaks

It’s essential to check your systems for leaks before transit and ensure all leaks are repaired. You should also fill up your tires before the car is loaded onto the trailer.

Why Should You Choose Preowned Auto Logistics?

Preowned Auto Logistics offers enclosed auto shipping services across the USA. We have facilities throughout the country to make it easy to find a location near you. You can easily drop off your vehicle at one of our locations whenever it’s convenient for you or request our door-to-door services. If this service is requested, we will pick up your automobile from your home and deliver it straight to your new place.

Our team of experienced auto transportation drivers have all been working in the industry for years and have clean driving records. Our team will provide you with regular updates about your vehicle’s progress and ensure your auto transport is easy and efficient.

Get The Best Rate on Enclosed Auto Shipping﹘ Request a Quote Today

Book your enclosed auto transportation with PAL, and you’ll have the peace of mind you need about your car’s safety while in transit. Give us a call at 877.542.1955 and receive a custom quote.

FAQs

Q: What is the difference between open and enclosed auto transport?

A: Open auto transport utilizes an open trailer where the cars are exposed to the elements during transportation; often, these trailers hold eight vehicles or more.  Enclosed auto transport provides a completely sealed trailer that holds 2-3 vehicles, and the cars are not exposed to the elements in transit.

Q: How much does enclosed auto shipping cost?

A: The average cost for enclosed auto shipping varies depending on the carrier and the distance, but it is generally between $1000-$1500. This price is approximately $400 more than open auto shipping.

Q: Why would I choose enclosed auto shipping over open auto shipping?

A: Enclosed auto shipping is recommended for luxury vehicles, vintage cars, exotic sports cars, and any vehicles that require a high level of insurance coverage.

https://www.preownedautologistics.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/Enclosed-Auto-Transport.jpg 798 1200 madhvi https://www.preownedautologistics.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/25th-logo-1-300x164-1.png madhvi2021-07-23 08:00:422021-07-23 08:00:42Enclosed Auto Transport with PAL
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  • About
    • Company & Values
    • Leadership
    • Reviews
    • Testimonials
    • Back
  • Services
    • Luxury Vehicles
    • Door-To-Door
    • Open Carriers
    • Enclosed Carriers
    • Recreational Vehicles
    • Corporate Relocation
    • International Shipping
    • Electric Vehicles
    • API Integrations
    • Back
  • Individuals
    • Relocating People
    • College Students
    • Military
    • Snowbirds
    • Classic Car Lovers
    • Online Car Buyers
    • Back
  • Businesses
    • Dealerships
    • Online Auctions
    • Digital Trade Platforms
    • Digital Retail Platforms
    • 3rd Party Automotive Service Providers
    • DMS (Dealership Management Systems)
    • Fleet Management Companies
    • Any Other Businesses!
    • Back
  • Carriers
  • Resources
    • Blog
    • The Cost of Car Shipping
    • FAQ
    • Featured Routes
    • Podcasts
    • Videos
    • Back
  • Careers
  • Contact