Long distance towing

Long Distance Car Towing In 2023: What Is Important To Know?

In this article, we will consider all the important points that relate to the towing of a car over long distances, the list of documents that are necessary for this, and the features of preparing a car so that everything goes without unexpected “surprises”. 

TruckSpot Logistics it’s a project created to help compare shipping quotes from the best auto transport and long-distance auto towing companies to save your time and money. We don’t offer shipping vehicles ourselves but we’ll provide you with the best long-distance towing rates from our partners’ companies.

How Long Distance Car Towing Works?
Long Distance Towing Rates. How Much Does It Costs & What Affects Rates?
How to Choose a Long-Distance Vehicle Towing Company?
What Documents Are Required For Long Distance Towing?
Tips How To Prepare Your Car For Long-Distance Towing
FAQ

How Long Distance Car Towing Works?

How Long Distance Towing Works

Long-distance evacuation refers to transporting a vehicle for around 100 miles. It can be applied both to cars that are in working order and to those vehicles that cannot move independently. Though usually it’s used only for short-distance transportation. For this type of service, the best option is to find some local towing services (for example here is Illinois towing service).

When your situation calls for moving your car without actually driving, towing your car long distances (usual auto transport on a car hauler) is a viable option because it prevents wear and tear on your car. By towing a car on the trailer, you do not increase the number of miles on the engine, which is great if you do not want to increase the mileage (this is especially true for those who transport a car for the purpose of selling).

The only important point is that if you use a dolly to tow a car, the load on the rear tires may be greater than usual. This is because, due to the position the vehicle must be in to be transported with a dolly, there is more pressure on the rear wheels. True, if you use a trailer to tow a car, your car will be immune to wear and tear at all. That’s why vehicle towing on a car hauler is an attractive option for transporting luxury, vintage or rare vehicles.

Long Distance Car Towing Rates.
How Much Does It Costs & What Affects Rates?

A huge number of factors influence the pricing procedure for long-distance towing services, including:

The company you are planning to use. Roadside assistance costs can be higher in big cities than in small towns. If your car breaks down in a rural area away from cities, you may not be able to spend as much money. These companies don’t pay as much for rent and may charge lower fees;
The weight and size of your machine. The larger and heavier you need to transport the car, the higher the price of such a service will be. This is because larger vehicles are more difficult to tow and take longer than passenger cars;
The distance over which the vehicle will be delivered. Most towing companies charge a minimum fee for pickup only. Beyond that, the company is going to calculate the rest of the fees depending on how far the journey is;
Times of Day. There will be a significant difference in cost depending on the time of day. If you call during regular business hours, you pay the lowest possible rate. If towing is due outside business hours, expect to pay a surcharge. Some companies may charge another $150 to $200 just for going out after business hours, so be sure to shop around.

How to Choose a Long-Distance Vehicle Towing Company?

You should be extremely careful in choosing a company that provides transportation of cars. When choosing it, the following criteria should be taken into account:

Transportation Cost

Car evacuation is a rather expensive pleasure, so you should not conclude an agreement with the first company that is found.

The Delivery Possibility

The possibility of delivery to the desired point (some companies provide delivery to a specific point and do not take into account the individual wishes of the owner of the vehicle).

The Quality of The Tow Trucks

The quality of the tow trucks used by the company. There are different types of tow trucks and they can be used for long-distance towing. However, you should work with someone who has specialized trucks to ensure that your car is not damaged in transit (for maximum safety, it is worth using covered car transporters – not all companies that provide services have them). You should look for companies with large or heavy tow trucks. Tow trucks are built strong enough to tow your car easily. They are ideal for long-haul towing as they are less likely to stall in the middle of a trip. Delays can be expected if you use low-quality tow trucks that stop on the road, as another tow truck will have to come and move the stalled tow truck.

Availability of Insurance

All carrier companies operating in the USA according to the USA law have to have an insurance.

Reputation of The Company

The reputation of the company is feedback from people who have already used the services of a particular company. To get a real understanding of the company reputation, you should check such sites as transportreviews.com or trustpilot.com.

A Valid License

the company has a license (license can be checked on this site: https://li-public.fmcsa.dot.gov/LIVIEW/pkg_carrquery.prc_carrlist).

To transport a car from one state to other, you can use various services that offer their services in this area or our long-distance car towing rates comparison service. To order a service and determine the cost of transporting a car, you need to select the brand, model of car, condition of the car, point of departure, and destination – everything is as simple and convenient as possible.

So that you can at least roughly navigate the pricing policy, here are a few examples of prices for car delivery services:

New Jersey to/from Washington State – $1125
California to/from Florida – $900
New York to Florida (April to October) – $450
New Jersey to Florida (April to October) – $450

It is worth noting that long-distance rates are calculated with a regular sedan traveling to/from major cities for each location listed and can vary $100+/- depending on several factors including weather, time of year, distance from highways, urban or suburban location, and current fuel costs.

What Documents Are Required For Long Distance Towing?

To transport a car, you need to take care of the preparation of such documents as:

What Documents Are Required For Long Distance Towing

Bill of Lading

The bill of lading is a document of the established form, which is issued by the carrier (ship owner) as evidence of the fact of acceptance of the goods for transportation and the conclusion of a contract of carriage. The main functions of the bill of lading are that it contains the terms of the contract for the carriage of goods, acts as a carrier’s receipt, and acts as a document of title. Considering each of the functions of the bill of lading, the uniqueness and versatility of this document become obvious. It contains crucial information such as the names of the consignor and consignee, type of cargo, and weight.

Absent Owner Authorization

If a person other than you is picking up your vehicle from transport, you must sign this form to authorize them. A car transport company can supply an absent owner authorization form.

Insurance

Not all insurance companies cover damage that can be caused to a car during a long-distance evacuation (this point should be clarified with your insurance company, as well as with the carrier).

Title and Registration

You must bring these documents with you when dropping off or picking up your vehicle from transport. Scan them and email them to your transporter beforehand if you have them at hand.

Tips How To Prepare Your Car For Long-Distance Towing

In order for the towing of the car to be as safe as possible for the car, you need to prepare for this properly. The vehicle owner must:

Turn off the alarm. This is one of the most important things. After all, if the alarm goes off while the car is being towed, it can be a huge inconvenience for everyone and cause a delay in delivery. If all this happens just during the move, a day or two will not play a huge role, but if the car needs to be evacuated and delivered for further shipment by plane or ship, then such a delay can cost the owner dearly;
Clean up the car and wash it. This may seem like a useless step, but it can actually help assess the condition of the car, clearly see if it has any dents or scratches. This will also allow you to subsequently evaluate the quality of the provision of services by the company that undertook the towing of the car;
Check tire pressure. Proper tire pressure allows tow truck drivers to load and unload the vehicle conveniently and quickly. Before long distance car towing you must make sure that your tires are in good condition and that there are no cuts, cracks, or pits in the tires. Make sure the tires are properly inflated. If there are any mechanical issues with your vehicle such as a flat tire, loose brake hoses or other brake related repairs it’s best towing with a professional immediately. A flat tire will force you to use all available traction to move the vehicle out of the situation and will require a good working automobile to get you out of the predicament;
Remove all accessories from the car (flavors, video recorders, etc.) before towing car long distance;
Block the car to protect the car from potential robbers during transportation;
Take care of the optimal amount of fuel or gas. Do not fill the tank to capacity – this helps to avoid potential leakage and ensures maximum safety;
Fix any leaks. Before towing a car, it is worth evaluating the serviceability of all its components. If there are any, repair is worth it before towing. Such a step will prevent fluid leakage and eliminate the risk of a slippery road. Also, if your vehicle is already leaking prior to being towed, it may stop working when it reaches its destination. And this may subsequently entail additional costs for towing to another destination.

FAQ

Is Long Distance Towing the same as Auto Transport?

Yes, it is. A long-haul tow company is usually similar to a trucking company. Because most of the cars moved this way across the states. Though emergency towing for a short distance is absolutely another service.

Do I need to know which type of towing I need before calling?

Yes, you should know if you need local or long-distance towing before contacting us for help, as we can help you only with long-distance vehicle transportation.

Does my insurance company cover roadside assistance or towing?

Your car insurance company may include roadside assistance or towing costs. Each company is different, so you should check with yours and see if this service is available. Many of the large car insurance companies offer this service for an additional price.

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