Agreement to These Terms
These Terms of Service ("Terms") govern your use of heartlandautotransport.com and the services provided by Heartland Auto Transport ("Heartland," "we," "us," or "our"). By using our website, requesting a quote, or booking a shipment, you agree to these Terms. If you do not agree, please do not use our website or services.
If you book a shipment, the order confirmation we send you and the carrier's bill of lading also apply. If there is a conflict between these Terms and your order confirmation, the order confirmation controls.
Our Role as a Broker
Heartland is a transportation broker licensed by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration. We arrange for the transport of your vehicle by an independent, licensed, and insured motor carrier. We are not a motor carrier. We do not own or operate the trucks, and we do not take possession of your vehicle.
The carrier assigned to your shipment is responsible for the pickup, transport, and delivery of your vehicle and for its care while it is in the carrier's custody.
Using Our Website
You agree to use our website only for lawful purposes and to give us accurate, current, and complete information. You agree not to:
- submit false information or request quotes on behalf of someone without their permission;
- interfere with the operation or security of the website;
- use automated tools to copy, scrape, or collect content or pricing from the website; or
- use the website to send spam or for any unlawful or fraudulent purpose.
We may suspend or refuse access to anyone who violates these Terms.
Quotes and Pricing
The quotes we provide are based on the information you give us and on market conditions at the time. A quote is an estimate until your order is confirmed. Quotes may change if you have not booked and conditions on your route change.
Once your order is confirmed, the price is all-inclusive and will not increase unless the shipment itself changes. Changes that can affect the price include:
- a different vehicle, or modifications that were not disclosed, such as a lift kit, oversize tires, or added equipment;
- a vehicle that does not run, roll, steer, or brake when it was described as operable;
- different pickup or delivery locations or dates;
- personal items or cargo loaded in the vehicle; and
- a change in the type of service, such as open to enclosed or standard to expedited.
Booking and Payment
We do not charge a deposit to book a shipment. Payment is due in full when your vehicle is delivered, by the method stated in your order confirmation. The carrier is not required to release the vehicle until payment has been made.
Pickup and Delivery Dates
Pickup and delivery dates are estimates. Auto transport is affected by weather, traffic, road closures, mechanical problems, and delays at other stops, and we cannot guarantee that a vehicle will be picked up or delivered on a particular date unless a guaranteed service has been confirmed to you in writing.
We will keep you informed of changes to your schedule. We are not responsible for costs that result from a delay, such as rental cars, lodging, airfare, lost wages, or storage.
Your Responsibilities
To help your shipment go smoothly, you agree to:
- Describe the vehicle accurately, including its year, make, model, condition, modifications, and whether it runs.
- Prepare the vehicle. It should have about a quarter tank of fuel, a charged battery, properly inflated tires, and no significant fluid leaks. Alarms should be disabled, and loose parts and accessories should be removed or secured.
- Remove personal belongings. Items left in the vehicle are carried at your own risk. They are not covered by the carrier's cargo insurance, and the carrier may refuse to load a vehicle containing them.
- Be available. You, or an adult you authorize, must be present at pickup and at delivery to hand over or receive the keys.
- Inspect the vehicle. You or your representative must inspect the vehicle with the driver at pickup and at delivery and sign the bill of lading each time.
- Provide reasonable access. If a carrier cannot safely or legally reach an address, you agree to meet the driver at a suitable location nearby.
Insurance and Damage Claims
Each carrier we assign is required to maintain cargo insurance. That insurance, and not Heartland, covers damage to your vehicle caused by the carrier during transport, subject to the terms, limits, and exclusions of the carrier's policy.
If you believe your vehicle was damaged in transit:
- note the damage on the bill of lading at delivery, before you sign it;
- take photographs before the vehicle is moved; and
- notify us promptly so that we can help you start a claim with the carrier.
Damage that is not noted on the bill of lading at delivery may be difficult or impossible to claim. Pre-existing damage, mechanical problems not caused by the carrier, and personal items left in the vehicle are generally not covered.
Cancellations and Changes
Because we do not collect a deposit, you may cancel your order at no charge before a carrier has been assigned. If you need to cancel or change an order after a carrier has been assigned or dispatched, contact us right away. Any charges that apply in that situation will be those stated in your order confirmation.
We may cancel an order if the information provided was inaccurate, if the vehicle or location is not as described, or if no carrier is available at the agreed price. If we cancel, you will owe nothing for that order.
Calls, Emails, and Text Messages
When you request a quote or book a shipment, you agree that we and the carrier assigned to your shipment may contact you by phone, email, or text message about your request.
If you consent to text messages, you will receive recurring SMS updates and notifications from Heartland Auto Transport about your requests and our services. Message frequency varies. Message and data rates may apply. Consent is not a condition of purchase. Reply STOP to unsubscribe or HELP for assistance, or call (205) 578-6129. Mobile carriers are not liable for delayed or undelivered messages. Our Privacy Policy explains how we handle your information.
Website Content
The text, design, graphics, logos, and other content on our website belong to Heartland or its licensors and are protected by law. You may view and print pages for your personal use. You may not copy, reproduce, or distribute our content for commercial purposes without our written permission.
Third-Party Links and Services
Our website may link to other websites or use tools provided by other companies, such as maps. We do not control those websites or tools and are not responsible for their content or practices.
Disclaimers
We work to keep the information on our website accurate and current, but we provide the website "as is" and "as available," without warranties of any kind, whether express or implied. Prices, transit times, and other figures shown on the website are typical ranges and are not a guarantee of the price or timing of any particular shipment.
Limitation of Liability
To the fullest extent permitted by law, Heartland is not liable for indirect, incidental, special, or consequential damages arising from your use of our website or services, including loss of use of a vehicle, lost income, or travel and rental expenses.
Because we are a broker and not the carrier, responsibility for loss of or damage to a vehicle in transit rests with the carrier. To the fullest extent permitted by law, our total liability for any claim relating to an order will not exceed the amount of the fee we received for arranging that order.
Indemnification
You agree to indemnify and hold Heartland harmless from claims, losses, and expenses that result from inaccurate information you provide, from your breach of these Terms, or from personal items or undisclosed conditions in a vehicle you ask us to ship.
Governing Law
These Terms are governed by the laws of the State of Alabama, without regard to its conflict-of-law rules, and by applicable federal law. Any dispute relating to these Terms or our services will be brought in the state or federal courts located in Alabama, and you consent to the jurisdiction of those courts.
Changes to These Terms
We may update these Terms from time to time. The revised version will be posted on this page with a new effective date. The Terms in effect when you book a shipment apply to that shipment.
How to Contact Us
If you have questions about these Terms, contact us:
- By phone: (205) 578-6129, 24 hours a day
- By email: info@heartlandautotransport.com
- By mail: at the office nearest you, listed on our Contact page