What Is Vehicle Transportation?
Vehicle transportation, also referred to as car shipping or auto transport, is a service offered by vehicle shipping companies that involves collecting your automobile from one location & transporting it to another. This service is beneficial in various circumstances where you are unable to drive the vehicle yourself, such as when purchasing or selling a used car online and need to transport it to another state, or when relocating and require long-distance vehicle shipping. Auto transport services can also be useful when you need to move your car overseas, and unless ferry services are available, you will have to rely on an auto transport company to manage the job. Luckily, there are numerous vehicle transport services available to cater to your specific requirements, which we will discuss below.
Types Of Vehicle Transport Services
When it comes to vehicle transport services, there are several choices to consider. The first decision you'll need to make is where you want your automobile picked up from and delivered to, whether it's a long-distance vehicle transport or shipping a car to another state. Terminal-to-terminal auto delivery is an option, where designated collection and drop-off points, often the vehicle transport company's stores or operating bases, are used. This choice is generally more affordable but requires more effort on your part to get the automobile home. However, most individuals prefer a door-to-door auto transport delivery service, where their vehicles are collected & dropped off at their doorstep, regardless of whether it's a long-distance vehicle transport or just shipping a car to another state. This option is more convenient as it eliminates the need to collect your car from a different location.
Vehicle transport services can be categorized into two main types: having someone drive your automobile to the destination or putting it on a trailer and transporting it.
Have Someone Drive Your Automobile
This straightforward solution to vehicle shipping involves hiring someone to drive your car to the desired location, whether it's shipping an automobile across the country or to another state. The advantages of this auto transport method include lower costs, as trailers and an extra vehicle are not required, and faster delivery due to the simplicity of the transport. However, there are some drawbacks to this method offered by vehicle shipping companies that lead some people to choose other types of car transport. Firstly, mileage is added to your car during the journey, which can be significant when shipping an automobile across the country, although less so when shipping a car to a nearby state. Secondly, there is a slight risk of damage to your vehicle while it is being driven from point A to point B. These concerns are particularly relevant for people buying or selling automobiles online who want to ensure the car arrives in the same condition as advertised.
Put Your Automobile On A Trailer
Placing your automobile on a trailer is a safer way to ensure a higher level of protection than having someone drive your car to its destination. When it comes to vehicle shipping trailers, there are several options available depending on the value & size of your car.
Firstly, you need to decide whether you want a single trailer for your automobile. These are often more expensive as they only transport one car at a time but are an excellent option if you are moving a valuable or classic vehicle that you don't want to risk damaging. The safest way to transport an automobile is to put it in a shipping container, but this is by far the most expensive option. The other choice is a multi-car transporter, which can move many vehicles at once and comes in a few variants:
Open vehicle shipping by any car shipping company is the most affordable & most common option when transporting an automobile. Your car is placed on an open carrier and driven to the destination. All vehicles are securely fastened, but as the name suggests, they are exposed to the elements during the drive, so vehicle shipping companies may not recommend this option for highly valuable automobiles. Furthermore, while it may be the most affordable way to ship a car cross-country, long journeys in open trailers will obviously run a higher risk of damage and leave your vehicle exposed to the elements for longer periods.
Enclosed auto transport involves multiple automobiles secured on a carrier, but they are enclosed, meaning they are not exposed to dust, weather, and debris during transit. This option is often preferable for more expensive or newer vehicles where the owner wants to minimize the risk of damage during auto transport.
If you need to move your car overseas through an auto transport company, try to find a specialist service on our platform or one with experience in overseas vehicle shipping, as they can provide tailored advice based on your requirements.
How Much Does It Cost To Ship An Automobile?
The cost of shipping an automobile varies depending on several factors, but on average, auto transport companies in the US charge around $2.92 per mile for journeys less than 200 miles, $0.93 for journeys between 200 and 500 miles, & $0.78 for journeys over 1,000 miles. However, these are just averages for vehicle moving companies, and your car transport may cost more or less depending on the circumstances. The best way to find out how much auto transport will cost you is to collect vehicle shipping quotes from car transport companies, which is easy to do on Shiply. If you want to get an idea of how much you can expect your vehicle delivery to cost, take a look below at the factors that can affect the price of car transport services.
Factors That Can Affect The Cost Of Vehicle Transport
While we all want affordable vehicle transport, several factors & variables can affect how much your car shipping will cost. Below, we will outline the main ones so that you can get a rough idea of whether your auto transport requirements will be expensive or affordable.
As mentioned earlier, distance is one of the factors that will significantly impact how much your vehicle transport will cost, with cross-state and cross-country journeys costing much more than interstate car delivery, which is often the most affordable vehicle shipping option. While longer distances do cost more, fortunately, the average price per mile drops the longer the journey is, meaning you aren't paying over the odds.
International shipping will always result in expensive vehicle shipping quotes due to the logistics of transferring a car overseas & the distance it needs to travel. It may also require special enclosed trailers or even a shipping container for your automobile.
Route - Along with distance, the route needed to take your automobile from its pick-up spot to its delivery spot can affect the pricing of your vehicle carrier service. Routes with known higher traffic, such as in LA, may end up costing more than quieter roads due to the time this can add to a journey. Likewise, unforeseen circumstances such as major roadworks could also incur extra costs from the vehicle moving companies or mean that a different route is required, which may take longer.
Shipping Dates - How quickly you need your vehicle transportation service to operate can also affect the price. For example, if you are able to be flexible with timings, you may find that your vehicle shipping service charges significantly less. This is because they can fit your automobile delivery into their schedule & reduce overheads for themselves, passing the savings on to you. However, if you require auto transport within a strict timeframe (often known as expedited shipping), this will typically end up costing you more, as the vehicle transport company will likely have to dedicate a trailer & driver just for your delivery.
Vehicle Size - The height, length, & width of the automobile will all affect how much it will cost to transport your vehicle. Car shippers will require larger trailers for bigger vehicles, with SUVs typically costing more on average to transport than sedans. Further, you should always make sure to let the auto transport company know about any bike racks, roof racks, or other accessories on the car, as these can also change the size of the trailer required for the delivery.
Vehicle Condition - If your automobile is not in a drivable condition, this may make your auto transport cost more expensive. This is because it may require extra equipment, such as a winch or forklift, to get your car on & off the trailer. If your automobile has a locked wheel, for example, it will be impossible to simply roll it onto a trailer & off again, & it takes more time, effort, & machinery to complete the delivery than a standard vehicle transport service. Most vehicle carriers would consider a car that can brake, roll, & steer to be in good enough condition to ship easily.
Auto Transport Service Type - The type of auto transport service you select will also affect the cost of your vehicle shipping. Having someone drive your automobile to its destination will always be the most affordable option, as you are essentially just paying for a driver's time & petrol, whereas with single car trailers & enclosed transport, the price is likely to be higher, as there is extra equipment required. Something like enclosed vehicle shipping will always be the most expensive method of shipping a car, as it means not only is your automobile traveling on its own, but it still needs specialist equipment to load, unload, & protect your vehicle during transport.
Locations Of Pickup & Delivery - Depending on where you need the automobile picked up from & dropped off, this may also increase the price of shipping a car. Urban areas will usually have vehicle shipping services in close proximity, & if it is a common destination route, you will tend to get affordable vehicle shipping. Rural deliveries can cost more, as they require deviations from normal routes & extra mileage for the company. If a pick-up or drop-off point is also in an unusual or hard-to-access space, extra steps may need to be taken to load your vehicle, which can also increase the vehicle shipping cost.
Auto Transport Insurance - While all auto transport companies are required to carry liability insurance, many do not offer any additional insurance, as it is not required by law. If a vehicle transport company does not offer cargo insurance, it is highly recommended that you seek out & acquire some for your automobile during its transit. As with all insurance policies, make sure you are clear on what type of damage is covered, whether there is a deductible, what parts of the vehicle are covered by the insurance, & any other questions you may have.
Time Of Year - Seasonality can also affect the price of vehicle shipping, with many services costing more to ship a car in the winter due to ice & snow slowing the routes. Here is a quick breakdown of how each season can affect auto transport costs:
Winter is often the most expensive season to ship your automobile. This is because ice, snow, & blizzard conditions can all cause delays on the roads, as well as reduce the maximum speed at which the vehicle delivery service can transport cars. December is typically a difficult time to have a vehicle shipped, as drivers are on holiday, while many travel to warmer states in January, leading to increased automobile shipping costs. February, however, is usually quiet, & so great rates are often available from vehicle shipping services during this month.
Spring is a great time to ship your automobile with a vehicle transportation service. With improved weather conditions, longer days, & more drivers ready to work, Spring can often mean affordable rates & high availability when it comes to moving your car. March is often a better time to ship than April or May; however, again, there is often a rush to move vehicles from colder to warmer states.
Summer is the prime season for shipping automobiles - the days are the longest in the year, students are traveling home from universities, employees take vacations, & it is also a very popular time to move house. This means that June, July, & August are all busy months for the auto transport industry, & you should not expect affordable vehicle shipping during the summer.
Fall is a good time to ship a car if you are looking for a slightly more affordable price. Vehicle shipping companies are less busy, & there is typically more driver availability after the summer rush; however, you are better off looking to move your automobile in October or November rather than September, as this is peak time for students shipping their cars to university.
How To Ship An Automobile - Finding A Vehicle Transport Service
Now that you know a bit more about what vehicle shipping & a vehicle shipping service are & what sort of auto transport service you need, you probably want to go ahead & actually try to find a vehicle transport service that is going to be right for you.
The issue is that there are hundreds of vehicle transport companies out there. Trying to find them on Google can end up resulting in scrolling through hundreds of pages trying to find the best vehicle shipping company for the best price, & the same is true if you were going to go through phone books. Further, many of these companies are reluctant to give you pricing, meaning you will most likely need to apply for a quote & fill out details with each of them individually, which can become very time-consuming.
How Can Shiply Help Find Vehicle Transport Companies?
Given all of the options & variables involved with finding a vehicle shipping service, actually searching for & finding the right one can seem like a daunting task, & this is where Shiply can help. On Shiply, you simply need to fill out a simple form to get started with collecting quotes. All we need from you are the make & model of the automobile that needs shipping, the pickup location & delivery location, & the dates that you need to move the vehicle. This gives the auto transport providers on Shiply enough information to be able to provide you with an accurate quote for your job.
Once your listing is live, you will receive quotes in your Shiply inbox & to your email. We recommend keeping email notifications turned on so that you can know immediately when a new quote comes through. Quotes can start coming through within a few minutes of posting your listing, but we always recommend waiting for a few to come through before making a decision so that you have multiple options to pick from. Once you have a few, you can ask them any questions you may have, such as when they are available (if a time frame is given), what insurance they have, & how they would secure your automobile. We recommend asking any company you may use these questions to ensure that everything goes smoothly & as expected.
Shiply has a feedback & ratings system which we also highly recommend looking at before selecting a quote to ship your vehicle. This system allows you to view previous customers' experiences with a company, as well as view their overall score.
Why People Often Move Automobiles To & From Bessemer, Alabama
Bessemer, Alabama, is a city located in the southwestern part of the state, just outside of Birmingham. Many people move automobiles to & from Bessemer for various reasons, such as relocating for work, buying or selling a vehicle online, or transporting a classic car to a show or event. Bessemer's proximity to major highways, including Interstate 20/59 & Interstate 459, makes it a convenient location for vehicle shipping companies to pick up & deliver automobiles. Additionally, the city's growing population & expanding business sector have increased the demand for vehicle shipping services in the area. Whether you need to ship a car to or from Bessemer, there are many reputable vehicle shipping companies, such as Bessemer Car Shipping, that can assist you with your automobile transport needs.
The Benefits of Utilizing Shiply for Vehicle Transport in Bessemer
Time-Efficient - Instead of submitting a quotation request each time you require a precise price for transporting your automobile, on our site you only complete one quotation form & can then receive estimates based on the information you supply from several businesses. This could save you hours of time you would've spent contacting companies & completing forms. Communication with these firms is all possible via our platform as well, allowing you to store all of your bessemer vehicle shipping details in a single location.
Price Comparison - Ultimately, the cost of the car shipping bessemer estimate is the most significant factor in deciding which auto transport company to employ to ship your vehicle. The challenging aspect is that, while most firms are happy to offer average prices & rough quotes, you won't actually receive a definite car transport estimate without having to provide information & fill in details. While this is understandable, it does mean that price comparison & obtaining a car transport quote isn't exactly a straightforward process. Utilizing Shiply allows you to receive actual, final price estimates from car shipping businesses & compare them in one place, giving you the opportunity to contact them individually to ask any questions & ultimately select the best company for you.
Affordable Vehicle Shipping - Auto transport firms on Shiply are typically able to offer their services for a lower cost than if you went directly to them. This is because they're often seeking to fill space on trips they're already making & have already paid for the expense. Say, for example, you were moving from Los Angeles to New York & needed to transport your vehicle there. On Shiply, a company may already have a multi-car transporter making that trip with 5 of the 6 spots filled, & they're just looking to ensure they aren't wasting any space. As long as the dates, times, & pick-up/drop-off locations work for you, you can often save up to 75% on auto transport by utilizing our service.
More Environmentally Friendly - Not only is using Shiply for auto transport more affordable, but it's also more environmentally friendly! In the above example, if your automobile didn't get on that multi-car transporter & instead you arranged transport from a separate car shipper, then the emissions into the atmosphere would've doubled as another entire journey would be required just for your vehicle. Similarly, many car transporters return from a delivery empty-handed, which is not just expensive for them but also for the environment as there are many folks who could've utilized that transporter to relocate their cars in the opposite direction! Many of the auto transporters on Shiply are looking to fill their trailers on return trips too, meaning even less wasted CO2 is being released into the atmosphere, as well as continued affordable transport for our users.
Readying Your Vehicle for Shipping
If you've chosen an auto transport company to move your automobile & feel confident using them, then it's time to ready your vehicle for shipping. We suggest following these steps:
Paperwork - It's essential to ensure that any documentation you may require is available at pick up or drop off, especially if you're selling your car.
Cleansing - You should take care to remove all personal items from your vehicle prior to shipping, for the obvious reason that you don't want to risk them getting lost or damaged in transit. It's also highly recommended that you clean your car before transport as this will allow you to assess its condition & notice any damages that may occur during delivery.
Operational Condition - If the automobile will be driven at any point during shipping or driven home from the drop-off location then you should ensure that it's in operational shape. This means ensuring that there's enough fluid, as well as checking battery charge & tire pressure levels. Again this can also help you better evaluate the condition of the vehicle upon arrival.
Photographic Evidence - One extremely important thing to do when preparing your car for the car delivery service to pick up is to take high-quality photos of all parts of the automobile. This gives you proof of the vehicle's state before shipping should anything happen to it during transport.
What to Do After Delivery
Once the car shipping company you selected has completed their delivery, there are a few things you should do:
Inspect Vital Signs - Lights, brakes, & engines should all be checked right away to ensure that the automobile is in the expected shape, as well as enable you to immediately raise issues with the car delivery service should anything not be functioning as it should.
Exterior Condition - You can compare the exterior of the vehicle to the pictures taken of it before to determine whether any additional damage has occurred. Shipping a car can, in rare instances, cause damage, & you want to be sure your car transport service has not done so.
Verify Mileage - This is more relevant to car shipping services where the automobile is driven to the destination but it can help to check the mileage to ensure that it matches up with the journey taken.
We would greatly appreciate it if you could also leave a review for the auto transport company you utilized through Shiply so that others can browse car shipping services with the same peace of mind.
FAQ - Frequently Asked Questions
Below we have answered some of the most asked questions about car shipping:
How much to ship a car? Car shipping prices can vary drastically depending on the circumstances, but on average a journey should cost you around $2.92 per mile if the journey is less than 200 miles, $0.93 if the journey is between 200 & 500 miles, & if the journey is over 1,000 miles then this drops to $0.78.
What is the cheapest way to ship a car? Having someone drive your vehicle to its destination is the cheapest way to ship a car, however, if you need a trailer then a multi-car transporter will be your best option with regard to the cheapest way to ship a car.
How do I pay for my auto transport? This is down to each individual auto transport company on Shiply & is something you should discuss with your chosen car delivery service before confirming the delivery. Most companies will be flexible with payment options, however.
Can I track my car transport online? Each car shipping company on Shiply has different ways of operating, but many offer the ability to track your car shipment, with some even able to provide personal updates. If you require tracking, you should message individual car transport companies to confirm that this is possible with them.
Does someone have to be present for pickup & delivery? In most cases, the car shipping company will require you to be in attendance for the pickup & delivery of the vehicle. This is because there are likely to be release forms that you need to sign, as well as handing over the car keys.
Can I keep items in my vehicle during my car shipment? Most car transport companies will be fine with you keeping some personal items in the vehicle when it is transported. However, there are two important things to remember: 1. The weight of the items may affect the price of the vehicle shipment, & 2. Any items in the vehicle will not be covered by insurance for the transport of the car itself.
How much gas should I have in my vehicle during transit? Generally, you should aim to have around a quarter of your tank full. This allows for easy loading & unloading of the vehicle but will not add too much extra weight to the vehicle.
Can I ship my vehicle if it isn't running? You can ship your vehicle if it isn't in running condition, however, this will be more expensive as specialist equipment is required to load & unload the vehicle.
Can I ship a modified vehicle? Almost any type of vehicle is able to be shipped on Shiply, with hundreds of transport providers available to bid on your job there will always be someone that is up for the job & has the right equipment to safely carry it out.
