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 operating the vehicle yourself is not practical, such as when purchasing or selling a used car online and needing to transport it to another state, moving to a new residence and requiring cross-country vehicle shipping, or transferring your automobile overseas when ferries are not available. Luckily, there are numerous car transport services available to accommodate your specific requirements.
Categories Of Vehicle Transport Services
When it comes to vehicle transport services, there are several choices to consider. The initial decision you'll need to make is whether you want your automobile collected and transported to a terminal or directly to your doorstep. Terminal-to-terminal auto delivery involves designated collection and drop-off points, often at the car transport company's stores or operating bases. While this choice is generally more affordable, it requires more effort on your part to get the vehicle home. Most individuals, however, prefer door-to-door auto transport delivery, where their automobiles are collected & dropped off at their doorstep, regardless of whether it's a cross-country vehicle transport or just shipping a car to another state.
Vehicle transport services can be categorized into two main types: having someone operate your automobile to the destination or placing it on a trailer for transport. Having someone drive your vehicle is a straightforward solution that involves hiring a driver to take your automobile to its destination, whether it's shipping a car across the country or to another state. This method is often more affordable as it doesn't require trailers or an extra vehicle, and it can be faster due to its simplicity. However, there are some drawbacks to consider, such as the addition of mileage to your automobile (especially when shipping a car across the country) and the slight risk of damage during the journey.
Placing your automobile on a trailer is a safer option that guarantees a higher level of protection compared to having someone drive it. There are various trailer options available depending on the value and size of your vehicle. Single trailers are more expensive as they only transport one car at a time, but they are ideal for moving expensive or classic cars that require extra care. The safest way to transport a vehicle is by using a shipping container, although this is the most costly option. Multi-car transporters, on the other hand, can transport several automobiles at once and come in different variants:
- Open car shipping: The most affordable and common option, where your vehicle is placed on an open carrier and driven to its destination. While all automobiles are securely fastened, they are exposed to the elements during the drive, making it less suitable for highly valuable vehicles.
- Enclosed auto transport: Multiple automobiles are secured on a carrier and enclosed, protecting them from dust, weather, and debris during transit. This option is preferable for more expensive or newer vehicles where minimizing the risk of damage is a priority.
If you need to move your automobile overseas, it's best to find a specialist service or a company with experience in overseas vehicle shipping to provide tailored advice based on your requirements.
The Benefits of Utilizing Shiply for Vehicle Transport in Fairhope
Time-Efficient - Instead of submitting a quotation request each time you require a precise cost for transporting your vehicle, on our platform you complete one form & can then receive quotes from various companies based on the information you submit. This can save you hours that you would have spent contacting businesses & completing forms. Communication with these companies is also possible through our platform, allowing you to keep all your Fairhope vehicle shipping information in one location.
Rate Comparison - Ultimately, the price of the Fairhope vehicle shipping estimate is the most significant factor in deciding which auto transport company to employ to transport your vehicle. The challenging aspect is that, while most companies are happy to provide average rates & rough estimates, you won't receive a definite vehicle transport quote without supplying information & filling in details. Although this is understandable, it means that price comparison & obtaining a vehicle transport quote isn't exactly straightforward. Utilizing Shiply enables you to receive genuine, final price estimates from vehicle shipping companies & compare them in one place, giving you the opportunity to message them individually to ask any questions & ultimately choose the best one for you.
Affordable Vehicle Shipping - Auto transport companies on Shiply can usually provide their services at a lower cost than if you went directly to them. This is because they are often seeking to fill space on trips they are already making & have already paid for the expense. For example, if you were moving from Los Angeles to New York & needed to transport your vehicle there, a company on Shiply may already have a multi-car carrier making that trip with 5 of the 6 spots filled, & they are just looking to ensure they aren't wasting any space. As long as the dates, times, & pick-up/drop-off locations are convenient for you, you can often save up to 75% on auto transport by using our service!
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 vehicle didn't get on that multi-car carrier & instead you arranged transport from a separate car shipper, then the emissions into the atmosphere would have doubled as another entire trip would be required just for your vehicle. Similarly, many car transporters return from a delivery empty-handed, which is not only expensive for them but also for the environment as there are many people who could have used that transporter to move their vehicles in the opposite direction. Many of the auto transporters on Shiply are also looking to fill their trailers on return trips, meaning even less wasted CO2 is being released into the atmosphere, as well as continued affordable transport for our users.
Readying Your Vehicle For Transport
If you've chosen an auto transport company to transport your vehicle & feel comfortable using them, then it's time to prepare your vehicle for shipping. We suggest following these steps:
Documents - It's crucial to ensure any documents you may need are available at pick up or drop off, especially if you're selling your vehicle.
Cleaning - You should take care to remove all personal items from your vehicle before 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 vehicle before transport as this will allow you to see its condition & notice any damages that may occur during delivery.
Running Condition - If the vehicle will be driven at any point during shipping or driven home from the drop-off location then you should ensure that it's in running condition. This means ensuring that there's enough fluid, as well as checking battery charge & tire pressure levels. Again this can also help you better judge the condition of the vehicle upon arrival.
Photographic Evidence - One very important thing to do when preparing your vehicle for the car delivery service to pick up is to take high-quality photos of all parts of the car. This gives you proof of the car's condition before shipping should anything happen during transport.
What To Do After Delivery
Once the car shipping company you chose has completed their delivery, there are a few things you should do:
Check Vital Signs - Lights, brakes, & engines should all be checked right away to ensure the car is in the expected condition, as well as enable you to immediately raise concerns with the car delivery service should anything not be working properly.
Exterior Condition - You can compare the exterior of the vehicle to the photos taken before to see whether any extra damage has occurred. Shipping a car can, in rare cases, cause damage, & you want to make sure your car transport service hasn't done so.
Check Mileage - This is more relevant to car shipping services where the car is driven to the destination but it can help to check the mileage to ensure 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 used through Shiply so others can browse car shipping services with the same peace of mind!
FAQ - Frequently Asked Questions
Below we've 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 regarding 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 and 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 release forms 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.
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 up for the job & has the right equipment to safely carry it out.