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 operate 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 are also crucial when you need to move your car overseas, and unless ferry services are available, you will have to depend on an auto transport company to manage the job. Luckily, there are numerous vehicle transport services available to accommodate your specific requirements, which we will discuss below.
Types Of Vehicle Shipping Services
When it comes to vehicle shipping services, there are several choices to consider. The first decision you need to make is where you want your automobile picked up from and delivered to, whether it's a cross-country vehicle transport or moving a car to another state. Terminal-to-terminal auto delivery is an option, where designated collection and drop-off points are used, often the vehicle transport company's stores or operating bases. This choice is usually 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 moving a car to another state. This option is more convenient as you don't need to go anywhere to collect your car, which can be challenging without your vehicle in the first place!
Vehicle transport services are generally divided into two categories: having someone operate your automobile to the destination or putting it on a trailer and moving it.
Have Someone Operate Your Vehicle
This straightforward solution to vehicle shipping involves hiring someone to operate your automobile to the desired location, whether it's moving a car across the country or to another state. The benefits of this auto transport method are that it's often more affordable, as trailers and an extra vehicle are not required, and it can be faster due to the straightforward nature of the transport. However, there are some downsides to this method offered by vehicle shipping companies that lead some individuals to opt for other types of vehicle transport. Firstly, mileage is added to your car during the journey, which can be significant when moving a vehicle across the country, although less so when moving a car to a nearby state. Secondly, there is a slight risk of damage to your automobile while it's being operated from point A to point B. These concerns are particularly relevant for individuals buying or selling vehicles online who want to ensure the car arrives in the same condition as advertised.
Put Your Vehicle On A Trailer
Putting your automobile on a trailer is a safer way to ensure a higher level of protection than having someone operate your car to its destination. With vehicle shipping trailers, there are multiple 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 a great choice if you are moving an expensive or classic vehicle that you don't want to risk getting damaged. The safest way to transport a car is to put it in a shipping container, but this is by far the most costly option. The other choice is a multi-car transporter, which can move many vehicles at once, and there are a few variants available:
Open vehicle shipping by any vehicle shipping company is the most affordable & most common option when transporting a car. Your automobile is placed on an open carrier and operated to the destination. All cars are safely secured, but as the name suggests, they are exposed to the elements during the drive, so this may not be recommended by vehicle shipping companies for highly valuable vehicles. 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 automobile exposed to the elements for longer periods.
Enclosed auto transport involves multiple vehicles secured on a carrier, but they are enclosed, meaning they are not exposed to dust, weather, and debris during transit. This choice is often preferable for more expensive or newer cars where the owner wants to minimize the risk of damage during auto transport. If you need to move your vehicle overseas through an auto transport company, you should 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.
The Benefits of Using Shiply for Vehicle Transportation
Time-efficient - Rather than submitting a quotation form whenever you need an accurate estimate from a business for transporting a vehicle, on our platform, you complete one quotation form and can then receive estimates based on the information you provide from several companies. This can save you hours of time that you would have spent calling companies and filling out forms. Communication with these businesses is also possible through our platform, allowing you to store all of your vehicle shipping information in a single location.
Cost Comparison - Ultimately, the price of the vehicle shipping estimate is the most crucial factor in choosing which auto transport company to use to transport your vehicle. The challenge is that, while most companies are willing to provide average prices and rough estimates, you won't actually receive a firm vehicle transport quote without having to supply information and fill in details. While this is understandable, it means that price comparison and obtaining a vehicle transport quote is not exactly a simple task. Using Shiply allows you to receive genuine, final price quotes from vehicle shipping companies and compare them in one place, providing the ability to message them individually to ask any questions you may have and ultimately decide on the best company for you.
Affordable Vehicle Shipping - Auto transport companies on Shiply are typically able to offer their services for a lower fee than if you went directly to them. This is because they are often looking to fill space on journeys they are already making and have already invested the cost for. For example, if you were relocating from Los Angeles to New York and needed to move your vehicle there, a company on Shiply may already have a multi-car transporter making that journey with 5 of the 6 spots filled, and they are just looking to ensure they are not wasting any space. As long as the dates, times, and pick-up/drop-off locations work for you, you can often save up to 75% on auto transport by using our service.
Eco-Friendly - Not only is using Shiply for auto transport more affordable, but it is also more environmentally friendly! In the above example, if your vehicle didn't get on that multi-car transporter and instead you arranged transport from a separate vehicle shipper, then the emissions into the atmosphere would have doubled as another entire journey would be needed just for your vehicle. Similarly, many vehicle transporters return from a delivery empty-handed, which is not only costly for them but also for the environment as there are many people who could have used that transporter to move their vehicles in the other direction! Many of the auto transporters on Shiply are looking to fill their trailers on return journeys too, meaning even less wasted CO2 is being released into the atmosphere, as well as continued affordable transport for our users.
Getting Your Vehicle Ready for Shipping
If you have chosen an auto transport company to transport your vehicle and feel confident using them, then it's time to prepare your vehicle for shipping. We suggest following these steps:
Paperwork - It is crucial to ensure that any documents you may need are available at pick up or drop off, especially if you are selling your vehicle.
Washing - 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 is also highly recommended that you clean your vehicle before transport as this will allow you to determine its condition and notice any damages that may occur during delivery.
Operational 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 is in operational condition. This means ensuring that there is enough fluid, as well as checking battery charge and tire pressure levels. Again, this can also help you better assess the condition of the vehicle upon arrival.
Visual Evidence - One very important thing to do when preparing your vehicle for the vehicle delivery service to pick up is to take high-quality photographs of all parts of the vehicle. This provides you with evidence of the vehicle's condition before shipping should anything happen to it during transport.
What to Do After Delivery
Once the vehicle shipping company you selected has completed their delivery, there are a few things you should do:
Inspect Vital Signs - Lights, brakes, and engines should all be checked immediately to ensure that the vehicle is in the expected condition, as well as enable you to immediately raise concerns with the vehicle delivery service should anything not be working as it should.
Exterior Condition - You can compare the exterior of the vehicle to the photos taken of it before to determine whether any extra damage has occurred. Shipping a vehicle can, in rare cases, cause damage, and you want to be sure your vehicle transport service has not done so.
Verify Mileage - This is more relevant to vehicle shipping services where the vehicle 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 used through Shiply so that others can browse vehicle shipping services with the same peace of mind.
FAQ - Frequently Asked Questions
Below we have answered some of the most asked questions about vehicle shipping:
How much to ship a vehicle? Vehicle 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 and 500 miles, and if the journey is over 1,000 miles, then this drops to $0.78.
What is the most affordable way to ship a vehicle? Having someone drive your vehicle to its destination is the most affordable way to ship a vehicle; however, if you need a trailer, then a multi-car transporter will be your best option with regard to the most affordable way to ship a vehicle.
How do I pay for my auto transport? This is down to each individual auto transport company on Shiply and is something you should discuss with your chosen vehicle delivery service before confirming the delivery. Most companies will be flexible with payment options, however.
Can I track my vehicle transport online? Each vehicle shipping company on Shiply has different ways of operating, but many offer the ability to track your vehicle shipment, with some even able to provide personal updates. If you require tracking, you should message individual vehicle transport companies to confirm that this is possible with them.
Does someone have to be present for pickup and delivery? In most cases, the vehicle shipping company will require you to be in attendance for the pickup and 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 vehicle keys.
Can I keep items in my vehicle during my vehicle shipment? Most vehicle 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, and 2. Any items in the vehicle will not be covered by insurance for the transport of the vehicle 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 and 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 and 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 and has the right equipment to safely carry it out.
If you're looking for reliable and affordable vehicle shipping Mountain Brook or Mountain Brook vehicle shipping services, Shiply is the perfect platform to connect with trusted auto transport companies. With our user-friendly quote system and price comparison features, you can easily find the best deal for your specific needs. Save time, money, and reduce your carbon footprint by choosing Shiply for all your vehicle shipping requirements in Mountain Brook and beyond.
