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 & requiring it to be transported to another state, moving to a new residence & needing cross-country vehicle shipping, or transferring your automobile overseas when ferries are not accessible. Luckily, there are numerous auto transport services available to accommodate your particular requirements.
Categories Of Vehicle Shipping Services
When it comes to vehicle shipping services, there are several choices to consider. The initial decision you'll need to make is whether you prefer your automobile collected & delivered at specified terminal points or at your doorstep. Terminal-to-terminal auto delivery is typically more affordable but necessitates more effort on your part to get the vehicle home. However, the majority of individuals prefer door-to-door auto transport delivery, regardless of whether it's a cross-country vehicle transport or simply shipping a car to another state.
Vehicle transport services can be classified into two primary types: having someone operate your automobile to the destination or placing it on a trailer for transportation. Employing someone to drive your vehicle is a straightforward solution that is often more economical as it doesn't necessitate trailers or an additional vehicle. However, this approach adds mileage to your automobile & there is a minor risk of damage during the trip.
Placing your automobile on a trailer ensures a higher degree of safety compared to having someone operate it. You can choose a single trailer for your vehicle, which is more costly but ideal for transporting expensive or classic automobiles. The safest way to transport a car is in a shipping container, but this is the most expensive option. Multi-car transporters are another choice, with open car shipping being the most economical & most common method. Your vehicle is placed on an open carrier & driven to the destination, but it is exposed to the elements during transit. Enclosed auto transport involves securing multiple automobiles on a carrier that is enclosed, shielding them from dust, weather, & debris. This is preferable for more expensive or newer vehicles.
If you need to transfer your vehicle overseas, it's best to find a specialist service or one with experience in overseas car shipping to provide tailored advice based on your requirements.
What Is The Cost To Transport A Vehicle?
The expense of transporting a vehicle varies depending on several factors, but on average, auto transport companies in the US charge around $2.92 per mile for trips less than 200 miles, $0.93 for trips between 200 & 500 miles, & $0.78 for trips over 1,000 miles. However, these are just averages, & your vehicle transport may cost more or less depending on the circumstances. The best way to get an accurate estimate is to gather vehicle shipping quotes from multiple auto transport companies, which is easy to do on Shiply.
Elements That Can Influence The Expense Of Vehicle Transport
Several elements can impact the expense of vehicle transport, including:
- Distance: Cross-state & cross-country trips cost more than interstate vehicle delivery.
- International shipping: Transferring a vehicle overseas is expensive due to logistics & distance.
- Route: Routes with higher traffic or unforeseen circumstances like roadworks can increase costs.
- Shipping dates: Flexible timings may result in lower charges, while expedited shipping costs more.
- Vehicle size: Larger automobiles like SUVs cost more to transport than sedans.
- Vehicle condition: Non-drivable cars may require extra equipment, increasing the cost.
- Auto transport service type: Having someone operate your vehicle is the cheapest option, while enclosed car shipping is the most expensive.
- Pickup & delivery locations: Urban areas are usually cheaper, while rural or hard-to-access locations can increase costs.
- Auto transport insurance: Additional cargo insurance may be necessary & can affect the overall cost.
- Time of year: Seasonality plays a role, with winter being the most expensive & spring being more affordable.
How To Transport A Vehicle - Finding A Vehicle Shipping Service
With numerous auto transport companies available, finding the right one can be overwhelming. Searching on Google or through phone books can be time-consuming, & many companies are reluctant to provide pricing without a detailed quote application.
How Can Shiply Assist In Finding Vehicle Transport Companies?
Shiply simplifies the process of finding a vehicle shipping service. By completing a simple form with your automobile's make & model, pickup & delivery locations, & desired shipping dates, you can receive accurate quotes from auto transport providers on Shiply. Quotes start arriving in your Shiply inbox & email within minutes of posting your listing. It's recommended to wait for a few quotes before making a decision & to ask providers about their availability, insurance, & vehicle securing methods.
Shiply's feedback & ratings system allows you to view previous customers' experiences & overall scores for each company, helping you make an informed decision.
Why People Frequently Transfer Vehicles To & From Northport, Alabama
Northport, Alabama, is a delightful city situated in Tuscaloosa County, just across the Black Warrior River from the city of Tuscaloosa. Many individuals transfer vehicles to & from Northport for various reasons, such as relocating for work, attending the nearby University of Alabama, or simply seeking a change of scenery in this picturesque Southern city. Northport's proximity to major highways like I-20, I-59, & I-359 makes it a convenient location for vehicle shipping services. Whether you're moving to Northport to enjoy its small-town charm & friendly community or leaving the city for new adventures, reliable car shipping Northport services can help ensure your automobile arrives at its destination safely & efficiently.
The Benefits of Utilizing Shiply for Vehicle Transport Northport & Northport Vehicle Transport
Time-Efficient - Instead of submitting a quotation request each time you require a precise cost for transporting your automobile, on our platform you complete one quotation form & then can receive quotes based on the information you supply from various transport providers. This can save you significant time you would've spent contacting companies & filling out forms. Communication with these providers is all possible via our platform as well, allowing you to keep all your vehicle shipping northport info in one location.
Cost Comparison - Ultimately, the price of the vehicle shipping quote is the most significant factor in deciding which auto transport company to utilize to ship your vehicle. The challenging aspect is that, while most companies are willing to provide average prices & rough estimates, you won't actually receive a firm vehicle transport quote without providing info & filling in details. While this is understandable, it does mean that cost comparison & getting a vehicle transport quote isn't exactly simple. Using Shiply allows you to obtain legitimate, final price quotes from northport vehicle shipping companies & compare them all together, giving you the ability to message them individually to ask any questions & ultimately choose the best one for you.
Affordable Vehicle Shipping - Auto transport companies on Shiply are typically able to provide their services for a lower cost than if you went directly to them. This is because they are often looking to fill space on trips they are already making & have already paid for the expense. For example, if you were relocating from Los Angeles to New York & needed to move your automobile there, on Shiply, a company may already have a multi-car carrier making that journey 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 work for you, you can often save up to 75% on auto transport by utilizing 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 car didn't get on that multi-car carrier & 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 automobile. 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 carrier to move their vehicles 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.
Preparing For Your Vehicle To Be Shipped
If you have decided on an auto transport company to move your automobile & feel good about using them, then it's time to prepare your vehicle for shipping. We recommend following these steps:
Documents - 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.
Cleaning - You should take care to remove all personal items from your automobile 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 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 is in running condition. This means ensuring that there is 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 automobile for the vehicle delivery service to pick up is to take high-quality photos of all parts of the car. This provides you with evidence of the car'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:
Check Vital Signs - Lights, brakes, & engines should all be checked immediately to ensure that the car 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 automobile to the photos taken of it before to see whether any extra damage has occurred. Shipping a car can, in rare cases, cause damage, & you want to be sure your vehicle transport service has not done so.
Check Mileage - This is more relevant to vehicle shipping services where the car 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 car? 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 & 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 automobile to its destination is the most affordable 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 vehicle.
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 vehicle delivery service before confirming the delivery. Most companies will be flexible with payment options, however.
Can I track my car transport online? Each vehicle 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 vehicle transport companies to confirm that this is possible with them.
Does someone have to be present for pickup & delivery? In most cases, the vehicle shipping company will require you to be in attendance for the pickup & delivery of the automobile. 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 vehicle transport companies will be fine with you keeping some personal items in the automobile 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 automobile 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 automobile 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 automobile 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.
