What Is Vehicle Transportation?
Vehicle transportation, also known as car shipping or auto transport, is a service offered by car 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 you've relocated and require long-distance car shipping. Auto transport companies can also be useful when you need to move your vehicle internationally, and unless ferries are available, you'll need to depend on their services. Luckily, there are several car transport services available to cater to your specific requirements, which we'll discuss below.
Types Of Vehicle Transport Services
When it comes to vehicle transport services, there are a few 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 car transport or moving a car to another state. Terminal-to-terminal auto delivery is one option, where designated collection and drop-off points, often the car transport company's stores or operating bases, are used. This option is usually more affordable but requires more effort on your part to get the vehicle home. However, most people prefer a door-to-door auto transport delivery service, where their automobiles are collected & dropped off at their doorstep, regardless of whether it's a long-distance car transport or just moving a car to another state. This is often more convenient as you don't need to go anywhere to collect your vehicle, which can be challenging without your automobile in the first place!
Car transport services generally fall into two categories: having someone operate your vehicle to its destination or putting it on a trailer and moving it that way.
Have Someone Operate Your Vehicle
One straightforward solution to car shipping is hiring someone to operate your vehicle to its destination, whether you need to transport a car across the country or to another state. The benefits of this auto transport method include lower costs, as trailers and an extra vehicle are not required, and faster delivery due to the straightforward nature of the transport. However, there are some downsides to this method offered by car shipping companies that lead some people to opt for other types of car transport. Firstly, mileage is added to your automobile during the journey, which can be significant when transporting a car across the country, although less so when moving a car to a nearby state. Secondly, there is a slight risk of damage to your vehicle while it's being operated 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 operate your vehicle to its destination. With car shipping trailers, there are multiple options available depending on the value & size of your automobile.
Firstly, you need to decide whether you want a single trailer for your vehicle. These are often more expensive as they only transport one automobile at a time but are a great option if you're moving an expensive or classic car that you don't want to risk damaging. The safest way to transport a vehicle is to put it in a shipping container, but this is by far the most expensive option. The other option is a multi-car transporter, which can move many automobiles at once and comes in a few variants:
Open car shipping by any car shipping company is the cheapest & most common option when transporting a vehicle. Your automobile is placed on an open carrier and driven to its destination. All cars are securely fastened, but as the name suggests, they are exposed to the elements during the drive, so car shipping companies may not recommend this option for highly valuable vehicles. Furthermore, while it may be the cheapest 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 cars secured on a carrier, but they are enclosed, meaning they are not exposed to dust, weather, and debris during transit. This 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 automobile overseas through an auto transport company, try to find a specialist service on our platform or one with experience in overseas car shipping, as they can provide tailored advice based on your requirements.
How Much Does It Cost To Transport A Vehicle?
The cost of transporting a vehicle varies depending on several factors, but on average, US auto transport companies 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, 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 car shipping quotes from car transport companies, which is easy to do on Shiply. To get an idea of what to expect, let's look 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 car transport, several factors & variables can affect the cost of car shipping. Below, we'll outline the main ones so you can get a rough idea of whether your auto transport requirements will be expensive or cheap.
As mentioned earlier, distance plays a significant role in determining the cost of car transport, with cross-state and cross-country journeys costing much more than interstate car delivery, which is often the cheapest option. While longer distances do cost more, the average price per mile decreases as the journey length increases, so you're not paying over the odds.
International shipping will always result in expensive car shipping quotes due to the logistics of transferring a vehicle overseas and 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 required to take your vehicle from its pick-up spot to its delivery spot can affect the pricing of your car carrier service. Routes with known higher traffic, such as in LA, may end up costing more than quieter roads due to the added time. Likewise, unforeseen circumstances like major roadworks could also incur extra costs from the car moving companies or require a different, longer route.
Shipping Dates - How quickly you need your car transportation service can also affect the price. If you're able to be flexible with timings, you may find that your car shipping service charges less, as they can fit your vehicle delivery into their schedule and reduce overheads, passing the savings on to you. However, if you require auto transport within a strict timeframe (often known as expedited shipping), this will typically cost more, as the car transport company may need to dedicate a trailer & driver just for your delivery.
Vehicle Size - The height, length, and width of the automobile will all affect the cost of transport. Car shippers will require larger trailers for bigger vehicles, with SUVs typically costing more on average to transport than sedans. Make sure to inform the auto transport company about any bike racks, roof racks, or other accessories on the car, as these can change the size of the trailer required for delivery.
Vehicle Condition - If your automobile is not in drivable condition, this may make your auto transport more expensive. It may require extra equipment, such as a winch or forklift, to get your vehicle on & off the trailer. If your car has a locked wheel, for example, it will be impossible to simply roll it onto a trailer and off again, taking more time, effort, and machinery to complete the delivery than a standard car transport service. Most car carriers consider a vehicle that can brake, roll, and 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 car shipping. Having someone operate your vehicle to its destination will always be the cheapest option, as you're essentially just paying for a driver's time & petrol. Single car trailers and enclosed transport will likely be more expensive, as they require extra equipment. Enclosed car shipping is always the most expensive method of shipping a vehicle, as it means your automobile travels on its own and still needs specialist equipment to load, unload, and protect it during transport.
Locations Of Pickup And Delivery - The pick-up and drop-off locations may also increase the price of shipping a vehicle. Urban areas usually have car shipping services in close proximity, and if it's a common destination route, you'll tend to get cheap car shipping. Rural deliveries can cost more, as they require deviations from normal routes and extra mileage for the company. If a pick-up or drop-off point is in an unusual or hard-to-access space, extra steps may be needed to load your automobile, which can also increase the car shipping cost.
Auto Transport Insurance - While all auto transport companies are required to carry liability insurance, many do not offer additional insurance, as it's not required by law. If a car transport company does not offer cargo insurance, it's highly recommended that you seek out and acquire some for your vehicle during 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 automobile are covered, and any other questions you may have.
Time Of Year - Seasonality can also affect the price of car shipping, with many services costing more to ship a vehicle in the winter due to ice & snow slowing the routes. Here's a quick breakdown of how each season can affect auto transport costs:
Winter is often the most expensive season to ship your automobile. Ice, snow, and blizzard conditions can all cause delays on the roads and reduce the maximum speed at which the car delivery service can transport vehicles. 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 vehicle shipping costs. However, February is usually quiet, so great rates are often available from car shipping services during this month.
Spring is a great time to ship your automobile with a car transportation service. With improved weather conditions, longer days, and more drivers ready to work, Spring can often mean cheap rates & high availability when it comes to moving your vehicle. March is often a better time to ship than April or May, as there is often a rush to move cars from colder to warmer states.
Summer is the prime season for shipping vehicles - the days are the longest in the year, students are traveling home from universities, employees take vacations, and it's also a very popular time to move house. This means that June, July, and August are all busy months for the auto transport industry, and you should not expect cheap car shipping during the summer.
Fall is a good time to ship a vehicle if you're looking for a slightly cheaper price. Car shipping companies are less busy, and there is typically more driver availability after the summer rush. However, you're 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 Transport A Vehicle - Finding An Auto Transport Service
Now that you know more about what car shipping and a car shipping service are and what sort of auto transport service you need, you probably want to go ahead and find a car transport service that's right for you.
The issue is that there are hundreds of car transport companies out there. Trying to find them on Google can result in scrolling through numerous pages trying to find the best car shipping company for the best price, and the same is true if you were to go through phone books. Further, many of these companies are reluctant to give you pricing, meaning you'll likely need to apply for a quote & fill out details with each of them individually, which can be very time-consuming.
How Can Shiply Help Find Auto Transport Companies?
Given all the options & variables involved with finding a car shipping service, actually searching for and finding the right one can seem like a daunting task, and this is where Shiply can help. On Shiply, you simply need to fill out a simple form to start collecting quotes. All we need from you are the make & model of the vehicle that needs shipping, the pickup location & delivery location, and the dates you need to move the automobile. This gives the auto transport providers on Shiply enough information to provide you with an accurate quote for your job.
Once your listing is live, you'll receive quotes in your Shiply inbox and to your email. We recommend keeping email notifications turned on so 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 you have multiple options to choose 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, and how they would secure your vehicle. We recommend asking any company you may use these questions to ensure that everything goes smoothly & as expected.
Shiply has a feedback & ratings system that we highly recommend looking at before selecting a quote to ship your automobile. This system allows you to view previous customers' experiences with a company, as well as view their overall score.
Why People Often Move Vehicles To & From Phenix City, Alabama
Phenix City, Alabama, is a popular destination for people moving vehicles to & from the area. Located on the Alabama-Georgia border, Phenix City is a thriving community with a strong economy & a growing population. Many people move to Phenix City for job opportunities, as the city is home to several major employers, including the Phenix City Board of Education, Jack Hughston Memorial Hospital, and TSYS (Total System Services).
Another reason people move vehicles to & from Phenix City is for military relocation. The city is located near Fort Benning, a major U.S. Army base, and many military personnel & their families live in the area. When these individuals are reassigned to another base or deploy overseas, they often need to ship their automobiles to their new location.
Additionally, Phenix City's proximity to Columbus, Georgia, makes it a popular choice for those who work in Columbus but prefer to live in a smaller, more affordable city. This means that many people commute between the two cities daily, and may need to ship a vehicle if they're moving to the area for the first time or relocating for work.
Whether you're moving to Phenix City for work, military relocation, or personal reasons, there are many car shipping companies that can help transport your automobile safely & efficiently. By using a platform like Shiply, you can easily compare quotes from multiple providers & choose the one that best meets your needs & budget.
The Benefits of Utilizing Shiply for Vehicle Transport in Phenix City
Time-Saving - Instead of submitting a quote request each time you require a precise cost for transporting your automobile, on our platform you simply complete one form & then receive quotes based on the information you provide from several companies. This could save you hours you would've spent contacting businesses & filling out forms. Communication with these firms is possible through our platform as well, allowing you to keep all your car shipping phenix city info in one place.
Price Comparison - When it comes down to it, the cost of the car shipping quote is the most significant factor in deciding which auto transport company to use for your vehicle. The challenging part is, while most businesses happily provide average prices & rough estimates, you won't actually receive a firm car transport quote without supplying info & filling in details. While understandable, it does mean price comparison & getting a phenix city car shipping quote isn't exactly easy. Using Shiply allows you to get genuine, final price quotes from car shipping businesses & compare them in one place, providing the ability to message them individually to ask any questions & ultimately choose the best one for you.
Affordable Car 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 looking to fill space on trips they're already making & have already invested the cost for. Say, for example, you were relocating from Los Angeles to New York & needed to move your car there. On Shiply, a company may already have a multi-car transporter making that journey 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 using our service.
Better For The Environment - Not only is using Shiply for auto transport more affordable, but it's also better for the environment! In the example above, if your car 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 trip would be needed just for your car. Similarly, many car transporters return from a delivery empty-handed, which is not only costly for them but also for the environment as there are lots of people who could've used that transporter to move their cars in the other 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 Car To Be Shipped
If you've decided on an auto transport company to move your car & feel secure using them, then it's time to prepare your car for shipping. We recommend following these steps:
Documents - It's important to ensure that 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 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 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 photographs 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 car 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 car 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 see whether any extra damage has occurred. Shipping a car can, in rare cases, cause damage, & you want to be sure your car transport service has not 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 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 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.
