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 spot & transporting it to another. This service proves useful in various circumstances where you are unable to operate the vehicle yourself, such as when purchasing or selling a used car online & need to transport it to a different state, relocating & requiring cross-country vehicle shipping, or moving your automobile overseas when ferries are unavailable.
Luckily, there are numerous auto transport services accessible to cater to your particular requirements, which we will explore below.
Varieties 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 where you want your automobile picked up from & delivered to, whether it's a cross-country vehicle transport or shipping a car to a different state. Terminal-to-terminal auto delivery is an option, where designated collection & drop-off points, frequently the vehicle transport company's stores or operating bases, are utilized. While this choice is typically less expensive, it demands more effort on your part to get the automobile home.
Most individuals, however, favor a door-to-door auto transport delivery service, where their vehicles are collected & dropped off at their doorstep, regardless of whether it's a cross-country vehicle transport or just shipping a car to a different state. This option proves more convenient as it eliminates the necessity to collect your automobile from a separate location, which can be challenging without your vehicle.
Vehicle transport services are usually divided into two categories: having someone operate your automobile to the destination or placing it on a trailer for transport.
Have Someone Operate Your Vehicle
Employing someone to operate your vehicle to its destination is a straightforward solution for car shipping, whether you need to ship a car across the country or to a different state. The advantages of this auto transport method include lower costs, as trailers & an extra vehicle are not required, & faster delivery due to the simplicity of the transport process.
However, there are some drawbacks to this method offered by vehicle shipping companies that lead some people to choose other types of vehicle transport. Firstly, mileage is added to your automobile during the journey, which can be significant when shipping a car 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 during the drive. These concerns are particularly relevant for people buying or selling cars online who want to ensure the vehicle arrives in the same condition as advertised.
Place Your Vehicle On A Trailer
Placing your vehicle on a trailer is a safer way to ensure a higher level of protection than having someone operate your automobile to its destination. When it comes to vehicle shipping trailers, there are several options available depending on the value & size of your automobile.
First, you'll 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 they are an excellent choice for moving expensive or classic cars 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 transport many vehicles at once & comes in a few variants:
Open vehicle shipping is the cheapest & most common option when transporting a vehicle. Your automobile is placed on an open carrier & driven to the destination. While all vehicles are securely fastened, they are exposed to the elements during the drive, so vehicle shipping companies may not recommend this option for highly valuable automobiles. Additionally, long journeys in open trailers pose a higher risk of damage & exposure to the elements, even though it may be the cheapest way to ship a car cross-country.
Enclosed auto transport involves securing multiple vehicles on a carrier, but they are enclosed, protecting them from dust, weather, & debris during transit. This option is often preferable for more expensive or newer automobiles where the owner wants to minimize the risk of damage during auto transport.
If you need to move your automobile overseas, it's best 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 A Vehicle?
The cost of shipping a vehicle 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 & 500 miles, & $0.78 for journeys over 1,000 miles.
However, these are just averages, & your vehicle transport may cost more or less depending on your specific circumstances. The best way to find out how much auto transport will cost you is to collect vehicle shipping quotes from vehicle transport companies, which is easy to do on Shiply.
To get an idea of what factors can affect the price of vehicle transport services, take a look at the following section.
Factors That Can Affect The Cost Of Auto Transport
While we all want cheap vehicle transport, several factors & variables can impact the cost of your vehicle shipping. Below, we'll outline the main ones to help you understand whether your auto transport requirements will be expensive or cheap.
As mentioned earlier, distance plays a significant role in determining the cost of your vehicle transport, with cross-state & cross-country journeys being more expensive than interstate vehicle delivery, which is often the cheapest option. Although longer distances cost more, the average price per mile decreases as the journey length increases, ensuring you're not paying excessively.
International shipping always results in expensive vehicle shipping quotes due to the logistics of transferring a vehicle overseas & the distance it needs to travel. It may also require special enclosed trailers or even a shipping container for your automobile.
The route required to take your vehicle from its pick-up spot to its delivery location can also affect the pricing of your vehicle carrier service. Routes with known higher traffic, such as in LA, may cost more than quieter roads due to the additional time added to the journey. Similarly, unforeseen circumstances like major roadworks could incur extra costs from the vehicle moving companies or require a different, longer route.
The shipping dates can also impact the price of your vehicle transportation service. If you can be flexible with timings, you may find that your vehicle shipping service charges less, as they can fit your automobile delivery into their schedule & reduce overheads, passing the savings on to you. However, if you require auto transport within a strict timeframe (often known as expedited shipping), it will typically cost more, as the vehicle transport company may need to dedicate a trailer & driver specifically for your delivery.
The size of your automobile, including its height, length, & width, will affect the cost of transport. Vehicle shippers will require larger trailers for bigger automobiles, with SUVs typically costing more on average to transport than sedans. It's essential to inform the auto transport company about any bike racks, roof racks, or other accessories on the vehicle, as these can change the size of the trailer required for the delivery.
If your vehicle is not in drivable condition, it may make your auto transport more expensive. This is because it may require extra equipment, such as a winch or forklift, to load & unload your vehicle from the trailer. For example, if your vehicle has a locked wheel, it will be impossible to simply roll it onto a trailer & off again, requiring more time, effort, & machinery to complete the delivery compared to a standard vehicle transport service. Most vehicle carriers consider a vehicle that can brake, roll, & steer to be in good enough condition to ship easily.
The type of auto transport service you select will also affect the cost of your vehicle shipping. Having someone operate your vehicle to its destination will always be the cheapest option, as you are essentially just paying for the driver's time & fuel. In contrast, single vehicle trailers & enclosed transport are likely to be more expensive, as they require extra equipment. Enclosed vehicle shipping is always the most expensive method of shipping a vehicle, as it means your automobile travels on its own & still needs specialist equipment to load, unload, & protect your vehicle during transport.
The pickup & delivery locations can also increase the price of shipping a vehicle. Urban areas usually have vehicle shipping services in close proximity, & if it is a common destination route, you will tend to get cheap 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 in an unusual or hard-to-access space, extra steps may be needed to load your automobile, which can also increase the vehicle shipping cost.
While all auto transport companies are required to carry liability insurance, many do not offer 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 automobile are covered by the insurance, & any other questions you may have.
Seasonality can also affect the price of vehicle shipping, with many services costing more to ship a vehicle 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. Ice, snow, & blizzard conditions can all cause delays on the roads & reduce the maximum speed at which the vehicle delivery service can transport vehicles. December is typically a difficult time to have an automobile 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 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 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 vehicles 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, & 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 cheap vehicle shipping during the summer.
Fall is a good time to ship a vehicle if you are looking for a slightly cheaper 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 vehicles to university.
How To Ship A Vehicle - Finding An Auto Transport Service
Now that you know more about what vehicle shipping & a vehicle shipping service are & what sort of auto transport service you need, you probably want to go ahead & find a vehicle transport service that is right for you.
The issue is that there are hundreds of vehicle transport companies out there. Trying to find them on Google can result in scrolling through numerous 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. Furthermore, many of these companies are reluctant to give you pricing, meaning you will 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 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 start collecting quotes. All we need from you are the make & model of the vehicle that needs shipping, the pickup location & delivery location, & the dates that 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 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 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 which 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.
The Benefits Of Using Shiply For Vehicle Shipping
Time-saving - Rather than filling out a quote form every time you want to get an accurate price from a company on shipping a vehicle, on our platform, you fill out one quote form & then can receive quotes based on the details you provide from multiple companies. This can save you hours of time you would have had to spend calling up companies & filling in forms. Contact with these companies is all possible through our platform as well, meaning you can keep all of your vehicle shipping information in one place.
Price Comparison - When it comes down to it, the cost of the vehicle shipping quote is the most important factor in deciding which auto transport company to use to ship your automobile. The difficult thing is that, while most companies are happy to give average prices & ballpark figures, you won't actually be given a firm vehicle transport quote without having to provide information & fill in details. While this is understandable, it does mean that price comparison & getting a vehicle transport quote isn't exactly an easy task. Using Shiply allows you to receive genuine, final price quotes from vehicle shipping companies & compare them in one place, providing the ability to message them individually to ask any questions you may have & ultimately decide on the best company for you.
Cheap Vehicle Shipping - Auto transport companies on Shiply are typically able to offer their services for a lower fee than if you went direct to them. This is because they are often looking to fill space on journeys they are already making & have already sunk the cost for. Say, for example, you were moving from Los Angeles to New York & needed to move your vehicle there. On Shiply, a company may already have a multi-car transporter making that journey with 5 of the 6 spots filled, & they are just looking to ensure they are not 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 cheaper, but it is also better for the environment! In the above example, if your vehicle didn't get on that multi-car transporter & 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 lots of people who could have used that transporter to move their automobiles 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 cheap transport for our users.
Vehicle Shipping Bethel
Bethel, Alaska, US is a remote city located in the southwestern part of the state, accessible only by air or river. Despite its remote location, many people find themselves needing to ship a vehicle to or from Bethel for various reasons. Some may be moving to Bethel for work or personal reasons, while others may be leaving the city & need to transport their automobile to their new location.
Shipping a vehicle to or from Bethel can be a challenging process due to the city's unique transportation limitations. However, there are vehicle shipping companies that specialize in servicing remote areas like Bethel. These companies often use a combination of air & river transport to safely & efficiently move automobiles to & from the city.
When considering vehicle shipping to or from Bethel, it's essential to work with a reputable & experienced company that understands the specific challenges of transporting automobiles in this region. Researching & comparing quotes from multiple vehicle shipping companies can help you find the best option for your needs & budget.
Whether you're moving to Bethel for
Preparing Your Vehicle for Bethel Car Transport
If you've selected a car shipping company to transport your vehicle & are satisfied with using their services, it's time to get your automobile ready for transport. Adhere to these guidelines:
Paperwork - Ensure you have any documents you might require at pickup or dropoff, particularly if you're selling the car.
Cleansing - Remove all personal belongings from your vehicle before transport, so nothing gets misplaced or damaged. It's also wise to clean it so you can observe its state & spot any new impairments.
Operational Status - If the automobile will be operated during shipping or driven home after delivery, ensure it's functioning properly. Inspect fluid levels, battery charge, & tire pressure. This helps you assess the car's condition when it reaches its destination.
Images - Capture numerous high-quality photographs of the entire vehicle before shipping. This provides you with evidence of its state if anything occurs during transit.
After Bethel Car Shipping Delivery
Once the bethel car transport company delivers, do the following:
Examine Essentials - Immediately test lights, brakes, & engine to ensure the car is in good condition. Inform the shipper if anything's not operating correctly.
Exterior - Compare the outside to your images to determine if any new damage occurred. Shipping can occasionally cause problems, so you want to be certain.
Odometer - If the car was driven, verify the miles to ensure it matches the journey.
Post a review about the car shipping company on Shiply so others can select reliable vehicle transport services.
FAQ - Common Car Transport Questions
Here are responses to frequently asked questions on transporting cars:
How much to transport a car? Costs vary but average $2.92/mile for under 200 miles, $0.93 for 200-500 miles, & $0.78 for over 1,000 miles.
Most economical method? Having someone drive it is most affordable, but a multi-car hauler is most cost-effective for shipping.
Payment? Discuss options with your transporter, most are adaptable.
Online tracking? Some transporters offer this, contact them to inquire.
Be present for pickup/delivery? Usually required to sign paperwork & provide keys.
Items inside? Some personal belongings are typically acceptable but may impact cost & aren't insured.
Fuel level? Around 1/4 tank is suggested.
Non-operational cars? Can be transported but costs more for specialized equipment.
Altered vehicles? Shiply has transporters equipped to handle nearly any type of automobile.
