What Is Vehicle Transportation?
Vehicle transportation, also referred to as auto shipping or car transport, is a service offered by vehicle shipping companies that involves collecting your automobile from one location & delivering 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 & need to transport it to another state, relocating & requiring cross-country vehicle shipping, or moving your automobile overseas when ferries are not available.
Luckily, there are numerous auto shipping services available to fulfill your requirements, which we have detailed below.
Types Of Vehicle Shipping Services
When it comes to vehicle shipping services, there are a few crucial decisions you need to make. First, you must determine where you want your automobile collected from & delivered to, whether it's a cross-country car shipping or transporting a vehicle to another state. Terminal-to-terminal auto delivery is an option, where designated collection & drop-off points, often the vehicle transport company's stores or operating bases, are used. While this option is generally more affordable, it requires more effort on your part to get the automobile home. Most people, however, prefer door-to-door vehicle shipping delivery service, where their automobiles are collected & dropped off at their doorstep, regardless of whether it's a cross-country car transport or just moving a vehicle to another state. This eliminates the need to arrange transportation to collect your automobile.
Vehicle transport services can be categorized into two main types: having someone operate your automobile to the destination or putting it on a trailer for shipping.
Have Someone Operate Your Vehicle
Hiring someone to operate your automobile to its destination is a straightforward solution for vehicle shipping, 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 & an extra vehicle are not required, & faster delivery due to the simplicity of the shipping process.
However, there are some drawbacks to this method offered by vehicle shipping companies that lead some people to choose 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 vehicle to a nearby state. Secondly, there is a slight risk of damage to your automobile 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.
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 vehicle 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 need to decide whether you want a single trailer for your car. These are often more expensive as they only transport one automobile at a time, but they are a great option if you are moving an expensive or classic car that you don't want to risk damaging. The safest way to ship 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 ship many automobiles at once & comes in a few variants:
Open vehicle shipping is the cheapest & most common option when transporting a car. Your automobile is placed on an open carrier & driven to the destination. While all cars are safely secured, they are exposed to the elements during the drive, so this may not be recommended by vehicle shipping companies for highly valuable automobiles. Additionally, long journeys in open trailers pose a higher risk of damage & exposure to the elements for your car.
Enclosed auto transport involves securing multiple automobiles 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 vehicles where the owner wants to minimize the risk of damage during auto shipping.
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 shipping will cost you is to collect vehicle shipping quotes from car 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 information below.
Factors That Can Affect The Cost Of Vehicle Shipping
While we all want affordable car transport, several factors & variables can impact the cost of your vehicle shipping. Here are the main ones to consider:
Distance plays a significant role in determining the cost of your vehicle transport, with cross-state & cross-country journeys being more expensive than interstate car delivery, which is often the cheapest option. However, the average price per mile decreases as the journey length increases, so you aren't paying excessively for longer distances.
International shipping always results in expensive vehicle shipping quotes due to the logistics of transferring a car 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 automobile from its collection 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 added time. Similarly, unforeseen circumstances like major roadworks could incur extra costs from the vehicle moving companies or require a different, longer route.
How quickly you need your vehicle transportation service can also impact the price. 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 just for your delivery.
The height, length, & width of the automobile will all 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. Be 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 the delivery.
If your automobile 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 get your car on & off the trailer. If your automobile has a locked wheel, for example, it will be impossible to simply roll it onto a trailer & off again, taking more time, effort, & machinery to complete the delivery than a standard vehicle transport service. Most vehicle carriers consider a car 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 automobile to its destination will always be the cheapest option, as you are essentially just paying for a driver's time & petrol. Single car trailers & enclosed transport will likely be more expensive, as they require extra equipment. Enclosed vehicle shipping is always the most expensive method of shipping a car, as it means your automobile travels on its own & still needs specialist equipment to load, unload, & protect your car during transport.
Depending on where you need the automobile collected from & dropped off, the price of shipping a vehicle may increase. Urban areas usually have vehicle shipping services in close proximity, & if it is a common destination route, you will tend to get affordable car shipping. Rural deliveries can cost more, as they require deviations from normal routes & extra mileage for the company. If a collection 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 vehicle 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 car 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 cars. 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 affordable rates & high availability when it comes to moving your car. March is often a better time to ship than April or May, as there is often a rush to move automobiles 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 affordable vehicle shipping during the summer.
Fall is a good time to ship a car 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 cars 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 automobile that needs shipping, the pickup location & delivery location, & the dates that you need to move the vehicle. 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 choose from.
Once you have a few quotes, you can ask the companies 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 automobile. 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 vehicle. 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 & can then 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.
Affordable 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 automobile 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, & collection/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 automobile 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 car.
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 affordable transport for our users.
Vehicle Shipping Ketchikan
Ketchikan, Alaska, US is a popular destination for people moving their automobiles to & from. Many people choose to ship their vehicles to Ketchikan when relocating for work or personal reasons. The city's remote location & limited road access make vehicle shipping a convenient option for those who need to transport their automobiles.
When looking for vehicle shipping services to or from Ketchikan, it's important to choose a reputable company with experience in shipping automobiles to Alaska. Shiply can help you find reliable vehicle shipping companies that offer competitive rates & door-to-door service to Ketchikan.
Whether you're moving to Ketchikan for a new job opportunity or returning home after a stint in the Lower 48, Shiply can connect you with vehicle shipping companies that can safely transport your automobile to its destination. With our easy-to-use platform & wide network of trusted carriers, shipping your vehicle to or from Ketchikan has never been simpler.
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Preparing Your Vehicle for Ketchikan Car Transport
If you've selected a car shipping company to transport your vehicle and feel confident in their services, it's time to get your automobile ready for Ketchikan car shipping. Adhere to these guidelines:
Paperwork - Ensure you have any necessary documents at pickup or delivery, particularly if you're transferring ownership of the vehicle.
Cleansing - Remove all personal belongings from your automobile before transport to avoid loss or damage during transit. It's also wise to clean it beforehand so you can identify any damage that may occur during shipping.
Operational State - If the vehicle will be operated at all during transport or driven from the delivery location, ensure it's functioning properly. This involves checking fluid levels, battery charge, and tire pressure. This also allows you to assess the condition upon arrival.
Images - Capture numerous high-quality photographs of the entire vehicle before shipping. This provides evidence of its condition in case any issues arise during transport.
After Ketchikan Car Shipping Delivery
Once the auto transport company completes delivery, take these actions:
Inspect Essentials - Immediately test lights, brakes, and engine to confirm everything operates as expected. Notify the transporter if anything seems amiss.
Exterior - Compare the outside to your photographs to identify any new damage that may have occurred. Shipping can occasionally cause harm to a vehicle, so you want to be certain.
Odometer - If they operated the vehicle, verify the miles align with the journey.
Provide feedback about the car shipping company on Shiply to inform others of what to anticipate.
FAQ - Frequently Asked Car Shipping Questions
Here are responses to some common inquiries about car shipping:
What is the cost to transport a vehicle? Prices fluctuate but average $2.92/mile for distances under 200 miles, $0.93 for 200-500 miles, and $0.78 for over 1,000 miles.
Most economical method? Having someone drive it is most affordable, but a multi-car hauler is optimal if you require a trailer.
How to pay? Consult your transporter; most are accommodating.
Can I monitor it? Some shippers provide tracking; contact them to inquire.
Be present for pickup/delivery? Usually yes, to handle paperwork and provide keys.
Leave items inside? Some personal belongings are generally acceptable but may incur additional costs and are not insured.
How much fuel? Approximately 1/4 tank is sufficient.
Inoperable vehicles? You can ship them, but it costs more for specialized equipment.
Customized automobiles? Shiply has transporters for various types of modified vehicles.
