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 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 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 available to cater to your specific requirements, which we will discuss below.
Varieties Of Auto Shipping 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 car transport or shipping a vehicle to another state. Terminal-to-terminal auto delivery is an option, where designated collection & drop-off points are used, often at the vehicle transport company's stores or operating bases. While this choice is typically less expensive, it requires more effort on your part to get the automobile home.
Most individuals, however, 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 cross-country car transport or just shipping an automobile to a different state. This option is more convenient as it eliminates the need to collect your vehicle from a separate location, which can be challenging without your own transportation.
Vehicle transport services are usually divided into two categories: having someone operate your car to the destination or putting it on a trailer for transport.
Have Someone Operate Your Vehicle
Hiring someone to operate your vehicle to its destination is a straightforward solution for car shipping, whether you need to ship an automobile across the country or to another 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 may lead some people to choose other types of car transport. Firstly, additional mileage will be added to your automobile during the journey, which can be significant when shipping a car across the country, although less so when shipping a vehicle to a nearby state. Secondly, there is a slight risk of damage to your automobile during the drive from point A to point B. 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 Automobile On A Trailer
Putting 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 car shipping trailers, there are several options available depending on the value & size of your vehicle.
First, you'll need to decide whether you want a single trailer for your automobile. These are often more expensive as they only transport one vehicle at a time, but they are an excellent option for moving expensive or classic cars that you don't want to risk damaging. The safest way to transport a car 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 several automobiles at once. There are a few variants of multi-car transporters:
Open car 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 cars are securely fastened, they are exposed to the elements during the drive, so vehicle shipping companies may not recommend this option for highly valuable vehicles. Additionally, long journeys in open trailers pose a higher risk of damage & exposure to the elements, although it may be the cheapest way to ship a car cross-country.
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 transport.
If you need to move your vehicle overseas, it's best 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, 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 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 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 car 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 costing more than interstate car 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 car 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 car 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 speed at which you need your vehicle transportation service to operate can also impact 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 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 height, length, & 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. It's essential 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 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 car from the trailer. For example, if your automobile 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 car 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 car shipping. Having someone operate your vehicle to its destination will always be the cheapest option, as you're essentially just paying for the driver's time & fuel. Single car trailers & 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 alone & still needs specialist equipment for loading, unloading, & protection during transport.
The pickup & delivery locations can also increase the price of shipping a vehicle. Urban areas usually have car shipping services in close proximity, & 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 & 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.
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 vehicle transport company does not offer cargo insurance, it's highly recommended that you seek out & acquire some for your automobile during transit. As with all insurance policies, make sure you understand what type of damage is covered, whether there is a deductible, which parts of the vehicle are covered by the insurance, & any other relevant questions.
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, & blizzard conditions can 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 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 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 car. 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 cars - the days are the longest in the year, students are traveling home from universities, employees take vacations, & it's 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 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, & 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 Ship A Vehicle - Finding An Auto Transport Service
Now that you know more about what car shipping & a vehicle shipping service are & what sort of auto transport service you need, you probably want to go ahead & find a car transport service that's 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 car shipping company for the best price, & the same is true if you were to go through phone books. Furthermore, many of these companies are reluctant to provide 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 in finding a vehicle shipping service, 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 & delivery locations, & 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 & via 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 their availability (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 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 spent calling companies & filling in forms. Contact with these companies is all possible through our platform as well, meaning you can keep all your car 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 car 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 car 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 directly to them. This is because they are often looking to fill space on journeys they are already making & have already sunk the cost for. For example, if you were moving from Los Angeles to New York & 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, & 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's 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 car shipper, the emissions into the atmosphere would have doubled, as another entire journey would be needed just for your automobile. 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 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 cheap transport for our users.
Vehicle Shipping Palmer & Palmer Vehicle Shipping
Palmer, Alaska, is a city located in the Matanuska-Susitna Borough, about 42 miles northeast of Anchorage. Many people move to & from Palmer for various reasons, such as job relocation, family, or a change of scenery. When moving to or from Palmer, one of the challenges people face is transporting their automobiles, especially if they are moving long distances.
This is where vehicle shipping services come in handy. Car shipping companies can help transport your automobile to or from Palmer, saving you time, money, & effort. Whether you're moving to Palmer from another state or leaving Palmer for a new destination, vehicle shipping services can ensure that your automobile arrives safely & on time.
When looking for vehicle shipping services in Palmer, it's essential to consider factors such as the company's reputation, experience, insurance coverage, & pricing. By using a platform like Shiply, you can easily compare quotes from multiple car shipping companies & choose the one that best suits your needs & budget.
In conclusion, whether you're searching for "vehicle shipping Palmer" or "Palmer vehicle shipping," using
Preparing Your Vehicle for Palmer Car Shipping
You've selected a vehicle transport firm to ship your automobile and are confident in using their services. Now it's time to get your vehicle ready for palmer car shipping. Adhere to these guidelines:
Paperwork - Ensure you have any documents you might require at pickup or delivery, particularly if you're selling the automobile.
Cleansing - Remove all your personal belongings from the vehicle before transport, so nothing gets misplaced or damaged during transit. It's also wise to clean it beforehand so you can identify any damage that occurs during shipping.
Operational State - If the automobile will be operated at all during transport or upon arrival, ensure it can function. Inspect fluid levels, battery charge, and tire pressure. This allows you to assess the condition when it reaches its destination.
Images - Capture numerous high-resolution photographs of the entire vehicle before car shipping palmer. This provides evidence of its state in case anything happens during transportation.
After Your Vehicle Arrives
Once the car shipping company delivers, follow these steps:
Inspect Essentials - Immediately test lights, brakes, and engine to ensure everything functions as it should. Notify the car shipping palmer company if not.
Exterior - Compare the outside to your images to identify any new damage that occurred. Transporting cars can sometimes cause harm, so you want to be certain.
Odometer - If they operated your vehicle, verify the miles to ensure it corresponds to the journey.
Feedback - Provide a review for the auto transport firm you employed on Shiply so others can select reliable car shipping services.
FAQ - Frequently Asked Questions
Here are some common inquiries about transporting cars:
What is the cost to transport a car? Prices differ but typically it's around $2.92 per mile for 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 if you require a trailer then a multi-car transporter is most cost-effective.
Payment? Each shiply company is unique, so inquire with yours about payment choices before booking.
Online tracking? Some firms allow you to track shipments online or provide updates. Contact them to see if they offer this service.
Be present for pickup/delivery? Usually yes, you'll need to sign paperwork and provide them with the keys.
Items in vehicle? Most permit some personal belongings but 1) the weight could impact the cost and 2) your items aren't covered by insurance.
Fuel level? Approximately 1/4 tank is ideal - sufficient to load/unload easily without excessive extra weight.
Inoperable cars? You can ship them but it costs more since specialized equipment is required.
Customized cars? Shiply has numerous transporters, so nearly any vehicle can be shipped by someone with the appropriate setup.
