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 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 a vehicle to another state, relocating & requiring cross-country vehicle shipping, or moving your automobile overseas when ferries are unavailable. Fortunately, there are numerous vehicle transport services available to cater to your requirements.
Categories Of Vehicle Shipping Services
When selecting a vehicle transport service, the initial choice you must make is where you want your automobile collected from & delivered to, whether it's a cross-country vehicle shipping or transporting a car to another state. Terminal-to-terminal auto delivery is an option, where designated collection and drop-off points, frequently the vehicle transport company's stores or operating bases, are utilized. While terminal-to-terminal auto delivery is typically more affordable, it demands more effort on your part to get the vehicle home. Most individuals, however, opt for a door-to-door auto shipping delivery service, where their automobiles are collected & dropped off at their doorstep, regardless of whether it is a cross-country vehicle shipping or just transporting a car to another state. This is often preferable as it eliminates the need to arrange transportation to collect your vehicle.
Vehicle shipping services are generally categorized into two types: having someone operate your automobile to the destination or placing it on a trailer for transport.
Have Someone Operate Your Vehicle
This straightforward solution to vehicle shipping involves hiring someone to operate your automobile to its destination, whether you need to transport a car 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 straightforward nature of the transport. However, there are some drawbacks to this method offered by vehicle shipping companies. Firstly, mileage is added to your vehicle during the journey, which can be significant when transporting a car across the country. 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.
Place Your Vehicle 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 vehicle shipping trailers, there are multiple options available depending on the value & size of your automobile. You can choose between a single trailer for your car, which is more expensive as it only transports one vehicle at a time but is a great option for moving expensive or classic automobiles, or a multi-car transporter that can transport many vehicles at once. The safest way to transport a car is to place it in a shipping container, but this is by far the most expensive option.
Open vehicle shipping is the most affordable & most common option when transporting a car. Your automobile is placed on an open carrier & driven to the destination. While all vehicles are safely secured, they are exposed to the elements during the drive, making it less suitable for highly valuable automobiles. Long journeys in open trailers also run a higher risk of damage & exposure to the elements.
Enclosed auto transport involves securing multiple vehicles on a carrier, but they are enclosed, protecting them from dust, weather, & debris during transit. This 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 vehicle 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 Transport A Vehicle?
The cost of transporting a vehicle varies depending on several factors, but on average, auto shipping 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 the circumstances. The best way to find out the cost of auto shipping is to collect vehicle shipping quotes from vehicle transport companies, which is easy to do on Shiply.
Factors That Can Affect The Cost Of Vehicle Transport
Several factors & variables can affect the cost of vehicle shipping. Distance plays a significant role, with cross-state & cross-country journeys costing more than interstate vehicle delivery. While longer distances cost more, the average price per mile drops as the journey length increases. 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 taken to transport your vehicle from its collection spot to its delivery spot 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. Unforeseen circumstances like major roadworks could also incur extra costs from the vehicle moving companies or require a different, longer route.
The shipping dates can also impact the price. If you are 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. However, if you require auto transport within a strict timeframe (often known as expedited shipping), it will typically cost more due to the vehicle transport company likely having to dedicate a trailer & driver just for your delivery.
The size of the 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 important 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.
The condition of the automobile can also impact the cost of auto transport. If your vehicle is not in a drivable condition, it may require extra equipment such as a winch or forklift to load & unload it from the trailer, increasing the cost. 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 is always the most affordable option, as you are essentially just paying for the driver's time & fuel. Single car trailers & enclosed transport are likely to be more expensive, as they require extra equipment. Enclosed vehicle shipping is always the most expensive method of transporting a car, as it means your automobile travels on its own & still needs specialist equipment to load, unload, & protect it during transport.
The locations of pickup & delivery can also increase the price of transporting 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 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 transport a car in the winter due to ice & snow slowing the routes. Winter is often the most expensive season to ship your automobile, as 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 automobile shipping costs. February, however, is usually quiet, & 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 cars from colder to warmer states.
Summer is the prime season for transporting 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 cars to university.
How To Transport A Vehicle - Finding An Auto Shipping 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 & actually try to find a vehicle transport service that is going to be right for you. The issue is that there are hundreds of vehicle transport companies out there. Trying to find them on Google can end up resulting in scrolling through hundreds of 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. Further, many of these companies are reluctant to give you pricing, meaning you will most likely need to apply for a quote & fill out details with each of them individually, which can become 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 get started with 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 be able 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 also 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 transporting 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.
Why People Often Move Vehicles To & From Sitka, Alaska, US
Sitka, Alaska, US is a popular destination for people moving automobiles to & from the area. Many people choose to ship their cars to Sitka when relocating for work or personal reasons, as driving long distances can be challenging & time-consuming, especially in the harsh Alaskan climate. Sitka vehicle shipping services provide a convenient & safe way to transport automobiles to this remote location. Additionally, some people may need to ship their cars from Sitka if they are moving away from the area or selling their vehicle to someone in another state. With the help of reliable vehicle shipping companies, moving an automobile to or from Sitka, Alaska, US, can be a hassle-free experience.
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Preparing Your Vehicle for Sitka 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 sitka car transport. Adhere to these guidelines:
Paperwork - Ensure you have any documents you might require at pickup or delivery, particularly if you're selling the car.
Cleansing - Remove all your personal belongings from the vehicle before transport, so nothing gets misplaced or damaged during transit. It's also wise to wash it beforehand so you can identify if any harm occurs during shipping.
Operational State - If the automobile needs to be operated at all during transport or when it gets delivered, ensure it can function. Inspect fluid levels, battery charge, & tire pressure. This also helps you assess the condition upon arrival.
Images - Capture numerous high-resolution photos of the entire car before sitka car shipping. This provides you with evidence of its state in case anything happens during transit.
After Your Vehicle Gets Shipped
Once the auto transport company completes delivery, do these things:
Inspect Essentials - Examine lights, brakes, & engine immediately to ensure everything functions as it should. Inform the transporter if anything's amiss.
Exterior - Contrast the outside to your images to determine if any fresh damage occurred. Transporting automobiles can sometimes cause issues, so you want to be certain.
Odometer - If they operated your vehicle, verify the miles to ensure it aligns with the journey.
Post a review for the car shipping company on Shiply so others know what to anticipate when transporting automobiles.
FAQ - Frequent Car Transport Queries
Here are responses to some commonly asked questions about transporting automobiles:
What's 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, & $0.78 for over 1,000 miles.
What's the most economical way to ship a car? Having someone operate it is most affordable, but if you require a trailer then a multi-car transporter is most cost-effective.
How do I pay? Each transporter on Shiply is different, so inquire with yours about payment methods before booking.
Can I monitor my shipment online? Many transporters provide tracking, some with personal updates. Contact them to see if they offer it.
Does someone need to be present for pickup/dropoff? Usually yes, to sign paperwork & exchange keys.
Can I leave items in the car? Some personal belongings are typically ok, but they aren't covered by insurance & can impact the shipping cost based on weight.
How much fuel for shipping? Around 1/4 tank is good - sufficient to load/unload easily without too much extra weight.
Can I ship if it doesn't operate? Yes, but it costs more since specialized equipment is needed to load/unload.
Can I transport modified vehicles? Absolutely, with all the transporters on Shiply there's usually someone who can handle any kind of automobile.
