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 numerous situations where operating the vehicle yourself is not practical, such as when purchasing or selling a used car online, relocating to a new residence, or moving your automobile overseas. Auto shipping services provide a practical solution for people who require relocating their vehicles across states or even nations.
There are various types of car transport services available to cater to different requirements and preferences. Whether you need cross-country vehicle shipping, transporting a car to another state, or even international automobile transportation, auto shipping companies can accommodate your needs. It's crucial to comprehend the different options available to make a well-informed choice when selecting a vehicle shipping service.
Varieties Of Car Transport Services
When it comes to car transport services, there are two primary options: terminal-to-terminal delivery and door-to-door delivery. Terminal-to-terminal auto delivery involves designated collection and drop-off points, typically at the vehicle transport company's stores or operating bases. While this option is often more cost-effective, it requires additional effort on your part to get the automobile to and from the terminals. Conversely, door-to-door auto transport is the most favored choice, as it provides the convenience of having your vehicle picked up & dropped off right at your doorstep, regardless of the distance.
Another decision you'll need to make is whether you want someone to operate your automobile to its destination or have it transported on a trailer. Hiring someone to drive your car can be a straightforward and economical solution, especially for shorter distances. However, this method adds mileage to your vehicle and carries a slight risk of damage during the journey.
If you opt for trailer transport, you can choose between a single trailer for your automobile or a multi-car transporter. Single trailers are more expensive but offer a higher level of protection, making them ideal for moving expensive or classic cars. Multi-car transporters, on the other hand, come in two variants: open car shipping and enclosed auto transport.
Open car shipping is the most common and affordable option, where your vehicle is securely placed on an open carrier and driven to its destination. While this method exposes your automobile to the elements during transit, it remains a popular choice for many individuals. Enclosed auto transport, on the other hand, provides an added layer of protection by enclosing the vehicles in a trailer, shielding them from dust, weather, and debris. This option is preferable for more expensive or newer vehicles.
For overseas vehicle transportation, it's essential to find a specialist service or a company with experience in international car shipping. These providers can offer tailored advice and assistance to ensure a smooth and hassle-free process.
The Benefits of Using Shiply for Vehicle Transportation
Time-efficient - Rather than submitting a quotation form each instance you desire an accurate cost from a business for transporting a vehicle, on our site you complete one quotation form & can then obtain quotes from various companies based on the information you submit. This can conserve you hours of effort you would have spent phoning enterprises and inputting details. Interaction with these businesses is also feasible via our platform, allowing you to store all your vehicle shipping data in a single location.
Cost Comparison - Ultimately, the price of the vehicle shipping estimate is the most crucial aspect in choosing which auto transport company to employ for moving your automobile. The challenging part is that, while most businesses are willing to provide average prices & rough estimates, you won't actually receive a definite vehicle transport quote without supplying information & filling in specifics. Although this is understandable, it means that comparing prices and getting a vehicle transport quote isn't precisely a simple process. Utilizing Shiply enables you to acquire genuine, final price estimates from vehicle shipping companies & compare them in one place, offering the opportunity to message them individually to inquire about any concerns you might have & ultimately select the optimal company for your needs.
Affordable Vehicle Shipping - Auto transport businesses on Shiply can usually provide their services at a reduced cost compared to going directly to them. This is because they are frequently seeking to fill space on trips they are already making & have already invested the expense for. For instance, if you were relocating from Los Angeles to New York & needed to transport your vehicle there, a company on Shiply might already have a multi-car transporter making that journey with 5 of the 6 spots occupied, & they are simply aiming to ensure they aren't wasting any space. As long as the dates, times, and pick-up/drop-off locations are suitable for you, you can often save up to 75% on auto transport by utilizing our service.
Eco-Friendly - Not only is using Shiply for auto transport more economical, but it is also more environmentally friendly! In the previous example, if your vehicle didn't get on that multi-car transporter & instead you arranged transport from a separate car shipper, then the emissions into the atmosphere would have doubled as another entire trip would be required just for your automobile. Likewise, many car transporters return from a delivery empty-handed, which is not only expensive for them but also for the environment as there are many individuals who could have utilized that transporter to move their vehicles in the opposite direction! Many of the auto transporters on Shiply are also seeking to fill their trailers on return trips, meaning even less wasted CO2 is being emitted into the atmosphere, as well as continued affordable transport for our users.
Preparing Your Vehicle for Shipping
If you have chosen an auto transport company to transport your vehicle & feel confident using them, then it's time to get your automobile ready for shipping. We suggest following these steps:
Documents - It is crucial to ensure that any necessary documents are available at pick up or drop off, especially if you are selling your vehicle.
Cleaning - You should take care to remove all personal belongings from your vehicle before shipping, for the obvious reason that you don't want to risk them getting lost or damaged in transit. It is also highly recommended that you clean your vehicle before transport as this will allow you to determine 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 is in running condition. This means ensuring that there is enough fluid, as well as checking battery charge & tire pressure levels. Again this can also help you better assess 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 determine 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.
If you're looking for reliable & affordable car shipping casa grande or casa grande car shipping services, Shiply is the perfect platform to connect with trusted auto transport companies. Save time, money, & the environment by using Shiply for all your car shipping needs!