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 location & transporting it to another. This service is beneficial in various circumstances where operating the vehicle yourself is not practical, such as when purchasing or selling a used car online, relocating to a new residence across the nation, or moving your automobile overseas. Vehicle transportation services provide a convenient solution for individuals who need to transfer their vehicles without the inconvenience of driving long distances.
There are several varieties of car shipping services available to accommodate different requirements, which we will investigate further in this article.
Varieties Of Car Shipping Services
When it comes to transporting your automobile, there are a few crucial decisions you need to make. First, you must determine the collection and delivery locations for your vehicle. You can choose between terminal-to-terminal auto transportation, where designated collection and drop-off points are used (often the vehicle transport company's facilities or operating bases), or door-to-door car shipping service, where your automobile is collected and delivered at your doorstep. While terminal-to-terminal auto transportation is often more affordable, door-to-door service is more convenient as it eliminates the need to arrange transportation to collect your vehicle.
Vehicle transport services can be broadly categorized into two options: having someone operate your automobile to the destination or placing it on a trailer for transportation.
Having Someone Operate Your Vehicle: This straightforward solution involves hiring someone to operate your automobile to its destination, whether it's a cross-country or interstate relocation. The benefits of this method include lower costs (as trailers and extra vehicles are not required) and faster delivery times. However, there are some drawbacks to consider, such as the addition of mileage to your vehicle (particularly for cross-country shipping) and the slight risk of damage during the journey. These concerns are especially relevant for individuals buying or selling automobiles online who want to ensure the vehicle arrives in the same condition as advertised.
Placing Your Automobile On A Trailer: Putting your vehicle on a trailer offers a higher level of safety compared to having someone operate it to the destination. Vehicle shipping trailers come in various options, depending on the value and size of your automobile. You can opt for a single trailer, which is more expensive but ideal for transporting expensive or classic cars without risking damage. The safest way to transport a vehicle is in a shipping container, although this is the most costly option.
Alternatively, you can choose a multi-car transporter, which comes in a few variants:
- Open vehicle shipping: The most affordable and common option, where your automobile is placed on an open carrier and driven to the destination. While all vehicles are securely fastened, they are exposed to the elements during the drive, making this option less suitable for highly valuable automobiles. Long journeys in open trailers also pose a higher risk of damage.
- Enclosed auto transport: Multiple vehicles are secured on a carrier and enclosed, protecting them from dust, weather, and debris during transit. This option is preferable for more expensive or newer automobiles where minimizing the risk of damage is a priority.
If you need to move your vehicle overseas, it's best to find a specialist service or a company with experience in overseas vehicle shipping to 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, car shipping companies in the US charge around $2.92 per mile for journeys less than 200 miles, $0.93 for journeys between 200 and 500 miles, and $0.78 for journeys over 1,000 miles. However, these figures are just averages, and your vehicle transport cost may be higher or lower based on your specific circumstances.
To get an accurate estimate of your vehicle shipping cost, it's best to collect quotes from multiple car transport companies, which is easily done through platforms like Shiply. Understanding the factors that affect the price of auto transport services can also help you gauge whether your car shipping requirements will be expensive or affordable.
Factors That Can Affect The Cost Of Car Shipping
Several variables can impact the cost of transporting your vehicle, including:
1. Distance: Cross-state and cross-country journeys cost significantly more than interstate vehicle delivery, which is often the most affordable option. However, the average price per mile decreases as the journey length increases.
2. International shipping: Transporting a vehicle overseas is always more expensive due to the logistics involved and the distance traveled. It may also require special enclosed trailers or shipping containers.
3. Route: The route taken from the collection spot to the delivery location can affect pricing. Routes with higher traffic or unforeseen circumstances like roadworks may incur extra costs or require longer alternative routes.
4. Shipping dates: Flexibility in timings can lead to lower costs, as vehicle shipping companies can fit your delivery into their schedule and reduce overheads. Expedited shipping within a strict timeframe typically costs more.
5. Vehicle size: The height, length, and width of the automobile, as well as any accessories like bike racks or roof racks, can change the size of the trailer required and affect the cost.
6. Vehicle condition: Non-drivable automobiles may require extra equipment (e.g., winch or forklift) to load and unload, increasing the cost compared to a vehicle that can break, roll, and steer.
7. Car transport service type: Having someone operate your automobile is the most affordable option, while single vehicle trailers and enclosed transport are more expensive due to the specialized equipment needed.
8. Collection and delivery locations: Urban areas with common destination routes often have more affordable vehicle shipping services, while rural deliveries or hard-to-access spaces may incur additional costs.
9. Car transport insurance: While auto transport companies must carry liability insurance, additional cargo insurance is recommended and may affect the overall cost.
10. Time of year: Seasonality plays a role in vehicle shipping prices, with winter being the most expensive due to weather-related delays and reduced speeds. Spring and fall offer better rates, while summer is the busiest season with higher prices.
How To Transport A Vehicle - Finding A Car Shipping Service
With numerous vehicle transport companies available, finding the right one can be overwhelming. Searching through Google or phone books can be time-consuming, and many companies are reluctant to provide pricing without a detailed quote application.
This is where Shiply can help simplify the process of finding car shipping services.
How Can Shiply Help Find Car Shipping Companies?
Shiply streamlines the process of collecting quotes from vehicle transport services. To get started, simply fill out a form with your automobile's make and model, collection and delivery locations, and the dates you need to move the vehicle. This information allows car transport providers on Shiply to provide accurate quotes for your specific job.
Once your listing is live, you'll receive quotes in your Shiply inbox and email. We recommend keeping email notifications on to ensure prompt updates when new quotes arrive. Quotes can start coming in within minutes of posting your listing, but it's best to wait for a few options before making a decision.
After receiving quotes, you can ask the vehicle shipping companies any questions you may have, such as their availability, insurance coverage, and how they secure automobiles during transport. It's crucial to ask these questions to ensure a smooth and expected experience.
Shiply's feedback and ratings system is another valuable resource when selecting a vehicle transport service. This system allows you to view previous customers' experiences and overall scores for each company, helping you make an informed decision.
Why People Often Move Vehicles To & From Antioch, California, US
Antioch, located in Contra Costa County, California, is a growing city that has seen an increase in population over the years. Many people relocate to Antioch for its affordability compared to other parts of the Bay Area, as well as its proximity to major cities like San Francisco and Oakland. As a result, there is a significant demand for vehicle shipping services to and from Antioch.
One of the main reasons people transport their automobiles to Antioch is when relocating for work or family reasons. Instead of driving long distances, many individuals opt for professional vehicle shipping services to transport their automobiles safely and efficiently. This is especially true for those moving from out of state or across the country.
Another common scenario is when people purchase or sell automobiles online. Antioch residents may acquire vehicles from other parts of the country, requiring the use of car shipping companies to deliver the automobile to their doorstep. Similarly, when selling a vehicle to someone outside of Antioch, sellers often rely on auto transport services to ensure the automobile reaches its new owner in the same condition as advertised.
Antioch's location also makes it a popular choice for automobile enthusiasts attending events or shows in the Bay Area. Classic car owners, for example, may use enclosed vehicle shipping to transport their valuable automobiles to and from Antioch for exhibitions or auctions.
In summary, the growing population, affordability, and proximity to major cities in the Bay Area contribute to the frequent movement of automobiles to and from Antioch, California. Whether it's for relocation, online purchases, or special events, reliable vehicle shipping services play a crucial role in facilitating these automobile transports while ensuring the safety and convenience of the process.
The Advantages of Utilizing Shiply for Vehicle Transport
Time-efficient - Rather than completing a quotation form each instance you desire an exact cost from an organization for transporting a vehicle, on our platform you complete one quotation form and can then obtain quotes from various companies based on the information you supply. This can conserve you hours of effort you would have spent phoning companies and filling out forms. Communication with these organizations is also feasible through our platform, allowing you to store all your vehicle shipping details in a single location.
Cost Comparison - Ultimately, the price of the vehicle shipping estimate is the most crucial factor in selecting which auto transport company to employ for shipping your vehicle. The challenge is that, while most companies willingly provide average prices and rough estimates, you won't receive a definite vehicle transport quote without supplying information and completing details. Although this is reasonable, it means that comparing prices and obtaining a vehicle transport quote is not a simple task. Utilizing Shiply enables you to receive genuine, final price estimates from vehicle shipping companies and compare them in one place, offering the ability to message them individually to ask any questions you may have and ultimately choose the best company for your needs.
Affordable Vehicle Shipping - Auto transport companies on Shiply can typically provide their services at a lower cost than if you contacted them directly. This is because they are often seeking to fill space on trips they are already making and have already invested the cost for. For instance, if you were relocating from Los Angeles to New York and needed to transport your vehicle there, a company on Shiply may already have a multi-car transporter making that trip with 5 of the 6 spots occupied, and they are simply looking to ensure they are not 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 using our service.
Environmentally Friendly - Not only is using Shiply for auto transport more affordable, but it is also more environmentally friendly. In the above example, if your vehicle didn't get on that multi-car transporter and instead you arranged transport from a separate car shipper, the emissions into the atmosphere would have doubled as another entire journey would be required just for your vehicle. 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 opposite direction. Many of the auto transporters on Shiply are also looking to fill their trailers on return journeys, meaning even less wasted CO2 is being released into the atmosphere, as well as continued affordable transport for our users.
Readying Your Vehicle for Shipping
If you have selected an auto transport company to transport your vehicle and feel confident using them, it's time to prepare your vehicle 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 assess its condition and 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, you should ensure that it is in running condition. This means ensuring that there is enough fluid, as well as checking battery charge and tire pressure levels. Again, this can also help you better judge 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, and 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 ascertain whether any extra damage has occurred. Shipping a car can, in rare cases, cause damage, and 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 and 500 miles, and 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 and 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 and delivery? In most cases, the car shipping company will require you to be in attendance for the pickup and 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, and 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 and 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 and 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 and has the right equipment to safely carry it out.
If you're looking for reliable and affordable car shipping antioch or antioch car shipping services, Shiply is the perfect platform to connect with top-rated auto transport companies. With our user-friendly interface and competitive pricing, shipping your vehicle has never been easier or more cost-effective. Get started today and experience the convenience of Shiply for all your vehicle transport needs.
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