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 you are unable to operate the vehicle yourself, such as when purchasing or selling a used car online, relocating to a new residence, or transporting your automobile overseas. Car shipping Mission Viejo is a sought-after service for individuals relocating to or from Mission Viejo, California, US.
There are various types of auto transport services available to meet your requirements, which we will explore below.
Types Of Vehicle Transport Services
When selecting a car shipping service, the initial choice you must make is where you want your automobile collected 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 and drop-off points are utilized, frequently at the car transport company's stores or operating bases. This option is typically more affordable but requires more effort on your part to get the vehicle home.
However, most individuals prefer a door-to-door auto transport delivery service, where their vehicles are collected & dropped off at their doorstep, regardless of whether it is a cross-country car transport or simply shipping a car to another state. This option is more convenient as you don't need to arrange transportation to collect your automobile.
Car transport services are generally divided into two categories: having someone operate your vehicle to the destination or placing it on a trailer.
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 a car across the country or to another state. The advantages of this method include lower costs, as trailers & extra vehicles are not required, & faster delivery due to the straightforward nature of the transport.
However, there are some drawbacks to this method 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 shipping a car across the country. Secondly, there is a slight risk of damage to your vehicle during the drive. These concerns are particularly relevant for people buying or selling cars online who want to ensure the car arrives in the same condition as advertised.
Place Your Vehicle On A Trailer
Placing your vehicle on a trailer is a safer way to ensure a higher level of protection than having someone operate your car to its destination. There are multiple options available depending on the value & size of your automobile.
Single trailers are often more expensive as they only transport one vehicle at a time, but they are a great option for moving expensive or classic cars that you don't want to risk damaging. The safest way to transport a car is in a shipping container, but this is also the most expensive option.
Multi-car transporters can carry many vehicles at once & come in a few variants:
- Open car shipping is the most affordable & most common option, where 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 for highly valuable vehicles.
- Enclosed auto transport involves multiple cars secured on a carrier, but they are enclosed & protected from dust, weather, & debris during transit. This option is often preferable for more expensive or newer automobiles.
- If you need to move your vehicle overseas, it's best to find a specialist service or one with experience in overseas car 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, US auto transport companies 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.
To get an accurate estimate of how much your car transport will cost, it's best to collect vehicle shipping quotes from various companies, which is easy to do on Shiply. However, several factors can affect the price of car transport services, including:
- Distance: Cross-state & cross-country journeys cost more than interstate car delivery.
- Route: Routes with higher traffic or unforeseen circumstances like roadworks can increase costs.
- Shipping Dates: Flexible timings can result in lower costs, while expedited shipping may cost more.
- Vehicle Size: Larger automobiles like SUVs typically cost more to transport than sedans.
- Vehicle Condition: Non-drivable cars may require extra equipment, increasing the cost.
- Auto Transport Service Type: Having someone operate your vehicle is the most affordable option, while enclosed car shipping is the most expensive.
- Locations Of Pickup & Delivery: Urban areas usually have lower costs, while rural or hard-to-access locations may increase the price.
- Auto Transport Insurance: Additional cargo insurance may be necessary, as not all companies offer it.
- Time Of Year: Seasonality can affect prices, with winter being the most expensive & spring being the most affordable.
How To Ship A Vehicle - Finding A Vehicle Transport Service
With hundreds of car transport companies available, finding the right one can be a daunting task. Searching on Google or through phone books can be time-consuming, & many companies are reluctant to provide pricing without a detailed quote application.
This is where Shiply can help simplify the process of finding auto transport companies.
How Can Shiply Help Find Vehicle Transport Companies?
Shiply makes it easy to collect quotes from car shipping companies. Simply fill out a simple form with the make & model of the vehicle, pickup & delivery locations, & the dates you need to move the automobile. This information allows auto transport providers on Shiply to provide accurate quotes for your job.
Once your listing is live, you'll receive quotes in your Shiply inbox & email. We recommend keeping email notifications on so you can be notified immediately when a new quote arrives. 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.
When you have a few quotes, you can ask the companies any questions you may have, such as their availability, insurance coverage, & how they secure cars during transport. It's important to ask these questions to ensure a smooth & expected experience.
Shiply also has a feedback & ratings system that allows you to view previous customers' experiences with a company & their overall score. We highly recommend checking this before selecting a quote to ship your vehicle.
Why People Often Move Vehicles To & From Mission Viejo, California, US
Mission Viejo, located in Orange County, California, is a popular city for people to move to & from. As a result, Mission Viejo car shipping services are in high demand. Some reasons why people often move cars to & from Mission Viejo include:
- Job Relocation: Many people move to Mission Viejo for work opportunities in nearby cities like Los Angeles & San Diego.
- Retirement: Mission Viejo is a popular retirement destination due to its pleasant weather, safe neighborhoods, & various amenities.
- Education: Students attending colleges & universities in the area often need to ship their cars to & from Mission Viejo.
- Lifestyle Changes: People moving to Mission Viejo for a change of pace or to be closer to family may need to ship their vehicles.
With its central location & easy access to major highways, Mission Viejo is a convenient city for car shipping services. Whether you're moving to or from Mission Viejo, using a reliable car shipping company can make the process smoother & less stressful.
The Benefits Of Utilizing Shiply For Mission Viejo Vehicle Transport
Time-Efficient - Instead of completing a quotation form each time you desire a precise cost from a company on transporting your vehicle, on our platform you only complete one quotation form & then can receive estimates based on the information you provide from several businesses. This can save you a significant amount of time that you would've had to invest in contacting companies & inputting details.
Communication with these businesses is all feasible through our platform as well, allowing you to store all of your "mission viejo car shipping" details in a single location.
Cost Comparison - Ultimately, the price of the vehicle shipping estimate is the most important factor in choosing which auto transport company to utilize to transport your automobile. The challenging aspect is that, while most businesses are willing to offer average prices & rough estimates, you won't actually receive a definite vehicle transport quote without having to provide information & complete details. While this is understandable, it does mean that cost comparison & obtaining a vehicle transport quote isn't exactly a simple process.
Utilizing Shiply enables you to receive authentic, final price estimates from vehicle shipping companies & compare them in one place, providing you with the capability to message them individually to ask any questions you may have & ultimately decide on the optimal company for you.
Affordable Mission Viejo Vehicle Transport
Auto transport businesses on Shiply are typically able to provide their services for a lower cost than if you went directly to them. This is because they are often seeking to fill space on trips they are already making & have already invested the cost for. For example, if you were relocating from Los Angeles to New York & needed to transport your vehicle there, on Shiply, a company may already have a multi-car transporter making that journey with 5 of the 6 spots occupied, & they are just looking to ensure they are not wasting any space. As long as the dates, times, & pick-up/drop-off locations are convenient for you, you can often save up to 75% on auto transport by utilizing our service.
More 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 & 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.
Similarly, 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 transport their vehicles in the opposite direction! Many of the auto transporters on Shiply are seeking to fill their trailers on return trips as well, meaning even less wasted CO2 is being emitted into the atmosphere, as well as continued affordable transport for our users.
Getting Ready For Your Vehicle Shipping Mission Viejo
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 documents you may require 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 prior to 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.
