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, or transporting your automobile overseas. Vehicle shipping companies provide a variety of auto transport services to accommodate different requirements.
Categories Of Auto Transport Services
When selecting an auto transport service, the initial choice you need to make is where you want your vehicle collected from & delivered to, whether it's a cross-country car transport or shipping an automobile to another state. Terminal-to-terminal auto delivery is an option, where designated collection & drop-off points are utilized, frequently at the car transport company's stores or operating bases. While this alternative is typically less expensive, it necessitates more effort on your part to get the vehicle home. Most individuals, however, opt for a door-to-door auto transport delivery service, where their automobiles are collected & dropped off at their doorstep, regardless of the distance. This is more convenient as it eliminates the need to arrange transportation to collect your vehicle.
Car transport services generally fall into two categories: having someone operate your vehicle to the destination or placing 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 it's a cross-country or interstate move. This method is often less expensive as it doesn't require trailers or an additional vehicle. It can also be quicker due to its simplicity. However, there are some drawbacks to consider. Firstly, the journey will add mileage to your automobile, which can be significant for cross-country shipping. Secondly, there is a slight risk of damage to your car 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
Using a trailer to transport your vehicle offers a higher level of safety compared to having someone operate it. Car shipping trailers come in various options, depending on the value & size of your automobile. Single trailers, while more expensive, are ideal for transporting expensive or classic cars as they minimize the risk of damage. The safest option is to use a shipping container, although it is the most costly. Multi-car transporters, which can carry several vehicles at once, are another option with a few variants:
Open car shipping is the cheapest & most common option offered by car shipping companies. Your vehicle is placed on an open carrier & driven to its destination. While all cars are securely fastened, they are exposed to the elements during transit, making this option less suitable for highly valuable automobiles. Long journeys using open trailers also pose a higher risk of damage due to prolonged exposure to the elements.
Enclosed auto transport involves securing multiple cars on a carrier that is enclosed, protecting them from dust, weather, & debris during transit. This option is preferable for more expensive or newer vehicles where the owner wants to minimize the risk of damage.
For overseas vehicle transportation, it's best to find a specialist service or a company with experience in international car 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, 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. These figures are just averages, & your car transport cost may differ based on your specific circumstances. The best way to get an accurate estimate is to collect car shipping quotes from multiple vehicle transport companies, which is easily done through Shiply.
Factors That Can Influence The Cost Of Auto Transport
While everyone wants cheap car transport, several factors can affect the cost of car shipping services. Distance plays a significant role, with cross-state & cross-country journeys costing more than interstate car delivery. However, the average price per mile decreases as the journey length increases. International shipping is always more expensive due to the logistics of transferring a vehicle overseas & the distance involved. It may also require special enclosed trailers or shipping containers.
The route taken by the car carrier service can also impact pricing. Routes with higher traffic, such as in LA, may cost more due to the additional time required. Unforeseen circumstances like major roadworks could also incur extra costs or necessitate a longer alternative route.
The urgency of your shipping dates can affect the price as well. Flexible timings often result in lower charges, as car shipping companies can fit your delivery into their schedule & reduce overheads. Expedited shipping, where you require auto transport within a strict timeframe, typically costs more as it may require a dedicated trailer & driver.
The size of your vehicle, including its height, length, & width, affects the cost of transport. Larger vehicles like SUVs generally cost more to ship than sedans, as they require bigger trailers. It's essential to inform the auto transport company about any accessories such as bike racks or roof racks, as they can change the trailer size needed.
The condition of your vehicle can also influence the shipping cost. If your car is not drivable, it may require additional equipment like a winch or forklift to load & unload it from the trailer, increasing the overall cost. Most car carriers consider a car that can brake, roll, & steer to be in good enough condition for easy shipping.
The type of auto transport service you choose will also affect the cost. Having someone operate your vehicle is the cheapest option, as you're essentially paying for the driver's time & fuel. Single car trailers & enclosed transport are more expensive due to the specialized equipment required. Enclosed car shipping is the most costly method, as it involves your vehicle traveling alone while still needing special equipment for loading, unloading, & protection during transit.
The pickup & delivery locations can also impact the price of shipping a vehicle. Urban areas usually have car shipping services nearby, & common destination routes often offer cheap car shipping. Rural deliveries can be more expensive due to the extra mileage & deviations from normal routes required. Unusual or hard-to-access pickup or drop-off points may necessitate extra steps for loading your vehicle, increasing the shipping cost.
While auto transport companies must carry liability insurance, many do not offer additional coverage. If a company doesn't provide cargo insurance, it's highly recommended to obtain your own policy for your vehicle during transit. Be sure to clarify what type of damage is covered, any deductibles, which parts of the vehicle are insured, & any other relevant details.
Seasonality can also affect car shipping prices, with winter transport often being more expensive due to ice & snow slowing down routes. December is a challenging month for vehicle shipping as many drivers are on holiday, while January sees increased demand for transport to warmer states, leading to higher costs. Spring is an ideal time to ship your vehicle, with improved weather, longer days, & more available drivers often resulting in cheap rates & high availability. Summer is the peak season for car shipping due to longer days, students traveling home, employees taking vacations, & a popular time for moving houses. Fall can offer slightly cheaper prices, with less demand & more driver availability after the summer rush.
How To Ship A Vehicle - Finding An Auto Transport Service
With hundreds of car transport companies available, finding the right one can be overwhelming. Searching online or through phone books can be time-consuming, & many companies are reluctant to provide pricing without a detailed quote request.
How Can Shiply Help Find Auto Transport Companies?
Shiply simplifies the process of finding a car shipping service. To get started, fill out a simple form with your vehicle's make & model, 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 to be promptly informed of new quotes. Quotes can arrive within minutes of posting your listing, but it's best to wait for a few options before making a decision.
When you have several 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 crucial to ask these questions to ensure a smooth & expected experience.
Shiply's feedback & ratings system is a valuable resource when selecting a car shipping company. It allows you to view previous customers' experiences & the company's overall score.
Why People Often Move Vehicles To & From Santa Rosa, California, US
Santa Rosa, located in Sonoma County, California, is a popular destination for car shipping due to various reasons. As the largest city in California's Wine Country & a gateway to the redwood forests, Santa Rosa attracts many tourists & new residents. People often relocate to Santa Rosa for its mild climate, diverse outdoor activities, & proximity to San Francisco. The city's strong economy, driven by healthcare, retail, & manufacturing industries, also draws professionals & families. Additionally, Santa Rosa is home to several colleges & universities, leading to an influx of students who may need car shipping services. With its mix of urban amenities & natural beauty, Santa Rosa continues to be a desirable location for those relocating within California or from out of state, fueling the demand for reliable car shipping services to & from the area.
The Benefits of Utilizing Shiply for Vehicle Transport in Santa Rosa
Time-Efficient - Instead of completing a quotation form each time you require an exact cost from a business for transporting a vehicle, on our platform you complete one quotation form and can then receive estimates based on the information you supply from several companies. This can save you a significant amount of time that you would have spent phoning companies and filling out forms. Communication with these businesses is also possible through our platform, allowing you to store all of your Santa Rosa vehicle shipping details in one location.
Cost Comparison - Ultimately, the price of the vehicle shipping estimate is the most crucial factor in choosing which auto transport company to use to transport your vehicle. The challenging aspect is that, while most companies are willing to provide average prices and rough estimates, you won't actually receive a definite vehicle shipping Santa Rosa quote without having to give information and complete details. While this is understandable, it means that price comparison and obtaining a vehicle transport quote is not exactly a simple task. Using Shiply allows you to receive genuine, final price quotes from vehicle shipping companies and compare them in one place, providing the ability to message them individually to ask any questions you may have and ultimately decide on the best company for you.
Affordable 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 and have already sunk the cost for. Say, for example, you were moving from Los Angeles to New York and needed to move your car there. On Shiply, a company may already have a multi-car transporter making that journey with 5 of the 6 spots filled, and they are just looking to ensure they are not wasting any space. As long as the dates, times, and pick-up/drop-off locations work 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 cheaper, but it is also better for the environment. In the above example, if your car didn't get on that multi-car transporter and instead you arranged transport from a separate car shipper, then the emissions into the atmosphere would have doubled as another entire journey would be needed just for your car. 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 lots of people who could have used that transporter to move their cars 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.
Readying Your Vehicle for Transport
If you have chosen an auto transport company to transport your vehicle and feel confident using them, then it's time to prepare your car for shipping. We suggest following these steps:
Paperwork - It is crucial to ensure that any documents you may need are available at pick up or drop off, especially if you are selling your vehicle.
Washing - You should take care to remove all personal items 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 ascertain its condition and notice any damages that may occur during delivery.
Operational 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 judge the condition of the vehicle upon arrival.
Visual Documentation - 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.
Actions to Take After Delivery
Once the car shipping company you selected has completed their delivery, there are a few things you should do:
Inspect Vital Components - 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 State - 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.
Verify 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 & 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.
