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. It's beneficial for moving a vehicle in various situations where you're unable to drive the car yourself. For instance, you might be buying or selling a used automobile online and require shipping it to a different state, or maybe you've recently moved and need to transport your vehicle across the nation. Vehicle shipping services can also be extremely useful when you have to move your car overseas and ferries aren't an option, in which case you'll need to rely on an auto shipping company to take care of it for you.
Luckily, there are numerous vehicle transport services available to fulfill your requirements, which we've described below.
Varieties Of Auto Shipping Services
There are various auto shipping services available, summarized below. It can be extremely helpful to read through and decide precisely what kind of vehicle transportation service you need or prefer to transport your automobile.
The initial decision you have to make is where you want your vehicle picked up from & delivered to, whether it's a cross-country car shipping or moving a vehicle to a different state. Terminal-to-terminal auto delivery is an option, which means designated collection and drop-off points are utilized, often the vehicle transport company's stores or operating bases. For this reason, terminal-to-terminal auto delivery is usually more affordable but will require some additional effort on your part to get the automobile home. However, most people need a door-to-door auto transport delivery service so their vehicles are collected & dropped off at their doorstep, regardless of whether it's a cross-country car shipping or just moving a vehicle to a different state. This is often preferable as it means you don't have to go anywhere to then collect your car - something that can be challenging without your vehicle in the first place!
Vehicle transport services are generally divided into two categories: either you have someone drive your automobile to where it needs to go, or it's placed on a trailer & taken there.
Have Someone Drive Your Vehicle
This is a straightforward solution to vehicle shipping that involves hiring someone to come and drive your automobile to where it needs to go - whether the need is to ship a car across the nation or to move vehicles to a different state. The benefits of this auto transport method are that it's often more affordable as trailers & an extra vehicle aren't required, and it can also be quick due to the straightforward nature of the transport.
However, there are some drawbacks to this method offered by vehicle shipping companies that lead some people to choose other types of car transport. First, mileage is obviously added to your vehicle on the trip, meaning if you're moving a car across the nation, there will be significant miles added - less so when simply moving a vehicle to a nearby state. Second, there's a slight risk of damage occurring to your automobile while it's driven from A to B. These are particularly concerning for people buying or selling cars online who want to ensure the vehicle arrives in exactly the same condition as it was advertised.
Place Your Vehicle On A Trailer
Placing your vehicle in a trailer is a safe way to guarantee a higher level of security than having someone drive your automobile to its destination. With vehicle shipping trailers, there are multiple options you may want to choose depending on the value & size of your car.
First, you need to decide whether you want a single trailer for your vehicle. These are often more expensive as they only transport one automobile at a time but are a great option if you're moving an expensive or classic car which you don't want to risk getting damaged. The absolute safest way to transport a vehicle is to put it in a shipping container, but this is by far the most expensive option. The other option is a multi-car transporter which can move many vehicles at once, of which there are a few variants:
Open vehicle shipping by any car shipping company is the most affordable & by far the most common option when moving a car. Your automobile is placed on an open carrier & driven to the destination. All vehicles are safely secured but, as the name suggests, they're exposed to the elements during the drive, so this may not be recommended by vehicle shipping companies for highly valuable cars. Further, while it may be the most affordable way to ship a vehicle cross country, long trips in open trailers will obviously run more risk of damage & leave your automobile exposed to the elements for longer periods of time.
Enclosed auto transport involves multiple vehicles secured on a carrier, but they're enclosed, meaning they're not exposed to the dust, weather & debris of the outside world during transit. This is often preferable for more expensive or newer cars where the owner wants to minimize the risk of damage during auto transport.
Should you need to move your vehicle overseas through an auto transport company, you should try to find one of the specialist services on our platform or one with experience in overseas vehicle shipping, as they can provide you with tailored advice based on your requirements.
Bridgeport Vehicle Shipping
Bridgeport, Connecticut, US is a popular location for people to move automobiles to & from. As the largest city in Connecticut, Bridgeport is a hub for business, education & transportation. Many people relocate to Bridgeport for job opportunities or to attend one of the city's universities, such as the University of Bridgeport or Housatonic Community College. When moving to or from Bridgeport, many people choose to use vehicle shipping services to transport their cars, as it can be more convenient & cost-effective than driving the automobile themselves, especially if they're moving a long distance. Bridgeport vehicle shipping companies offer a range of services to meet the needs of customers, including open & enclosed transport, door-to-door delivery & terminal-to-terminal pickup & drop-off. Whether you're moving to Bridgeport for work, school or personal reasons, using a vehicle shipping service can make the process of relocating your car much easier & less stressful.
How Much Does It Cost To Ship A Vehicle?
There are several variables when trying to figure out how much it will cost to ship a vehicle, but on average in the US, auto transport companies charge around $2.92 per mile if the trip is less than 200 miles, $0.93 if the trip is between 200 & 500 miles, & if the trip is over 1,000 miles, this drops to $0.78.
These numbers are just averages for vehicle moving companies, however, & your car transport may cost more or less than these figures depending on the circumstances. The best way to find out how much auto transport is going to cost you is to collect some vehicle shipping quotes from car transport companies, something that's very easy to do on Shiply.
If you want to try to get an idea of how much you can expect your vehicle delivery to cost, take a look below at the factors that can affect the price of car transport services.
Factors That Can Affect The Cost Of Auto Transport
We all want affordable vehicle transport, but there are several factors & variables that can affect how much your car shipping will cost. Below we'll lay out the main ones so you can get a rough idea of whether your auto transport requirements will be expensive or cheap.
As mentioned above, distance is one of the factors that will play a big part in how much your vehicle transport will cost, with cross-state & cross-country trips costing a lot more than an interstate car delivery, which is often the most affordable vehicle shipping.
While longer distances do cost more, thankfully the average price per mile does drop the longer the trip is, meaning you aren't paying over the odds.
International shipping will always result in expensive vehicle shipping quotes due to the logistics of transferring a car overseas & the distance it will need to travel. It can also require special enclosed trailers or even a shipping container for your automobile.
Route - Along with distance, the route needed to take your vehicle from its pick-up spot to its delivery spot can affect the pricing of your car carrier service. Routes with known higher traffic, in LA for example, may end up costing more than quieter roads due to the time this can add to a trip. Likewise, unforeseen circumstances such as major roadworks could also incur extra costs from the vehicle moving companies or mean that a different route is required that may take longer.
Shipping Dates - How fast you need your vehicle transportation service to operate can also affect the price. For example, if you're able to be flexible around timings, you may find that your vehicle shipping service charges a lot less. This is because they're able to fit your automobile delivery into their schedule & reduce overheads for themselves, passing the savings on to you. However, if you require auto transport in a strict timeframe (often known as expedited shipping), this will typically end up costing you more due to the car transport company likely having to dedicate a trailer & driver just for your delivery.
Vehicle Size - The height, length & width of the automobile will all affect how much it will cost to transport your vehicle. Car shippers will require larger trailers for bigger vehicles, with SUVs typically costing more on average to transport than a sedan. Further, you should always make sure to let the auto transport company know about any bike racks, roof racks or other accessories on the car, as these can also change the size of the trailer required for the delivery.
Vehicle Condition - If your automobile is not in a drivable condition, this may make your auto transport cost more expensive. This is because it may require extra equipment such as a winch or forklift to get your car on & off the trailer. If your vehicle has a locked wheel, for example, it will be impossible to simply roll it onto a trailer & off again, & takes more time, effort & machinery to complete the delivery than a standard car transport service. Most car carriers would consider a vehicle that can brake, roll & steer to be in good enough condition to ship easily.
Auto Transport Service Type - The type of auto transport service you select will also affect the cost of your vehicle shipping. Having someone drive your automobile to its destination will always be the most affordable option, as you're essentially just paying for a driver's time & petrol, whereas with single car trailers & enclosed transport, the price is likely to be higher as there is extra equipment required. Something like enclosed vehicle shipping will always be the most expensive method of moving a car, as it means not only is your automobile traveling on its own, but it still needs specialist equipment to load, unload & protect your vehicle during transport.
Locations Of Pickup & Delivery - Depending on where you need the vehicle picked up from & dropped off, this may also increase the price of shipping a car. Urban areas will usually have vehicle shipping services in close proximity, & if it's a common destination route, you will tend to get affordable 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 also in an unusual or hard-to-access space, extra steps may need to be taken to load your automobile, which can also increase the vehicle shipping cost.
Auto Transport Insurance - While all auto transport companies are required to carry liability insurance, many do not offer any additional insurance as it's not required by law. If a car transport company does not offer cargo insurance, it's highly recommended that you seek out & acquire some for your vehicle during its transit. As with all insurance policies, make sure you are clear on what type of damage is covered, whether there's a deductible, what parts of the automobile are covered by the insurance & any other questions you may have.
Time Of Year - Seasonality can also affect the price of vehicle shipping, with many services costing more to ship a car in the winter due to ice & snow slowing the routes. Here's a quick breakdown of how each season can affect auto transport costs:
Winter is often the most expensive season to ship your automobile. This is because ice, snow & blizzard conditions can all cause delays on the roads, as well as 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, so 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 affordable rates & high availability when it comes to moving your car. March is often a better time to ship than April or May, however, as there is often a rush to move vehicles from colder to warmer states.
Summer is the prime season for shipping vehicles - the days are the longest in the year, students are traveling home from universities, employees take vacations & it's 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 affordable vehicle shipping during the summer.
Fall is a good time to ship a car if you're looking for a slightly more affordable price. Vehicle shipping companies are less busy & there's typically more driver availability after the summer rush. However, you're 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 Ship A Vehicle - Finding An Auto Transport Service
Now that you know a bit more about what vehicle shipping & a car 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's 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're 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.
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The Benefits of Utilizing Shiply for Vehicle Transport in Bridgeport & Car Shipping in Bridgeport
Time-Saving - Instead of completing a quote form each time you desire a precise price from a company on transporting your automobile, on our platform you fill out one quote form & then can receive quotes based on the information you provide from several businesses. This can save you hours of time you would've had to spend phoning companies & filling in forms.
Communication with these firms is all possible through our platform too, allowing you to keep all of your vehicle shipping info 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 transport your ride. The challenging thing is that, while most companies are willing to provide average prices & general figures, you won't actually be given a firm vehicle transport quote without having to provide information & fill in specifics. While this is understandable, it does mean that price comparison & getting a vehicle transport quote isn't exactly a simple task.
Using Shiply allows you to get genuine, final price quotes from vehicle shipping businesses & compare them in one place, giving you the ability to message them individually to ask any questions you may have & ultimately choose the best company for you.
Affordable Vehicle Shipping - Auto transport firms on Shiply are usually able to offer their services for a lower cost than if you went directly to them. This is because they are often looking to fill space on trips they are already making & have already invested the cost for. Say, for example, you were moving 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 trip 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 car 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 needed 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 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 trips too, meaning even less wasted CO2 is being released into the atmosphere, as well as continued affordable transport for our users.
Getting Ready For Your Car To Be Shipped
If you have decided on an auto transport company to move your vehicle & feel secure using them, then it's time to get your ride ready for shipping. We suggest following these steps:
Documents - It is important to ensure that any documents you may need are available at pick up or drop off, especially if you are selling your vehicle.
Cleaning - You should take care to remove all personal items 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 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, & 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.
