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 transporting a vehicle in various circumstances where you can't operate the car yourself. For instance, you might be buying or selling a pre-owned vehicle online and require shipping it to a different state, or maybe you've recently moved and need nationwide vehicle shipping. Auto transport services can also be incredibly useful when you need to move your car overseas and boats aren't an option, in which case you'll have to rely on a car shipping company to manage the job for you.
Luckily, there are numerous vehicle transport services available to satisfy your particular requirements, which we've described below.
Varieties Of Car Shipping Services
There are various car shipping services available, summarized below. It can be extremely advantageous to read through and establish precisely what kind of auto transportation service you need or prefer for transporting your vehicle.
The initial decision you need to make is where you want your automobile picked up from & delivered to, whether it's a nationwide vehicle transport or shipping a car to a different state. Terminal-to-terminal auto delivery is an option, which means designated collection and drop-off points are used, often the vehicle transport company's stores or operating bases. As a result, terminal-to-terminal car delivery is frequently less expensive but will require more effort on your part to get the vehicle home. However, the vast majority of people require a door-to-door car shipping delivery service so that their automobiles are picked up & dropped off at their doorstep, regardless of whether it's a nationwide vehicle transport or just moving a car to a different state. This is often preferable as it eliminates the need for you to go anywhere to 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 operate your car to its destination, or it's loaded onto a trailer and moved there.
Have Someone Operate Your Vehicle
This is a straightforward solution to vehicle shipping that involves hiring someone to come and operate your car to its destination - whether you need to transport a vehicle across the country or to a different state. The advantages of this car shipping method are that it's often less expensive since trailers and an extra vehicle aren't required, and it can also be faster 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 auto transport. Firstly, mileage is obviously added to your car during the journey, meaning that if you're transporting a vehicle across the country, there will be significant miles added - less so when simply shipping a car to a nearby state. Secondly, there is a slight risk of damage occurring to your automobile while it's being driven from point A to point B. These concerns are particularly worrisome for people buying or selling vehicles online who want to ensure the car arrives in exactly the same condition as it was advertised.
Put Your Automobile On A Trailer
Putting your vehicle in a trailer is a safe way to guarantee a higher level of safety than having someone operate your car to its destination. With auto shipping trailers, there are multiple options available depending on the value & size of your automobile.
Firstly, you need to decide whether you want a single trailer for your vehicle. These are often more expensive as they only transport one car at a time but are a great option if you're moving an expensive or classic automobile that 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 automobiles at once, and there are a few variants:
Open vehicle shipping by any auto shipping company is the least expensive & by far the most common option when transporting a car. Your automobile is placed on an open carrier and driven to the destination. All vehicles are safely secured, but as the name suggests, they are exposed to the elements during the drive, so car transport companies may not recommend this for highly valuable automobiles. Furthermore, while it may be the least expensive way to ship a vehicle cross-country, long journeys in open trailers will obviously run a higher risk of damage and leave your car exposed to the elements for longer periods.
Enclosed car transport involves multiple automobiles secured on a carrier, but they are enclosed, meaning they aren't exposed to the dust, weather, and debris of the outside world during transit. This is often preferable for more expensive or newer vehicles where the owner wants to minimize the risk of damage during auto shipping.
If you need to move your car overseas through a vehicle transport company, you should try to find one of the specialist services on our platform or one with experience in overseas auto shipping, as they can provide you with tailored advice based on your requirements.
Why People Often Move Vehicles To & From Danbury, Connecticut
Danbury, Connecticut, is a city located in the southwestern part of the state, known for its rich history, diverse community, and thriving business environment. Many people move automobiles to and from Danbury for various reasons. One of the primary reasons is relocation, whether it's for work, family, or a change of scenery. Danbury is home to several major employers, including Praxair, Ethan Allen, and Cartus, which often attract professionals from other parts of the country. Additionally, Danbury's proximity to New York City makes it an appealing location for those who want to live in a more suburban setting while still having access to the city's amenities.
Another reason people move vehicles to and from Danbury is for auto sales. The city has a robust used car market, with many dealerships and private sellers offering a wide range of automobiles. People from surrounding areas often come to Danbury to purchase cars, and those living in Danbury may sell their vehicles to buyers from other parts of the state or country. In these cases, vehicle shipping services become essential for facilitating the transaction and ensuring the safe transport of the car from one location to another.
Danbury's location at the intersection of major highways, such as I-84 and US-7, also makes it a convenient hub for auto shipping. Many vehicle transport companies have terminals or pass through Danbury on their routes, making it easier and more affordable for residents to move their cars to and from the city.
How Much Does It Cost To Transport A Vehicle?
There are several variables to consider when trying to determine the cost of shipping an automobile, but on average, car transport 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 for vehicle moving companies, and your auto transport may cost more or less depending on the circumstances. The best way to find out how much car shipping will cost you is to collect vehicle transport quotes from auto shipping companies, which is very easy to do on Shiply.
If you want 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 Car Shipping
We all want inexpensive vehicle transport, but there are several factors and variables that can affect how much your auto shipping will cost. Below, we'll outline the main ones so that you can get a rough idea of whether your car transport requirements will be expensive or cheap.
As mentioned above, distance is one of the factors that will play a significant role in how much your vehicle transport will cost, with cross-state and cross-country journeys costing much more than an interstate auto delivery, which is often the least expensive car shipping option.
While longer distances do cost more, thankfully, the average price per mile drops the longer the journey is, meaning that you aren't paying over the odds.
International shipping will always result in expensive auto shipping quotes due to the logistics of transferring a vehicle overseas and the distance it needs to travel. It can also require special enclosed trailers or even a shipping container for your car.
Route - Along with distance, the route needed to take your automobile from its pick-up spot to its delivery spot can affect the pricing of your vehicle 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 journey. 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, which may take longer.
Shipping Dates - How quickly you need your auto transportation service to operate can also affect the price. For example, if you are able to be flexible around timings, you may find that your vehicle shipping service charges a lot less. This is because they are able to fit your car delivery into their schedule and reduce overheads for themselves, passing the savings on to you. However, if you require car transport within a strict timeframe (often known as expedited shipping), this will typically end up costing you more due to the auto transport company likely having to dedicate a trailer and driver just for your delivery.
Vehicle Size - The height, length, and width of the automobile will all affect how much it will cost to transport your car. Auto 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 car transport company know about any bike racks, roof racks, or other accessories on the vehicle, 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 car transport more expensive. This is because it may require extra equipment, such as a winch or forklift, to get your vehicle on and off the trailer. If your car has a locked wheel, for example, it will be impossible to simply roll it onto a trailer and off again, and it takes more time, effort, and machinery to complete the delivery than a standard auto transport service. Most vehicle carriers would consider a car that can brake, roll, and steer to be in good enough condition to ship easily.
Car Shipping Service Type - The type of vehicle transport service you select will also affect the cost of your auto shipping. Having someone drive your car to its destination will always be the least expensive option, as you are essentially just paying for a driver's time and petrol, whereas with single car trailers and 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 shipping a car, as it means not only is your automobile traveling on its own, but it still needs specialist equipment to load, unload, and protect your vehicle during transport.
Locations Of Pickup And Delivery - Depending on where you need the automobile picked up from and dropped off, this may also increase the price of shipping a car. Urban areas will usually have auto shipping services in close proximity, and if it is a common destination route, you will tend to get inexpensive vehicle shipping. Rural deliveries can cost more as they require deviations from normal routes and 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 car, which can also increase the auto shipping cost.
Car Transport Insurance - While all vehicle transport companies are required to carry liability insurance, many do not offer any additional insurance as it is not required by law. If an auto shipping company does not offer cargo insurance, it is highly recommended that you seek out and acquire some for your car during its transit. As with all insurance policies, make sure you are clear on what type of damage is covered, whether there is a deductible, what parts of the vehicle are covered by the insurance, and any other questions you may have.
Time Of Year - Seasonality can also affect the price of auto shipping, with many services costing more to transport a vehicle in the winter due to ice and snow slowing the routes. Here is a quick breakdown of how each season can affect car transport costs:
Winter is often the most expensive season to ship your car. This is because ice, snow, and blizzard conditions can all cause delays on the roads, as well as reduce the maximum speed at which the vehicle delivery service can transport automobiles. December is typically a difficult time to have a car shipped as drivers are on holiday, while many travel to warmer states in January, leading to increased auto shipping costs. February, however, is usually quiet, and so great rates are often available from vehicle transport services during this month.
Spring is a great time to ship your car with an auto transportation service. With improved weather conditions, longer days, and more drivers ready to work, Spring can often mean inexpensive rates and high availability when it comes to moving your vehicle. March is often a better time to ship than April or May; however, again, there is often a rush to move automobiles 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, and it is also a very popular time to move house. This means that June, July, and August are all busy months for the car transport industry, and you should not expect inexpensive auto shipping during the summer.
Fall is a good time to ship a vehicle if you are looking for a slightly less expensive price. Auto shipping companies are less busy, and there is typically more driver availability after the summer rush; however, you are better off looking to move your car in October or November rather than September, as this is peak time for students shipping their automobiles to university.
How To Transport A Vehicle - Finding A Car Shipping Service
Now that you know a bit more about what auto shipping and a vehicle transport service are and what sort of car shipping service you need, you probably want to go ahead and actually try to find an auto transport service that is 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 auto shipping company for the best price, and 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 and fill out details with each of them individually, which can become very time-consuming.
How Can Shiply Help Find Car Transport Companies?
Given all of the options and variables involved with finding a vehicle shipping service, actually searching for and finding the right one can seem like a daunting task, and 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 and model of the automobile that needs shipping, the pickup location and delivery location, and the dates that you need to move the car. This gives the car 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 and 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 are available (if a time frame is given), what insurance they have, and how they would secure your vehicle. We recommend asking any company you may use these questions to ensure that everything goes smoothly and as expected.
Shiply has a feedback and ratings system which we also highly recommend looking at before selecting a quote to ship your car. 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 Using Shiply for Car Shipping in Danbury
Time-Efficient - Rather than filling out a quotation form each instance you desire an accurate cost from a company for danbury car shipping, on our platform you complete one quotation form & can then obtain quotes from various companies based on the information you submit. This can conserve you significant time that you would have otherwise spent contacting companies & inputting details. Communication with these businesses is also feasible through our platform, allowing you to store all of your car shipping data in a single location.
Cost Comparison - Ultimately, the price of the car shipping estimate is the most crucial factor when selecting which auto transport company to employ for shipping your vehicle. The challenging aspect is that, while most companies willingly provide average prices & rough estimates, you won't receive a definite car transport quote without supplying information & completing details. Although this is reasonable, it means that comparing prices & obtaining a car transport quote is not a simple task. Utilizing Shiply enables you to acquire genuine, final price estimates from car shipping companies & compare them in one place, offering the opportunity to message them individually to inquire about any questions you may have & ultimately choose the optimal company for your needs.
Affordable Car Shipping - Auto transport businesses on Shiply can usually provide their services at a lower cost than if you approached them directly. 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 car 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 are not squandering any space. As long as the dates, times, & pick-up/drop-off locations are suitable for you, you can often save up to 75% on auto transport by utilizing our service.
Environmentally Friendly - Using Shiply for auto transport is not only more economical but also more environmentally conscious. In the previous example, if your car didn't get on that multi-car transporter & instead you arranged transport from a separate car shipper, the emissions into the atmosphere would have doubled as another entire trip would be required solely for your vehicle. Similarly, many car transporters return empty-handed after a delivery, which is not only expensive for them but also detrimental to the environment as there are numerous people who could have utilized that transporter to move their cars in the opposite direction. Many of the auto transporters on Shiply are also seeking to fill their trailers on return trips, resulting in even less wasted CO2 being emitted into the atmosphere, as well as continued affordable transport for our users.
Preparing Your Car for Shipping
If you have selected an auto transport company to transport your car & 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 during transit. It is also highly recommended that you clean your vehicle prior to transport as this will allow you to assess 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, you should ensure that it is in running condition. This means checking fluid levels, battery charge, & tire pressure. Again, this can also help you better evaluate the condition of the vehicle upon arrival.
Photographic Evidence - One very important step 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 proof 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 inspected immediately to ensure that the car is in the expected condition, as well as enable you to promptly raise concerns with the car delivery service should anything not be functioning as it should.
Exterior Condition - You can compare the exterior of the vehicle to the photos taken before to determine whether any additional 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 aligns 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.
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