What Is Vehicle Transportation?
Vehicle transportation, also known 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 drive the vehicle yourself, such as when purchasing or selling a used car online and need to transport a vehicle to another state, or when you've relocated & need to ship a car across the nation. Vehicle shipping services can also be extremely useful when you need to move your automobile overseas, and unless ferries are available, you'll need to depend on an auto transport company to manage this for you.
Luckily, there are numerous vehicle transport services available to fulfill your requirements, which we've enumerated below.
Types Of Vehicle Shipping Services
There are several vehicle transport services available, which we've summarized below. It can be extremely helpful to review and determine precisely what type of automobile transportation service you require or desire to relocate your vehicle.
The initial decision you need to make is where you want your automobile picked up from & delivered to, whether it's a cross-country vehicle transport or shipping a car to another state. Terminal-to-terminal auto delivery is an option, which means that 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 often more affordable but will necessitate more effort on your end to get the vehicle home. However, the vast majority of individuals require a door-to-door auto transport delivery service so that their automobiles are collected & dropped off at their doorstep, regardless of whether it's a cross-country vehicle transport or just to move a car to another state. This is often preferable as it means you don't need to go anywhere to collect your automobile - 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 be, or it's placed on a trailer & transported there.
Have Someone Drive Your Vehicle
This is a very straightforward solution to vehicle shipping that involves hiring someone to come & drive your automobile to where it needs to go - whether the need is to transport a car across the country or to ship vehicles to another state. The advantages of this auto transport method are that it is often more affordable as trailers & an extra vehicle are not required, & it can also often be fast due to the straightforward nature of the transport.
However, there are some drawbacks to this method offered by vehicle shipping companies that lead some individuals to opt for other types of car transport. The first is that mileage is obviously added to your automobile on the journey, meaning if you are shipping a car across the country, there will be some significant miles added - less so when simply shipping a vehicle to another state (as long as it is close by). Second, there is a slight risk of damage occurring to your car while it is driven from A to B. These are particularly concerning for individuals buying or selling automobiles online who want to ensure the vehicle arrives in exactly the same condition as it was advertised.
Put Your Vehicle On A Trailer
Placing your automobile in a trailer is a secure way to guarantee a higher level of safety than having someone drive your car to its destination. With vehicle shipping trailers, there are multiple options that you may want to go with depending on the value & size of your automobile.
First off, 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 are 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 automobiles 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 transporting an automobile. Your vehicle is placed on an open carrier & is driven to the destination. All cars are safely secured but, as the name suggests, they are exposed to the elements during the drive & so this may not be recommended by vehicle shipping companies for highly valuable automobiles. Further, while it may be the most affordable way to ship a car cross country, long journeys in open trailers will obviously run more risk of damage & leave your vehicle exposed to the elements for longer periods of time.
Enclosed auto transport involves multiple cars secured on a carrier, but they are enclosed, meaning they are not exposed to the dust, weather, & debris of the outside world during transit. This is often preferable for more expensive or newer automobiles where the owner wants to minimize the risk of damage during auto transport.
Should you need to relocate your vehicle overseas through an auto transport company, then you should try & find one of the specialist services on our platform or one which has experience in overseas vehicle shipping as they can provide you with tailored advice based on what you require.
How Much Does It Cost To Ship A Vehicle?
There are a number of variables when trying to work out how much it will cost to ship an automobile, but on average in the US, auto transport companies charge 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.
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 is very easy to do on Shiply.
If you do want to try & 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 Vehicle Transport
We all want affordable car transport, but there are a number of factors & variables that can affect how much your vehicle shipping will cost. Below we will lay out the main ones so that 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 journeys 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 journey is, meaning that you aren't paying over the odds.
International shipping will always result in expensive vehicle shipping quotes due to the logistics of transferring an automobile overseas & the distance it will need to travel. It can also require special enclosed trailers or even a shipping container for your vehicle.
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 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 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 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 are able to be flexible around timings, then you may find that your vehicle shipping service charges a lot less. This is because they are 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), then 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 automobiles, 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, then 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 of the trailer. If your car has a locked wheel, for example, then 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 vehicle transport service. Most car carriers would consider an automobile 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 are 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 shipping an automobile as it means not only is your car 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 automobile 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 is a common destination route, you will tend to get affordable car 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 vehicle, 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 is not required by law. If a car transport company does not offer cargo insurance, it is 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 is 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 an automobile in the winter due to ice & snow slowing the routes. Here is a quick breakdown of how each season can affect auto transport costs:
Winter is often the most expensive season to ship your vehicle. 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 an automobile shipped as drivers are on holiday, while many travel to warmer states in January, leading to increased vehicle 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 vehicle with a car 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 automobile. March is often a better time to ship than April or May, however, again there is often a rush to move cars 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 is 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 an automobile if you are looking for a slightly cheaper price. Vehicle shipping companies are less busy, & there is typically more driver availability after the summer rush. However, you are better off looking to move your vehicle 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 & find a vehicle 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 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 automobile that needs shipping, the pickup location & delivery location, & the dates that you need to move the vehicle. 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 are available (if a time frame is given), what insurance they have, & how they would secure your automobile. 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 vehicle. This system allows you to view previous customers' experiences with a company, as well as view their overall score.
Why People Often Move Cars To & From Seaford, Delaware
Seaford, Delaware is a small city located in the southern part of the state, near the Maryland border. Despite its small size, Seaford is a popular destination for vehicle shipping, both to & from the city. One of the main reasons people move automobiles to & from Seaford is due to its proximity to major cities like Philadelphia, Baltimore, & Washington D.C. Many individuals who reside in these larger cities choose to store their vehicles in Seaford during the winter months to avoid the hassle of driving in snowy & icy conditions. Additionally, Seaford is home to several large car dealerships, which often require vehicle shipping services to transport automobiles to & from their locations. Whether you're relocating to Seaford for work or simply need to transport a car to or from the area, there are plenty of vehicle shipping seaford options available to meet your needs.
The Advantages of Utilizing Shiply for Vehicle Transport in Seaford
Time-efficient - Rather than completing a quotation form each instance you desire to obtain a precise cost from an organization 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 conserve you hours of effort you would have spent phoning businesses and inputting details. Communication with these organizations is also feasible via our platform, allowing you to store all your vehicle shipping data in a single location.
Cost Comparison - Ultimately, the expense of the vehicle shipping estimate is the most crucial factor in selecting which auto transport company to employ 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 transport quote without having to give information and complete details. While this is understandable, it means that price comparison and obtaining a vehicle transport quote isn't exactly a simple task. Utilizing Shiply enables you to receive genuine, final price estimates 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 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 and have already invested the cost for. For example, if you were relocating from Los Angeles to New York and needed to move your vehicle 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 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, then the emissions into the atmosphere would have doubled as another entire journey 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 many people who could have used that transporter to move their vehicles 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 affordable transport for our users.
Readying Your Vehicle for Shipping
If you have chosen an auto transport company to relocate your vehicle and feel confident using them, then it's time to ready your vehicle for shipping. We suggest following these steps:
Paperwork - 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.
Cleansing - 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 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 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 Seaford 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 most affordable way to ship a car, however, if you require a trailer then a multi-car transporter will be your best option with regard to the most economical 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.
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