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 drive the vehicle yourself, such as when purchasing or selling a used automobile online & need to transport it to another state, relocating to a new residence & requiring long-distance vehicle shipping, or moving your car abroad when ferries are unavailable. Fortunately, there are numerous auto transport services available to fulfill your requirements.
Individuals frequently transport automobiles to and from Tallahassee, Florida, US for various purposes. Tallahassee is the capital city of Florida & home to Florida State University, drawing students & faculty who may require vehicle shipping services. Moreover, Tallahassee's expanding job market & reasonable cost of living make it a desirable location for relocation, resulting in increased demand for car shipping tallahassee. Whether you're a student relocating to Tallahassee for school or a professional moving for work, tallahassee car shipping companies can assist in transporting your automobile safely & efficiently.
Varieties Of Vehicle Transport Services
When it comes to vehicle transport services, you have several choices to consider. The initial decision you'll need to make is where you want your automobile collected from & delivered to, whether it's long-distance car transport or shipping a vehicle to another state. Terminal-to-terminal auto delivery is an option, where designated collection & drop-off points, often the car transport company's stores or operating bases, are utilized. While this choice is typically less expensive, it requires more effort on your part to get the vehicle home. Most individuals, however, prefer door-to-door auto transport delivery service, ensuring their automobiles are collected & dropped off at their doorstep, regardless of the distance.
Vehicle transport services generally fall into two categories: having someone drive your automobile to the destination or placing it on a trailer for transport. Hiring someone to drive your car can be a straightforward & often less expensive solution, as it doesn't require trailers or an additional vehicle. However, this method adds mileage to your automobile & carries a slight risk of damage during the journey, which can be concerning for those buying or selling cars online.
Placing your automobile on a trailer offers a higher level of safety compared to having someone drive it. You can opt for a single trailer, which is more expensive but ideal for transporting expensive or classic cars, or a multi-car transporter. Open car shipping is the least expensive & most common option, where your vehicle is placed on an open carrier & driven to the destination. While all automobiles are safely secured, they are exposed to the elements during the drive. Enclosed auto transport, on the other hand, involves multiple cars secured on a carrier but enclosed, protecting them from dust, weather & debris during transit. This choice is preferable for more expensive or newer vehicles.
If you need to move your automobile overseas, it's best to find a specialist service or a company with experience in overseas vehicle 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. However, these are just averages, & your vehicle transport may cost more or less depending on your specific circumstances. The best way to get an accurate estimate is to collect car shipping quotes from multiple companies, which is easy to do on platforms like Shiply.
Factors that can affect the cost of auto transport include:
- Distance: Cross-state & cross-country journeys cost more than interstate vehicle delivery.
- International shipping: Transporting a vehicle overseas is always more expensive due to logistics & distance.
- Route: Routes with higher traffic or unforeseen circumstances like roadworks can increase costs.
- Shipping dates: Flexible timings can lead to lower costs, while expedited shipping is more expensive.
- Vehicle size: Larger automobiles like SUVs cost more to transport than sedans.
- Vehicle condition: Non-drivable cars may require extra equipment, increasing the cost.
- Auto transport service type: Having someone drive your automobile is the least expensive option, while enclosed vehicle shipping is the most expensive.
- Pickup & delivery locations: Urban areas are usually less expensive, while rural or hard-to-access locations can increase costs.
- Auto transport insurance: Additional cargo insurance may be necessary & can affect the overall cost.
- Time of year: Seasonality plays a role, with winter being the most expensive & spring being more affordable.
How To Transport A Vehicle - Finding An Auto Transport Service
With hundreds of vehicle transport companies available, finding the right one can be overwhelming. Searching on Google or through phone books can be time-consuming, & many companies are reluctant to provide pricing without a personalized quote. This is where Shiply can help simplify the process.
To get started on Shiply, simply fill out a form with your automobile's make & model, pickup & delivery locations, & the dates you need to move the vehicle. This information allows auto transport providers on Shiply to provide accurate quotes for your specific job. Once your listing is live, you'll receive quotes in your Shiply inbox & email. It's recommended to keep email notifications on so you can be immediately alerted when a new quote arrives.
Before making a decision, wait for a few quotes to come through so you have multiple options to choose from. Feel free to ask the transport companies any questions you may have, such as their availability, insurance coverage & how they secure vehicles during transport. Shiply's feedback & ratings system is also a valuable resource, allowing you to view previous customers' experiences & overall scores for each company.
By using Shiply to find car shipping tallahassee or tallahassee car shipping services, you can save time & effort in your search for the best auto transport company to meet your needs & budget.
The Benefits of Utilizing Shiply for Vehicle Transport in Tallahassee
Time-Efficient - Instead of completing a quotation form each time you require a precise price from a company on transporting a vehicle, on our platform you fill out one quotation 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 invest in contacting companies and filling out forms.
Communication with these businesses is all possible through our platform as well, allowing you to store all of your Tallahassee vehicle shipping information in one location.
Price Comparison Simplified
Ultimately, the expense of the vehicle shipping quote is the most significant factor in deciding which auto transport company to utilize to transport your vehicle. The challenging aspect is that, while most companies are willing to offer average prices & rough estimates, you won't actually receive a definite vehicle shipping Tallahassee quote without having to provide information & complete details. While this is reasonable, it does mean that price comparison & obtaining a vehicle transport quote isn't precisely a simple task.
Utilizing Shiply enables you to acquire genuine, final price quotes 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 choose the best company for you.
Affordable Vehicle Shipping Options
Auto transport companies 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 instance, 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 trip 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 suitable for you, you can often save up to 75% on auto transport by utilizing our service!
Better For The Environment
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 vehicle shipper, then the emissions into the atmosphere would have doubled as another entire trip would be required just for your vehicle.
Similarly, many vehicle transporters return from a delivery empty-handed, which is not only expensive for them but also for the environment as there are many people who could have utilized that transporter to move their vehicles in the opposite 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.
Readying Your Vehicle For Shipping
If you have chosen an auto transport company to transport your vehicle & feel confident using them, then it's time to prepare your vehicle for shipping. We recommend 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 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 see 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 vehicle delivery service to pick up is to take high-quality photographs of all parts of the vehicle. This gives you evidence of the vehicle's condition before shipping should anything happen to it during transport.
After Delivery Checklist
Once the vehicle 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 vehicle is in the expected condition, as well as enable you to immediately raise concerns with the vehicle 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 see whether any extra damage has occurred. Shipping a vehicle can, in rare cases, cause damage, & you want to be sure your vehicle transport service has not done so.
Check Mileage - This is more relevant to vehicle shipping services where the vehicle 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 vehicle shipping services with the same peace of mind.
FAQ - Frequently Asked Questions
Below we have answered some of the most asked questions about vehicle shipping:
How much to ship a vehicle? Vehicle 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 most affordable way to ship a vehicle? Having someone drive your vehicle to its destination is the most affordable way to ship a vehicle, however, if you require a trailer then a multi-car transporter will be your best option with regard to the most affordable way to ship a vehicle.
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 vehicle delivery service before confirming the delivery. Most companies will be flexible with payment options, however.
Can I track my vehicle transport online? Each vehicle shipping company on Shiply has different ways of operating, but many offer the ability to track your vehicle shipment, with some even able to provide personal updates. If you require tracking, you should message individual vehicle transport companies to confirm that this is possible with them.
Does someone have to be present for pickup & delivery? In most cases, the vehicle 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 vehicle keys.
Can I keep items in my vehicle during my vehicle shipment? Most vehicle 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 vehicle 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.
