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 Vehicle Transport Services
When selecting a vehicle transport service, the initial choice you must make is where you want your automobile collected from & delivered to, whether it's a cross-country car shipment or transporting a vehicle to another state. Terminal-to-terminal auto delivery is an alternative, where designated collection & drop-off points are utilized, frequently at the vehicle transport company's stores or operating bases. While this alternative is typically more affordable, it demands more effort on your part to get the automobile home. Most individuals, however, opt for a door-to-door auto transport delivery service, where their vehicles are collected & dropped off at their doorstep, regardless of the distance.
Vehicle transport services are generally categorized into two types: having someone operate your automobile to the destination or placing it on a trailer for shipment.
Have Someone Operate Your Vehicle
Employing someone to operate your vehicle to its destination is a straightforward solution for vehicle shipping, whether it's across the country or to another state. The advantages of this approach include lower costs, as trailers & extra vehicles are not necessary, & faster delivery due to the simplicity of the transport. However, there are some drawbacks to this approach that lead some individuals to choose other types of vehicle transport. Firstly, mileage is added to your automobile during the journey, which can be significant when shipping a car across the country. Secondly, there is a slight risk of damage to your vehicle while it is being operated. These concerns are particularly relevant for individuals buying or selling cars online who want to ensure the vehicle arrives in the same condition as advertised.
Place Your Vehicle On A Trailer
Placing your vehicle on a trailer is a safer way to ensure a higher level of protection than having someone operate it to its destination. Vehicle shipping trailers come in various options, depending on the value & size of your automobile. You can choose between a single trailer for your vehicle, which is more expensive but ideal for transporting expensive or classic cars, or a multi-car transporter that can carry multiple automobiles at once.
Open vehicle shipping is the most affordable & most common option offered by vehicle shipping companies. Your automobile is placed on an open carrier & driven to the destination. While all vehicles are securely fastened, they are exposed to the elements during the drive, making this option less suitable for highly valuable automobiles. Long journeys in open trailers also pose a higher risk of damage & exposure to the elements.
Enclosed auto transport involves securing multiple vehicles on a carrier that is enclosed, protecting them from dust, weather, & debris during transit. This option is preferable for more expensive or newer automobiles where the owner wants to minimize the risk of damage during auto transport.
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, as they can 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, auto transport companies in the US 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 determine the cost of auto transport is to collect vehicle shipping quotes from different companies, which is easily done on platforms like Shiply.
Factors That Can Influence The Cost Of Vehicle Transport
Several factors can impact the cost of vehicle shipping, including:
- Distance: Cross-state & cross-country journeys cost more than interstate vehicle delivery.
- International shipping: Transporting a vehicle overseas is always more expensive due to the logistics involved & the distance traveled.
- Route: Routes with higher traffic or unforeseen circumstances like roadworks can increase costs.
- Shipping dates: Flexible timings can result in 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 operate your vehicle is the most affordable option, while enclosed vehicle shipping is the most expensive.
- Pickup & delivery locations: Urban areas are usually more affordable, while rural or hard-to-access locations can increase costs.
- Auto transport insurance: Additional cargo insurance may be necessary, affecting the overall cost.
- Time of year: Seasonality can impact prices, with winter being the most expensive & spring offering better rates.
How To Transport A Vehicle - Finding A Vehicle Transport Service
With numerous 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 detailed quote application. This is where platforms like Shiply can help simplify the process.
How Can Shiply Help Find Vehicle Transport Companies?
Shiply streamlines the process of finding a vehicle shipping service by allowing you to fill out a simple form with your automobile's make & model, pickup & delivery locations, & desired shipping dates. This information enables auto transport providers on Shiply to provide accurate quotes for your specific needs.
Once your listing is live, you'll receive quotes in your Shiply inbox & email. It's recommended to keep email notifications on to stay informed about new quotes. While quotes can start coming in within minutes, it's best to wait for a few options before making a decision.
Before selecting a quote, you can ask the companies questions about their availability, insurance coverage, & how they secure automobiles during transport. Shiply's feedback & ratings system allows you to view previous customers' experiences & overall scores, helping you make an informed decision.
Why People Often Move Vehicles To & From Athens, Georgia, US
Athens, Georgia, is a vibrant city known for its thriving music scene, cultural attractions, & the University of Georgia. Many people move to Athens for educational opportunities, job prospects, or to enjoy the city's unique atmosphere. As a result, there is a significant demand for vehicle shipping services to & from Athens.
Students attending the University of Georgia often require vehicle shipping services at the beginning & end of the academic year, as well as during breaks. Families relocating to Athens for work or personal reasons also contribute to the demand for auto transport services. Additionally, classic car enthusiasts may need to ship their automobiles to Athens for events or exhibitions.
With its strategic location & growing population, Athens has become a popular destination for vehicle shipping companies, ensuring that residents have access to reliable & efficient auto transport services when needed.
The Benefits of Utilizing Shiply for Vehicle Transport in Athens
Time-Efficient - Instead of completing a quotation form each time you require an exact cost from a company on transporting a vehicle, on our platform you fill out one quotation form & then can receive estimates based on the information you supply from several businesses. This can save you hours of time you would have spent contacting companies & completing forms.
Communication with these businesses is all possible through our platform as well, allowing you to store all of your car shipping athens details in one location.
Cost Comparison - When it comes down to it, the price of the vehicle shipping estimate is the most important factor in deciding which auto transport company to use to transport your automobile. The challenging aspect is that, while most companies are happy to offer average prices & rough estimates, you won't actually receive a definite car transport quote without having to provide information & complete specifics. While this is understandable, it does mean that cost comparison & obtaining a car transport quote isn't exactly a simple task.
Utilizing Shiply allows you to obtain genuine, final cost estimates from athens car 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 Car Shipping - Auto transport businesses on Shiply are typically able to offer their services for a lower cost than if you went directly to them. This is because they are often seeking to fill empty 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 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 automobile 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 necessary just for your vehicle.
Readying Your Automobile For Transport
If you have chosen an auto transport company to transport your vehicle & feel confident using them, then it's time to ready your automobile for shipping. We recommend following these steps:
Documents - It is essential 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 automobile 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 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 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 automobile 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 automobile. 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 athens 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 automobile 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 automobile 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 most affordable 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 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 & 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.