What Is Vehicle Transportation?
Vehicle transportation, also referred to as car shipping or auto transport, is a service offered by vehicle transport companies that involves collecting your automobile from one location & transporting it to another. This service proves beneficial in numerous situations where operating the vehicle yourself is not practical, such as when purchasing or selling a used car online, relocating to a new residence, or shipping your automobile overseas. Auto transport services provide a practical solution for those who require their vehicles moved across states or even nations.
There are various types of vehicle transport services available to accommodate different requirements and preferences. Whether you need cross-country automobile shipping or simply need to transport your car to a nearby state, vehicle transport companies provide options such as terminal-to-terminal auto delivery and door-to-door vehicle shipping. Terminal-to-terminal delivery involves designated collection and drop-off points, frequently at the automobile transport company's stores or operating bases, which can be more cost-effective but requires additional effort on your part to collect your vehicle. Conversely, door-to-door vehicle transport is a favored choice as it offers the convenience of having your automobile collected and delivered directly at your doorstep.
When it comes to the actual shipping method, automobile transport services generally fall into two categories: having someone operate your car to the destination or placing it on a trailer for shipping. Hiring a driver to transport your vehicle can be a straightforward and cost-effective option, particularly for shorter distances. However, this method does increase mileage on your automobile and carries a slight risk of damage during the journey, which may be a concern for those purchasing or selling vehicles online.
Alternatively, placing your automobile on a trailer ensures a higher level of protection during transport. Vehicle shipping trailers come in various options, depending on the worth and dimensions of your automobile. Single trailers, while more costly, are ideal for transporting expensive or classic cars that require extra protection. For the utmost security, shipping containers offer the safest way to transport a vehicle, albeit at a higher price. Multi-car transporters, on the other hand, can accommodate several vehicles simultaneously and come in two main variants: open and enclosed automobile shipping.
Open automobile shipping is the most common and affordable option, where your vehicle is securely placed on an open carrier and transported to its destination. While this method exposes your car to the elements during transit, it remains a popular choice for many. Enclosed vehicle transport, in contrast, involves securing multiple automobiles on a carrier that is fully enclosed, shielding them from dust, weather, and debris. This option is preferable for newer or high-value vehicles where minimizing the risk of damage is a priority.
For those needing to transport their vehicles overseas, specialized vehicle shipping companies with experience in international automobile transport can provide tailored advice and services to ensure a smooth and efficient process.
The Benefits of Utilizing Shiply for Vehicle Transport in Augusta
Time-Efficient - Instead of completing a quotation form each time you require an exact cost from a business on transporting a vehicle, on our platform you simply complete one quotation form & then can receive estimates based on the information you give from several companies. This can save you hours of time you would have spent phoning companies & filling out forms.
Communication with these businesses is all possible via our platform too, allowing you to store all of your vehicle shipping details in a single location.
Cost Comparison - When it comes down to it, the price of the vehicle shipping estimate is the most important factor in choosing which auto transport company to utilize to transport your vehicle. The challenging part is that, while most businesses are willing to provide average prices & rough estimates, you won't actually receive a definite vehicle transport estimate without having to give information & complete details. While this is understandable, it does mean that cost comparison & getting a vehicle transport estimate isn't exactly a simple task.
Using Shiply allows you to receive genuine, final price estimates from vehicle shipping companies & compare them in one place, providing the ability to message them individually to ask any questions you may have & ultimately decide on the best business for you.
Affordable "Car Shipping Augusta" & "Augusta Car 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 looking to fill space on trips they are already making & have already invested the cost for. Say, for example, you were relocating from Los Angeles to New York & needed to move your vehicle there. On Shiply, a business 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 Enviroment!
Not only is using Shiply for auto transport more affordable, but it is also better for the enviroment. 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 needed just for your vehicle.
Similarly, many vehicle transporters return from a delivery empty-handed, which is not only costly for them but also for the enviroment as there are lots of people who could have used 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.
Getting Your Vehicle Ready To Be Shipped
If you have chosen an auto transport business to move your vehicle & feel secure using them, then it's time to get your vehicle 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 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 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 vehicle delivery service to pick up is to take high-quality photographs of all parts of the vehicle. This provides you with evidence of the vehicle's condition before shipping should anything happen to it during transport.
What To Do After Delivery
Once the vehicle shipping business 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 determine whether any extra damage has occured. 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 trip taken.
We would greatly appreciate it if you could also leave a review for the auto transport business 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 trip should cost you 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 then this drops to $0.78.
What is the cheapest way to ship a vehicle? Having someone drive your vehicle to its destination is the cheapest way to ship a vehicle, 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 vehicle.
How do I pay for my auto transport? This is down to each individual auto transport business on Shiply & is something you should discuss with your chosen vehicle delivery service before confirming the delivery. Most businesses will be flexible with payment options, however.
Can I track my vehicle transport online? Each vehicle shipping business 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 businesses to confirm that this is possible with them.
Does someone have to be present for pickup & delivery? In most cases, the vehicle shipping business 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 businesses 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.