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 operate the vehicle yourself, such as when purchasing or selling a used car online, relocating to a new residence, or transporting your automobile overseas. Car shipping columbus provides a variety of auto transport services to accommodate your unique requirements.
Categories Of Vehicle Transport Services
When it comes to transporting a vehicle, there are several choices available. The initial decision you'll need to make is whether you want your automobile picked up & dropped off at specified terminal points or at your doorstep. Terminal-to-terminal auto delivery is typically more affordable but requires more effort on your part to get the vehicle home. However, most individuals prefer door-to-door auto transport delivery service, regardless of whether it's a cross-country car transport or simply shipping a vehicle to another state.
Vehicle transport services can be classified into two primary types: having someone operate your automobile to the destination or placing it on a trailer for transport. Hiring someone to drive your vehicle is often more affordable & quicker, but it adds mileage to your automobile & carries a slight risk of damage during the trip. Placing your vehicle on a trailer ensures a higher level of safety, particularly for expensive or classic automobiles. Single trailers are more costly but offer the safest option, while multi-car transporters come in open or enclosed variants. Open car shipping is the most affordable & common choice, but your vehicle is exposed to the elements during transit. Enclosed auto transport provides protection from dust, weather, & debris, making it preferable for newer or more valuable automobiles.
If you need to transport your vehicle overseas, it's best to find a specialist service or a company with experience in overseas car shipping to provide tailored advice based on your requirements.
What Is The Cost Of Transporting A Vehicle?
The expense 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 trips less than 200 miles, $0.93 for trips between 200 & 500 miles, & $0.78 for trips over 1,000 miles. However, these are just averages, & your car transport may cost more or less depending on your specific circumstances. The best way to get an accurate estimate is to gather car shipping quotes from multiple vehicle transport companies, which is easy to do on Shiply.
Variables That Can Impact The Expense Of Vehicle Transport
Several factors can influence the expense of your vehicle shipping, including:
- Distance: Cross-state & cross-country trips cost more than interstate car 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 often result in lower prices, while expedited shipping costs more.
- 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 vehicle is the cheapest option, while enclosed car shipping is the most expensive.
- Pickup & delivery locations: Urban areas often have cheaper car shipping services, while rural or hard-to-access locations can increase costs.
- Auto transport insurance: Additional cargo insurance beyond the required liability insurance can affect the price.
- Time of year: Seasonality plays a role, with winter being the most expensive & spring being a great time to ship your vehicle.
How To Transport A Vehicle - Finding A Vehicle 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 an individual quote application.
How Can Shiply Assist In Finding Vehicle Transport Companies?
Shiply simplifies the process of finding a vehicle shipping service. By completing a simple form with your vehicle's make & model, pickup & delivery locations, & desired shipping dates, you can receive accurate quotes from auto transport providers on Shiply. Quotes start arriving within minutes of posting your listing, & it's recommended to wait for a few options before making a decision.
Before selecting a quote, inquire with the company about their availability, insurance coverage, & how they secure vehicles during transport. Shiply's feedback & ratings system allows you to view previous customers' experiences & overall scores, helping you make an informed decision.
Why People Frequently Move Vehicles To & From Columbus, Georgia, US
Columbus, Georgia, is a vibrant city situated in the western part of the state, near the Alabama border. As a major economic hub & home to several large employers, including Fort Benning, many individuals find themselves relocating to or from Columbus for work or military assignments. This frequent movement of residents creates a high demand for vehicle shipping services in the area.
Additionally, Columbus is home to Columbus State University, attracting students from across the country who may need to ship their vehicles to & from the city at the beginning & end of each semester. The city's proximity to popular vacation destinations like Florida & the Gulf Coast also contributes to the need for reliable car shipping services, as some residents prefer to have their vehicles transported when traveling for extended periods.
With its strong economy, educational institutions, & strategic location, Columbus, Georgia, experiences a consistent flow of people moving in & out of the city, fueling the demand for professional columbus car shipping services to ensure a smooth transition for both residents & their vehicles.
The Benefits of Utilizing Shiply for Vehicle Transport in Columbus
Time-Saving - Instead of completing a quote form each time you require an exact price from a company on transporting a vehicle, on our platform you fill out one quote form & then can receive quotes based on the information you give from several businesses. This can save you hours of time you would have spent contacting companies and filling out forms.
Communication with these businesses is all possible through our platform too, allowing you to keep all of your vehicle shipping details in one location.
Price Comparision - Car Shipping Columbus
When it comes down to it, the price of the vehicle shipping quote is the most important factor in choosing which auto transport company to use to ship your car. The tricky thing is that, while most companies are willing to provide average prices and rough estimates, you won't actually receive a solid car transport quote without having to provide information and complete details. While this is understandable, it does mean that price comparison and getting a car transport quote isn't exactly a simple task.
Utilizing Shiply allows you to get real, final price quotes from vehicle shipping companies and compare them in one place, offering the ability to message them individually to ask any questions you may have and ultimately choose the best company for you.
Affordable Car Shipping - Columbus Car Shipping
Auto transport businesses on Shiply are usually 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 and have already invested the cost for. Say, for example, you were moving from Los Angeles to New York and needed to transport your car there. On Shiply, a company may already have a multi-car transporter making that trip with 5 of the 6 spots filled, and they are just looking to make sure they aren't 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.
Better For The Environmnet
Not only is using Shiply for auto transport more affordable, but it is also better for the environment! 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 trip would be needed just for your car.
Similarly, many car transporters return from a delivery empty-handed, which is not only expensive for them but also for the environment as there are lots of 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 trips too, meaning even less wasted CO2 is being released into the atmosphere, as well as continued affordable transport for our users.
Getting Ready For Your Vehicle To Be Shipped
If you have chosen an auto transport company to move your car and feel comfortable using them, then it's time to get your vehicle ready for shipping. We suggest following these steps:
Documents - It is crucial to make sure 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 belongings from your vehicle before 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 and 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 making sure 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 automobile. This provides you with proof of the car's condition before shipping should anything happen to it during transport.
What To Do After Delivry
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 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, 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 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 cheapest 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 cheapest 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.