What Is Vehicle Transportation?
Vehicle transportation, also known as car shipping or auto transport, is a service offered by car shipping companies that involves collecting your vehicle from one location & transporting it to another. It's beneficial for moving a car in various situations where you can't operate the vehicle yourself. For instance, you might be buying or selling a used car online and need to transport it to another state, or perhaps you've recently moved and require cross-country vehicle shipping. Car transport services can also be incredibly useful when you need to move your automobile overseas and ferries aren't available, in which case you'll have to rely on an auto transport company to manage the task for you.
Luckily, there are several vehicle transport services available to meet your specific requirements, which we've detailed below.
Types Of Vehicle Transport Services
There are various vehicle transport services available, summarized below. It can be incredibly advantageous to read through and determine precisely what kind of car transportation service you require or prefer for transporting your automobile.
The first decision you need to make is where you want your vehicle picked up from & delivered to, whether it's a cross-country car transport or moving a car to another state. Terminal-to-terminal auto delivery is an option, which means designated collection and drop-off points are used, often the car transport company's facilities or operating bases. As a result, terminal-to-terminal auto delivery is frequently more affordable but will require more effort on your part to get the vehicle home. However, the vast majority of people require a door-to-door auto transport delivery service so that their automobiles are picked up & dropped off at their doorstep, regardless of whether it's a cross-country car transport or just moving a car to another state. This is often preferable as it eliminates the need for you to go anywhere to collect your vehicle - something that can be challenging without your automobile in the first place!
Vehicle transport services are generally divided into two categories: either you have someone operate your car to its destination, or it's loaded onto a trailer and moved there.
Have Someone Operate Your Vehicle
This is a straightforward solution to car shipping that involves hiring someone to come and drive your automobile to its destination - whether you need to transport a car across the country or to another state. The advantages of this auto transport method are that it's often more affordable since trailers and an extra vehicle aren't required, and it can also be faster due to the straightforward nature of the transport.
However, there are some drawbacks to this method offered by car shipping companies that lead some people to choose other types of vehicle transport. Firstly, mileage is obviously added to your automobile during the journey, meaning that if you're moving a car across the country, there will be significant miles added - less so when simply transporting a car to a nearby state. Secondly, there is a slight risk of damage occurring to your vehicle while it's being operated from point A to point B. These concerns are particularly worrisome for people buying or selling cars online who want to ensure the automobile arrives in exactly the same condition as it was advertised.
Put Your Vehicle On A Trailer
Putting your automobile in a trailer is a safe way to guarantee a higher level of security than having someone operate your car to its destination. With car shipping trailers, there are multiple options available depending on the value & size of your vehicle.
Firstly, you need to decide whether you want a single trailer for your automobile. These are often more expensive as they only transport one car at a time but are a great option if you're moving an expensive or classic vehicle that you don't want to risk getting damaged. The absolute safest way to transport a car is to put it in a shipping container, but this is by far the most costly option. The other option is a multi-car transporter, which can move many automobiles at once, and there are a few variants:
Open car shipping by any vehicle shipping company is the most affordable & by far the most common option when transporting a car. Your automobile is placed on an open carrier & driven to the destination. All vehicles are safely secured, but as the name suggests, they are exposed to the elements during the drive, so car shipping companies may not recommend this for highly valuable automobiles. Furthermore, while it may be the cheapest way to ship a car cross-country, long journeys in open trailers will obviously run a higher risk of damage & leave your vehicle exposed to the elements for longer periods.
Enclosed auto transport involves multiple cars secured on a carrier, but they are enclosed, meaning they aren't exposed to the dust, weather, & debris of the outside world during transit. This is often preferable for more expensive or newer vehicles where the owner wants to minimize the risk of damage during auto transport.
If you need to move your automobile overseas through an auto transport company, you should try to find one of the specialist services on our platform or one with experience in overseas car shipping, as they can provide you with tailored advice based on your requirements.
How Much Does It Cost To Ship A Vehicle?
There are several variables to consider when trying to determine the cost of shipping a car, 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 numbers are just averages for vehicle moving companies, & your car transport may cost more or less depending on the circumstances. The best way to find out how much auto transport will cost you is to collect car shipping quotes from vehicle transport companies, which is very easy to do on Shiply.
If you want to 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 several factors & variables that can affect how much your vehicle shipping will cost. Below, we'll lay out the main ones so that you can get a rough idea of whether your auto transport requirements will be costly or cheap.
As mentioned above, distance is one of the factors that will play a big part in how much your car transport will cost, with cross-state & cross-country journeys costing a lot more than an interstate vehicle delivery, which is often the cheapest car shipping.
While longer distances do cost more, thankfully, the average price per mile drops the longer the journey is, meaning that you aren't paying over the odds.
International shipping will always result in expensive car shipping quotes due to the logistics of transferring a vehicle overseas & the distance it will need to travel. It can also require special enclosed trailers or even a shipping container for your automobile.
Route - Along with distance, the route needed to take your car from its pick-up spot to its delivery spot can affect the pricing of your vehicle 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 car transportation service to operate can also affect the price. For example, if you are able to be flexible around timings, 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), 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 car is not in a drivable condition, 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 automobile on & off the trailer. If your car has a locked wheel, for example, it will be impossible to simply roll it onto a trailer & off again, & it takes more time, effort, & machinery to complete the delivery than a standard vehicle transport service. Most car carriers would consider a car that can brake, roll, & steer to be in good enough condition to ship easily.
Auto Transport Service Type - The type of vehicle transport service you select will also affect the cost of your car shipping. Having someone operate your automobile to its destination will always be the cheapest 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 car shipping will always be the most expensive method of shipping a vehicle, as it means not only is your car traveling on its own, but it still needs specialist equipment to load, unload, & protect your automobile during transport.
Locations Of Pickup & Delivery - Depending on where you need the vehicle picked up from & dropped off, this may also increase the price of shipping a car. Urban areas will usually have car 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 car shipping cost.
Auto Transport Insurance - While all vehicle 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 automobile 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 vehicle are covered by the insurance, & any other questions you may have.
Time Of Year - Seasonality can also affect the price of car shipping, with many services costing more to ship a vehicle 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 automobile. 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 a vehicle 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 car shipping services during this month.
Spring is a great time to ship your automobile 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 vehicle. 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 cars - 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 car shipping during the summer.
Fall is a good time to ship a car 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 automobile 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 car shipping & a vehicle shipping service are & what sort of auto transport service you need, you probably want to go ahead & actually try to find a car 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 car 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 car 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 car. 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 Waipahu, Hawaii
Waipahu, located on the island of Oahu in Hawaii, is a popular destination for people moving to & from the area. Many individuals relocate to Waipahu for job opportunities, a change of scenery, or to be closer to family. When moving to or from Waipahu, people often need to transport their vehicles, which is where car shipping services come in handy.
Vehicle shipping companies in Waipahu offer a convenient way to move your automobile to your new home without the hassle of driving it yourself. This is especially useful when moving to or from the mainland United States, as it eliminates the need to ship your car separately or take a long road trip. Waipahu car shipping services can handle all aspects of the vehicle transportation process, ensuring that your automobile arrives safely & on time at its destination.
Whether you're moving to Waipahu to enjoy the beautiful beaches, warm weather, & laid-back lifestyle, or leaving the area for new opportunities elsewhere, vehicle shipping services in Waipahu can help make your transition smoother by taking care of your automobile transportation needs.
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The Benefits of Using Shiply for Car Shipping in Waipahu
Time-Efficient - Rather than filling out a quotation form each instance you desire an accurate cost from a company on Waipahu car shipping, on our platform you complete one quotation form & then can obtain quotes based on the information you supply from several companies. This can conserve you hours of effort you would have had to invest phoning companies & inputting details. Communication with these businesses is all feasible through our platform too, allowing you to store all of your car shipping details in a single location.
Cost Comparison - When it comes down to it, the price of the car shipping estimate is the most crucial factor in choosing which auto transport company to utilize to transport your vehicle. The challenging aspect is that, while most businesses are willing to provide average costs & rough estimates, you won't actually be given a definite car transport quote without having to input information & fill in specifics. While this is reasonable, it does mean that cost comparison & getting a car transport estimate isn't precisely a simple task. Utilizing Shiply allows you to receive authentic, final price estimates from car shipping businesses & compare them in one place, offering the ability to contact them individually to inquire about any questions you may have & ultimately decide on the optimal company for you.
Affordable Car Shipping Waipahu - 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 & have already invested the cost for. Say, for instance, you were relocating from Los Angeles to New York & 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 occupied, & they are just looking to ensure they are not squandering 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.
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 car 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 needed just for your vehicle. 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 transport their cars 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 emitted into the atmosphere, as well as continued affordable transport for our users.
Readying For Your Vehicle To Be Transported
If you have chosen an auto transport company to transport your vehicle & feel confident using them, then it's time to ready your car for shipping. We suggest following these steps:
Paperwork - It is crucial to ensure that any documents you may require are accessible at pick up or drop off, especially if you are selling your vehicle.
Washing - 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 wash your vehicle before transport as this will allow you to determine its condition & notice any damages that may happen 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 operational 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 assess the condition of the vehicle upon arrival.
Photographic Proof - One very important thing to do when readying 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 state 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:
Examine Vital Signs - Lights, brakes, & engines should all be checked immediately to ensure that the car is in the anticipated condition, as well as enable you to immediately raise concerns with the car delivery service should anything not be working as it should.
Exterior State - 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.
Verify 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 trip 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.
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