What Is Vehicle Transportation?
Vehicle transportation, also known 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 scenarios where operating the vehicle yourself is not practical, such as when purchasing or selling a used car online, relocating to a new residence across the nation, or moving your automobile overseas. Vehicle shipping eagle companies provide a variety of auto transport services to accommodate different requirements.
Categories Of Vehicle Transport Services
When selecting a vehicle shipping service, the initial choice you must make is where you want your automobile collected from & transported to, whether it's a cross-country vehicle transport or moving a car to another state. Terminal-to-terminal auto delivery is an option, where designated collection & drop-off points are utilized, frequently at the vehicle transport company's stores or operating bases. While this alternative is typically less expensive, it necessitates 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. This is more convenient as it eliminates the need to arrange transportation to collect your automobile.
Vehicle transport services can be broadly classified into two categories: having someone operate your automobile to the destination or placing it on a trailer for transportation.
Have Someone Operate Your Vehicle
Hiring someone to operate your automobile to its destination is a straightforward solution for vehicle shipping, whether it's across the country or to another state. This method is often less expensive as it doesn't require trailers or an additional vehicle. It can also be quicker due to its simplicity. However, there are some drawbacks to this approach. Firstly, the journey adds mileage to your automobile, which can be significant when shipping a car across the country. Secondly, there is a slight risk of damage to your vehicle during the drive. These concerns are particularly relevant for people buying or selling cars online who want to ensure the automobile arrives in the same condition as advertised.
Place Your Vehicle On A Trailer
Placing your automobile on a trailer offers a higher level of safety compared to having someone operate it. Vehicle shipping trailers come in various options, depending on the value & size of your automobile. Single trailers, which transport only one car at a time, are more expensive but are a great choice for moving expensive or classic cars that require extra protection. The safest way to transport a vehicle is in a shipping container, but this is also the most expensive option. Multi-car transporters, which can carry several automobiles at once, come in different variants:
Open vehicle shipping is the cheapest & most common option offered by vehicle shipping companies. Your automobile is placed on an open carrier & driven to its destination. While all cars are securely fastened, they are exposed to the elements during the drive, making this option less suitable for highly valuable vehicles. Long journeys in open trailers also pose a higher risk of damage & exposure to the elements.
Enclosed auto transport involves securing multiple cars on a carrier that is enclosed, protecting them from dust, weather, & debris during transit. This option is 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, 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 Ship A Vehicle?
The cost of shipping 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 get an accurate estimate is to collect vehicle shipping quotes from different vehicle transport companies, which is easy to do on Shiply.
Several factors can affect the cost of auto transport, including:
- Distance: Cross-state & cross-country journeys cost more than interstate vehicle delivery, which is often the cheapest option. However, the average price per mile decreases for longer distances.
- International shipping: Transporting a vehicle overseas is always more expensive due to the logistics involved & the distance traveled. It may require special enclosed trailers or even a shipping container.
- Route: The route taken from the collection spot to the delivery location can impact pricing. Routes with higher traffic, such as in LA, may cost more due to the added time. Unforeseen circumstances like major roadworks can also incur extra costs or require a different, longer route.
- Shipping dates: Flexibility in timings can result in lower charges, as vehicle shipping companies can fit your delivery into their schedule & reduce overheads. Expedited shipping, where you require auto transport within a strict timeframe, typically costs more as it may require a dedicated trailer & driver.
- Vehicle size: The height, length, & width of the automobile affect the cost of transport. Larger vehicles like SUVs cost more to transport than sedans, as they require larger trailers. Accessories such as bike racks or roof racks can also change the size of the trailer needed.
- Vehicle condition: If your car is not in drivable condition, it may cost more to transport. Non-operational vehicles require extra equipment like winches or forklifts to load & unload, taking more time, effort, & machinery compared to a standard vehicle transport service.
- Auto transport service type: Having someone operate your vehicle is the cheapest option, as you're essentially paying for the driver's time & fuel. Single car trailers & enclosed transport are more expensive due to the specialized equipment required.
- Pickup & delivery locations: Urban areas usually have vehicle shipping services in close proximity, & common destination routes tend to have cheaper shipping rates. Rural deliveries can cost more as they require deviations from normal routes & extra mileage. Unusual or hard-to-access collection or drop-off points may also increase costs due to the extra steps needed to load your automobile.
- Auto transport insurance: While all auto transport companies must carry liability insurance, many do not offer additional insurance. If a company doesn't provide cargo insurance, it's highly recommended to acquire some for your automobile during transit. Make sure you understand what type of damage is covered, any deductibles, & which parts of the vehicle are insured.
- Time of year: Seasonality can affect vehicle shipping prices, with winter transport often being more expensive due to ice & snow slowing down routes. December is a difficult time to ship vehicles as drivers are on holiday, while January sees increased shipping costs due to many people traveling to warmer states. Spring is a great time to ship, with improved weather, longer days, & more available drivers. Summer is the peak season for shipping cars, with June, July, & August being busy months. Fall offers slightly cheaper prices, with less busy companies & more driver availability after the summer rush.
How To Ship A Vehicle - Finding An Auto Transport Service
With hundreds of vehicle transport companies available, finding the right one can be a daunting task. 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 Shiply can help simplify the process.
How Can Shiply Help Find Auto Transport Companies?
Shiply makes it easy to collect quotes from vehicle shipping companies. Simply fill out a simple form with the make & model of the car, pickup & delivery locations, & the dates you need to move the automobile. This information allows auto transport providers on Shiply to provide accurate quotes for your job.
Once your listing is live, you'll receive quotes in your Shiply inbox & email. We recommend keeping email notifications on so you can be immediately notified of new quotes. Quotes can start coming in within minutes of posting your listing, but it's best to wait for a few options before making a decision.
When you have a few quotes, you can ask the companies any questions you may have, such as their availability, insurance coverage, & how they secure cars during transport. It's important to ask these questions to ensure a smooth & expected experience.
Shiply's feedback & ratings system is a valuable resource when selecting a vehicle shipping company. You can view previous customers' experiences & overall scores to make an informed decision.
Why People Often Move Vehicles To & From Eagle, Idaho
Eagle, Idaho, is a growing city located in the Boise metropolitan area. Many people relocate to Eagle for its high quality of life, excellent schools, & proximity to outdoor recreation. The city's population has been steadily increasing, leading to a higher demand for vehicle shipping services to & from Eagle.
People often move automobiles to Eagle when relocating for work or family reasons. The city's strong job market, particularly in the technology sector, attracts professionals from across the country. Additionally, Eagle's family-friendly atmosphere & safe neighborhoods make it a popular choice for families looking to relocate.
On the other hand, people may need to move cars from Eagle when selling an automobile to an out-of-state buyer, or when moving away from the area. College students attending school in other states may also require vehicle shipping services to transport their automobiles to & from Eagle during breaks or at the start & end of the academic year.
The presence of vehicle shipping eagle companies in the area helps facilitate these moves, providing residents with convenient & reliable options for transporting their automobiles. Whether moving to or from Eagle, Idaho, vehicle shipping services play a crucial role in ensuring a smooth transition for individuals & families alike.
The Benefits of Utilizing Shiply for "Vehicle Transport Eagle" & "Eagle Vehicle Transport"
Time-Efficient - Instead of submitting a quotation request each time you require a precise cost for shipping your automobile, on our platform you complete one form & then can receive estimates based on the information you submit from several businesses. This could save you hours you would've spent phoning companies and completing forms. Communication with these businesses is all possible through our platform as well, allowing you to store all of your vehicle shipping information in one location.
Cost Comparison - Ultimately, the price of the vehicle shipping estimate is the most significant factor in deciding which auto transport company to employ to transport your automobile. The challenging aspect is that, while most businesses are happy to offer average prices & rough estimates, you won't actually receive a definite vehicle transport quote without having to provide information & complete details. While this is understandable, it means that price comparison & obtaining a vehicle transport quote isn't exactly a straightforward process. Utilizing Shiply enables you to obtain genuine, final price estimates from vehicle shipping companies & compare them in one location, giving you the opportunity to message them individually to ask any questions you might have & ultimately choose the best business for you.
Affordable Vehicle 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 frequently seeking to fill space on trips they are already making & have already paid for the expense. For instance, if you were moving from Los Angeles to New York & needed to transport your automobile there, a company on Shiply may already have a multi-car transporter making that trip with 5 of the 6 spots filled, & they are just looking to ensure they aren't wasting any space. As long as the dates, times, & pick-up/drop-off locations are convenient 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 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 automobile. 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 used that transporter to move their automobiles in the opposite direction! Many of the auto transporters on Shiply are also looking to fill their trailers on return trips, meaning even less wasted CO2 is being released into the atmosphere, as well as continued affordable transport for our users.
Preparing For Your Vehicle To Be Shipped
If you have chosen an auto transport company to transport your automobile & feel confident using them, then it's time to prepare your vehicle for shipping. We suggest following these steps:
Documents - It is crucial to ensure that any documents you may need are available at pick up or drop off, especially if you are selling your automobile.
Cleaning - 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 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 automobile. This provides you with evidence of the cars condition before shipping should anything happen to it during transport.
What To Do After Delivery
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 automobile 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 an automobile 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 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 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 an automobile? 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 an automobile? Having someone drive your vehicle to its destination is the most affordable way to ship an automobile, however, if you need a trailer then a multi-car transporter will be your best option with regard to the most affordable way to ship an automobile.
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 automobile 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 automobile. This is because there are likely to be release forms that you need to sign, as well as handing over the automobile keys.
Can I keep items in my vehicle during my automobile shipment? Most vehicle transport companies will be fine with you keeping some personal items in the automobile 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 automobile 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 automobile.
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 automobile.
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.
