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 spot & transporting it to another. This service proves useful 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 moving your automobile overseas. Vehicle shipping companies provide a variety of auto transport services to accommodate different requirements.
Categories Of Auto Transport Services
When selecting an auto transport service, the initial choice you must make is where you want your vehicle picked up from & delivered to, whether it's a cross-country car shipment or transporting a car to another state. Terminal-to-terminal auto delivery is a possibility, where designated collection & drop-off points are utilized, frequently at the car transport company's locations or operating bases. While this alternative is typically more affordable, it demands more effort on your part to get the vehicle home. Most individuals, however, favor a door-to-door auto transport delivery service, where their automobiles are collected & dropped off at their doorstep, regardless of the distance.
Car transport services are typically divided into two groups: having someone operate your vehicle 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 car shipping, whether it's across the nation or to another state. The advantages of this approach include lower costs, as trailers & extra automobiles are not necessary, & quicker delivery due to the simplicity of the transport. However, there are some drawbacks to consider, such as the addition of mileage to your automobile, especially when shipping a car across the country, & the slight risk of damage during the trip. 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 offers a higher level of safety compared to having someone operate it to its destination. Car shipping trailers come in various options, depending on the value & size of your automobile. Single trailers, while more expensive, are a great choice for transporting costly or classic cars, minimizing the risk of damage. The safest way to transport a vehicle is in a shipping container, although this is the most expensive option. Multi-car transporters, which can carry several automobiles at once, are available in different variants:
Open car shipping is the most economical & common option offered by car shipping companies. Your vehicle 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 automobiles. Additionally, long journeys in open trailers pose a higher risk of damage & prolonged 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 often preferred for more expensive or newer vehicles, where owners want 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 car 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 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 determine the cost of auto transport is to gather car shipping quotes from various companies, which is easily done on Shiply.
Factors That Can Influence The Cost Of Auto Transport
While everyone wants inexpensive car transport, several factors can affect the cost of car shipping services. Some of the main factors include:
Distance: Cross-state & cross-country trips cost significantly more than interstate car delivery, which is often the most affordable option. However, the average price per mile decreases as the trip length increases.
International shipping: Transporting a vehicle overseas is always costly due to the logistics involved & the distance traveled. It may also require special enclosed trailers or shipping containers.
Route: The route taken from the pick-up spot to the delivery location can affect 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 longer alternative route.
Shipping dates: Flexibility in timings can lead to lower costs, as car shipping companies can fit your delivery into their schedule, reducing overheads. Expedited shipping, where you require auto transport within a strict timeframe, typically costs more, as the company may need to dedicate a trailer & driver specifically for your delivery.
Vehicle size: The height, length, & width of the automobile affect the cost of transport. Larger vehicles, such as SUVs, generally cost more to transport than sedans. It's essential to inform the auto transport company about any accessories, like bike racks or roof racks, as they can change the required trailer size.
Vehicle condition: If your car is not drivable, it may increase the cost of auto transport. Non-operational vehicles require extra equipment, such as a winch or forklift, to load & unload them from the trailer. A car that can brake, roll, & steer is considered to be in good enough condition for easy shipping by most car carriers.
Auto transport service type: The type of auto transport service you choose will impact the cost of car shipping. Having someone operate your vehicle is the most affordable 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. Enclosed car shipping is the most expensive method, as your vehicle travels alone & still needs special equipment for loading, unloading, & protection during transport.
Pickup & delivery locations: The cost of shipping a vehicle may increase depending on the pickup & drop-off locations. Urban areas usually have car shipping services nearby, & common destination routes often offer inexpensive car shipping. Rural deliveries can cost more due to deviations from normal routes & extra mileage for the company. Unusual or hard-to-access pickup or drop-off points may require extra steps to load your automobile, increasing the car shipping cost.
Auto transport insurance: While all auto transport companies must carry liability insurance, many do not offer additional insurance. If a car transport company doesn't provide cargo insurance, it's highly recommended to acquire some for your vehicle during transit. When considering insurance policies, ensure you understand what type of damage is covered, whether there is a deductible, which parts of the vehicle are covered, & any other relevant details.
Time of year: Seasonality can affect the price of car shipping, with many services costing more in the winter due to ice & snow slowing down routes. Here's a quick breakdown of how each season can impact auto transport costs:
Winter: Often the most expensive season to ship your automobile due to potential delays caused by ice, snow, & blizzard conditions, which can also reduce the maximum speed of transport. December is typically challenging, as drivers are on holiday, while many travel to warmer states in January, leading to increased vehicle shipping costs. February, however, is usually quiet, & great rates are often available during this month.
Spring: An excellent time to ship your automobile, with improved weather conditions, longer days, & more available drivers, often resulting in inexpensive rates & high availability. March is generally better than April or May, as there is often a rush to move cars from colder to warmer states.
Summer: The prime season for shipping cars, with the longest days of the year, students traveling home from universities, employees taking vacations, & a popular time for moving houses. June, July, & August are all busy months for the auto transport industry, so don't expect inexpensive car shipping during the summer.
Fall: A good time to ship a vehicle if you're looking for slightly cheaper prices. Car shipping companies are less busy, & there is typically more driver availability after the summer rush. October or November are better options than September, which is peak time for students shipping their cars to university.
How To Ship A Vehicle - Finding An Auto Transport Service
With hundreds of car transport companies available, finding the right one can be overwhelming. Searching on Google can lead to scrolling through numerous pages to find the best car shipping company at the best price, & many companies are reluctant to provide pricing without an individual quote application, which can be time-consuming.
How Can Shiply Help Find Auto Transport Companies?
Shiply simplifies the process of finding the right car shipping service. To get started, fill out a simple form with the make & model of the vehicle, 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 to know immediately when a new quote arrives. 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 crucial to ask these questions to ensure a smooth & expected experience.
Shiply's feedback & ratings system is a valuable resource when selecting a quote to ship your automobile. This system allows you to view previous customers' experiences with a company & their overall score.
Why People Often Move Cars To & From Round Lake Beach, Illinois
Round Lake Beach, located in Lake County, Illinois, is a popular destination for people moving to & from the Chicago area. Many individuals & families choose to relocate to Round Lake Beach for its affordable housing options, proximity to Chicago, & access to outdoor recreational activities, such as fishing & boating on Round Lake. As a result, there is a significant demand for car shipping services to & from Round Lake Beach.
When moving to or from Round Lake Beach, many people opt to ship their vehicles using professional car shipping companies. This allows them to focus on other aspects of their move without worrying about operating their automobiles long distances or dealing with the hassle of selling & buying a new car in their new location. Car shipping to or from Round Lake Beach is a convenient & safe option, especially when using reputable car shipping companies found through platforms like Shiply.
The Fantastic Advantages of Utilizing Shiply for Vehicle Transport & "car shipping round lake beach"
Time-efficient - Instead of completing a quotation form each time you desire to obtain a precise cost from a business on transporting your vehicle, on our platform you only complete one quotation form & then can receive estimates based on the information you supply from several companies. This can save you hours of time you would have had to invest in contacting companies & filling out forms. Communication with these businesses is all feasible through our platform as well, allowing you to maintain all of your vehicle shipping details in one location.
Cost Comparison - Ultimately, the price of the vehicle shipping estimate is the most crucial factor in choosing which auto transport company to utilize to transport your automobile. The challenging aspect is that, while most businesses are willing to provide average prices & rough estimates, you won't actually be given a definite vehicle transport quote without having to supply information & complete details. While this is understandable, it does mean that cost comparison & getting a vehicle transport quote isn't exactly a simple task. Using Shiply allows you to obtain 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 company for you.
"round lake beach car shipping" Made Affordable & Simple 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 example, you were relocating 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, and 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 vehicle 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 automobile. Similarly, many car transporters return from a delivery empty-handed, which is not only costly 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.
Readying For Your Vehicle To Be Transported If you have chosen an auto transport company to move your automobile & feel secure using them, then it's time to prepare your vehicle for shipping. We recommend 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 automobile.
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 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 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 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 car 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 see 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 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 & 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 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 & 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.
