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 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 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 collected from & delivered to. Terminal-to-terminal auto delivery is an alternative where designated collection & drop-off points, frequently the car transport company's facilities or operating bases, are utilized. While this option is typically more affordable, it necessitates more effort on your part to get the vehicle home. However, most individuals prefer door-to-door auto transport delivery, where their automobiles are collected & dropped off at their doorstep, regardless of whether it's a cross-country car transport or simply shipping a car to another state.
Car transport services can be broadly classified into two categories: having someone operate your vehicle to the destination or placing it on a trailer for transportation.
Have Someone Operate Your Vehicle
Employing someone to operate your vehicle to its destination is a straightforward solution for car shipping, whether you need to ship a car across the country or to another state. This approach is often more affordable as it doesn't necessitate trailers or an additional vehicle, & it can be quicker due to its simplicity. 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 journey. These concerns are particularly relevant for individuals purchasing or selling cars online who want to ensure the car 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, which transport only one car at a time, are more expensive but are a great choice for moving expensive or classic cars that you want to protect from potential damage. The safest way to transport a car is in a shipping container, but this is also the most expensive option.
Multi-car transporters, which can carry several vehicles at once, come in different variants:
- Open car shipping: The most affordable & common option, where 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 vehicles. Long journeys in open trailers also pose a higher risk of damage.
- Enclosed auto transport: Multiple cars are secured on a carrier but are enclosed, protecting them from dust, weather, & debris during transit. This option is preferable for more expensive or newer vehicles where minimizing the risk of damage is a priority.
For overseas vehicle transportation, it's best to find specialist services or companies with experience in overseas car shipping to receive 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, US auto transport companies 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 car transport cost may differ based on your specific circumstances. The best way to determine the cost of auto transport is to collect car shipping quotes from various companies, which is easily done on Shiply.
Factors That Can Influence The Cost Of Auto Transport
While everyone wants affordable car transport, several factors can impact the cost of car shipping services:
- Distance: Cross-state & cross-country journeys cost more than interstate car delivery, which is often the most affordable option. However, the average price per mile decreases as the journey length increases.
- International shipping: Transporting a car overseas is always expensive 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 could 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 & reduce overheads. Expedited shipping, where you require auto transport within a strict timeframe, typically costs more.
- Vehicle size: The height, length, & width of the vehicle affect the cost of transport. Larger vehicles like SUVs generally cost more to transport than sedans. Accessories such as bike racks or roof racks can also change the required trailer size.
- Vehicle condition: Non-drivable cars may incur higher auto transport costs due to the need for extra equipment like winches or forklifts to load & unload the vehicle. Most car carriers consider a car in good condition if it can brake, roll, & steer.
- Auto transport service type: Having someone drive your car is the most affordable option, while single car trailers & enclosed transport are more expensive due to the specialized equipment required. Enclosed car shipping is the most expensive method, as it involves transporting your car alone while still needing specialist equipment for loading, unloading, & protection during transit.
- Pick-up & delivery locations: Urban areas usually have car shipping services nearby, & common destination routes often offer affordable car shipping. Rural deliveries can cost more due to deviations from normal routes & extra mileage. Unusual or hard-to-access pick-up or drop-off points may require extra steps for loading, increasing the cost.
- Auto transport insurance: While auto transport companies must carry liability insurance, many do not offer additional coverage. If cargo insurance is not provided, it's highly recommended to acquire it separately for your vehicle during transit. Clarify the type of damage covered, deductibles, & parts of the vehicle included in the insurance policy.
- Time of year: Seasonality affects car shipping prices, with winter being the most expensive due to ice, snow, & blizzard conditions causing delays & reduced speeds. December is challenging as drivers are on holiday, while January sees increased costs due to people traveling to warmer states. Spring & fall offer better rates & availability, with March, October, & November being ideal months. Summer is the busiest season, with higher prices & lower availability.
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 or through phone books can be time-consuming, & many companies are reluctant to provide pricing without individual quotes. This is where Shiply can help simplify the process.
How Can Shiply Assist In Finding Auto Transport Companies?
Shiply streamlines the process of finding a car shipping service. To get started, simply fill out a form with the make & model of the car, pick-up & delivery locations, & the dates you need to move the vehicle. 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 receive immediate updates when new quotes arrive. 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.
After receiving quotes, you can ask the companies any questions you may have, such as availability, insurance coverage, & how they secure your car. 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 company to ship your vehicle. You can view previous customers' experiences & overall scores to make an informed decision.
Why People Frequently Move Cars To & From Fishers, Indiana
Fishers, Indiana, is a thriving city situated in the Indianapolis metropolitan area. Many individuals move cars to & from Fishers for various reasons, such as relocating for employment, attending college, or acquiring a vehicle from an out-of-state seller. The city's proximity to major highways, like I-69 & I-465, makes it a convenient location for car shipping services. Additionally, Fishers has been consistently ranked as one of the best places to live in the United States, attracting new residents who may need to transport their vehicles. With its flourishing economy, excellent schools, & high quality of life, Fishers is an appealing destination for individuals & families, leading to an increased demand for car shipping services in the area.
The Benefits of Utilizing Shiply for Vehicle Transportation in Fishers
Time-Efficient - Instead of completing a quotation form each time you require an exact cost from a business for transporting a vehicle, on our platform you complete one quotation form and can then receive estimates based on the information you supply from several companies. This can save you a significant amount of time that you would have spent phoning companies and filling out forms. Communication with these businesses is also possible through our platform, allowing you to store all of your car shipping Fishers 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 employ to transport your vehicle. The challenging aspect is that, while most companies are willing to provide average prices and rough estimates, you won't actually receive a definite car transport quote without having to give information and complete details. While this is understandable, it means that price comparison and obtaining a car transport quote is not exactly a simple process. Using Shiply allows you to receive genuine, final price quotes from car shipping Fishers companies and compare them in one place, providing the ability to message them individually to ask any questions you may have and ultimately decide on the best company for you.
Affordable Vehicle Shipping - Auto transport companies on Shiply are typically able to offer their services for a lower fee than if you went direct to them. This is because they are often looking to fill space on journeys they are already making and have already sunk the cost for. Say, for example, you were moving from Los Angeles to New York and needed to move your car there. On Shiply, a company may already have a multi-car transporter making that journey with 5 of the 6 spots filled, and 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 cheaper, but it is also better for the environment! In the above example, if your car 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 journey would be needed just for your car. 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 cars in the other direction! Many of the auto transporters on Shiply are looking to fill their trailers on return journeys too, meaning even less wasted CO2 is being released into the atmosphere, as well as continued cheap transport for our users.
Readying Your Vehicle for Transportation - If you have decided on an auto transport company to move your car and feel secure using them, then it's time to prepare your car for shipping. We recommend following these steps:
Paperwork - 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.
Washing - 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 ascertain its condition and notice any damages that may occur 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 running condition. This means ensuring 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.
Visual Documentation - 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 car. This provides you with evidence of the car's condition before shipping should anything happen to it during transport.
Actions to Take After Delivery - Once the car shipping company you selected has completed their delivery, there are a few things you should do:
Inspect Vital Components - Lights, brakes, and 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.
Examine Exterior Condition - You can compare the exterior of the vehicle to the photos taken of it before to ascertain 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.
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 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:
What is the cost to transport a vehicle? 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 most economical method to transport a vehicle? 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.
