What Is Vehicle Transportation?
Vehicle transportation, also referred to as automobile transport or car shipping, is a service offered by auto shipping companies that involves collecting your automobile from one spot & transporting it to another. It's beneficial for moving a vehicle in various circumstances where you can't operate the car yourself. For instance, you might be buying or selling a pre-owned vehicle online & require shipping it to a different state, or maybe you've recently moved & need to transport your automobile across the nation. Car moving services can also be incredibly useful when you need to relocate your vehicle overseas & boats aren't available, necessitating you to rely on an automobile transport company to manage the job.
Luckily, there are numerous vehicle transport services available to satisfy your particular requirements, which we'll discuss below.
Types Of Automobile Transport Services
When it comes to automobile transport services, there are a few choices to consider. It's crucial to carefully review these options & determine the kind of car transportation service that best suits your needs for relocating your vehicle.
The first decision you'll need to make is where you want your automobile picked up from & delivered to, whether it's a cross-country vehicle transport or moving a car to a neighboring state. Terminal-to-terminal auto delivery is one choice, where designated collection & drop-off points are used, often at the automobile transport company's stores or operating bases. This option is typically more economical but requires more effort on your part to get the vehicle home. However, most individuals prefer a door-to-door automobile transport delivery service, where their cars are collected & dropped off right at their doorstep, regardless of whether it's a cross-country vehicle transport or just moving a car to a nearby state. This is often more convenient as it eliminates the need to travel to collect your car, which can be challenging without your vehicle in the first place!
Vehicle transport services generally fall into two categories: having someone operate your car to the destination or loading it onto a trailer for transport.
Have Someone Operate Your Vehicle
One straightforward solution for vehicle shipping is to hire someone to operate your car to its destination, whether you need to move a vehicle across the country or to another state. The advantages of this automobile transport method include lower costs, as trailers & an additional car aren't required, & faster delivery due to the simplicity of the transport process.
However, there are some drawbacks to this method offered by vehicle shipping companies that lead some individuals to choose other types of automobile transport. Firstly, mileage is added to your car during the journey, which can be significant when moving a vehicle across the country, although less so when shipping a car to a nearby state. Secondly, there is a slight risk of damage occurring to your automobile while it's being driven from point A to point B. These concerns are particularly relevant for people buying or selling cars online who want to ensure the vehicle arrives in the same condition as advertised.
Put Your Automobile On A Trailer
Placing your car on a trailer is a safer way to ensure a higher level of protection compared to having someone operate your vehicle to its destination. When it comes to automobile shipping trailers, there are several options available depending on the value & size of your car.
Firstly, you'll 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 an excellent choice if you're moving a valuable or classic vehicle that you don't want to risk damaging. The safest way to transport a car is to use a shipping container, but this is by far the most costly option. The other choice is a multi-car transporter, which can move many automobiles simultaneously & comes in a few variations:
Open vehicle shipping by any automobile shipping company is the most affordable & common option for transporting a car. Your car is placed on an open carrier & driven to the destination. While all automobiles are securely fastened, they are exposed to the elements during the drive, so vehicle shipping companies may not recommend this method for highly valuable cars. Additionally, while it may be the cheapest way to move a vehicle cross-country, long journeys in open trailers pose a higher risk of damage & expose your car to the elements for extended periods.
Enclosed automobile transport involves securing multiple cars on a carrier, but they are enclosed, protecting them from dust, weather & debris 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 relocate your car overseas through an automobile transport company, it's best to find a specialist service on our platform or one with experience in overseas vehicle shipping, as they can provide tailored advice based on your specific requirements.
How Much Does It Cost To Move A Vehicle?
The cost of moving a vehicle varies based on several factors, but on average, automobile 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 for vehicle moving companies & your automobile transport may cost more or less depending on your specific circumstances. The best way to determine the cost of auto transport is to obtain vehicle shipping quotes from multiple car transport companies, which is easy to do on Shiply.
If you want to get an idea of how much you can expect your vehicle delivery to cost, consider the factors that can affect the price of automobile transport services, which we'll discuss below.
Factors That Can Affect The Cost Of Automobile Transport
While we all want cheap vehicle transport, several factors & variables can impact the cost of your car shipping. Let's explore the main ones so you can get a rough idea of whether your auto transport requirements will be expensive or affordable.
As mentioned earlier, distance plays a significant role in determining the cost of your vehicle transport, with cross-state & cross-country journeys being more expensive than interstate car delivery, which is often the cheapest option.
Although longer distances do cost more, the average price per mile decreases as the journey length increases, ensuring you're not paying excessively.
International shipping always results in expensive vehicle shipping quotes due to the logistics of transferring a car overseas & the distance it needs to travel. It may also require special enclosed trailers or even a shipping container for your automobile.
Route - Along with distance, the route required to transport your vehicle from its pick-up spot to its delivery location can affect the pricing of your car carrier service. Routes with known higher traffic, such as in LA, may end up costing more than quieter roads due to the additional time it can add to the journey. Similarly, unforeseen circumstances like major roadworks could also incur extra costs from the vehicle moving companies or necessitate a different, longer route.
Shipping Dates - The speed at which you need your vehicle transportation service to operate can also impact the price. If you have flexibility in timings, you may find that your car shipping service charges significantly less. This is because they can fit your automobile delivery into their schedule & reduce overheads, passing the savings on to you. However, if you require auto transport within a strict timeframe (often referred to as expedited shipping), it will typically cost more due to the vehicle transport company likely having to dedicate a trailer & driver solely for your delivery.
Vehicle Size - The height, length & width of the car will all affect the cost of transporting your automobile. Car shippers will require larger trailers for bigger vehicles, with SUVs typically costing more on average to transport than sedans. It's important to inform the auto transport company about any bike racks, roof racks or other accessories on the vehicle, 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, it may increase the cost of your auto transport. This is because it may require additional equipment, such as a winch or forklift, to load & unload your automobile from the trailer. For example, if your car has a locked wheel, it will be impossible to simply roll it onto a trailer & off again, requiring more time, effort & machinery to complete the delivery compared to a standard vehicle transport service. Most car carriers consider a vehicle that can brake, roll & steer to be in good enough condition for easy shipping.
Auto Transport Service Type - The type of automobile transport service you choose will also affect the cost of your car shipping. Having someone operate your vehicle to its destination will always be the most affordable option, as you're essentially just paying for the driver's time & fuel. On the other hand, single car trailers & enclosed transport are likely to be more expensive, as they require specialized equipment. Enclosed vehicle shipping is always the most expensive method of moving a car, as it means your automobile travels alone & still requires specialized equipment for loading, unloading & protection during transport.
Locations Of Pickup & Delivery - The locations of the vehicle's pick-up & drop-off points can also impact the price of shipping a car. Urban areas typically have car shipping services in close proximity & if it's a common destination route, you'll generally find cheap vehicle 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 in an unusual or hard-to-access location, additional steps may be necessary to load your car, which can also increase the vehicle shipping cost.
Auto Transport Insurance - While all automobile transport companies are required to carry liability insurance, many do not offer additional insurance, as it's not legally mandated. If a vehicle transport company doesn't offer cargo insurance, it's highly recommended that you seek out & acquire coverage for your car during its transit. As with all insurance policies, make sure you understand what type of damage is covered, whether there is a deductible, which parts of the vehicle are covered by the insurance & any other relevant questions you may have.
Time Of Year - Seasonality can also affect the price of vehicle shipping, with many services costing more to move a car 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 is often the most expensive season to ship your car. Ice, snow & blizzard conditions can all cause delays on the roads & reduce the maximum speed at which the vehicle delivery service can transport automobiles. December is typically a challenging time to have a car shipped, as drivers are on holiday, while many travel to warmer states in January, leading to increased vehicle shipping costs. However, February is usually quiet, so great rates are often available from car shipping services during this month.
Spring is an excellent time to ship your car with a vehicle transportation service. With improved weather conditions, longer days & more drivers ready to work, Spring often means affordable rates & high availability when it comes to moving your automobile. March is generally a better time to ship than April or May, as there is often a rush to move vehicles from colder to warmer states.
Summer is the prime season for shipping cars - the days are the longest of the year, students are traveling home from universities, employees take vacations & it's also a very popular time to move house. This means that June, July & August are all busy months for the auto transport industry & you shouldn't expect cheap vehicle shipping during the summer.
Fall is a good time to ship a car if you're looking for a slightly cheaper price. Vehicle shipping companies are less busy & there is typically more driver availability after the summer rush. However, you're better off looking to move your car in October or November rather than September, as this is peak time for students shipping their automobiles to university.
How To Ship A Vehicle - Finding An Automobile Transport Service
Now that you have a better understanding of what vehicle shipping & a car shipping service entail & the type of auto transport service you need, you probably want to go ahead & find a vehicle transport service that's right for you.
The challenge is that there are hundreds of vehicle transport companies out there. Trying to find them on Google can result in scrolling through countless pages to find the best car shipping company at the best price & the same is true if you were to go through phone books. Furthermore, many of these companies are reluctant to provide pricing, meaning you'll likely need to apply for a quote & fill out details with each of them individually, which can be very time-consuming.
How Can Shiply Help Find Automobile Transport Companies?
Given all the options & variables involved in finding a vehicle shipping service, 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 start collecting quotes. All we need from you are the make & model of the vehicle that needs shipping, the pickup location & delivery location & the dates you need to move the car. This provides the auto transport providers on Shiply with enough information to provide you with an accurate quote for your job.
Once your listing is live, you'll receive quotes in your Shiply inbox & to your email. We recommend keeping email notifications turned on so 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 you have multiple options to choose from.
Once you have a few quotes, you can ask the providers any questions you may have, such as their availability (if a time frame is given), what insurance they have & how they would secure your vehicle. We recommend asking any company you may use these questions to ensure that everything goes smoothly & as expected.
Shiply has a feedback & ratings system that we highly recommend reviewing before selecting a quote to ship your car. This system allows you to view previous customers' experiences with a company & see their overall score.
Why People Often Move Vehicles To & From Kokomo, Indiana, US
Kokomo, Indiana, US is a city that sees a significant amount of vehicle shipping activity. Many people move cars to & from Kokomo for various reasons. One common reason is relocation - whether it's for work, family or a change of scenery, people often need to transport their automobiles when moving to or from Kokomo. Another reason is buying or selling cars - with the rise of online marketplaces, it's become increasingly common for people to purchase vehicles from different parts of the country, including Kokomo. In such cases, car shipping services are essential for delivering the automobile to its new owner. Additionally, Kokomo is home to several auto dealerships & vehicle auction houses, which often require car shipping services to transport cars to & from their locations. Whether you're moving to Kokomo, buying a vehicle from the city or need to transport a car for any other reason, there are plenty of vehicle shipping companies that can help you get your automobile to its destination safely & efficiently.
The Benefits of Using Shiply for Vehicle Transport in Kokomo
Time-efficient - Rather than filling out a quotation form each instance you desire an accurate cost from a business for transporting a vehicle, on our site you complete one quotation form & can then obtain quotes based on the information you submit from several companies. This can conserve you hours of effort you would have spent phoning businesses & providing details. Communication with these firms is also feasible via our platform, allowing you to store all your Kokomo vehicle shipping details in a single location.
Cost Comparison - Ultimately, the price of the vehicle shipping estimate is the most crucial aspect in choosing which auto transport company to employ to transport your vehicle. The challenge is that, while most businesses are willing to provide average costs & rough estimates, you won't actually receive a definite vehicle transport quote without having to supply information & complete details. Although this is reasonable, it means that cost comparison & getting a vehicle transport estimate isn't precisely a simple process. Utilizing Shiply enables you to acquire genuine, final price estimates from vehicle shipping Kokomo businesses & compare them in one place, offering the ability to contact them individually to inquire about any questions you might have & ultimately decide on the optimal company for you.
Affordable Vehicle Shipping - Auto transport firms on Shiply can usually provide their services at 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 invested the expense for. For instance, if you were relocating from Los Angeles to New York & needed to transport your vehicle there, a company on Shiply might already have a multi-car transporter making that trip with 5 of the 6 spots occupied, & they are simply looking to ensure they aren't wasting any space. As long as the dates, times, & pick-up/drop-off locations are suitable for you, you can often save up to 75% on auto transport by utilizing our service.
Eco-Friendly - Not only is using Shiply for auto transport more affordable, but it is also more environmentally friendly! In the previous 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 journey would be required 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 many people who could have utilized that transporter to move their vehicles 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 emitted into the atmosphere, as well as continued affordable transport for our users.
Readying Your Vehicle for Shipping
If you have chosen an auto transport company to transport your vehicle & 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 require are available at pick up or drop off, particularly 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 & 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 assess 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 car. This provides you with proof 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 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.
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.
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