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 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 across the nation, or moving your automobile overseas. Vehicle transportation services provide a practical solution for those who need to transfer their vehicles without the inconvenience of driving long distances.
There are various types of car shipping services available to accommodate different requirements, which we will discuss in greater detail in this article.
Varieties Of Car Shipping Services
When it comes to transporting your automobile, there are several crucial decisions you must make. First, you need to establish the pickup and delivery locations for your vehicle. You can opt between terminal-to-terminal auto delivery, where designated collection and drop-off points are utilized (frequently the vehicle transport company's stores or operating bases), or door-to-door car shipping service, where your automobile is collected and delivered at your doorstep. While terminal-to-terminal auto delivery is typically more affordable, door-to-door service proves more convenient as it eliminates the need to arrange transportation to retrieve your vehicle.
Automobile transport services can be broadly classified into two categories: having someone operate your vehicle to the destination or placing it on a trailer for shipping.
Having Someone Operate Your Vehicle: This uncomplicated solution involves hiring an individual to drive your automobile to its destination, whether it's a cross-country or interstate relocation. The advantages of this method include reduced costs (as trailers and additional vehicles are not necessary) and quicker delivery times. However, there are some drawbacks to consider, such as the addition of mileage to your vehicle (especially for cross-country shipping) and the slight risk of damage during the journey. These concerns are particularly relevant for those purchasing or selling automobiles online who want to ensure the vehicle arrives in the same condition as advertised.
Placing Your Automobile On A Trailer: Putting your vehicle on a trailer provides a higher level of safety compared to having someone operate it to the destination. Vehicle shipping trailers come in various options, depending on the value and size of your automobile. Single trailers, while more costly, are ideal for transporting expensive or classic cars that require extra protection. The safest way to ship a vehicle is by using a shipping container, although this is the most expensive option.
Multi-car transporters, which can carry several vehicles simultaneously, are another popular choice. These transporters come in two main variants:
1. Open Vehicle Shipping: This is the most economical & common option for transporting an automobile. Your vehicle is securely placed on an open carrier and driven to its destination. While all cars are safely secured, they are exposed to the elements during transit, making this option less suitable for highly valuable vehicles. Additionally, longer journeys in open trailers may pose a higher risk of damage due to prolonged exposure to the elements.
2. Enclosed Car Transport: In this method, multiple automobiles are secured on a carrier and enclosed, protecting them from dust, weather, and debris during transit. This option is preferable for more expensive or newer vehicles where the owner wants to minimize the risk of damage during transport.
If you need to relocate your vehicle overseas, it's crucial to find a specialist service or a company with experience in overseas automobile shipping. These providers can offer tailored advice based on your specific requirements.
The Benefits of Using Shiply for Vehicle Transport in Emporia
Time-Efficient - Rather than filling out a quotation form each instance you desire an accurate cost from a company on Emporia vehicle transport, on our site you complete one quotation form & can then 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 via our platform too, allowing you to store all of your vehicle shipping details in a single location.
Rate 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 challenging part is that, while most businesses are willing to provide average rates & rough estimates, you won't actually receive a definite vehicle transport quote without having to give information & enter details. While this is reasonable, it does mean that rate comparison & getting a vehicle transport estimate isn't precisely a simple task.
Utilizing Shiply enables you to acquire genuine, final cost estimates from vehicle shipping businesses & compare them in one place, offering the capability to message them individually to ask any questions you may have & ultimately decide on the optimal company for you.
Affordable Emporia 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 invested the cost for. For instance, if you were relocating from Los Angeles to New York & needed to move your vehicle 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 are suitable for you, you can often save up to 75% on auto transport by using our service.
More 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 vehicle.
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 vehicles 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.
Preparing For Your Vehicle To Be Transported
If you have chosen an auto transport company to move your vehicle & feel confident using them, then it's time to ready your vehicle for shipping. We suggest following these steps:
Documents - It is crucial to ensure that any documents you may need are accessible at pick up or drop off, especially if you are selling your vehicle.
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 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 vehicle delivery service to pick up is to take high-quality photographs of all parts of the vehicle. This provides you with evidence of the vehicle's 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 vehicle 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 determine whether any extra damage has occurred. Shipping a vehicle 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 vehicle 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 a vehicle?
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 a vehicle?
Having someone drive your vehicle to its destination is the most affordable way to ship a vehicle, 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 a vehicle.
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 vehicle 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 vehicle. This is because there are likely to be release forms that you need to sign, as well as handing over the vehicle keys.
Can I keep items in my vehicle during my vehicle shipment?
Most vehicle 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 vehicle 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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