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 circumstances where you are unable to drive the vehicle yourself, such as when purchasing or selling a used car online & need to transport a vehicle to another state, or when you've relocated & need to move your automobile across the country. Vehicle shipping services can also be extremely useful when you need to transport your car overseas, & unless ferries are available, you'll need to depend on an auto transport company to manage this for you.
Luckily, there are several vehicle transport services available to fulfill your requirements, which we'll discuss below.
Types Of Vehicle Shipping Services
When it comes to vehicle shipping services, there are a few choices to consider. It's crucial to comprehend these options so you can determine the optimal way to transport your automobile, whether it's a cross-country vehicle shipping or transporting a car to another state.
The first decision you'll need to make is where you want your vehicle collected from & delivered to. Terminal-to-terminal auto delivery is one option, where designated collection & drop-off points are used, often at the vehicle transport company's stores or operating bases. While terminal-to-terminal auto delivery is usually more affordable, it does require more effort on your part to get the vehicle home.
Most people, however, prefer a door-to-door auto transport delivery service, where their vehicles are collected & dropped off at their doorstep, regardless of whether it's a cross-country vehicle shipping or just transporting a car to another state. This option is more convenient as you don't need to go anywhere to collect your automobile, which can be challenging without your vehicle in the first place!
Vehicle transport services generally fall into two categories: having someone drive your automobile to its destination or putting it on a trailer & moving it that way.
Have Someone Drive Your Vehicle
One straightforward solution to vehicle shipping is hiring someone to drive your automobile to its destination, whether you need to transport a car across the country or to another state. The benefits of this auto transport method include lower costs, as trailers & an extra vehicle aren't required, & faster delivery due to the simplicity of the transport.
However, there are some downsides to this method offered by vehicle shipping companies that lead some people to choose other types of vehicle transport. Firstly, mileage is added to your automobile during the journey, which can be significant when transporting a car across the country, though less so when shipping a vehicle to a nearby state. Secondly, there is a slight risk of damage 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 Vehicle On A Trailer
Putting your automobile on a trailer is a safer way to ensure a higher level of protection than having someone drive your vehicle to its destination. With vehicle shipping trailers, there are several options available depending on the value & size of your automobile.
First, you'll need to decide whether you want a single trailer for your vehicle. These are often more expensive as they only transport one automobile at a time, but they're a great choice if you're moving an expensive or classic car that you don't want to risk damaging. The safest way to transport a vehicle is in a shipping container, but this is by far the most expensive option.
The other option is a multi-car transporter, which can move many vehicles at once. There are a few variants of multi-car transporters:
Open vehicle shipping by any vehicle shipping company is the cheapest & most common option for transporting a car. Your automobile is placed on an open carrier & driven to its destination. While all vehicles are securely fastened, they are exposed to the elements during the drive, so this may not be recommended by vehicle shipping companies for highly valuable automobiles. Additionally, while it may be the cheapest way to ship a car cross-country, long journeys in open trailers carry a higher risk of damage & expose your vehicle to the elements for longer periods.
Enclosed auto transport involves securing multiple vehicles on a carrier, but they are enclosed, protecting them from dust, weather, & debris during transit. This option is often preferable for more expensive or newer automobiles where the owner wants to minimize the risk of damage during auto transport.
If you need to move your automobile overseas through an auto transport company, try 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 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.
These figures are just averages for vehicle moving companies, & your vehicle transport may cost more or less depending on your specific circumstances. The best way to find out how much auto transport will cost you is to collect vehicle shipping quotes from vehicle 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 vehicle transport services, which we'll discuss below.
Factors That Can Affect The Cost Of Auto Transport
While we all want cheap vehicle transport, several factors & variables can impact the cost of your vehicle 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 costing much more than interstate vehicle 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.
The route required to take your vehicle from its pick-up spot to its delivery location can also affect the pricing of your vehicle carrier service. Routes with known higher traffic, such as in LA, may end up costing more than quieter roads due to the added time. Similarly, unforeseen circumstances like major roadworks could incur extra costs from the vehicle moving companies or necessitate a different, longer route.
How quickly you need your vehicle transportation service to operate can also impact the price. If you can be flexible with timings, you may find that your vehicle shipping service charges less, as 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 known as expedited shipping), it will typically cost more, as the vehicle transport company may need to dedicate a trailer & driver specifically for your delivery.
The height, length, & width of the automobile will all affect the cost of transporting your vehicle. Vehicle shippers will require larger trailers for bigger automobiles, with SUVs typically costing more on average to transport than sedans. Always inform the auto transport company about any bike racks, roof racks, or other accessories on the vehicle, as these can change the size of the trailer required for the delivery.
If your vehicle is not in drivable condition, it may make your auto transport more expensive. This is because it may require extra equipment, such as a winch or forklift, to load & unload your car from the trailer. If your vehicle has a locked wheel, for example, it will be impossible to simply roll it onto a trailer & off again, taking more time, effort, & machinery to complete the delivery than a standard vehicle transport service. Most vehicle carriers consider a car that can brake, roll, & steer to be in good enough condition to ship easily.
The type of auto transport service you select will also affect the cost of your vehicle shipping. Having someone drive your automobile to its destination will always be the cheapest option, as you're essentially just paying for a driver's time & fuel, whereas single car trailers & enclosed transport will likely be more expensive due to the extra equipment required. Enclosed vehicle shipping is always the most expensive method of shipping a car, as it means your automobile travels alone & still needs specialist equipment to load, unload, & protect it during transport.
Depending on where you need the vehicle picked up from & dropped off, the price of shipping a car may increase. Urban areas usually have vehicle shipping services in close proximity, & if it's a common destination route, you'll tend to get 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 space, extra steps may be needed to load your automobile, which can also increase the vehicle shipping cost.
While all auto transport companies are required to carry liability insurance, many do not offer additional insurance, as it's not required by law. If a vehicle transport company does not offer cargo insurance, it's highly recommended that you seek out & acquire some for your automobile during its transit. As with all insurance policies, make sure you are clear on what type of damage is covered, whether there is a deductible, what parts of the vehicle are covered by the insurance, & any other questions you may have.
Seasonality can also affect the price of vehicle shipping, with many services costing more to ship a car in the winter due to ice & snow slowing the routes. Here's a quick breakdown of how each season can affect auto transport costs:
Winter is often the most expensive season to ship your automobile. Ice, snow, & blizzard conditions can all cause delays on the roads & reduce the maximum speed at which the vehicle delivery service can transport cars. December is typically a difficult time to have a vehicle shipped, as drivers are on holiday, while many travel to warmer states in January, leading to increased automobile shipping costs. February, however, is usually quiet, so great rates are often available from vehicle shipping services during this month.
Spring is a great time to ship your automobile with a vehicle transportation service. With improved weather conditions, longer days, & more drivers ready to work, Spring can often mean cheap rates & high availability when it comes to moving your car. March is often 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 vehicles - the days are the longest in 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 should not 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 automobile in October or November rather than September, as this is peak time for students shipping their cars to university.
How To Ship A Vehicle - Finding An Auto Transport Service
Now that you know more about what vehicle shipping & a vehicle shipping service are & what sort of auto transport service you need, you probably want to go ahead & find a vehicle transport service that's right for you.
The issue is that there are hundreds of vehicle transport companies out there. Trying to find them on Google can result in scrolling through numerous pages trying to find the best vehicle shipping company for the best price, & the same is true if you were to go through phone books. Furthermore, many of these companies are reluctant to give you 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 Auto Transport Companies?
Given all the options & variables involved in finding a vehicle shipping service, actually 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 automobile. This gives the auto transport providers on Shiply 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 companies any questions you may have, such as when they are available (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 looking at before selecting a quote to ship your automobile. This system allows you to view previous customers' experiences with a company, as well as their overall score.
Why People Often Move Vehicles To & From Erlanger, Kentucky
Erlanger, Kentucky, is a city located in the northern part of the state, just south of Cincinnati, Ohio. Many people move vehicles to & from Erlanger for various reasons. One common reason is relocation, either for work or personal reasons. When moving to a new city or state, shipping a car can be more convenient than driving it, especially if the distance is significant.
Another reason people may ship vehicles to or from Erlanger is when buying or selling an automobile online. If someone in Erlanger purchases a car from another state, they may need to have it shipped to their location. Similarly, if someone in Erlanger sells a car to a buyer in another state, they may need to arrange for the automobile to be shipped to the buyer's location.
Erlanger's proximity to Cincinnati also makes it a popular location for vehicle shipping. Many people who live in Erlanger work in Cincinnati, & vice versa. When moving between the two cities, shipping a car can be a convenient option, especially if someone is moving for work & needs their automobile to commute.
Additionally, Erlanger is home to several car dealerships, including both new & used car dealers. These dealerships may need to ship vehicles to & from their location, either when acquiring new inventory or when selling an automobile to an out-of-state buyer.
Overall, the need for vehicle shipping in Erlanger, Kentucky, stems from various factors, including relocation, online automobile purchases & sales, commuting between Erlanger & Cincinnati, & the presence of car dealerships in the area.
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The Benefits of Utilizing Shiply for Vehicle Transport in Erlanger
Time-Efficient - Instead of completing a quotation form each time you require an exact price from a company on transporting a vehicle, on our platform you fill out one quotation form & then can receive quotes based on the information you submit from several businesses. This can save you a significant amount of time that you would have spent phoning companies and completing forms.
Communication with these businesses is also possible through our platform, allowing you to store all of your "erlanger vehicle transport" details in a single location.
Price Comparison - Ultimately, the price of the vehicle transport quote is the most crucial factor in choosing which auto shipping 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 vehicle transport quote without having to submit information and fill in details. Although this is understandable, it means that price comparison and obtaining a vehicle transport quote isn't exactly a simple task.
Utilizing Shiply enables you to obtain authentic, final price quotes from "vehicle transport erlanger" companies and compare them in one location, 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 Transport
Auto shipping companies 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 and have already invested the cost for. For example, if you were relocating from Los Angeles to New York and needed to transport your vehicle there, a company on Shiply may already have a multi-car transporter making that trip 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 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 and 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 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.
Readying Your Vehicle for Shipping
If you have chosen an auto transport company to move your vehicle and 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 vehicle.
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 determine its condition and 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 and 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, and 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, and 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 trip 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 trip should cost you around $2.92 per mile if the trip is less than 200 miles, $0.93 if the trip is between 200 and 500 miles, and if the trip 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 and 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 and delivery? In most cases, the vehicle 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 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, and 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 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.
