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 you are unable to operate the vehicle yourself, such as when purchasing or selling a used car online & need to transport it to a different state, relocating & requiring long-distance vehicle shipping, or moving your automobile overseas when ferries are unavailable. Luckily, there are various auto transport services available to cater to your unique requirements.
Categories Of Vehicle Shipping Services
When selecting a vehicle transport service, the initial choice you must make is where you want your automobile collected from & delivered to, whether it's a long-distance car transport or shipping a vehicle to a different state. Terminal-to-terminal auto delivery is a possibility, where designated collection & drop-off points, frequently the vehicle transport company's stores or operating bases, are utilized. While this option is typically more affordable, it demands more effort on your part to get the automobile home. However, most individuals prefer door-to-door auto transport delivery service, where their vehicles are collected & dropped off at their doorstep, irrespective of the distance.
Vehicle shipping services are generally categorized into two types: having someone operate your automobile to the destination or placing it on a trailer for transportation.
Engage Someone To Operate Your Vehicle
Engaging someone to operate your automobile to its destination is a straightforward solution for vehicle shipping, whether it's across the country or to a different state. The advantages of this approach include lower costs, as trailers & an additional vehicle are not necessary, & quicker delivery due to the simplicity of the transport. However, there are some drawbacks to this method that lead some individuals to opt for other types of vehicle transport. Firstly, mileage is added to your automobile during the journey, which can be substantial when shipping a car across the country. Secondly, there is a slight risk of damage to your vehicle during the drive. These concerns are especially 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 automobile on a trailer is a safer way to ensure a higher level of protection than having someone operate your vehicle to its destination. Vehicle shipping trailers come in various options, depending on the value & size of your automobile. You can choose between a single trailer for your car, which is more expensive but ideal for transporting expensive or classic cars, or a multi-car transporter that can carry several vehicles at once.
Open car shipping is the most economical & common option offered by vehicle shipping companies. Your automobile is placed on an open carrier & driven to the 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. Additionally, long journeys in open trailers pose a higher risk of damage & 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 preferable for more expensive or newer vehicles where the owner wants to minimize the risk of damage during transport.
If you need to move your vehicle 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.
What Is The Cost Of Transporting A Vehicle?
The expense of transporting 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 vehicle 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 various companies, which is easily done through platforms like Shiply.
Elements That Can Influence The Expense Of Vehicle Transport
Several elements can impact the expense of vehicle shipping, including:
- Distance: Cross-state & cross-country journeys cost more than interstate vehicle delivery.
- International shipping: Transporting a vehicle overseas is always more expensive due to the logistics involved & the distance traveled.
- Route: Routes with higher traffic or unforeseen circumstances like roadworks can increase costs or require longer alternative routes.
- Shipping dates: Flexible timings can result in lower costs, while expedited shipping in strict timeframes typically costs more.
- Vehicle size: Larger vehicles like SUVs cost more to transport than sedans due to the need for bigger trailers.
- Vehicle condition: Non-drivable cars may require extra equipment, increasing the cost of auto transport.
- Auto transport service type: Having someone drive your car is the cheapest option, while enclosed car shipping is the most expensive.
- Pickup & delivery locations: Urban areas with common routes offer cheaper car shipping, while rural or hard-to-access locations can increase costs.
- Auto transport insurance: Additional cargo insurance beyond the company's liability insurance is recommended & can affect the overall cost.
- Time of year: Seasonality plays a role, with winter being the most expensive time to ship a vehicle due to weather-related delays.
How To Transport A Vehicle - Locating A Vehicle Shipping Service
With numerous vehicle transport companies available, finding the right one can be overwhelming. Searching through Google or phone books can be time-consuming, & many companies are reluctant to provide pricing without a personalized quote. This is where Shiply can help simplify the process.
How Can Shiply Assist In Finding Vehicle Transport Companies?
Shiply streamlines the process of finding a vehicle shipping service by allowing you to fill out a simple form with your automobile's make & model, pickup & delivery locations, & desired shipping dates. This information enables auto transport providers on Shiply to provide accurate quotes for your specific needs.
Once your listing is live, you'll receive quotes in your Shiply inbox & via email. It's recommended to keep email notifications on to ensure prompt receipt of new quotes. While quotes can start coming in within minutes of posting your listing, it's advisable to wait for a few options before making a decision.
Before selecting a quote, you can ask the vehicle shipping companies questions about their availability, insurance coverage, & how they secure vehicles during transport. Shiply's feedback & ratings system allows you to view previous customers' experiences & overall scores, helping you make an informed decision when choosing a vehicle shipping service.
Why People Frequently Move Vehicles To & From Gretna, Louisiana
Gretna, a vibrant city in Jefferson Parish, Louisiana, is part of the New Orleans metropolitan area. Many people move vehicles to & from Gretna for various reasons, such as relocating for work, family, or education. The city's proximity to New Orleans makes it an attractive location for those who want to live in a quieter area while still having access to the amenities of a larger city. Additionally, Gretna's diverse economy, which includes healthcare, retail, & manufacturing industries, attracts professionals from various fields. As a result, vehicle shipping services to & from Gretna are in high demand, catering to the needs of individuals & families who are moving to or from the area.
The Advantages of Utilizing Shiply for Vehicle Transportation
Time-efficient - Rather than completing a quotation form each instance you desire an exact cost from an organization for transporting a vehicle, on our platform you complete one quotation form and can then obtain quotes from various companies based on the information you supply. This can conserve you hours of effort you would have spent phoning companies and filling out forms. Communication with these organizations is also feasible through our platform, allowing you to store all your vehicle shipping details in a single location.
Cost Comparison - Ultimately, the price of the vehicle shipping estimate is the most crucial factor in selecting which auto transport company to employ for transporting your vehicle. The challenge is that, while most companies are willing to provide average prices and rough estimates, you won't receive a definite vehicle transport quote without supplying information and completing details. Although this is understandable, it means that comparing prices and obtaining a vehicle transport quote is not a simple task. Utilizing Shiply enables you to receive genuine, final price estimates from vehicle shipping companies and compare them in one place, with the ability to message them individually to ask any questions you may have and ultimately choose the best company for your needs.
Affordable Vehicle Shipping - Auto transport companies on Shiply can typically provide their services at a lower cost than if you contacted them directly. This is because they are often seeking to fill space on trips they are already making and have already invested in. For instance, 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 journey with 5 of the 6 spots occupied, and they are simply 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 utilizing our service.
Environmentally Friendly - Not only is using Shiply for auto transport more economical, but it is also more environmentally friendly. In the previous example, if your vehicle didn't get on that multi-car transporter and instead you arranged transport from a separate car shipper, 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 journeys, resulting in even less wasted CO2 being released into the atmosphere, as well as continued affordable transport for our users.
Readying Your Vehicle for Shipping
If you have selected an auto transport company to transport your vehicle and feel confident using them, it's time to prepare your vehicle for shipping. We suggest following these steps:
Documents - It is crucial to ensure that any necessary documents are available 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 assess 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, 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.
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 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, 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.
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.
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 and 500 miles, and 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 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.
If you're looking for reliable and affordable car shipping gretna or gretna car shipping services, look no further than Shiply. Our platform connects you with top-rated auto transport companies, making it easy to compare quotes and find the best deal for your needs.
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