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 numerous situations where you are unable to operate the vehicle yourself, such as when purchasing or selling a used car online, relocating to a new residence, or transporting your automobile overseas. Vehicle shipping companies provide a variety of auto transport services to accommodate your unique requirements.
Categories Of Vehicle Transport Services
When selecting a vehicle transport service, you must determine where you want your automobile collected from & delivered to, whether it's a cross-country car shipment or transporting a car to another state. Terminal-to-terminal auto delivery is an alternative, where designated collection & drop-off points are utilized, frequently at the car transport company's stores or operating bases. While this alternative is typically more affordable, it necessitates more effort on your part to get the car home. The majority of individuals prefer door-to-door auto transport delivery service, where their automobiles are collected & dropped off at their doorstep, regardless of the distance.
Vehicle transport services are typically categorized into two types: having someone operate your car to the destination or placing it on a trailer for shipment.
Have Someone Operate Your Vehicle
Employing someone to operate your vehicle to its destination is a straightforward solution for car shipping, whether it's 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 this approach. 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 harm to your car while it's being operated. These concerns are especially 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 is a safer way to transport it compared to having someone operate it. 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 costly or classic cars, or a multi-car transporter that can carry multiple vehicles at once.
Open car shipping is the most affordable & most common option offered by vehicle shipping companies. Your automobile 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 & 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 automobile overseas, it's best to find a specialist service or a company with experience in overseas car shipping to provide tailored advice based on your requirements.
How Much Does It Cost To Transport A Vehicle?
The cost of transporting 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. 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 collect vehicle shipping quotes from different companies, which is easy to do on Shiply.
Factors That Can Influence The Cost Of Vehicle Transport
Several factors can impact the cost of vehicle shipping, including:
- Distance: Cross-state & cross-country journeys cost more than interstate car 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 the cost.
- Shipping dates: Flexible timings can result in lower costs, while expedited shipping is more expensive.
- Vehicle size: Larger automobiles like SUVs cost more to transport than sedans.
- Vehicle condition: Non-drivable cars may require extra equipment, increasing the cost.
- Auto transport service type: Having someone operate your vehicle is the most affordable option, while enclosed car shipping is the most expensive.
- Pickup & delivery locations: Urban areas are usually cheaper, while rural or hard-to-access locations can increase the cost.
- Auto transport insurance: Additional cargo insurance may be necessary, affecting the overall cost.
- Time of year: Seasonality can impact prices, with winter being the most expensive & spring being more affordable.
How To Transport A Vehicle - Finding A Vehicle Transport Service
With numerous vehicle 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 a detailed quote application.
How Can Shiply Assist In Finding Vehicle Transport Companies?
Shiply simplifies the process of finding a vehicle shipping service. By filling out a simple form with your vehicle's make & model, pickup & delivery locations, & desired shipping dates, you can receive quotes from auto transport providers on Shiply. Quotes start arriving in your Shiply inbox & email within minutes of posting your listing, allowing you to compare multiple options before making a decision.
Before selecting a quote, it's essential to ask the company questions about their availability, insurance coverage, & how they secure your vehicle during transport. Shiply's feedback & ratings system allows you to view previous customers' experiences & overall scores, helping you make an informed decision.
Why People Often Move Vehicles To & From Augusta, Maine, US
Augusta, the capital city of Maine, is a popular destination for vehicle shipping due to various reasons. Many people move to Augusta for job opportunities, especially in the government sector, as it is the state capital. Others relocate to Augusta for its natural beauty, outdoor recreational activities, & quality of life. Students attending colleges & universities in Augusta, such as the University of Maine at Augusta, often require vehicle shipping services at the beginning & end of the academic year.
Additionally, Augusta's proximity to other major cities in New England, such as Portland, Maine, & Boston, Massachusetts, makes it a convenient location for those who need to travel frequently for work or personal reasons. As a result, vehicle shipping services to & from Augusta are in high demand, with many people relying on professional auto transport companies to ensure their automobiles arrive safely & on time.
The Benefits of Using Shiply for Vehicle Transport in Augusta
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 a single quote form & can then obtain quotes from various companies based on the information you submit. This can conserve you significant time that you would have spent phoning companies & inputting details. Communication with these businesses is also feasible via our platform, allowing you to store all your Augusta vehicle shipping details in a centralized location.
Cost Comparison - Ultimately, the price of the vehicle shipping estimate is the most crucial factor when choosing which auto transport company to employ for your vehicle. The challenge is that, while most businesses are willing to provide average prices & general estimates, you won't receive a definite vehicle transport quote without supplying information & completing details. Although this is reasonable, it means that comparing prices & obtaining a vehicle transport quote is not a simple task. Utilizing Shiply enables you to acquire genuine, final price estimates from vehicle shipping companies & compare them in one place, offering the opportunity to message them individually to ask any questions you may have & ultimately select the optimal company for your needs.
Affordable Vehicle Shipping in Augusta - Auto transport businesses 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 & have already invested the cost for. For instance, if you were relocating from Los Angeles to New York & 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, & they are simply looking to ensure they are not wasting any space. As long as the dates, times, & pick-up/drop-off locations are suitable for you, you can frequently save up to 75% on auto transport by utilizing our service.
Eco-Friendly - Using Shiply for auto transport is not only more economical but 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, the emissions into the atmosphere would have doubled as another entire trip would be required just for your vehicle. Similarly, many car transporters return empty-handed after a delivery, which is not only expensive for them but also for the environment as there are many individuals who could have utilized that transporter to move their vehicles in the opposite direction. Many of the auto transporters on Shiply are also seeking to fill their trailers on return trips, resulting in even less wasted CO2 being emitted into the atmosphere, as well as continued affordable transport for our users.
Preparing Your Vehicle for Shipping
If you have chosen an auto transport company to transport your vehicle & 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 before shipping, for the obvious reason that you don't want to risk them getting lost or damaged during transport. It is also highly recommended that you clean your vehicle before transport as this will allow you to assess 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, you should ensure that it is in running condition. This means checking fluid levels, battery charge, & tire pressure. Again, this can also help you better evaluate the condition of the vehicle upon arrival.
Photographic Evidence - One very important step when preparing your vehicle for the car delivery service to pick up is to take high-quality photos 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, & engines should all be checked immediately to ensure that the car is in the expected condition, as well as enable you to promptly 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 before to determine whether any additional 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.
FAQ - Frequently Asked Questions
Below we have answered some of the most common questions about car shipping:
How much does it cost to ship a car?
Car shipping prices can vary significantly 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, this drops to $0.78.
What is the most economical way to ship a car?
Having someone drive your vehicle to its destination is the most economical way to ship a car. However, if you require a trailer, then a multi-car transporter will be your best option in terms of the most affordable way to ship a car.
How do I pay for my auto transport?
This is up to each individual auto transport company on Shiply & 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 & delivery?
In most cases, the car 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 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, & 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 & 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 task & has the right equipment to safely carry it out.
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