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 place & transporting it to another. This service is beneficial in various circumstances 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, the initial choice you must make is where you want your automobile collected from and transported to, whether it's a nationwide car transport or shipping a vehicle to another state. Terminal-to-terminal auto delivery is an alternative, where designated collection and drop-off points are utilized, frequently at the car transport company's stores or operating bases. While this alternative is typically less expensive, it necessitates more effort on your part to get the vehicle home. However, most individuals prefer a door-to-door auto transport delivery service, where their automobiles are collected & dropped off at their doorstep, regardless of the distance.
Vehicle transport services can be classified into two primary categories: having someone operate your automobile to the destination or placing it on a trailer for transport.
Have Someone Operate Your Vehicle
Employing someone to operate your automobile to its destination is a straightforward solution for vehicle shipping, whether it's across the nation or to another state. This approach is often less expensive as it doesn't necessitate trailers or an additional vehicle, and it can be quicker due to its simplicity. However, there are some drawbacks to consider, such as the added mileage to your automobile, especially when shipping a car across country, and the slight risk of damage during the journey. These concerns are particularly relevant for individuals purchasing 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 it. Vehicle shipping trailers come in various options, depending on the value and size of your automobile. You can choose between a single trailer for your vehicle, which is more expensive but ideal for transporting expensive or classic cars, or a multi-car transporter, which can carry multiple automobiles at once.
Open car shipping is the least expensive and most common option offered by vehicle shipping companies. Your automobile is placed on an open carrier and driven to its destination. While all cars are securely fastened, they are exposed to the elements during transit, making this option less suitable for highly valuable vehicles. Long journeys in open trailers also pose a higher risk of damage and prolonged exposure to the elements.
Enclosed auto transport involves securing multiple cars on a carrier that is 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 move your automobile overseas, it's best to find a specialist service or a company with experience in overseas vehicle shipping, as they can 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 and 500 miles, & $0.78 for journeys over 1,000 miles. However, these are just averages, and your vehicle transport cost may differ based on your specific circumstances. The best way to determine the cost of auto transport is to collect vehicle shipping quotes from various companies, which is easily done on platforms like Shiply.
Factors That Can Influence The Cost Of Vehicle Transport
Several variables can impact the cost of vehicle shipping, including:
- Distance: Cross-state and cross-country journeys cost more than interstate car delivery, which is often the least expensive option. However, the average price per mile decreases as the journey length increases.
- International shipping: Transporting a vehicle overseas is always more expensive due to the logistics involved and the distance traveled. It may require special enclosed trailers or even a shipping container.
- Route: The route taken from the collection spot to the delivery location can affect pricing. Routes with higher traffic or unforeseen circumstances like roadworks may incur extra costs or require a longer, alternative route.
- Shipping dates: Flexibility in timings can result in lower charges, as vehicle shipping companies can fit your delivery into their schedule and reduce overheads. Expedited shipping within a strict timeframe typically costs more.
- Vehicle size: The height, length, and width of the automobile, as well as any accessories like bike racks or roof racks, can change the size of the trailer required and affect the cost.
- Vehicle condition: Non-drivable cars may require extra equipment like a winch or forklift for loading and unloading, increasing the cost of auto transport.
- Auto transport service type: Having someone operate your vehicle is the least expensive option, while single car trailers and enclosed transport are more expensive due to the specialized equipment needed.
- Pickup and delivery locations: Urban areas with common destination routes often have less expensive vehicle shipping services, while rural deliveries or hard-to-access spaces may incur additional costs.
- Auto transport insurance: While liability insurance is mandatory for auto transport companies, additional cargo insurance is recommended and may affect the overall cost.
- Time of year: Seasonality plays a role in vehicle shipping costs, with winter being the most expensive due to potential delays caused by ice, snow, and blizzard conditions. Spring and fall are generally more affordable, while summer is the busiest season with higher demand.
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, and many companies are reluctant to provide pricing without a personalized quote.
How Can Shiply Assist In Finding Vehicle Transport Companies?
Shiply simplifies the process of finding a vehicle shipping service by allowing you to fill out a simple form to collect quotes. You only need to provide the make and model of the automobile, collection and delivery locations, and the dates you need to move the vehicle. This information enables auto transport providers on Shiply to provide accurate quotes for your job.
Once your listing is live, you'll receive quotes in your Shiply inbox and email. It's recommended to keep email notifications turned on to be immediately notified of new quotes, which can start arriving within minutes of posting your listing. Before making a decision, wait for a few quotes to come through to have multiple options to choose from.
You can ask the vehicle transport companies any questions you may have, such as their availability, insurance coverage, and how they secure cars during transport. It's crucial to ask these questions to ensure a smooth and expected experience.
Shiply's feedback and ratings system allows you to view previous customers' experiences and overall scores for each company, helping you make an informed decision when selecting a quote to ship your automobile.
Lake Arrowhead, Maine, US: Vehicle Shipping Destination
Lake Arrowhead, located in Maine, US, is a popular destination for people moving cars to and from the area. Many individuals choose to relocate to Lake Arrowhead for its scenic beauty, outdoor recreational activities, and tranquil lifestyle. When moving to or from Lake Arrowhead, vehicle shipping services play a crucial role in ensuring a smooth transition.
People often move cars to Lake Arrowhead when purchasing a new home or vacation property in the area. Instead of driving long distances, they opt for the convenience and safety of professional vehicle shipping services. Similarly, when selling a property or relocating from Lake Arrowhead, residents frequently use auto transport companies to ship their automobiles to their new destination.
The demand for vehicle shipping services in Lake Arrowhead has led to the establishment of several reputable companies specializing in transporting automobiles to and from the region. These companies offer a range of services, including open and enclosed car shipping, door-to-door delivery, and terminal-to-terminal transport, catering to the diverse needs of their clients.
When considering vehicle shipping to or from Lake Arrowhead, it's essential to research and compare different auto transport companies to find the one that best suits your requirements and budget. Factors such as the company's experience, insurance coverage, customer reviews, and pricing should be taken into account to ensure a positive vehicle shipping experience.
The Benefits of Using Shiply for Car Shipping in Lake Arrowhead
Time-Efficient - Rather than filling out a quotation form each time you desire an accurate price from a company for lake arrowhead car shipping, on our platform you complete one quote form & can then receive estimates based on the information you submit from several companies. This can save you a significant amount of time that you would have spent contacting companies & providing details. Communication with these businesses is also possible through our platform, allowing you to store all of your car shipping data in a single location.
Cost Comparison - Ultimately, the price of the car shipping estimate is the most crucial factor in choosing which auto transport company to employ to transport your vehicle. The challenging aspect is that, while most companies are willing to provide average prices & rough estimates, you won't receive a definite car transport quote without having to supply information & complete details. Although this is understandable, it means that comparing prices & obtaining a car transport quote is not a simple task. Utilizing Shiply enables you to receive authentic, final price estimates from car shipping companies & compare them in one place, offering the opportunity to message them individually to ask any questions you may have & ultimately select the best company for your needs.
Affordable Car Shipping - Auto transport companies 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 cost for. For instance, if you were relocating from Los Angeles to New York & needed to transport your car 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 often save up to 75% on auto transport by utilizing our service.
Environmentally Friendly - Using Shiply for auto transport is not only more affordable but also more environmentally friendly. In the previous example, if your car 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 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 cars 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 emitted into the atmosphere, as well as continued affordable transport for our users.
Preparing Your Car for Shipping
If you have chosen an auto transport company to transport your car & 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 transit. 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 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, & 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.
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 & 500 miles, & 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 & 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 job & has the right equipment to safely carry it out.
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