What Is Vehicle Transportation?
Vehicle transportation, also known as car shipping or auto transport, is a service offered by auto transport companies that involves collecting your vehicle from one location & transporting it to another. It's beneficial for moving a car in various situations where you can't operate the vehicle yourself. For instance, you might be buying or selling a used car online & need to transport it to another state, or maybe you've recently moved & need to ship your vehicle across the country. Auto transport services can also be extremely useful when you need to transfer your car overseas & ferries aren't available, requiring you to depend on a car shipping company to manage the task.
Luckily, there are several vehicle transport services available to cater to your specific requirements, which we'll discuss below.
Types Of Car Shipping Services
When it comes to car shipping services, there are a few choices to consider. It's crucial to carefully review these options & determine the type of auto transportation service that best suits your needs for transporting your vehicle.
The first decision you'll need to make is where you want your car collected from & delivered to, whether it's a cross-country vehicle transport or moving a car to another state. 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. This option is typically more affordable but requires more effort on your part to get the car home. However, most people prefer a door-to-door car shipping delivery service, where their vehicles are collected & dropped off at their doorstep, regardless of whether it's a cross-country vehicle transport or just moving a car to another state. This is often more convenient as it eliminates the need to travel to collect your car, which can be challenging without your vehicle in the first place!
Vehicle transport services generally fall into two categories: having someone operate your car to the destination or loading it onto a trailer for shipping.
Have Someone Operate Your Vehicle
One straightforward solution for vehicle transportation is to hire someone to operate your car to its destination, whether you need to transport a car across the country or to another state. The advantages of this auto shipping method include lower costs, as trailers & an additional vehicle aren't required, & faster delivery due to the simplicity of the transport process.
However, there are some drawbacks to this method offered by vehicle transportation companies that lead some individuals to choose other types of car shipping. Firstly, mileage is added to your car during the journey, which can be significant when transporting a vehicle across the country, although less so when moving a car to a nearby state. Secondly, there is a slight risk of damage occurring to your vehicle while it's being operated from point A to point B. These concerns are particularly relevant for people buying or selling cars online who want to ensure the car arrives in the same condition as advertised.
Put Your Vehicle On A Trailer
Placing your car on a trailer is a safer way to ensure a higher level of protection compared to having someone operate your vehicle to its destination. When it comes to vehicle shipping trailers, there are several options available depending on the value & size of your car.
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 car at a time, but they're an excellent choice if you're moving an expensive or classic car that you don't want to risk damaging. The safest way to ship a vehicle is to place it in a shipping container, but this is by far the most costly option. The other option is a multi-car transporter, which can move multiple vehicles simultaneously. There are a few variants of multi-car transporters:
Open vehicle shipping by any auto transport company is the most affordable & common option for moving a car. Your vehicle is placed on an open carrier & driven to the destination. All cars are securely fastened, but as the name suggests, they are exposed to the elements during the drive. Therefore, vehicle transportation companies may not recommend this option for highly valuable cars. Furthermore, while it may be the cheapest way to transport a car cross-country, long journeys in open trailers pose a higher risk of damage & expose your vehicle to the elements for extended periods.
Enclosed car shipping involves securing multiple vehicles on a carrier, but they are enclosed, protecting them from dust, weather, & debris during transit. This option is often preferred for more expensive or newer cars where the owner wants to minimize the risk of damage during auto transport.
If you need to transfer your car overseas through a car shipping company, it's best to find a specialist service on our platform or one with experience in overseas vehicle transportation. They can provide tailored advice based on your specific requirements.
How Much Does It Cost To Transport A Vehicle?
The cost of transporting a car varies based on several factors, but on average, car shipping 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 for vehicle moving companies, & your car shipping may cost more or less depending on your specific circumstances. The best way to determine the cost of auto transport is to obtain vehicle transportation quotes from multiple car shipping 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 car transport services, which we'll discuss below.
Factors That Can Affect The Cost Of Car Shipping
While we all want affordable vehicle transport, several factors & variables can impact the cost of your car shipping. Let's explore the main ones to give you 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. Cross-state & cross-country journeys will cost more than interstate car delivery, which is often the most affordable 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 will always result 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 car.
Route - Along with distance, the route required to ship your vehicle from its collection location to its delivery spot can affect the pricing of your auto carrier service. Routes with known higher traffic, such as in LA, may end up costing more than quieter roads due to the additional time added to the journey. Similarly, unforeseen circumstances like major roadworks could also incur extra costs from the vehicle moving companies or necessitate a different, longer route.
Shipping Dates - The speed at which you need your car transportation service to operate can also impact the price. If you have flexibility in timings, you may find that your vehicle shipping service charges significantly less. This is because they can fit your car delivery into their schedule & reduce overheads, passing the savings on to you. However, if you require auto transport within a strict timeframe (often referred to as expedited shipping), it will typically cost more due to the vehicle transport company likely having to dedicate a trailer & driver solely for your delivery.
Vehicle Size - The height, length, & width of the car will all affect the cost of transporting your vehicle. Car shippers will require larger trailers for bigger vehicles, with SUVs typically costing more on average to ship than sedans. Additionally, always inform the auto transport company about any bike racks, roof racks, or other accessories on the car, as these can also change the size of the trailer required for the delivery.
Vehicle Condition - If your car is not in a drivable condition, it may increase the cost of your auto transport. This is because it may require extra equipment, such as a winch or forklift, to load & unload your vehicle from the trailer. For example, if your car has a locked wheel, it will be impossible to simply roll it onto a trailer & off again, requiring more time, effort, & machinery to complete the delivery compared to a standard vehicle transport service. Most car carriers consider a vehicle that can brake, roll, & steer to be in good enough condition for easy shipping.
Auto Transport Service Type - The type of car shipping service you choose will also affect the cost of your vehicle transportation. Having someone operate your car to its destination will always be the most affordable option, as you are essentially just paying for the driver's time & fuel. On the other hand, 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 transporting a car, as it means your vehicle travels alone & still requires specialized equipment for loading, unloading, & protection during transport.
Locations Of Pickup & Delivery - The locations of the car's collection & drop-off points can also impact the price of shipping a vehicle. Urban areas typically have car shipping services in close proximity, & if it's a common destination route, you'll often find affordable vehicle shipping. Rural deliveries can cost more as they require deviations from normal routes & extra mileage for the company. If a collection or drop-off point is in an unusual or hard-to-access location, additional steps may be necessary to load your car, which can also increase the vehicle shipping cost.
Auto Transport Insurance - While all car shipping companies are required to carry liability insurance, many do not offer additional insurance as it is not legally mandated. If a vehicle transport company does not provide cargo insurance, it is highly recommended that you seek out & acquire coverage for your car during its transit. As with all insurance policies, ensure you understand what type of damage is covered, whether there is a deductible, which parts of the vehicle are covered by the insurance, & any other relevant questions you may have.
Time Of Year - Seasonality can also affect the price of vehicle shipping, with many services costing more to transport a car in the winter due to ice & snow slowing down routes. Here's a quick breakdown of how each season can impact auto transport costs:
Winter is often the most expensive season to ship your car. Ice, snow, & blizzard conditions can cause delays on the roads & reduce the maximum speed at which the vehicle delivery service can transport cars. December is typically a challenging time to have a car shipped, as drivers are on holiday, while many travel to warmer states in January, leading to increased vehicle shipping costs. However, February is usually quiet, & great rates are often available from car shipping services during this month.
Spring is an excellent time to ship your car with a vehicle transportation service. With improved weather conditions, longer days, & more drivers ready to work, Spring often means affordable rates & high availability when it comes to moving your vehicle. March is generally a better time to ship than April or May, as there is often a rush to move cars 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 is 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 affordable 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 car in October or November rather than September, as this is peak time for students shipping their vehicles to university.
How To Ship A Vehicle - Finding A Car Transport Service
Now that you have a better understanding of what vehicle shipping & a car transportation service entail, as well as the type of auto transport service you need, you're probably ready to find a vehicle transport service that suits your requirements.
The challenge is that there are hundreds of vehicle transport companies out there. Searching for them on Google can result in scrolling through numerous pages trying to find the best car shipping company at the best price, & the same is true if you were to go through phone books. Moreover, many of these companies are reluctant to provide pricing upfront, 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 Car Shipping Companies?
Given all the options & variables involved in finding a vehicle transportation service, 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 car. This provides the auto transport providers on Shiply with 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 that you can be immediately notified when a new quote arrives. 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 providers any questions you may have, such as their availability (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 reviewing before selecting a quote to ship your car. 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 Severn, Maryland, US
Severn, Maryland, US is a popular location for people to move cars to & from for various reasons. As a suburb of Baltimore, Severn offers a convenient location for those working in the city but seeking a more suburban lifestyle. Many people choose to relocate to Severn for its affordable housing options, good schools, & proximity to major highways, making it an attractive choice for families & commuters alike.
When moving to or from Severn, many individuals opt for vehicle shipping services to transport their cars. This is particularly common for those moving long distances, as driving the vehicle themselves may not be feasible or desirable. Car shipping companies, like Severn Car Shipping, can provide a convenient & safe solution for moving vehicles to & from the area.
Whether you're moving to Severn for work, family, or a change of pace, using a reputable vehicle transportation service can help make your transition smoother & less stressful. By entrusting your car to experienced professionals, you can focus on other aspects of your move while knowing your vehicle is in good hands.
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The Benefits of Utilizing Shiply for Automobile Transportation Severn & Severn Automobile Transportation
Time-Saving - Instead of completing a quotation form each time you desire an exact price from a company on transporting your vehicle, on our platform you complete one quotation form & then can receive quotes based on the information you provide from several businesses. This can save you hours of time you would've had to spend phoning companies & filling out forms.
Communication with these businesses is all possible through our platform as well, allowing you to store all of your automobile shipping information in one location.
Price Comparison - When it comes down to it, the expense of the automobile shipping quote is the most crucial factor in choosing which auto transport company to utilize to transport your vehicle. The challenging aspect is that, while most businesses are willing to provide average prices & rough estimates, you won't actually receive a definite automobile transport quote without having to supply information & complete details. While this is understandable, it does mean that price comparison & obtaining an automobile transport quote isn't exactly a simple task.
Using Shiply allows you to obtain genuine, final price quotes from automobile shipping companies & compare them in one place, providing the ability to message them individually to ask any questions you may have & ultimately decide on the best company for you.
Affordable Automobile Shipping
Auto transport businesses on Shiply are typically able to offer their services for a lower cost than if you went directly to them. This is because they are often looking to fill space on trips they are already making & have already invested the cost for. Say, for example, you were relocating from Los Angeles to New York & needed to move your automobile there. On Shiply, a company may already have a multi-car transporter making that trip with 5 of the 6 spots filled, & they are just looking to ensure they are not wasting any space. As long as the dates, times, & pick-up/drop-off locations work for you, you can often save up to 75% on auto transport by using our service!
Better For The Environment
Not only is using Shiply for auto transport more affordable, but it is also better for the environment! In the above example, if your automobile didn't get on that multi-car transporter & instead you arranged transport from a separate automobile shipper, then the emissions into the atmosphere would have doubled as another entire trip would be needed just for your automobile.
Similarly, many automobile transporters return from a delivery empty-handed, which is not only costly for them but also for the environment as there are lots of people who could have used that transporter to move their automobiles in the other 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 released into the atmosphere, as well as continued cheap transport for our users.
Preparing For Your Automobile To Be Shipped
If you have decided on an auto transport company to move your automobile & feel secure using them, then it's time to prepare your automobile for shipping. We recommend following these steps:
Documents - It is important 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 see 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 judge the condition of the vehicle upon arrival.
Photographic Evidence - One very important thing to do when preparing your vehicle for the automobile delivery service to pick up is to take high-quality photographs of all parts of the automobile. This provides you with evidence of the automobile's condition before shipping should anything happen to it during transport.
What To Do After Delivery
Once the automobile 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 automobile is in the expected condition, as well as enable you to immediately raise concerns with the automobile 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 see whether any extra damage has occurred. Shipping an automobile can, in rare cases, cause damage, & you want to be sure your automobile transport service has not done so.
Check Mileage - This is more relevant to automobile shipping services where the automobile 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 automobile shipping services with the same peace of mind.
FAQ - Frequently Asked Questions
Below we have answered some of the most asked questions about automobile shipping:
How much to ship an automobile? Automobile 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 an automobile? Having someone drive your vehicle to its destination is the cheapest way to ship an automobile, however, if you need a trailer then a multi-car transporter will be your best option with regard to the cheapest way to ship an automobile.
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 automobile delivery service before confirming the delivery. Most companies will be flexible with payment options, however.
Can I track my automobile transport online? Each automobile shipping company on Shiply has different ways of operating, but many offer the ability to track your automobile shipment, with some even able to provide personal updates. If you require tracking, you should message individual automobile transport companies to confirm that this is possible with them.
Does someone have to be present for pickup & delivery? In most cases, the automobile 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 automobile keys.
Can I keep items in my vehicle during my automobile shipment? Most automobile 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 automobile 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.
