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 various circumstances where operating the vehicle yourself is not practical, such as when purchasing or selling a used car online, relocating to a new residence, or moving your automobile overseas. Vehicle shipping services provide a practical solution for individuals who require relocating their vehicles across states or even nations.
There are various types of car transport services available to accommodate different requirements and preferences. Whether you need cross-country vehicle shipping or simply need to transport your automobile to another state, vehicle shipping companies offer options like terminal-to-terminal auto delivery and door-to-door car transport. Terminal-to-terminal delivery involves designated collection and drop-off points, frequently at the vehicle transport company's stores or operating bases, which can be more economical but requires additional effort on your part to retrieve your automobile. Conversely, door-to-door car transport is a favored choice as it offers the convenience of having your vehicle collected & dropped off right at your doorstep.
When it comes to the actual transportation method, vehicle shipping services generally fall into two categories: having someone operate your automobile to the destination or placing it on a trailer for transport. Employing a driver to move your vehicle can be a straightforward and cost-effective option, particularly for shorter distances. However, this method does add mileage to your automobile and carries a slight risk of damage during the journey, which may be a concern for those purchasing or selling vehicles online.
Alternatively, placing your automobile on a trailer offers a safer option, especially for valuable or classic vehicles. Vehicle shipping trailers come in various types, including single car trailers, multi-car transporters, open carriers, and enclosed carriers. Single car trailers are more expensive but provide a higher level of protection, while multi-car transporters can accommodate several vehicles at once. Open car shipping is the most common and affordable option, but your vehicle is exposed to the elements during transit. Enclosed auto transport, on the other hand, offers added protection by enclosing the vehicles within the carrier, minimizing the risk of damage from dust, weather, and debris.
For those needing to move their vehicles overseas, specialized auto transport companies with experience in international car shipping can provide tailored advice and services to ensure a smooth and secure process.
The Benefits of Utilizing Shiply for Vehicle Transport in Cambridge
Time-Saving - Instead of completing a quote form each time you require an exact price from a company on transporting a vehicle, on our platform you fill out one quote form & then can receive quotes based on the info you give from several businesses. This can save you hours of time you would have had to spend phoning companies and filling out forms.
Communication with these firms is all possible through our platform too, meaning you can store all of your car shipping cambridge details in one place.
Price Comparison - When it comes down to it, the cost of the vehicle shipping quote is the most important factor in deciding which auto transport firm to use to transport your automobile. The tricky thing is that, while most companies are willing to give average prices & rough estimates, you won't actually receive a solid car transport quote without having to provide information and fill in details. While this is fair, it does mean that price comparison and getting a car transport quote isn't exactly a simple task!
Using Shiply allows you to get real, final price quotes from vehicle shipping firms and compare them in one spot, giving you the ability to message them individually to ask any questions you may have & ultimately choose the best company for you.
Affordable Vehicle Shipping in Cambridge
Auto transport businesses on Shiply are usually able to offer their services for a lower cost than if you went direct 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 instance, you were moving from Los Angeles to New York & needed to transport your automobile there. On Shiply, a firm may already have a multi-car transporter making that trip with 5 of the 6 spots filled, and they are just looking to make sure they are not wasting any space. As long as the dates, times, and 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 cheaper, but it is also better for the environment. In the above example, if your vehicle didn't get on that multi-car transporter & instead you arranged transport from a separate car shipper, then the emissions into the atmosphere would have doubled as another entire trip would be needed just for your automobile.
Similarly, many car 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 vehicles 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 Vehicle To Be Shipped
If you have decided on an auto transport firm to move your automobile & feel secure using them, then it's time to get your car ready for shipping. We suggest following these steps:
Documents - It is important to make sure 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 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 determine 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 making sure 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 proof 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 determine whether any extra damage has occured. 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 firm 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, 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 firm 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 firms 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 & 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 firms 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 & 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 & has the right equipment to safely carry it out.