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 transporting your automobile overseas. Vehicle shipping companies provide a variety of auto transport services to accommodate different requirements.
Categories Of Auto Transport Services
When selecting an auto transport service, the initial choice you must make is where you want your vehicle collected from & delivered to, whether it's a cross-country car transport or shipping a car to another state. Terminal-to-terminal auto delivery is an option, where designated collection & 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. Most individuals, however, opt for a door-to-door auto transport delivery service, where their automobiles are collected & dropped off at their doorstep, regardless of the distance. This is more convenient as it eliminates the need to arrange transportation to collect your vehicle.
Car transport services generally fall into two categories: having someone operate your vehicle to the destination or placing it on a trailer for transport.
Engage Someone To Operate Your Vehicle
Engaging someone to operate your vehicle to its destination is a straightforward solution for car shipping, whether it's a cross-country or interstate move. This method is often less expensive as it doesn't require trailers or an additional vehicle. It can also be quicker due to its simplicity. However, there are some drawbacks to consider. Firstly, the journey will add mileage to your automobile, which can be significant for cross-country shipping. Secondly, there is a slight risk of damage to your car during the drive. 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.
Place Your Vehicle On A Trailer
Utilizing a trailer to transport your vehicle offers a higher level of safety compared to having someone operate it. Car shipping trailers come in various options, depending on the value & size of your automobile. Single trailers, which transport only one car at a time, are more expensive but ideal for moving expensive or classic cars that require extra protection. The safest way to transport a car is in a shipping container, although this is the most costly option. Multi-car transporters, which can carry several vehicles at once, are available in different variants:
Open car shipping is the least expensive & most common option offered by car shipping companies. Your vehicle is placed on an open carrier & 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 & prolonged 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 minimizing the risk of damage is a priority.
For overseas vehicle transportation, it's best to find a specialist service or a company with experience in international car shipping to provide tailored advice based on your requirements.
How Much Does It Cost To Transport 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 under 200 miles, $0.93 for distances between 200 & 500 miles, & $0.78 for trips over 1,000 miles. These figures are just averages, & your car transport cost may differ based on your specific circumstances. The best way to determine the cost of auto transport is to obtain quotes from car transport companies, which is easily done through Shiply.
Factors That Can Influence The Expense Of Auto Transport
While everyone wants inexpensive car transport, several factors can influence the price of car shipping services. Understanding these variables can help you estimate whether your auto transport requirements will be costly or affordable.
Distance plays a significant role in determining the cost of car transport, with cross-state & cross-country journeys being more expensive than interstate car delivery, which is often the least expensive option. Although longer distances cost more, the average price per mile decreases as the journey lengthens, ensuring you don't pay excessively for extended trips.
International shipping always results in expensive car shipping quotes due to the logistics of transferring a car overseas & the distance it must travel. It may also require special enclosed trailers or even a shipping container for your vehicle.
The route taken to transport your car from its pick-up spot to its delivery location can also affect the pricing of your car carrier service. Routes with known higher traffic, such as in LA, may cost more than quieter roads due to the additional time required. Unforeseen circumstances, like major roadworks, could also incur extra costs from the car moving companies or necessitate a longer alternative route.
The urgency of your car transportation service can also impact the price. If you have flexibility in your timings, you may find that your car shipping service charges less, as they can fit your vehicle delivery into their schedule & reduce overheads, passing the savings on to you. However, if you require auto transport within a strict timeframe (known as expedited shipping), it will typically cost more, as the car transport company may need to dedicate a trailer & driver specifically for your delivery.
The size of your vehicle, including its height, length, & width, will affect the cost of transport. Car shippers require larger trailers for bigger vehicles, with SUVs generally costing more to transport than sedans. It's essential to inform the auto transport company about any accessories on the car, such as bike racks or roof racks, as these can change the size of the trailer needed for the delivery.
If your car is not in drivable condition, it may increase the cost of auto transport. This is because extra equipment, such as a winch or forklift, may be required to load & unload your car from the trailer. If your car has a locked wheel, for example, it will be impossible to simply roll it onto & off a trailer, requiring more time, effort, & machinery to complete the delivery compared to a standard car transport service. Most car carriers consider a car that can brake, roll, & steer to be in good enough condition for easy shipping.
The type of auto transport service you choose will also affect the cost of your car shipping. Having someone drive your car to its destination is always the cheapest option, as you are essentially paying for the driver's time & fuel. Single car trailers & enclosed transport are likely to be more expensive, as they require specialized equipment. Enclosed car shipping is always the most expensive method of shipping a car, as it involves your car traveling alone & still needing specialist equipment for loading, unloading, & protection during transport.
The locations of pickup & delivery can also influence the price of shipping a car. Urban areas usually have car shipping services in close proximity, & if it is a common destination route, you will tend to get cheap car shipping. Rural deliveries can cost more, as they require deviations from normal routes & extra mileage for the company. If a pick-up or drop-off point is in an unusual or hard-to-access space, extra steps may be needed to load your vehicle, which can also increase the car shipping cost.
While all auto transport companies are required to carry liability insurance, many do not offer additional insurance, as it is not legally mandated. If a car transport company does not provide cargo insurance, it is highly recommended that you seek out & acquire coverage for your vehicle during 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, & any other relevant details.
Seasonality can also affect the price of car shipping, with many services costing more to ship a car in the winter due to ice & snow slowing the routes. Here is a quick breakdown of how each season can impact auto transport costs:
Winter is often the most expensive season to ship your vehicle. Ice, snow, & blizzard conditions can cause delays on the roads & reduce the maximum speed at which the car delivery service can transport cars. December is typically a difficult time to have a vehicle 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 vehicle with a car transportation service. With improved weather conditions, longer days, & more drivers ready to work, Spring can often mean cheap rates & high availability when it comes to moving your car. March is often 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 cars - 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 cheap car shipping during the summer.
Fall is a good time to ship a car if you are looking for a slightly cheaper price. Car shipping companies are less busy, & there is typically more driver availability after the summer rush. However, you are better off looking to move your vehicle in October or November rather than September, as this is peak time for students shipping their cars to university.
How To Transport A Vehicle - Finding An Auto Transport Service
Now that you have a better understanding of what car shipping & a car shipping service entail, as well as the type of auto transport service you need, you probably want to find a car transport service that suits your requirements.
The challenge lies in the fact that there are hundreds of car 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 will likely need to apply for a quote & fill out details with each of them individually, which can be very time-consuming.
How Can Shiply Assist In Finding Auto Transport Companies?
Given the numerous options & variables involved in finding a car shipping service, the search for the right one can seem daunting, & this is where Shiply can help.
On Shiply, you simply need to fill out a simple form to start collecting quotes. All we require from you are the make & model of the car that needs shipping, the pickup & delivery locations, & the dates you need to move the vehicle. This information allows the auto transport providers on Shiply to provide you with accurate quotes for your job.
Once your listing is live, you will receive quotes in your Shiply inbox & via 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 that 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 offer, & how they would secure your car. We recommend asking any company you may use these questions to ensure that everything goes smoothly & as expected.
Shiply has a feedback & ratings system, which we highly recommend reviewing before selecting a quote to ship your vehicle. This system allows you to view previous customers' experiences with a company, as well as their overall score.
Why People Often Move Cars To & From Lansing, Michigan
Lansing, the capital city of Michigan, is a popular destination for car shipping due to various reasons. As the home of Michigan State University, many students relocate to Lansing for their studies, often requiring car shipping services to transport their vehicles. Additionally, Lansing's diverse economy, which includes government, healthcare, & manufacturing sectors, attracts professionals from across the country who may need to ship their cars when moving for work.
The city's central location within Michigan also makes it a convenient hub for car shipping. Lansing is situated at the confluence of several major highways, including I-69, I-96, & US-127, which connect it to other parts of the state & beyond. This accessibility makes it easier for car shipping companies to transport vehicles to & from Lansing efficiently.
Furthermore, Lansing's proximity to Detroit, the heart of the American automotive industry, contributes to the demand for car shipping services in the area. Many individuals & businesses in the automotive sector may need to transport vehicles between Lansing & Detroit for various purposes, such as testing, showcasing, or delivery to customers.
In conclusion, Lansing's status as a university town, its diverse economy, central location, & proximity to Detroit make it a popular destination for car shipping. Whether you are a student moving to Lansing for school, a professional relocating for work, or a business in the automotive industry, reliable car shipping services are essential to ensure the safe & timely transport of your vehicle to or from Michigan's capital city.
The Benefits of Using Shiply for Auto Transport in Lansing
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 one quotation form & can then obtain estimates based on the information you supply from several companies. This can conserve you hours of effort you would have spent phoning businesses & inputting details. Communication with these firms is also feasible via our platform, allowing you to store all of your Lansing auto transport data in a single location.
Cost Comparison - Ultimately, the price of the vehicle shipping estimate is the most crucial aspect in choosing which car transport company to employ to transport your automobile. The challenge is that, while most businesses are willing to provide average prices & rough estimates, you won't receive a definite auto transport quote without having to input information & complete details. While this is reasonable, it means that comparing prices & getting a vehicle transport quote is not a simple process. Utilizing Shiply enables you to acquire genuine, final price estimates from auto shipping companies & compare them in one place, offering the opportunity to message them individually to ask any questions you may have & ultimately choose the ideal company for you.
Affordable Auto Shipping - Car transport businesses 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 expense 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 trip 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 car transport by utilizing our service.
Environmentally Friendly - Using Shiply for car transport is not only more affordable but also more eco-friendly. In the previous example, if your vehicle didn't get on that multi-car transporter & instead you arranged transport from a separate auto shipper, then the emissions into the atmosphere would have doubled as another entire trip would be required just for your automobile. 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 car transporters on Shiply are also looking to fill their trailers on return trips, meaning even less wasted CO2 is being emitted into the atmosphere, as well as continued affordable transport for our users.
Preparing Your Vehicle for Shipping
If you have selected an auto transport company to transport your car & feel confident using them, then 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 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 ensuring that there is enough fluid, as well as checking battery charge & tire pressure levels. Again, this can also help you better assess 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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