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 you are unable to drive the car yourself, such as when purchasing or selling a used vehicle online & need to transport it to another state, relocating & requiring long-distance car shipping, or moving your vehicle overseas when ferries are not an option. Luckily, there are numerous auto transport services available to cater to your specific requirements.
Categories Of Vehicle Shipping Services
When selecting a vehicle transport service, the initial choice you need to make is where you want your automobile collected from & delivered to, whether it's a long-distance car transport or shipping a car to another state. Terminal-to-terminal auto delivery is a possibility, where designated collection & drop-off points, frequently the car transport company's stores or operating bases, are utilized. While this option is typically more affordable, it demands more effort on your part to get the car home. However, most individuals prefer door-to-door auto transport delivery service, where their vehicles are collected & dropped off at their doorstep, regardless of the distance.
Vehicle transport services are generally categorized into two types: having someone drive your car to the destination or placing it on a trailer for transport. Having someone drive your car is a straightforward solution that involves hiring a driver to take your vehicle to its destination. This method is often more affordable as it doesn't require trailers or an additional vehicle, & it can be quicker due to its simplicity. However, this option adds mileage to your vehicle, particularly when shipping a car across the country, & there is a slight risk of damage during the journey.
Placing your car on a trailer is a safer way to ensure a higher level of protection than having someone drive it. There are various trailer options available, depending on the value & size of your vehicle. Single trailers, while more expensive, are ideal for transporting expensive or classic cars that require extra care. 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, come in different variants:
- Open car shipping: The most affordable & common option, where 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.
- Enclosed auto transport: Multiple cars are secured on a carrier but are enclosed, protecting them from dust, weather, & debris during transit. This option is preferable for more expensive or newer vehicles.
If you need to move your vehicle 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.
What Is The Cost Of Transporting 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 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 car transport cost may differ based on your specific circumstances. The best way to determine the cost of auto transport is to obtain car shipping quotes from various companies, which is easily done through platforms like Shiply.
Several factors can influence the expense of auto transport, including:
- Distance: Cross-state & cross-country journeys cost more than interstate car delivery.
- International shipping: Transporting a car 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 costs or require longer alternative routes.
- Shipping dates: Flexible timings often result in lower costs, while expedited shipping in strict timeframes typically costs more.
- Vehicle size: Larger vehicles, such as SUVs, generally cost more to transport than sedans due to the need for bigger trailers.
- Vehicle condition: Non-drivable cars may incur additional costs due to the need for extra equipment like winches or forklifts for loading & unloading.
- Auto transport service type: Having someone drive your car is the cheapest option, while single car trailers & enclosed transport are more expensive due to the specialized equipment required.
- Pickup & delivery locations: Urban areas with common destination routes often have cheaper car shipping, while rural deliveries or hard-to-access spaces may increase costs.
- Auto transport insurance: While liability insurance is mandatory, additional cargo insurance is recommended & may affect the overall cost.
- Time of year: Seasonality plays a role, with winter being the most expensive time to ship a vehicle due to potential delays caused by ice, snow, & blizzard conditions.
Transporting Vehicles To & From Sterling Heights, Michigan
Sterling Heights, situated in Macomb County, Michigan, is a popular city for car shipping due to its proximity to Detroit & its strong automotive industry presence. Many people move cars to & from Sterling Heights for various reasons, such as relocating for work, buying or selling vehicles online, or transporting classic cars to auctions or events. The city's central location & well-connected road network make it an ideal hub for car shipping companies serving the Midwest region.
When shipping a car to or from Sterling Heights, it's crucial to choose a reputable auto transport company that has experience in the area & can provide door-to-door service for your convenience. Opting for enclosed transport is recommended for valuable or classic vehicles to ensure their protection during transit, especially given the varying weather conditions in Michigan.
How To Transport A Vehicle - Locating An Auto Transport Service
With numerous car 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 request. This is where Shiply can help simplify the process.
To get started on Shiply, simply fill out a form with your car's make & model, pickup & delivery locations, & the dates you need to move the vehicle. This information allows auto transport providers on Shiply to provide accurate quotes for your specific requirements. Once your listing is live, you'll receive quotes in your Shiply inbox & via email, with notifications ensuring you're promptly informed of new offers.
It's advisable to wait for a few quotes before making a decision, giving you multiple options to choose from. You can then ask the transport companies any questions you may have, such as their availability, insurance coverage, & how they secure vehicles during transport. Shiply's feedback & ratings system allows you to view previous customers' experiences & overall scores, helping you make an informed decision when selecting a car shipping service.
The Benefits of Utilizing Shiply for Vehicle Transport in Sterling Heights
Time-Saving - Instead of completing a quotation form each time you require an exact cost from a business on transporting a vehicle, on our platform you complete one quotation form & then can receive estimates based on the information you supply from several companies. This can save you hours of time you would have had to spend phoning companies & filling out forms.
Communication with these businesses is all possible through our platform too, meaning you can store all of your car shipping sterling heights details in one location.
Price Comparision - When it comes down to it. The price of the vehicle shipping estimate is the most crucial factor in choosing which auto transport company to utilize to transport your vehicle. The tricky thing is that, while most businesses are willing to provide average prices and rough estimates, you won’t actually be given a solid car transport quote without having to provide information and fill out details. While this is understandable, it does mean that price comparison and getting a car transport quote isn’t exactly a simple task.
Utilizing Shiply allows you to receive genuine, final price estimates from sterling heights car shipping companies and compare them in one place, providing the ability to message them individually to ask any questions you may have and ultimately decide on the best company for you.
Affordable Vehicle Shipping
Auto transport businesses on Shiply are typically 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 and have already sunk the cost for. Say, for example, you were moving from Los Angeles to New York and needed to move your vehicle there. On Shiply, a company may already have a multi-car transporter making that journey 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, 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 Enviornment
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 and instead you arranged transport from a separate car shipper, then the emissions into the atmosphere would have doubled as another entire journey would be needed just for your vehicle.
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 journeys too, meaning even less wasted CO2 is being released into the atmosphere, as well as continued cheap transport for our users.
Getting Your Vehicle Ready To Be Shipped
If you have decided on an auto transport company to move your vehicle and feel secure using them, then it’s time to prepare your vehicle 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 ascertain its condition and 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 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, and engines should all be checked immediately to ensure that the vehicle 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 ascertain whether any extra damage has occured. Shipping a vehicle 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 vehicle 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 vehicle shipping:
How much to ship a vehicle? 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 and 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 vehicle? 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 vehicle.
How do I pay for my auto transport? This is down to each individual auto transport company on Shiply and 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 vehicle 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 and delivery? In most cases, the car shipping company will require you to be in attendance for the pickup and 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 vehicle 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, 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 and 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 and has the right equipment to safely carry it out.
