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 spot & transporting it to another. This service proves useful in numerous situations 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 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 desire your vehicle picked up from & delivered to, whether it's a nationwide car transport or moving 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 demands 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, irrespective of the distance.
Car transport services are typically divided into two groups: having someone operate your vehicle to the destination or placing it on a trailer for transport.
Have Someone Operate Your Vehicle
Employing someone to operate your vehicle to its destination is a straightforward solution for car shipping, whether it's across the nation or to another state. The advantages of this approach include lower costs, as trailers & extra vehicles are not necessary, & quicker delivery due to the simplicity of the transport. However, there are some drawbacks to this method that cause some individuals to choose other types of car transport. Firstly, mileage is added to your automobile during the trip, which can be significant when shipping a car across the country. Secondly, there is a slight risk of harm to your car while it is being operated. These concerns are especially relevant for individuals buying 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 vehicle on a trailer is a safer way to ensure a higher level of protection than having someone operate it to its destination. 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 often more expensive but are a great choice for moving expensive or classic cars that require extra care. The safest way to transport a vehicle is in a shipping container, but this is also the most expensive option. Multi-car transporters, which can carry several automobiles at once, come in a few variants:
Open car shipping is the cheapest & 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 the drive, making this option less suitable for highly valuable automobiles. Long journeys in open trailers also pose a higher risk of damage & 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 often 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 car shipping, as they can provide tailored advice based on your requirements.
The Benefits of Utilizing Shiply for Vehicle Transportation in Warren
Time-Efficient - Instead of submitting a quotation request each time you require a precise cost for transporting your automobile, on our platform, you only need to complete one form & can then receive quotes from various companies based on the information you submit. This could save you hours that you would have otherwise spent contacting companies and completing forms.
Communication with these businesses is also possible through our platform, allowing you to store all of your "car shipping warren" details in one location.
Rate Comparison - Ultimately, the cost of the car shipping estimate is the most significant factor in deciding which auto transport company to employ to transport your vehicle. The challenging aspect is that, while most companies are willing to provide average costs & rough estimates, you won't actually receive a firm "warren car shipping" quote without having to provide information and complete details. Although this is understandable, it means that price comparison & obtaining a car transport quote is not exactly a straightforward process.
Utilizing Shiply enables you to obtain genuine, final price estimates from car shipping companies & compare them all together, giving you the opportunity to message them individually to ask any questions & ultimately select the best company for your needs.
Affordable Car Shipping - Auto transport businesses on Shiply can typically provide their services at a lower cost than if you went directly to them. This is because they are often seeking to fill empty space on trips they are already making & have already paid for the expense. For instance, if you were moving from Los Angeles to New York & needed to transport your vehicle there, a company on Shiply may already have a multi-car carrier making that trip with 5 of the 6 spots occupied, & they are simply looking to ensure they aren't wasting any space. As long as the dates, times, & pick-up/drop-off locations are convenient for you, you can often save up to 75% on auto transport by utilizing our service!
Environmentally Friendly - Not only is using Shiply for auto transport more affordable, but it is also more environmentally friendly! In the example above, if your car didn't get on that multi-car carrier & instead you arranged transport from a different car shipper, then 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 vehicles in the opposite direction! Many of the auto 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 Car for Shipping
If you have chosen an auto transport company to transport your vehicle & feel confident about using them, then it's time to prepare your car for shipping. We suggest following these steps:
Documents - It is crucial to ensure that any necessary paperwork is 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 before shipping, for the obvious reason that you don't want to risk them getting lost or damaged during the trip. 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 spot, then you should ensure that it is in running shape. This means checking that there is enough fluid, as well as checking battery charge & tire pressure levels. Again, this can also help you better assess the state of the vehicle upon arrival.
Photo Evidence - One very essential thing to do when prepping your vehicle for the car delivery service to pick up is to take high-quality photos 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, & engines should all be inspected immediately to ensure that the car is in the expected state, as well as enable you to promptly raise concerns with the car delivery service should anything not be functioning properly.
Exterior Condition - You can compare the exterior of the vehicle to the photos taken of it before to see whether any additional damage has occurred. Shipping a car can, in rare instances, 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 common questions about car shipping:
How much to ship a car? Car shipping prices can vary a lot depending on the circumstances, but on average, a journey should cost you around $2.92 per mile if the trip is less than 200 miles, $0.93 if the trip 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 most affordable way to ship a car; however, if you need a trailer, then a multi-car transporter will be your best choice regarding the cheapest way to ship a car.
How do I pay for my auto transport? This is up 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 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 companies will be fine with you keeping some personal belongings 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.