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 numerous situations where you are unable to operate the vehicle yourself, such as when purchasing or selling a used car online & need to transport it to another state, relocating & requiring long-distance vehicle shipping, or moving your automobile overseas when ferries are not an option. Vehicle shipping liberty companies provide a variety of auto transport services to accommodate your unique requirements.
Categories Of Vehicle Transport Services
When selecting a vehicle shipping service, the initial choice you must make is where you want your automobile collected from & delivered to, whether it's a long-distance vehicle transport or moving a car to another state. Terminal-to-terminal auto delivery is an alternative, where designated collection & drop-off points, frequently the vehicle transport company's stores or operating bases, are utilized. While this alternative is typically more affordable, it demands more effort on your part to get the automobile home. Most individuals, however, favor door-to-door auto transport delivery, where their vehicles are collected & dropped off at their doorstep, regardless of the distance.
Vehicle transport services can be classified into two primary categories: having someone operate your automobile to the destination or placing it on a trailer for transportation. Employing someone to operate your vehicle is a straightforward solution that is often more affordable as it doesn't require trailers or an additional vehicle. It can also be quicker due to the simplicity of the transport. However, this approach has some drawbacks, such as increasing mileage to your automobile (especially when moving a car across country) & the slight risk of damage during the journey.
Placing your automobile on a trailer ensures a higher level of safety compared to having someone operate it. Vehicle shipping trailers come in various options depending on the value & size of your automobile. Single trailers, while more costly, are ideal for transporting expensive or classic cars that require extra protection. The safest way to move a vehicle is in a shipping container, but this is also the most expensive option. Multi-car transporters, which can carry several vehicles at once, are available in different variants:
- Open vehicle shipping: The most affordable & most common option, where your automobile is placed on an open carrier & driven to the destination. While all cars are securely fastened, they are exposed to the elements during transit, making it 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.
For overseas vehicle transportation, it's best to find specialist services or companies with experience in overseas vehicle shipping to receive tailored advice based on your requirements.
What Is The Price Of Transporting A Vehicle?
The price 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 vehicle transport cost may differ based on your specific circumstances. The best way to determine the price of auto transport is to obtain vehicle shipping quotes from multiple companies, which is easily done through platforms like Shiply.
Factors that can affect the price of auto transport include:
- Distance: Cross-state & cross-country journeys cost more than interstate vehicle delivery.
- International shipping: Transporting a vehicle overseas is expensive due to the logistics involved & the distance traveled.
- Route: Routes with higher traffic or unforeseen circumstances like roadworks can increase costs.
- Shipping dates: Flexible timings often result in lower costs, while expedited shipping is more expensive.
- Vehicle size: Larger vehicles like SUVs cost more to transport than sedans.
- Vehicle condition: Non-drivable cars may require extra equipment, increasing the cost.
- Auto transport service type: Having someone operate your vehicle is the most affordable option, while enclosed vehicle shipping is the most expensive.
- Collection & delivery locations: Urban areas with common routes offer more affordable vehicle shipping, while rural or hard-to-access locations can increase costs.
- Auto transport insurance: Additional cargo insurance beyond the required liability insurance can affect the overall cost.
- Time of year: Seasonality plays a role, with winter being the most expensive time to ship a vehicle due to weather conditions & holiday-related factors.
How To Transport A Vehicle - Finding An Auto Transport Service
With numerous vehicle transport companies available, finding the right one can be overwhelming. Searching through Google or phone books can be time-consuming, & many companies are reluctant to provide pricing without individual quotes. This is where Shiply can help simplify the process.
How Can Shiply Help Find Auto Transport Companies?
Shiply streamlines the process of finding a vehicle shipping service by allowing you to fill out a simple form with your automobile's make & model, pickup & delivery locations, & desired shipping dates. This information enables auto transport providers on Shiply to provide accurate quotes for your specific needs.
Once your listing is live, you'll receive quotes in your Shiply inbox & email. It's recommended to keep email notifications on to stay informed about new quotes, which can start arriving within minutes of posting your listing. Before making a decision, wait for a few quotes to come through to have multiple options to choose from.
When considering quotes, feel free to ask the vehicle shipping 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.
Why People Often Move Vehicles To & From Liberty, Missouri
Liberty, Missouri, is a vibrant city located in the Kansas City metropolitan area. Many people move vehicles to & from Liberty for various reasons. One common reason is relocation, as Liberty offers a high quality of life, excellent schools, & a strong sense of community, attracting families & professionals alike. Additionally, the city's proximity to Kansas City makes it an appealing choice for those who want to live in a smaller, more affordable city while still having access to the amenities & job opportunities of a larger metropolitan area.
Another reason people move vehicles to & from Liberty is for automobile purchases or sales. The city's central location & access to major highways make it a convenient place to buy or sell a vehicle, especially when dealing with out-of-state transactions. Car enthusiasts also appreciate Liberty's vibrant automotive scene, with numerous car shows, clubs, & events throughout the year.
Lastly, students attending colleges & universities in the area, such as William Jewell College or the nearby University of Missouri-Kansas City, often require vehicle shipping services when moving to or from Liberty for their studies. With its diverse community, strong economy, & convenient location, Liberty, Missouri, continues to be a popular destination for those looking to move their automobiles for various reasons.
The Benefits of Using Shiply for Vehicle Transport Freedom
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 your vehicle transport freedom data in a single location.
Cost Comparison - Ultimately, the price of the vehicle transport estimate is the most crucial aspect in choosing which auto shipping company to employ to transport your vehicle. The challenge is that, while most businesses are willing to provide average costs & rough estimates, you won't receive a definite vehicle transport quote without supplying information & filling in specifics. Although this is reasonable, it means that cost comparison & obtaining a vehicle transport quote is not precisely a simple process. Utilizing Shiply enables you to acquire genuine, final price estimates from vehicle transport businesses & compare them in one place, offering the opportunity to message them individually to inquire about any concerns you may have & ultimately select the optimal company for your needs.
Affordable Vehicle Transport - Auto shipping businesses on Shiply can usually provide their services at a lower cost than if you approached them directly. This is because they are frequently seeking to occupy 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 vehicle there, a company on Shiply might already have a multi-car transporter making that trip with 5 of the 6 spots occupied, & they are simply aiming to ensure they are not squandering 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 auto shipping by utilizing our service.
Eco-Friendlier - Using Shiply for auto transport is not only more economical but also more environmentally friendly. In the previous example, if your vehicle didn't get on that multi-car transporter & instead you arranged transport from a separate vehicle shipper, the emissions into the atmosphere would have doubled as another entire trip would be required just for your vehicle. Similarly, many vehicle transporters return from a delivery empty-handed, which is not only expensive for them but also for the environment as there are many individuals who could have utilized that transporter to move their vehicles in the opposite direction. Many of the auto transporters on Shiply are also seeking 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 Transport
If you have chosen an auto transport company to ship your vehicle & feel confident using them, 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, 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 liberty 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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