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 Vehicle Transport Services
When selecting a vehicle transport service, the initial choice you must make is where you want your automobile collected from & delivered to, whether it's a cross-country car transport or shipping a vehicle to another state. Terminal-to-terminal auto delivery is an alternative, where designated collection & drop-off points are utilized, frequently at the vehicle transport company's stores or operating bases. While this alternative is typically less expensive, it demands more effort on your part to get the automobile home. Most individuals, however, opt for a door-to-door auto transport delivery service, 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.
Have Someone Operate Your Vehicle
Employing someone to operate your vehicle to its destination is a straightforward solution for vehicle shipping, whether it's a cross-country or interstate relocation. This approach is often less expensive as it doesn't necessitate trailers or an additional vehicle. It can also be quicker due to its simplicity. However, there are some drawbacks to consider. Firstly, the trip will add mileage to your automobile, which can be significant for cross-country shipping. Secondly, there is a slight risk of damage occurring to your vehicle during the drive. These concerns are particularly relevant for individuals purchasing or selling vehicles online who want to ensure the automobile 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. Vehicle shipping trailers come in various options, depending on the value & size of your automobile. For expensive or classic vehicles, a single trailer is often preferred to minimize the risk of damage, although it comes at a higher cost. The safest way to transport a vehicle is in a shipping container, but this is the most expensive option.
Multi-vehicle transporters are another option, with several variants available:
- Open vehicle shipping: The cheapest & most common option, where your automobile is placed on an open carrier & driven to the destination. While all vehicles are securely fastened, they are exposed to the elements during the drive, making it less suitable for highly valuable automobiles. Long journeys in open trailers also pose a higher risk of damage.
- Enclosed auto transport: Multiple vehicles are secured on a carrier & enclosed, protecting them from dust, weather, & debris during transit. This option is preferable for more expensive or newer automobiles.
For overseas vehicle transportation, it's best to find a specialist service or a company with experience in overseas vehicle shipping to receive tailored advice based on your requirements.
How Much Does It Cost To Ship A Vehicle?
The cost of shipping 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 cost of auto transport is to obtain quotes from vehicle transport companies, which is easily done on Shiply.
Factors That Can Affect The Cost Of Vehicle Transport
While everyone wants inexpensive vehicle transport, several factors can influence the price:
- Distance: Cross-state & cross-country trips cost more than interstate vehicle delivery, which is often the cheapest option. However, the average price per mile decreases for longer distances.
- International shipping: Always results in expensive vehicle shipping quotes due to the logistics of transferring an automobile overseas & the distance involved. It may require special enclosed trailers or a shipping container.
- Route: Routes with higher traffic or unforeseen circumstances like roadworks can increase costs or require longer alternative routes.
- Shipping dates: Flexibility in timings can lead to lower charges, as vehicle shipping companies can fit your delivery into their schedule & reduce overheads. Expedited shipping within a strict timeframe typically costs more.
- Vehicle size: The height, length, & width of the automobile affect the cost, with larger vehicles like SUVs costing more to transport than sedans. Accessories like bike racks or roof racks can also change the required trailer size.
- Vehicle condition: Non-drivable vehicles may incur extra costs due to the need for additional equipment like winches or forklifts for loading & unloading.
- Auto transport service type: Having someone operate your vehicle is the cheapest option, while single vehicle trailers & enclosed transport are more expensive due to the specialized equipment required.
- Pickup & delivery locations: Urban areas with common destination routes often have cheaper vehicle shipping services, while rural deliveries may cost more due to deviations from normal routes & extra mileage.
- Auto transport insurance: While all auto transport companies must carry liability insurance, additional cargo insurance is recommended & may affect the overall cost.
- Time of year: Seasonality can impact vehicle shipping prices, with winter being the most expensive due to ice, snow, & blizzard conditions causing delays & reduced speeds. Spring & fall offer better rates & availability, while summer is the busiest season.
How To Ship A Vehicle - Finding A Vehicle Transport Service
With hundreds of vehicle 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 individual quotes.
How Can Shiply Help Find Vehicle Transport Companies?
Shiply simplifies the process of finding a vehicle shipping service. By filling out a simple form with your vehicle's make & model, pickup & delivery locations, & required dates, you can easily collect quotes from auto transport providers. Quotes start arriving in your Shiply inbox & email within minutes of posting your listing, allowing you to compare multiple options before making a decision.
Before selecting a quote, it's essential to ask the company questions about their availability, insurance coverage, & how they secure your vehicle during transport. Shiply's feedback & ratings system allows you to view previous customers' experiences & overall scores, helping you make an informed choice.
Why People Often Move Vehicles To & From St. Charles, Missouri
St. Charles, Missouri, is a popular destination for vehicle shipping due to various reasons. As a growing city with a strong economy, many people relocate to St. Charles for job opportunities, leading to an increased demand for vehicle transport services. The city's proximity to major highways & transportation hubs also makes it a convenient location for vehicle shipping companies to operate. Additionally, St. Charles is home to several colleges & universities, resulting in a high number of students who require vehicle shipping services at the beginning & end of each semester. With its rich history & vibrant community, St. Charles attracts residents from all over the country, further contributing to the need for reliable vehicle shipping services in the area.
The Benefits of Using Shiply for Vehicle Transport in St. Charles
Time-Efficient - Rather than filling out a quotation form each time you desire an accurate cost from a business for transporting a vehicle, on our site, you complete one quotation form and can then obtain quotes from various companies based on the information you submit. This can save you a significant amount of time that you would have spent phoning companies and completing forms. Communication with these businesses is also feasible through our platform, allowing you to store all of your St. Charles vehicle shipping details in a single location.
Cost Comparison - Ultimately, the price of the vehicle shipping estimate is the most crucial factor in choosing which auto transport company to employ to transport your vehicle. The challenging aspect is that, while most companies are willing to provide average prices and rough estimates, you won't receive a definite vehicle transport quote without having to supply information and fill in details. While this is understandable, it means that comparing prices and obtaining a vehicle transport quote is not a simple task. Utilizing Shiply enables you to receive authentic, final price estimates from vehicle shipping companies and compare them in one place, offering 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 in St. Charles - 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 space on trips they are already making and have already invested the cost for. For instance, if you were relocating from Los Angeles to New York and needed to transport your vehicle there, a company on Shiply may already have a multi-car transporter making that journey with 5 of the 6 spots filled, and they are just looking to ensure they are not wasting any space. As long as the dates, times, and pick-up/drop-off locations are convenient for you, you can often save up to 75% on auto transport by using our service.
Environmentally Friendly - Not only is using Shiply for auto transport more economical, but it is also more environmentally friendly! 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 many people who could have used 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 journeys, meaning even less wasted CO2 is being released into the atmosphere, as well as continued affordable transport for our users.
Getting Your Vehicle Ready for Shipping
If you have chosen an auto transport company to transport your vehicle and feel confident using them, then it's time to get your vehicle ready 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 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 and 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, 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 occurred. 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 company you used through Shiply so that others can browse car shipping services with the same peace of mind.
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