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 need to make is where you want your automobile collected from & delivered to, whether it's a cross-country car shipment or transporting 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 more affordable, 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 types: having someone operate your automobile to the destination or placing it on a trailer for shipment.
Have Someone Operate Your Vehicle
Employing someone to operate your vehicle to its destination is a straightforward solution for vehicle shipping, whether it's across the country or to another state. This approach is often more affordable as it doesn't necessitate trailers or an additional vehicle, & it can be quicker due to its simplicity. However, there are some drawbacks to consider, such as the addition of mileage to your automobile, especially when shipping a car across the country, & the slight risk of damage during the journey. These concerns are particularly relevant for individuals purchasing 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 provides 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. You can choose between a single trailer for your vehicle, which is more expensive but ideal for transporting expensive or classic cars, or a multi-car transporter, which can carry multiple automobiles at once.
Open vehicle shipping is the most affordable & common option, where your automobile is placed on an open carrier & driven to its destination. While all vehicles 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.
Enclosed auto transport involves securing multiple vehicles on a carrier that is enclosed, protecting them from dust, weather, & debris during transit. This option is preferable for more expensive or newer automobiles where the owner wants to minimize the risk of damage during transport.
For overseas vehicle transportation, it's best to find a specialist service or a company with experience in overseas vehicle shipping, as they can provide tailored advice based on your requirements.
How Much Does It Cost To Transport A Vehicle?
The cost of transporting a vehicle varies depending on several factors, but on average, auto transport companies in the US 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 vehicle shipping quotes from various companies, which is easily done through platforms like Shiply.
Factors That Can Affect The Cost Of Vehicle Transport
Several variables can impact the cost of vehicle shipping, including:
- Distance: Cross-state & cross-country journeys cost more than interstate vehicle delivery.
- International shipping: Transporting a vehicle 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.
- Shipping dates: Flexible timings can result in lower costs, while expedited shipping is more expensive.
- Vehicle size: Larger automobiles like SUVs cost more to transport than sedans.
- Vehicle condition: Non-drivable vehicles may require extra equipment, increasing the cost.
- Auto transport service type: Having someone operate your vehicle is the cheapest option, while enclosed vehicle shipping is the most expensive.
- Pickup & delivery locations: Urban areas are usually cheaper, while rural or hard-to-access locations can increase costs.
- Auto transport insurance: Additional cargo insurance may be necessary, affecting the overall cost.
- Time of year: Seasonality can impact prices, with winter being the most expensive & spring being more affordable.
How To Transport A Vehicle - Finding A Vehicle 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 a personalized quote.
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, & desired shipping dates, you can receive quotes from auto transport providers on Shiply. 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 vehicles during transport. Shiply's feedback & ratings system also allows you to view previous customers' experiences & overall scores, helping you make an informed choice.
Why People Often Move Vehicles To & From St. Joseph, Missouri
St. Joseph, Missouri, is a city that sees a significant amount of vehicle shipping activity. Located in the northwestern part of the state, St. Joseph is a hub for transportation & commerce. Many people move to or from St. Joseph for various reasons, such as job relocation, family, or education, & often need to ship their automobiles as part of the process.
The city's strategic location along major highways, including Interstate 29 & U.S. Route 36, makes it a convenient point for vehicle shipping companies to pick up & deliver automobiles. St. Joseph's proximity to larger cities like Kansas City & Omaha also contributes to the demand for vehicle shipping services in the area.
Whether you're moving to St. Joseph for a new opportunity or leaving the city for a change of scenery, using a reliable vehicle shipping service can make the transition smoother & less stressful. By entrusting your automobile to a professional auto transport company, you can focus on other aspects of your move while ensuring your vehicle arrives safely at its destination.
The Benefits of Utilizing Shiply for Vehicle Transport in St. Joseph
Time-Saving - Instead of completing a quote form each time you desire a precise price from a company on transporting your automobile, on our platform you simply fill out one quote form & then can receive quotes based on the information you provide from several businesses. This can save you hours of time you would've had to spend calling companies and filling out forms.
Communication with these businesses is all possible through our platform as well, allowing you to keep all of your "st. joseph car shipping" details in one location.
Price Comparison - Getting the Best Deal
When it comes down to it, the price of the car shipping quote is the most crucial factor in choosing which auto transport company to use to ship your vehicle. The tricky thing is that, while most companies are willing to provide average prices & general estimates, you won't actually be given a solid "car shipping st. joseph" quote without having to give 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.
Using Shiply allows you to get real, final price quotes from car shipping companies & compare them in one place, providing the ability to message them individually to ask any questions you may have and ultimately choose the best company for you.
Cheap Car Shipping - Save Big Bucks!
Auto transport companies on Shiply are usually able to offer their services for a lower cost than if you went directly to them. This is because they are often looking to fill space on trips they are already making & have already invested the cost for. Say, for example, you were moving from Los Angeles to New York & needed to move your car there. On Shiply, a company may already have a multi-car transporter making that trip with 5 of the 6 spots filled, and they are just looking to make sure 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 Environment - Go Green!
Not only is using Shiply for auto transport cheaper, but it is also better for the environment! In the above example, if your car didn't get on that multi-car transporter & instead you arranged transport from a separate car shipper, then the emissions into the atmosphere would have doubled as another entire trip would be needed just for your car.
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 cars in the other direction. Many of the auto transporters on Shiply are looking to fill their trailers on return trips too, meaning even less wasted CO2 is being released into the atmosphere, as well as continued cheap transport for our users.
Preparing For Your Car To Be Shipped
If you have decided on an auto transport company to move your car & feel secure using them, then it's time to get your car ready for shipping. We suggest following these steps:
Documents - It is important to make sure 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 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 happen 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 make sure that it is in running condition. This means making sure that there is enough fluid, as well as checking battery charge and 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 getting your vehicle ready for the car delivery service to pick up is to take high-quality photos of all parts of the car. This gives you 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 chose has completed their delivery, there are a few things you should do:
Check Vital Signs - Lights, brakes, and engines should all be checked right away to make sure that the car is in the expected condition, as well as allow you to immediately raise concerns with the car delivery service should anything not be working as it should.
Exterior Condition - You can compare the outside 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 make sure that it matches up with the trip 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 a lot depending on the situation, but on average a trip 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, and if the trip 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 for 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 and delivery? In most cases, the car shipping company will require you to be there 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, 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 & 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 special 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 & has the right equipment to safely carry it out.
