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 across the nation, or transporting 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 want your vehicle collected from & delivered to, whether it's a cross-country car transport or shipping an automobile 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, regardless of the distance.
Vehicle transport services can be classified into two primary types: having someone operate your vehicle 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 car shipping, whether it's across the nation or to another state. This approach is often less expensive as it doesn't require trailers or an additional vehicle, & it can be quicker due to its simplicity. However, there are some drawbacks to consider, such as the added 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 is a safer option that guarantees a higher level of protection 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 expensive, are ideal for transporting expensive or classic cars that require extra care. The safest way to transport a vehicle is in a shipping container, although this is the most costly option. Multi-car transporters, which can carry several automobiles at once, are another popular choice.
Open car shipping is the most affordable & common option offered by vehicle shipping companies. Your automobile 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 vehicles. Long journeys in open trailers also pose a higher risk of damage.
Enclosed auto transport involves securing multiple cars 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.
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, as they can provide tailored advice based on your requirements.
The Benefits of Utilizing Shiply for Vehicle Transportation in Livingston
Time-Efficient - Instead of submitting a quotation request each time you require a precise cost for transporting your automobile, on our platform you simply complete one form & then can receive estimates based on the information you supply from various businesses. This could save you hours that you would've spent contacting companies and completing forms.
Communication with these vehicle transport providers is all possible through our platform as well, allowing you to store all of your "car shipping livingston" details in one location.
Cost Comparison
Ultimately, the price of the vehicle transport estimate is the most significant factor in deciding which auto shipping company to employ to transport your car. The challenging aspect is that, while most are willing to provide rough prices & general figures, you won't actually receive a definite "livingston car shipping" quote without supplying information and filling in details. While this is reasonable, it does mean that price comparison & obtaining a vehicle transport estimate isn't exactly straightforward.
Utilizing Shiply enables you to obtain genuine, final price estimates from car shipping businesses & compare them all together, giving you the opportunity to message them individually to ask any questions & ultimately select the best one for you.
Affordable Vehicle Transport
Auto transport companies on Shiply are typically able to provide their services for 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. For instance, if you were relocating from Los Angeles to New York & needed to transport your vehicle there. On Shiply, a company may already have a multi-car carrier making that journey with 5 of the 6 spots filled, & they are just looking to ensure they aren't wasting any space. As long as the dates, times, and pick-up/drop-off locations are suitable for you, you can often save up to 75% on auto transport by utilizing our service!
More Environmentally Friendly
Not only is using Shiply for auto transport more affordable, but it's also more eco-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 expensive for them but also for the environment as there are many people who could have utilized that carrier to transport their cars in the opposite direction! Many of the auto transporters on Shiply are seeking to fill their trailers on return trips too, meaning even less wasted CO2 is released into the air, as well as continued affordable transport for our users.
Preparing For Your Car To Be Transported
If you've 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's crucial to ensure any paperwork you may require is available at pick up or drop off, especially if you are selling your car.
Cleaning - You should take care to remove all personal items from your car before shipping, for the obvious reason that you don't want them getting lost or damaged during transit. It's also highly recommended that you clean your vehicle before transport as this will allow you to check its condition & notice any damages that may occur during delivery.
Running Condition - If the car will be driven at any point during shipping or driven home from the drop-off spot then you should ensure that it's functioning properly. This means checking that there's enough fluid, as well as battery charge & tire pressure levels. Again this can also help you better assess the car's condition when it arrives.
Photo Evidence - One very important thing to do when prepping your vehicle for the car delivery service pickup is to take high-quality pics of all parts of the car. This provides you with proof of the condition before shipping should anything happen during transport.
What To Do After Delivery
Once the car shipping company you selected has completed the delivery, there are some things you should do:
Check Vital Signs - Lights, brakes, and engine should all be inspected immediately to ensure the car is in the expected shape, as well as enable you to promptly raise issues with the car delivery service if anything isn't working properly.
Exterior Condition - You can compare the exterior to the photos taken before to see if any additional damage occurred. Shipping a vehicle can, rarely, cause damage, & you want to be sure your car transport service hasn't 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 miles to ensure it matches up with the journey taken.
We'd really appreciate it if you could also leave a review for the auto transport company you used through Shiply so others can browse car shipping services with the same peace of mind!
FAQ - Frequently Asked Questions
Below we've 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 trip should cost around $2.92 per mile if under 200 miles, $0.93 if between 200 & 500 miles, and if over 1,000 miles then this drops to $0.78.
What is the cheapest way to ship a car? Having someone drive your car to its destination is the most affordable way to ship it, however, if you require a trailer then a multi-car transporter will be your best option for the cheapest way to ship a vehicle.
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. 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 shipment, with some even able to provide personal updates. If you require tracking, you should message individual companies to confirm if 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. This is because there are likely release forms you need to sign, as well as handing over the keys.
Can I keep items in my car during shipment? Most car transport companies will be fine with you keeping some personal belongings in the vehicle when transported. However, there are two important things to remember: 1. The weight may affect the shipment price, and 2. Any items won't be covered by insurance for the car transport itself.
How much gas should I have in my vehicle during transit? Generally, you should aim to have around a quarter tank full. This allows for easy loading/unloading but won't add too much extra weight.
Can I ship my car if it isn't running? You can ship a non-running vehicle, however, this will cost more as specialist equipment is needed to load & unload it.
Can I ship a modified car? 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 with the right equipment to safely carry it out.
