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. Terminal-to-terminal auto delivery is an alternative where designated collection & drop-off points, frequently the car transport company's facilities or operating bases, are utilized. While this option is typically more affordable, it necessitates more effort on your part to get the vehicle home. However, most individuals prefer door-to-door auto transport delivery, where their vehicles are collected & dropped off at their doorstep, regardless of whether it's a cross-country car transport or simply shipping a car to another state.
Car transport services can be broadly classified into two categories: 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 you need to ship a car 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 car arrives in the same condition as advertised.
Place Your Vehicle On A Trailer
Placing your vehicle on a trailer offers a higher level of safety compared to having someone operate it. Car 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 protection. The safest way to transport a car is in a shipping container, although this is the most costly option.
Multi-car transporters, which can carry several vehicles at once, come in different variants:
- Open car shipping: The most affordable & common option, where 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 transit, making this option less suitable for highly valuable vehicles. Long journeys using open trailers also pose a higher risk of damage.
- 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 where minimizing the risk of damage is a priority.
For overseas vehicle transportation, it's best to find specialist services or companies with experience in overseas car shipping to receive tailored advice based on your requirements.
How Much Does It Cost To Transport A Vehicle?
The expense 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 car transport cost may differ based on your specific circumstances. The best way to determine the cost of auto transport is to collect car shipping quotes from various companies, which is easily done on Shiply.
Factors That Can Influence The Expense Of Auto Transport
While everyone wants affordable car transport, several factors can impact the cost of car shipping services:
- Distance: Cross-state & cross-country journeys cost more than interstate car delivery, which is often the most affordable option. However, the average price per mile decreases as the journey length increases.
- International shipping: Transporting a car overseas is always expensive due to the logistics involved & the distance traveled. It may also require special enclosed trailers or shipping containers.
- Route: The route taken from the pick-up spot to the delivery location can affect pricing. Routes with higher traffic, such as in LA, may cost more due to the added time. Unforeseen circumstances like major roadworks could also incur extra costs or require a longer alternative route.
- Shipping dates: Flexibility in timings can result in lower charges, as car shipping companies can fit your delivery into their schedule & reduce overheads. Expedited shipping within a strict timeframe typically costs more, as it may require a dedicated trailer & driver.
- Vehicle size: The height, length, & width of the vehicle affect the cost of transport. Larger vehicles like SUVs generally cost more to transport than sedans. Accessories such as bike racks or roof racks can also change the required trailer size.
- Vehicle condition: Non-drivable cars may incur higher transport costs due to the need for extra equipment like winches or forklifts to load & unload the vehicle. Most car carriers consider a car in good condition if it can brake, roll, & steer.
- Auto transport service type: Having someone drive your car is the most affordable option, while single car trailers & enclosed transport are more expensive due to the specialized equipment required. Enclosed car shipping is the most costly method, as it involves transporting your car alone while still needing specialist equipment for loading, unloading, & protection during transit.
- Pickup & delivery locations: Urban areas usually have car shipping services nearby, & common destination routes often offer affordable car shipping. Rural deliveries can cost more due to deviations from normal routes & extra mileage. Unusual or hard-to-access pick-up or drop-off points may also increase costs due to the extra steps needed to load your vehicle.
- Auto transport insurance: While auto transport companies must carry liability insurance, many do not offer additional insurance. If cargo insurance is not provided, it's highly recommended to acquire it separately for your vehicle during transit. Ensure you understand what type of damage is covered, any deductibles, & which parts of the vehicle are insured.
- Time of year: Seasonality affects car shipping prices, with winter being the most expensive due to ice, snow, & blizzard conditions causing delays & reduced speeds. December is challenging as drivers are on holiday, while January sees increased demand for vehicle shipping to warmer states. Spring & fall offer better rates & availability, with March, October, & November being ideal months. Summer is the busiest season, with higher prices & lower availability.
How To Transport A Vehicle - Finding An Auto Transport Service
With hundreds of car 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 Assist In Finding Auto Transport Companies?
Shiply simplifies the process of finding a car shipping service. To get started, fill out a simple form with your car's make & model, pickup & delivery locations, & the dates you need to move the vehicle. This information allows auto transport providers on Shiply to provide accurate quotes for your job.
Once your listing is live, you'll receive quotes in your Shiply inbox & email. We recommend keeping email notifications on to be immediately informed of new quotes, which can start arriving within minutes of posting your listing. Wait for a few quotes before making a decision to have multiple options to choose from.
Before selecting a quote, ask the companies any questions you may have, such as their availability, insurance coverage, & how they secure cars during transport. Shiply's feedback & ratings system allows you to view previous customers' experiences & overall scores, which we highly recommend checking before choosing a company to ship your vehicle.
Why People Often Move Cars To & From Missoula, Montana
Missoula, Montana, is a popular destination for car shipping due to various reasons. As a university town home to the University of Montana, many students need to ship their cars to & from Missoula at the beginning & end of each academic year. The city's stunning natural beauty, outdoor recreation opportunities, & quality of life also attract new residents who require vehicle transport services when moving to the area.
Moreover, Missoula's location in western Montana makes it a convenient hub for car shipping to & from other parts of the state, as well as neighboring states like Idaho, Wyoming, & Washington. The city's proximity to major highways, such as I-90 & US-93, facilitates efficient car transport services.
When searching for "car shipping Missoula" or "Missoula car shipping," it's essential to compare quotes from multiple providers & carefully review their services, insurance coverage, & customer reviews to ensure a smooth & reliable vehicle transport experience.
The Benefits of Using Shiply for Auto Transport in Missoula
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 platform, you complete one quotation form and can then obtain quotes from various companies based on the information you submit. This can save you hours of time that you would have spent phoning companies and completing forms. Communication with these businesses is also possible through our platform, allowing you to store all of your Missoula auto transport information in a single location.
Cost Comparison - Ultimately, the price of the vehicle transport quote is the most crucial factor in selecting which auto shipping company to use for your car. The challenge is that while most companies are willing to provide average prices and rough estimates, you won't receive a definite car transport quote without supplying information and filling in details. Although this is understandable, it means that comparing prices and obtaining a car transport quote is not a simple task. Utilizing Shiply enables you to receive authentic, final price quotes from auto transport companies and compare them in one place, with the ability to message them individually to ask any questions you may have and ultimately choose the best company for your needs.
Affordable Auto Shipping - Vehicle transport companies on Shiply can usually offer 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 in the cost. For instance, if you were relocating from Los Angeles to New York and needed to transport your car 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 simply 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 - Using Shiply for auto transport is not only more affordable but also more environmentally friendly. In the example above, if your car didn't get on that multi-car transporter and instead, you arranged transport from a separate car shipper, the emissions into the atmosphere would have doubled as another entire journey would be required just for your vehicle. Similarly, many car transporters return empty-handed after a delivery, which is not only expensive for them but also for the environment, as there are many people who could have used that transporter to move their cars in the opposite direction. Many of the auto transporters on Shiply are also looking to fill their trailers on return journeys, resulting in even less wasted CO2 being released into the atmosphere, as well as continued affordable transport for our users.
Preparing Your Vehicle for Shipping
If you have chosen an auto transport company to transport your car and 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 during transit. It is also highly recommended that you clean your vehicle before transport, as this will allow you to assess 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, 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 judge 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 ascertain 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.
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 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 and 500 miles, and 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 and 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 and 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 and 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 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 and has the right equipment to safely carry it out.
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