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 spot & transporting it to another. This service proves useful in numerous scenarios 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 moving 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 desire your vehicle collected from & transported to. Terminal-to-terminal auto delivery is a choice where designated collection & drop-off locations, frequently the car transport company's shops or operating facilities, are utilized. While this choice is typically more affordable, it demands more effort on your part to get the vehicle home. Most individuals, however, favor door-to-door auto transport delivery, where their automobiles are collected & dropped off at their doorstep, regardless of whether it's a cross-country car transport or simply moving a car to another state.
Car transport services can be classified into two primary types: having someone operate your vehicle to the destination or placing it on a trailer for transport.
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 move 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 moving a car across the country, & the slight risk of damage during the trip. These concerns are particularly relevant for people buying 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 offers a higher level of security compared to having someone operate it. Car shipping trailers come in various options, depending on the worth & dimensions 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 car is in a shipping container, but this is also the most expensive option.
Multi-car transporters, which can carry several vehicles simultaneously, come in different variants:
Open car shipping is the most affordable & most common choice, 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 automobiles. 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, shielding 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 Move A Car?
The expense of moving a car varies depending on several factors, but on average, US auto transport companies charge around $2.92 per mile for trips less than 200 miles, $0.93 for trips between 200 & 500 miles, & $0.78 for trips 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 expense of auto transport is to obtain car shipping quotes from various companies, which is easily done through platforms like Shiply.
Factors That Can Influence The Expense Of Auto Transport
Several factors can impact the expense of car shipping, including:
Distance: Cross-state & cross-country trips cost more than interstate car delivery, which is often the most affordable option. However, the average price per mile decreases as the trip length increases.
International shipping: Moving a car overseas is always more costly due to the logistics involved & the distance traveled. It may also require special enclosed trailers or shipping containers.
Route: The route taken from the collection spot to the delivery location can affect pricing. Routes with higher traffic or unforeseen circumstances like roadworks may incur extra costs or require longer alternative routes.
Shipping dates: Flexibility in timings can lead to lower costs, as car 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 vehicle impact the expense of transport. Larger vehicles like SUVs generally cost more to move 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 for loading & unloading.
Auto transport service type: Having someone operate your car is the most affordable option, while single car trailers & enclosed transport are more costly due to the specialized equipment required.
Pickup & delivery locations: Urban areas with car shipping services in close proximity & common destination routes often result in cheaper car shipping. Rural deliveries or hard-to-access spaces may increase costs.
Auto transport insurance: While auto transport companies must carry liability insurance, additional cargo insurance is recommended & may affect the overall expense.
Time of year: Seasonality can impact car shipping prices, with winter being the most expensive due to weather-related delays. Spring & fall offer better rates, while summer is the busiest season.
How To Move A Car - Finding An Auto Transport Service
With numerous car 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 quote applications.
How Can Shiply Help Find Auto Transport Companies?
Shiply simplifies the process of finding a car shipping service. By filling out a simple form with your car'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 questions about availability, insurance, & car securing methods to ensure a smooth & expected experience. Shiply's feedback & ratings system allows you to view previous customers' experiences & overall scores, helping you make an informed choice.
La Vista, Nebraska, US - Car Shipping Destination
La Vista, a city in Sarpy County, Nebraska, is a popular destination for people moving to & from the area. As a growing community with a strong economy & excellent quality of life, La Vista attracts many individuals & families who often require car shipping services. Whether relocating for work, family, or personal reasons, having a reliable auto transport company to handle the safe & timely delivery of vehicles is crucial.
People moving to La Vista from other states or across the country may find it more convenient & cost-effective to ship their cars rather than driving them over long distances. Similarly, those leaving La Vista for new opportunities elsewhere may need to transport their vehicles to their new homes. Car shipping companies specializing in La Vista routes can provide tailored services to meet the needs of customers moving to or from this thriving Nebraska city.
The Benefits of Utilizing Shiply for Vehicle Transport in La Vista
Time-Efficient - Instead of completing a quotation form each time you require an exact price from a company on transporting a vehicle, on our platform you fill out one quotation form & then can receive quotes based on the information you submit from several businesses. This can save you a significant amount of time you would have spent phoning companies and completing forms. Communication with these firms is also possible through our platform, allowing you to store all of your la vista car shipping details in one location.
Cost Comparison - Ultimately, the price of the car shipping estimate is the most important 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 actually receive a definite car shipping la vista quote without having to submit information and fill in details. While this is understandable, it means that price comparison and obtaining a car transport quote is not exactly a simple task. Using Shiply enables you to obtain genuine, 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 decide on the best company for you.
Affordable Car Shipping - Auto transport companies on Shiply are typically able to offer their services for a lower fee than if you went direct to them. This is because they are often looking to fill space on journeys they are already making and have already sunk the cost for. For example, if you were relocating 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 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 work 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 cheaper, but it is also more environmentally friendly! In the above example, if your car 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 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 journeys too, meaning even less wasted CO2 is being released into the atmosphere, as well as continued cheap transport for our users.
Readying For Your Vehicle To Be Transported - If you have selected an auto transport company to transport your vehicle and feel confident using them, then it's time to ready your car for shipping. We suggest following these steps:
Documents - It is crucial to ensure that any documents you may require 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 prior to 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 ascertain 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 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 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 most affordable way to ship a car, however, if you require a trailer then a multi-car transporter will be your best option with regard to the most economical 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 & 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.
