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 you are unable to drive the vehicle yourself, such as when purchasing or selling a used car online & need to transport it to another state, relocating & requiring long-distance vehicle shipping, or moving your automobile overseas when ferries are not an option. Luckily, there are numerous vehicle transport services available to cater to your specific 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 long-distance vehicle transport or shipping a car to another state. Terminal-to-terminal auto delivery is a possibility, where designated collection & drop-off points, frequently the vehicle transport company's stores or operating bases, are utilized. While this option is typically more affordable, it demands more effort on your part to get the vehicle home. However, most individuals prefer door-to-door auto transport delivery service, where their automobiles are collected & dropped off at their doorstep, regardless of the distance.
Vehicle transport services are generally divided into two types: having someone drive your automobile to the destination or placing it on a trailer for transport. Having someone drive your vehicle is a straightforward solution that involves hiring someone to drive your automobile to its destination. This approach is often more affordable as it doesn't require trailers or an additional vehicle, & it can be quicker due to its simplicity. However, there are some drawbacks, such as added mileage to your automobile, especially when shipping a car across the country, & a slight risk of damage during the journey.
Placing your vehicle on a trailer is a safer option that guarantees a higher level of protection than having someone drive it. There are multiple trailer options available, depending on the value & size of your automobile. Single trailers are more expensive as they only transport one vehicle at a time but are ideal for moving expensive or classic cars. The safest way to transport a vehicle is in a shipping container, although this is the most expensive option. Multi-car transporters, which can transport many automobiles at once, come in two variants: open car shipping & enclosed auto transport.
Open car shipping is the most affordable & 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. Enclosed auto transport involves multiple cars secured on a carrier, but they are enclosed, protecting them from dust, weather, & debris during transit. This option is preferable for more expensive or newer vehicles.
If you need to move your automobile overseas, it's best to find a specialist service or one with experience in overseas vehicle shipping, as they can provide tailored advice based on your requirements.
What Is The Cost Of Transporting A Vehicle?
The cost 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 vehicle transport may cost more or less depending on your specific circumstances. The best way to determine the cost of auto transport is to collect vehicle shipping quotes from various vehicle transport companies, which is easily done on Shiply.
Factors that can affect the cost of auto transport include distance, with cross-state & cross-country journeys costing more than interstate vehicle delivery. International shipping is always more expensive due to the logistics of transferring a vehicle overseas & the distance it needs to travel. The route taken can also impact pricing, with routes in high-traffic areas or those affected by roadworks potentially costing more. Shipping dates play a role, with flexible timings often resulting in lower costs, while expedited shipping in strict timeframes typically costs more.
Vehicle size, including height, length, width, & any accessories like bike racks or roof racks, affects the cost as larger automobiles require bigger trailers. The condition of the vehicle is also a factor, with non-drivable cars potentially requiring extra equipment for loading & unloading, increasing the cost. The type of auto transport service selected, such as having someone drive your automobile, using a single car trailer, or opting for enclosed transport, will also influence the price.
The locations of pickup & delivery can impact the cost, with urban areas usually having vehicle shipping services in close proximity & common destination routes offering cheaper rates. Rural deliveries & unusual or hard-to-access pick-up or drop-off points may incur additional costs. Auto transport insurance, while not always included by default, is highly recommended, & the level of coverage chosen can affect the overall cost.
Seasonality is another factor, with winter typically being the most expensive time to ship a vehicle due to potential delays caused by ice, snow, & blizzard conditions. Spring is a great time to ship, with improved weather, longer days, & more available drivers often leading to cheaper rates. Summer is the busiest season for the auto transport industry, so cheaper prices may be harder to find. Fall can offer slightly cheaper rates, especially in October & November, as companies are less busy after the summer rush.
Transporting Vehicles To & From Elko, Nevada
Elko, Nevada, is a city located in the northeastern part of the state, known for its mining industry, outdoor recreation opportunities, & unique cultural events. People often move automobiles to & from Elko for various reasons, such as relocating for work, attending college, or enjoying the area's attractions. When shipping a vehicle to or from Elko, it's essential to consider the city's location, as it may affect the cost & availability of vehicle shipping services. Elko's distance from major metropolitan areas & its position along I-80 can impact the rates & options provided by auto transport companies.
How To Transport A Vehicle - Finding An Auto Transport Service
With numerous vehicle transport companies available, finding the right one can be a daunting task. Searching on Google or through phone books can be time-consuming, & many companies are reluctant to provide pricing without a personalized quote. This is where Shiply can help simplify the process.
How Can Shiply Help Find Auto Transport Companies?
Shiply makes it easy to find the right vehicle shipping service by allowing you to fill out a simple form with your automobile's make & model, pickup & delivery locations, & desired shipping dates. This information enables auto transport providers on Shiply to provide accurate quotes for your specific needs.
Once your listing is live, you'll receive quotes in your Shiply inbox & via email. It's recommended to keep email notifications turned on so you can be promptly alerted when new quotes arrive. While quotes can start coming in within minutes of posting your listing, it's best to wait for a few options before making a decision.
When you have received several quotes, you can ask the providers any questions you may have, such as their availability, insurance coverage, & how they secure vehicles during transport. It's crucial to ask these questions to ensure a smooth & expected experience.
Shiply's feedback & ratings system is another valuable tool when selecting a vehicle shipping company. This system allows you to view previous customers' experiences & overall scores, helping you make an informed decision when choosing a provider to ship your automobile.
The Benefits of Utilizing Shiply for Vehicle Transport in Elko
Time-Efficient - Instead of completing a quotation form each time you require a precise 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 supply from several businesses. This can save you hours of time you would've had to invest in contacting companies & filling in forms. Communication with these firms is all possible through our platform as well, allowing you to keep all of your "car shipping elko" details in one location.
Rate Comparison - When it comes down to it, the price of the car shipping estimate is the most important factor in deciding which auto transport company to employ to transport your vehicle. The challenging aspect is that, while most firms are happy to offer average rates & rough estimates, you won't actually receive a definite "elko car shipping" quote without having to provide information & complete details. While this is understandable, it does mean that rate comparison & getting a car transport estimate isn't exactly a simple task. Utilizing Shiply allows you to obtain genuine, final price estimates from car shipping companies & compare them in one place, giving you the ability to message them individually to ask any questions you may have & ultimately choose the best firm for you.
Affordable Car Shipping - 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 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 transport your car there. On Shiply, a company may already have a multi-car transporter making that trip with 5 of the 6 spots filled, & they are just looking to ensure they are not wasting any space. As long as the dates, times, & pick-up/drop-off locations work for you, you can often save up to 75% on auto transport by using our service!
More Environmentally Friendly - Not only is using Shiply for auto transport more affordable, but it is also more environmentally friendly. 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 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 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 affordable transport for our users.
Readying For Your Vehicle To Be Transported - If you have decided on an auto transport company to move your vehicle & feel secure using them, then it's time to prepare your car for shipping. We recommend following these steps:
Documents - It is important to ensure 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 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 & 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, & 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 occured. Shipping a car can, in rare cases, cause damage, & 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 & 500 miles, & 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 & 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 & delivery? In most cases, the car shipping company will require you to be in attendance 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, & 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 & 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.