What Is Vehicle Transportation?
Vehicle transportation, also referred to as car shipping or auto transport, is a service offered by car shipping companies that involves collecting your automobile from one location & delivering 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, relocating to a new residence, or transporting a vehicle across the country. Auto transport services can also be useful when you need to ship your car overseas, and unless ferry services are available, you will have to depend on a car shipping company to manage the job for you.
Luckily, there are numerous vehicle transport services available to cater to your specific requirements, which we will discuss below.
Types Of Car Shipping Services
When it comes to car shipping services, there are several options to consider. The first choice you need to make is where you want your vehicle collected from and delivered to, whether it's a cross-country vehicle transport or shipping a car to another state. Terminal-to-terminal auto delivery is an option, where designated collection and delivery points, often the auto transport company's stores or operating bases, are used. This option is typically more affordable but requires more effort on your part to get the vehicle home. However, most individuals prefer a door-to-door car shipping delivery service, where their automobiles are collected & dropped off at their doorstep, regardless of whether it's a cross-country vehicle transport or just shipping a car to another state. This option is more convenient as it eliminates the need to travel to collect your car.
Vehicle transport services can be categorized into two main types: having someone drive your automobile to the destination or putting it on a trailer for shipping.
Have Someone Drive Your Vehicle
This straightforward solution involves hiring someone to drive your automobile to the desired location, whether it's shipping a car across the country or to another state. The advantages of this method include lower costs, as trailers and extra vehicles are not required, and faster delivery due to the simplicity of the transport process.
However, there are some drawbacks to this method that lead some individuals to choose other vehicle transport options. Firstly, mileage is added to your car during the journey, which can be significant when shipping a vehicle across the country. Secondly, there is a slight risk of damage to your automobile during the drive. 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.
Put Your Automobile On A Trailer
Placing your automobile on a trailer is a safer way to ensure a higher level of protection compared to having someone drive your car. When it comes to vehicle shipping trailers, there are several options available depending on the value and size of your car.
Firstly, you need to decide whether you want a single trailer for your automobile. These are often more expensive as they only transport one vehicle at a time, but they are a great option for moving expensive or classic cars that you want to protect from potential damage. The safest way to ship a car is to put it in a shipping container, but this is also the most costly option. The other option is a multi-car transporter, which can ship several vehicles at once. There are a few variants of multi-car transporters:
Open car shipping is the most affordable and common option when transporting a vehicle. Your automobile is placed on an open carrier and driven to the destination. While all cars are securely fastened, they are exposed to the elements during the drive, so this may not be recommended by vehicle shipping companies for highly valuable automobiles. Additionally, long journeys in open trailers pose a higher risk of damage and exposure to the elements.
Enclosed auto transport involves securing multiple vehicles on a carrier, but they are enclosed, protecting them from dust, weather, and debris during transit. This option is often preferable for more expensive or newer automobiles where the owner wants to minimize the risk of damage during car transport.
If you need to move your car overseas, it's best to find a specialist service on our platform or one 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, car shipping companies in the US charge around $2.92 per mile for journeys less than 200 miles, $0.93 for journeys between 200 and 500 miles, and $0.78 for journeys over 1,000 miles.
However, these are just averages, and your vehicle transport cost may be higher or lower depending on your specific circumstances. The best way to determine the cost of car shipping is to obtain vehicle shipping quotes from various auto transport companies, which is easy to do on Shiply.
To get an idea of what factors can affect the price of vehicle transport services, take a look at the information below.
Factors That Can Affect The Cost Of Car Shipping
While we all want affordable vehicle transport, several factors and variables can impact the cost of car shipping. Below, we will outline the main ones to help you understand whether your car shipping requirements will be expensive or affordable.
As mentioned earlier, distance plays a significant role in determining the cost of vehicle transport, with cross-state and cross-country journeys being more expensive than interstate auto delivery, which is often the most affordable option.
Although longer distances cost more, the average price per mile decreases as the journey length increases, ensuring that you aren't paying excessively for longer trips.
International shipping always results in costly vehicle shipping quotes due to the logistics of transferring a car overseas and the distance it needs to travel. It may also require special enclosed trailers or even a shipping container for your automobile.
Route - Along with distance, the route required to transport your vehicle from its pick-up spot to its delivery location can affect the pricing of your car carrier service. Routes with known higher traffic, such as in LA, may cost more than quieter roads due to the additional time added to the journey. Similarly, unforeseen circumstances like major roadworks could also incur extra costs from the vehicle moving companies or require a different, longer route.
Shipping Dates - The speed at which you need your car transportation service to operate can also affect the price. If you are flexible with timings, you may find that your vehicle shipping service charges less, as they can fit your automobile delivery into their schedule and reduce overheads, passing the savings on to you. However, if you require car transport within a strict timeframe (often known as expedited shipping), it will typically cost more, as the auto transport company may need to dedicate a trailer and driver specifically for your delivery.
Vehicle Size - The height, length, and width of the car will all affect the cost of transporting your automobile. Car shippers will require larger trailers for bigger vehicles, with SUVs typically costing more on average to transport than sedans. Additionally, always inform the car transport company about any bike racks, roof racks, or other accessories on the vehicle, as these can change the size of the trailer required for the delivery.
Vehicle Condition - If your automobile is not in a drivable condition, it may increase the cost of car transport. This is because it may require extra equipment, such as a winch or forklift, to load and unload your vehicle from the trailer. For example, if your car has a locked wheel, it will be impossible to simply roll it onto a trailer and off again, requiring more time, effort, and machinery to complete the delivery compared to a standard auto transport service. Most vehicle carriers consider a car that can brake, roll, and steer to be in good enough condition for easy shipping.
Car Transport Service Type - The type of car transport service you choose will also affect the cost of your vehicle shipping. Having someone drive your automobile to its destination will always be the most affordable option, as you are essentially just paying for the driver's time and fuel. In contrast, single car trailers and enclosed transport are likely to be more expensive, as they require extra equipment. Enclosed vehicle shipping is always the most costly method of shipping a car, as it means your automobile travels alone and still requires specialized equipment for loading, unloading, and protection during transport.
Locations Of Pickup And Delivery - The locations of the pick-up and drop-off points can also impact the price of shipping a vehicle. Urban areas usually have car shipping services in close proximity, and if it is a common destination route, you will generally find affordable car shipping. Rural deliveries can cost more, as they require deviations from normal routes and extra mileage for the company. If a pick-up or drop-off point is in an unusual or hard-to-access location, extra steps may be needed to load your automobile, which can also increase the vehicle shipping cost.
Car Transport Insurance - While all car transport companies are required to carry liability insurance, many do not offer additional insurance, as it is not legally required. If an auto transport company does not offer cargo insurance, it is highly recommended that you seek out and acquire some for your vehicle during its transit. As with all insurance policies, make sure you understand what type of damage is covered, whether there is a deductible, which parts of the automobile are covered by the insurance, and any other relevant questions you may have.
Time Of Year - Seasonality can also affect the price of vehicle shipping, with many services costing more to ship a car in the winter due to ice and snow slowing down routes. Here is a quick breakdown of how each season can affect car transport costs:
Winter is often the most expensive season to ship your automobile. Ice, snow, and blizzard conditions can cause delays on the roads and reduce the maximum speed at which the vehicle delivery service can transport cars. December is typically a difficult time to have a car shipped, as drivers are on holiday, while many travel to warmer states in January, leading to increased automobile shipping costs. However, February is usually quiet, and great rates are often available from car shipping services during this month.
Spring is a great time to ship your automobile with a car transportation service. With improved weather conditions, longer days, and more drivers ready to work, Spring can often mean affordable rates and high availability when it comes to moving your vehicle. March is often a better time to ship than April or May, as there is often a rush to move cars from colder to warmer states.
Summer is the prime season for shipping vehicles - the days are the longest in the year, students are traveling home from universities, employees take vacations, and it is also a very popular time to move house. This means that June, July, and August are all busy months for the car transport industry, and you should not expect affordable vehicle shipping during the summer.
Fall is a good time to ship a car if you are looking for a slightly more affordable price. Auto transport companies are less busy, and there is typically more driver availability after the summer rush. However, you are better off looking to move your automobile in October or November rather than September, as this is peak time for students shipping their vehicles to university.
How To Transport A Vehicle - Finding A Car Shipping Service
Now that you know more about what vehicle shipping and a car shipping service are and what sort of auto transport service you need, you probably want to go ahead and find an automobile transport service that is right for you.
The issue is that there are hundreds of auto transport companies out there. Trying to find them on Google can result in scrolling through numerous pages trying to find the best vehicle shipping company for the best price, and the same is true if you were to go through phone books. Furthermore, many of these companies are reluctant to provide pricing, meaning you will likely need to apply for a quote and fill out details with each of them individually, which can be very time-consuming.
How Can Shiply Help Find Car Transport Companies?
Given all of the options and variables involved in finding a vehicle shipping service, searching for and finding the right one can seem like a daunting task, and this is where Shiply can help.
On Shiply, you simply need to fill out a simple form to start collecting quotes. All we need from you are the make and model of the automobile that needs shipping, the pickup location and delivery location, and the dates that you need to move the vehicle. This provides the car transport providers on Shiply with enough information to provide you with an accurate quote for your job.
Once your listing is live, you will receive quotes in your Shiply inbox and to your email. We recommend keeping email notifications turned on so that you can know immediately when a new quote comes through. Quotes can start coming through within a few minutes of posting your listing, but we always recommend waiting for a few to come through before making a decision so that you have multiple options to choose from.
Once you have a few quotes, you can ask the companies any questions you may have, such as when they are available (if a time frame is given), what insurance they have, and how they would secure your automobile. We recommend asking any company you may use these questions to ensure that everything goes smoothly and as expected.
Shiply has a feedback and ratings system that we highly recommend looking at before selecting a quote to ship your vehicle. This system allows you to view previous customers' experiences with a company, as well as their overall score.
Claremont Vehicle Shipping
Claremont, New Hampshire, US, is a popular destination for people moving their automobiles to and from the area. Many individuals relocate to Claremont for work, education, or personal reasons, and often need to transport their vehicles along with their belongings. Car shipping companies in Claremont offer a convenient solution for those who need to move their automobiles without the hassle of driving long distances or dealing with the logistics of transporting a vehicle themselves.
When looking for vehicle shipping in Claremont, it's essential to choose a reliable and experienced company that can ensure the safe and timely delivery of your automobile. Shiply can help you find the best car shipping companies in Claremont by allowing you to compare quotes from multiple providers and read reviews from previous customers. By using Shiply, you can save time and money while ensuring that your vehicle is in good hands during the shipping process.
The Benefits of Utilizing Shiply for Vehicle Transport in Claremont
Time-Efficient - Instead of submitting a quotation request each time you require a precise cost for transporting your automobile, on our platform, you complete one form and can then receive estimates from various companies based on the information you submit. This can save you hours that you would have otherwise spent contacting companies and completing forms. Communication with these businesses is also possible through our platform, allowing you to keep all of your "car shipping claremont" details in one location.
Price Comparison - Securing the Most Favorable Deal
Ultimately, the price of the "claremont car shipping" estimate is the most crucial 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 transport quote without having to supply information and fill in details. Although this is understandable, it means that price comparison and obtaining a car transport quote is not exactly a simple task.
Utilizing Shiply enables you to obtain genuine, final price quotes from car shipping companies and compare them in one place, offering the ability to message them individually to ask any questions you may have and ultimately decide on the best company for your needs.
Affordable Car Shipping - Save Significant Funds!
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 space on trips they are already making and have already invested the cost for. 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 just 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 - Go Green!
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 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 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, meaning even less wasted CO2 is being released into the atmosphere, as well as continued affordable transport for our users.
Readying Your Vehicle for Shipping
If you have selected an auto transport company to transport your car and feel confident using them, then 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 in 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, 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 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.
