What Is Vehicle Transportation?
Vehicle transportation, also referred to as automobile transport or car shipping, is a service offered by auto shipping companies that involves collecting your automobile from one spot & conveying it to another. This service is beneficial in various circumstances where you cannot operate the vehicle yourself, such as when purchasing or selling a used car online & need to transport it to another state, relocating & requiring cross-country vehicle shipping, or moving your automobile overseas when ferries are not available. Auto transportation companies provide a variety of car shipping services to satisfy your particular requirements.
Categories Of Car Shipping Services
When selecting a car transportation service, the initial choice you must make is where you want your automobile picked up from & 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 & drop-off points, often the vehicle transport company's stores or operating bases, are used. While this alternative is generally less expensive, it necessitates more effort on your part to get the automobile home. Most individuals, however, favor door-to-door car shipping delivery service, where their vehicles are collected & dropped off at their doorstep, regardless of the distance.
Automobile transport services are typically divided into two categories: having someone operate your vehicle to the destination or placing it on a trailer for shipping. Having someone drive your automobile is a straightforward solution that is often less expensive as it doesn't require trailers or an extra vehicle. It can also be quicker due to the straightforward nature of the transport. However, this method has some drawbacks, such as adding mileage to your vehicle, especially when transporting a car across the country, & a slight risk of damage during the journey. These concerns are particularly relevant for people buying or selling automobiles online who want to ensure the vehicle arrives in the same condition as advertised.
Placing your automobile on a trailer is a safer way to guarantee a higher level of protection than having someone operate it. Vehicle shipping trailers come in various options depending on the value & size of your automobile. Single trailers are more expensive as they only transport one car at a time but are a great choice for moving expensive or classic automobiles that you don't want to risk damaging. The safest way to ship a vehicle is in a shipping container, but this is the most expensive option. Multi-car transporters, which can ship many automobiles at once, come in a few variants:
Open vehicle shipping is the cheapest & most common option offered by car transportation companies. Your automobile is placed on an open carrier & driven to the destination. While all vehicles are safely secured, they are exposed to the elements during the drive, making this option less suitable for highly valuable automobiles. Long journeys in open trailers also pose a higher risk of damage & exposure to the elements.
Enclosed auto transport involves securing multiple vehicles on a carrier that is enclosed, protecting them from dust, weather, & 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 shipping.
If you need to move your automobile 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 & 500 miles, & $0.78 for journeys over 1,000 miles. However, these are just averages, & your automobile transport may cost more or less depending on your specific circumstances. The best way to find out the cost of car shipping is to collect vehicle transportation quotes from auto transport companies, which is easy to do on Shiply.
Factors That Can Affect The Cost Of Car Shipping
Several factors & variables can influence the cost of vehicle transportation. While we all want inexpensive automobile transport, it's important to understand these factors to get a rough idea of whether your car shipping requirements will be costly or cheap.
Distance plays a significant role in determining the cost of vehicle transport, with cross-state & cross-country journeys costing more than interstate automobile delivery, which is often the cheapest option. However, the average price per mile decreases as the journey length increases, ensuring you aren't paying over the odds for longer distances. International shipping always results in expensive vehicle shipping quotes due to the logistics of transferring an automobile overseas & the distance it needs to travel. It may also require special enclosed trailers or even a shipping container for your vehicle.
The route required to take your automobile from its pick-up spot to its delivery spot can also 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. Unforeseen circumstances, like major roadworks, could also incur extra costs from the vehicle moving companies or require a different, longer route.
The speed at which you need your automobile transportation service to operate can also impact the price. If you are flexible with timings, you may find that your car shipping service charges less, as they can fit your vehicle delivery into their schedule & 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 vehicle transport company may need to dedicate a trailer & driver just for your delivery.
The height, length, & width of the automobile will all affect the cost of transport. Car shippers will require larger trailers for bigger vehicles, with SUVs typically costing more on average to transport than sedans. It's essential to inform the auto 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.
If your automobile is not in drivable condition, it may make your car transport more expensive. This is because it may require extra equipment, such as a winch or forklift, to get your vehicle on & off the trailer. If your car has a locked wheel, for example, it will be impossible to simply roll it onto a trailer & off again, taking more time, effort, & machinery to complete the delivery than a standard automobile transport service. Most vehicle carriers consider a car that can brake, roll, & steer to be in good enough condition to ship easily.
The type of car transport service you select will also affect the cost of your vehicle shipping. Having someone drive your automobile to its destination will always be the cheapest option, as you are essentially just paying for a driver's time & petrol. Single car trailers & enclosed transport will likely be more expensive, as they require extra equipment. Enclosed vehicle shipping is always the most expensive method of transporting a car, as it means your automobile travels on its own & still needs specialist equipment to load, unload, & protect it during transport.
The locations of pickup & delivery can also increase the price of shipping an automobile. Urban areas usually have car shipping services in close proximity, & if it is a common destination route, you will tend to get cheap vehicle shipping. Rural deliveries can cost more, as they require deviations from normal routes & extra mileage for the company. If a pick-up or drop-off point is in an unusual or hard-to-access space, extra steps may be needed to load your vehicle, which can also increase the automobile shipping cost.
While all car transport companies are required to carry liability insurance, many do not offer additional insurance, as it is not required by law. If an automobile transport company does not offer cargo insurance, it is highly recommended that you seek out & acquire some for your vehicle during its transit. As with all insurance policies, make sure you are clear on what type of damage is covered, whether there is a deductible, what parts of the vehicle are covered by the insurance, & any other questions you may have.
Seasonality can also affect the price of vehicle shipping, with many services costing more to ship a car in the winter due to ice & snow slowing the routes. Here is a quick breakdown of how each season can affect auto transport costs:
Winter is often the most expensive season to ship your automobile. Ice, snow, & blizzard conditions can all cause delays on the roads & reduce the maximum speed at which the car delivery service can transport vehicles. December is typically a difficult time to have an automobile shipped, as drivers are on holiday, while many travel to warmer states in January, leading to increased vehicle shipping costs. However, February is usually quiet, & great rates are often available from car shipping services during this month.
Spring is a great time to ship your automobile with a vehicle transportation service. With improved weather conditions, longer days, & more drivers ready to work, Spring can often mean cheap rates & high availability when it comes to moving your car. March is often a better time to ship than April or May, as there is often a rush to move vehicles from colder to warmer states.
Summer is the prime season for shipping automobiles - the days are the longest in the year, students are traveling home from universities, employees take vacations, & it is also a very popular time to move house. This means that June, July, & August are all busy months for the auto transport industry, & you should not expect cheap vehicle shipping during the summer.
Fall is a good time to ship a car if you are looking for a slightly cheaper price. Vehicle shipping companies are less busy, & 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 cars to university.
How To Transport A Vehicle - Finding A Car Shipping Service
Now that you know more about what vehicle shipping & an automobile transportation service are & what sort of car transport service you need, you probably want to go ahead & find an auto shipping service that is right for you.
The issue is that there are hundreds of vehicle transport companies out there. Trying to find them on Google can result in scrolling through numerous pages trying to find the best automobile shipping company for the best price, & the same is true if you were going to go through phone books. Furthermore, many of these companies are reluctant to give you pricing, meaning you will likely need to apply for a quote & 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 & variables involved with finding an automobile shipping service, actually searching for & finding the right one can seem like a daunting task, & 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 & model of the vehicle that needs shipping, the pickup location & delivery location, & the dates that you need to move the automobile. This gives the car transport providers on Shiply 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 & 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 pick from.
Once you have a few quotes, you can ask the providers any questions you may have, such as when they are available (if a time frame is given), what insurance they have, & how they would secure your vehicle. We recommend asking any company you may use these questions to ensure that everything goes smoothly & as expected.
Shiply has a feedback & ratings system, which we highly recommend looking at before selecting a quote to ship your automobile. This system allows you to view previous customers' experiences with a company, as well as view their overall score.
Why People Often Move Vehicles To & From Garfield, New Jersey
Garfield, a city in Bergen County, New Jersey, is a popular destination for vehicle shipping due to various reasons. Many people relocate to Garfield for job opportunities, as the city is home to several industries & businesses. Others move to Garfield to be closer to family or to enjoy the city's suburban lifestyle while still being close to major cities like New York.
Additionally, Garfield's proximity to major highways, such as Interstate 80 & Route 46, makes it a convenient location for automobile shipping companies to pick up & deliver vehicles. This ease of access attracts many people who need to transport their cars to or from the area.
When moving to or from Garfield, many people choose to use vehicle shipping services to save time & effort. Driving a car long distance can be tiring & time-consuming, especially if you are moving across the country. By using an automobile shipping company, you can have your vehicle transported safely & efficiently, allowing you to focus on other aspects of your move.
Whether you are moving to Garfield for work, family, or lifestyle reasons, or you need to transport a car from Garfield to another location, vehicle shipping companies can provide a convenient solution. With the help of platforms like Shiply, finding the right automobile shipping service for your needs is easier than ever.
The Benefits of Using Shiply for Vehicle Transport in Garfield
Time-Efficient - Rather than filling out a quotation form each instance you desire an accurate cost from a business on Garfield vehicle transport, on our site you complete one quotation form & can then obtain estimates based on the information you supply from several companies. This can conserve you hours of effort you would have needed to invest phoning businesses and completing forms. Communication with these businesses is also feasible via our platform, allowing you to store all of your vehicle shipping details in a single location.
Cost Comparison - Ultimately, the price of the vehicle 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 businesses are willing to provide average prices & rough estimates, you won't actually receive a definite vehicle transport quote without having to give information & fill in details. While this is reasonable, it does mean that cost comparison and obtaining a vehicle transport quote isn't precisely a simple task. Utilizing Shiply enables you to acquire genuine, final cost estimates from vehicle shipping businesses & compare them in one place, offering the ability to message them individually to ask any inquiries you may have & ultimately decide on the optimal company for you.
Affordable Garfield Vehicle Shipping - Auto transport businesses on Shiply are usually able to provide their services for a lower cost than if you went directly to them. This is because they are frequently seeking to fill space on trips they are already making & have already invested the cost for. For instance, if you were relocating from Los Angeles to New York & needed to move your vehicle there, on Shiply, a business may already have a multi-car transporter making that trip with 5 of the 6 spots occupied, & they are just looking to ensure they are not squandering any space. As long as the dates, times, & pick-up/drop-off locations are suitable 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 more affordable, but it is also more environmentally friendly. In the above example, if your vehicle didn't get on that multi-car transporter & instead you arranged transport from a separate vehicle shipper, then the emissions into the atmosphere would have doubled as another entire trip would be required just for your vehicle. Similarly, many vehicle transporters return from a delivery empty-handed, 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 vehicles in the opposite 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 emitted 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 vehicle & feel confident using them, then it's time to ready your vehicle for shipping. We suggest following these steps:
Documents - It is crucial to ensure that any documents you may require are accessible 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 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 determine 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 assess the condition of the vehicle upon arrival.
Photographic Evidence - One very important thing to do when preparing your vehicle for the vehicle delivery service to pick up is to take high-quality photographs of all parts of the vehicle. This provides you with evidence of the vehicle's condition before shipping should anything happen to it during transport.
What to Do After Delivery
Once the vehicle 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 vehicle is in the expected condition, as well as enable you to immediately raise concerns with the vehicle 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 determine whether any extra damage has occurred. Shipping a vehicle can, in rare cases, cause damage, & you want to be sure your vehicle transport service has not done so.
Check Mileage - This is more relevant to vehicle shipping services where the vehicle is driven to the destination but it can help to check the mileage to ensure that it matches up with the trip 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 vehicle shipping services with the same peace of mind.
FAQ - Frequently Asked Questions
Below we have answered some of the most asked questions about vehicle shipping:
How much to ship a vehicle?
Vehicle shipping prices can vary drastically depending on the circumstances, but on average a trip should cost you around $2.92 per mile if the trip is less than 200 miles, $0.93 if the trip is between 200 & 500 miles, & if the trip is over 1,000 miles then this drops to $0.78.
What is the most affordable way to ship a vehicle?
Having someone drive your vehicle to its destination is the most affordable way to ship a vehicle, however, if you need a trailer then a multi-car transporter will be your best option with regard to the most affordable way to ship a vehicle.
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 vehicle delivery service before confirming the delivery. Most companies will be flexible with payment options, however.
Can I track my vehicle transport online?
Each vehicle shipping company on Shiply has different ways of operating, but many offer the ability to track your vehicle shipment, with some even able to provide personal updates. If you require tracking, you should message individual vehicle transport companies to confirm that this is possible with them.
Does someone have to be present for pickup & delivery?
In most cases, the vehicle 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 vehicle keys.
Can I keep items in my vehicle during my vehicle shipment?
Most vehicle 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 vehicle 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.
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