What Is Vehicle Transportation?
Vehicle transportation, also known as car shipping or auto transport, is a service offered by auto transport companies that involves collecting your vehicle from one location & transporting it to another. It's beneficial for moving a car in various situations where you can't operate the vehicle yourself. For instance, you might be buying or selling a used car online & need to transport it to another state, or maybe you've recently moved & need to ship your vehicle across the country. Auto transport services can also be extremely useful when you need to transfer your car overseas & ferries aren't available, requiring you to rely on a car shipping company to manage the task for you.
Luckily, there are numerous vehicle transport services available to cater to your specific requirements, which we'll discuss below.
Types Of Car Shipping Services
Below, we've outlined the various car shipping services available. It's advantageous to read through & determine the precise type of auto transportation service you need or prefer for transporting your vehicle.
The first decision you need to make is where you want your vehicle collected from & delivered to, whether it's a cross-country vehicle transport or moving a car to another state. Terminal-to-terminal car delivery is an option, where designated collection & drop-off points are used, often at the auto transport company's stores or operating bases. This makes terminal-to-terminal car delivery generally cheaper but requires more effort on your part to get the vehicle home. However, most people need a door-to-door car transport delivery service, so their vehicles are collected & dropped off at their doorstep, regardless of whether it's a cross-country vehicle transport or just moving a car to another state. This is often preferable as it eliminates the need to go somewhere else to collect your car, which can be challenging without your vehicle in the first place!
Auto transport services generally fall into two categories: having someone operate your vehicle to the destination or putting it on a trailer & transporting it there.
Have Someone Operate Your Vehicle
This is a straightforward solution to vehicle shipping that involves hiring someone to operate your car to the desired location, whether you need to transport a vehicle across the country or to another state. The advantages of this car transport method are that it's often cheaper since trailers & an extra vehicle aren't required, & it can be faster due to the simple nature of the transport.
However, there are some drawbacks to this method offered by auto transport companies that lead some people to choose other types of vehicle transport. Firstly, mileage is added to your car during the journey, meaning that if you're moving a vehicle across the country, significant miles will be added, although less so when moving a car to a nearby state. Secondly, there's a slight risk of damage occurring to your vehicle while it's being operated from point A to point B. 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 Vehicle On A Trailer
Putting your car on a trailer is a safer way to ensure a higher level of protection than having someone operate your vehicle to its destination. With auto shipping trailers, there are several options available depending on the value & size of your car.
Firstly, you need to decide whether you want a single trailer for your vehicle. These are often more expensive as they only transport one car at a time but are a great choice if you're moving an expensive or classic vehicle that you don't want to risk damaging. The safest way to ship a car is to put it in a shipping container, but this is by far the most expensive option. The other option is a multi-car transporter, which can move many vehicles at once & comes in a few variants:
Open vehicle shipping by any auto transport company is the cheapest & most common option when moving a car. Your vehicle is placed on an open carrier & driven to the destination. All cars are securely fastened, but as the name suggests, they are exposed to the elements during the drive, so car shipping companies may not recommend this for highly valuable vehicles. Furthermore, while it may be the cheapest way to transport a vehicle cross-country, long journeys in open trailers obviously pose a higher risk of damage & leave your car exposed to the elements for extended periods.
Enclosed car transport involves multiple vehicles secured on a carrier, but they are enclosed, protecting them from dust, weather, & debris during transit. This is often preferable for more expensive or newer cars where the owner wants to minimize the risk of damage during auto transport.
If you need to transfer your car overseas through a car transport company, try 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?
Several variables affect the cost of moving a car, but on average, car transport 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.
These figures are just averages for vehicle moving companies, & your auto transport may cost more or less depending on the circumstances. The best way to find out how much car transport will cost you is to collect auto shipping quotes from vehicle transport companies, which is easy to do on Shiply.
If you want to get an idea of how much you can expect your vehicle delivery to cost, consider the factors that can affect the price of car transport services, which we'll discuss below.
Factors That Can Affect The Cost Of Car Transport
We all want cheap vehicle transport, but several factors & variables can impact the cost of your auto shipping. Below, we'll outline the main ones so you can get a rough idea of whether your car transport requirements will be expensive or cheap.
As mentioned earlier, distance is one of the key factors that will significantly influence the cost of your vehicle transport, with cross-state & cross-country journeys costing much more than interstate car delivery, which is often the cheapest auto shipping option.
While longer distances do cost more, fortunately, the average price per mile decreases as the journey length increases, ensuring you're not paying excessively.
International shipping will always result in expensive vehicle shipping quotes due to the logistics of transferring a car overseas & the distance it needs to travel. It may also require special enclosed trailers or even a shipping container for your car.
Route - Along with distance, the route required to take your vehicle from its pick-up spot to its delivery location can affect the pricing of your auto carrier service. Routes with known higher traffic, such as in LA, may end up costing more than quieter roads due to the additional time it can add to a journey. Similarly, unforeseen circumstances like major roadworks could also incur extra costs from the vehicle moving companies or necessitate a different, longer route.
Shipping Dates - How quickly you need your auto transportation service to operate can also affect the price. For example, if you can be flexible with timings, you may find that your vehicle shipping service charges significantly less because they can fit your car 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 you more since the auto transport company may need to dedicate a trailer & driver solely for your delivery.
Vehicle Size - The height, length, & width of the car will all affect the cost of transporting your vehicle. Auto 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 also change the size of the trailer required for the delivery.
Vehicle Condition - If your car is not in a drivable condition, it may make your vehicle transport more expensive. This is because it may require extra equipment, such as a winch or forklift, to load & 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 & off again, & it will take more time, effort, & machinery to complete the delivery compared to a standard auto transport service. Most vehicle carriers consider a car that can brake, roll, & steer to be in good enough condition to ship easily.
Car Transport Service Type - The type of car transport service you select will also affect the cost of your vehicle shipping. Having someone operate your car to its destination will always be the cheapest option, as you're essentially just paying for the driver's time & fuel, whereas single vehicle trailers & enclosed transport are likely to be more expensive due to the extra equipment required. Enclosed auto shipping will always be the most expensive method of moving a car, as it means your vehicle is traveling alone & still requires specialist equipment to load, unload, & protect your car during transport.
Locations Of Pickup & Delivery - Depending on where you need the vehicle picked up from & dropped off, the price of moving a car may increase. Urban areas usually have auto shipping services in close proximity, & if it's a common destination route, you'll 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 also in an unusual or hard-to-access space, extra steps may be needed to load your car, which can also increase the auto shipping cost.
Car Transport Insurance - While all car transport companies are required to carry liability insurance, many do not offer any additional insurance as it's not required by law. If an auto transport company does not offer cargo insurance, it's highly recommended that you seek out & acquire some for your car 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.
Time Of Year - Seasonality can also affect the price of auto shipping, with many services costing more to move a car in the winter due to ice & snow slowing the routes. Here's a quick breakdown of how each season can affect car transport costs:
Winter is often the most expensive season to ship your car. This is because ice, snow, & blizzard conditions can all cause delays on the roads, as well as 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 auto shipping costs. However, February is usually quiet, so great rates are often available from vehicle shipping services during this month.
Spring is a great time to ship your car with an auto 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 vehicle. March is often a better time to ship than April or May; however, 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, & it's also a very popular time to move house. This means that June, July, & August are all busy months for the car transport industry, & you should not expect cheap auto shipping during the summer.
Fall is a good time to ship a vehicle if you're looking for a slightly cheaper price. Auto shipping companies are less busy, & there is typically more driver availability after the summer rush. However, you're better off looking to move your car 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 auto shipping & a vehicle shipping service are & what sort of car transport service you need, you probably want to go ahead & actually try to find an auto transport service that's 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, & the same is true if you were going to go through phone books. Furthermore, many of these companies are reluctant to provide pricing, meaning you'll 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 the options & variables involved in finding an auto 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 you need to move the car. 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'll receive quotes in your Shiply inbox & to your email. We recommend keeping email notifications turned on so 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 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, & 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 that we highly recommend looking at before selecting a quote to ship your car. This system allows you to view previous customers' experiences with a company, as well as their overall score.
Why People Often Move Vehicles To & From Sayreville, New Jersey, US
Sayreville, New Jersey, US, is a popular location for people to move cars to & from for various reasons. Sayreville is a thriving community with a strong economy, excellent schools, & a diverse population. Many people relocate to Sayreville for job opportunities, family reasons, or to enjoy the area's amenities. When moving to Sayreville, people often need to transport their vehicles, which is where sayreville car shipping services come in handy.
Similarly, when residents of Sayreville move to other parts of the country, they often require sayreville auto transport services to ship their cars to their new homes. Whether moving to or from Sayreville, vehicle shipping companies play a crucial role in ensuring that cars arrive at their destinations safely & efficiently.
In conclusion, whether you're moving to or from Sayreville, New Jersey, US, or simply need to ship a vehicle for other reasons, sayreville vehicle transport services & sayreville auto shipping companies are available to help make the process as smooth & stress-free as possible.
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The Benefits of Using Shiply for Vehicle Transport in Sayreville
Time-Efficient - Rather than filling out a quotation form each instance you desire an accurate cost from a business for transporting a vehicle, on our site you complete one quotation form & can then obtain quotes from various companies based on the information you submit. This can conserve you significant time that you would have spent phoning companies & inputting details. Communication with these businesses is also feasible via our platform, allowing you to store all your Sayreville vehicle transport data in a single location.
Cost Comparison - Ultimately, the price of the vehicle transport estimate is the most crucial factor in selecting which auto shipping company to employ for transporting your vehicle. The challenge is that, while most businesses are willing to provide average prices & general estimates, you won't receive a definite vehicle transport quote without supplying information & completing details. Although this is reasonable, it means that comparing prices & obtaining a vehicle transport quote is not a simple task. Utilizing Shiply enables you to acquire genuine, final price estimates from vehicle transport companies & compare them in one place, offering the opportunity to message them individually to inquire about any questions you may have & ultimately choose the optimal company for your needs.
Affordable Vehicle Transport - Auto shipping businesses on Shiply can typically provide their services at a lower cost than if you approached them directly. This is because they are often seeking to fill space on trips they are already making & have already invested the expense for. For instance, if you were relocating from Los Angeles to New York & needed to transport your vehicle there, a company on Shiply may already have a multi-car transporter making that journey with 5 of the 6 spots occupied, & they are simply looking to ensure they are not wasting any space. As long as the dates, times, & pick-up/drop-off locations are suitable for you, you can frequently save up to 75% on auto transport by utilizing our service.
Eco-Friendly - Using Shiply for auto transport is not only more economical but also more environmentally friendly. In the previous example, if your vehicle didn't get on that multi-car transporter & instead you arranged transport from a separate vehicle shipper, the emissions into the atmosphere would have doubled as another entire trip would be required just for your vehicle. Similarly, many vehicle transporters return empty-handed after a delivery, which is not only expensive for them but also for the environment, as there are many individuals who could have utilized that transporter to move their vehicles in the opposite direction. Many of the auto transporters on Shiply are also seeking to fill their trailers on return trips, resulting in even less wasted CO2 being emitted into the atmosphere, as well as continued affordable transport for our users.
Readying Your Vehicle for Transport
If you have chosen an auto transport company to ship your vehicle & 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 & 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 & 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.
Post-Delivery Steps
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 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, & 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.
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