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 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 transporting 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 want your vehicle collected from & transported to, whether it's a cross-country car shipment or transporting a car to another state. Terminal-to-terminal auto delivery is an alternative, where designated collection & drop-off points are utilized, frequently at the car transport company's stores or operating bases. While this alternative is typically less expensive, it necessitates more effort on your part to get the vehicle home. Most individuals, however, opt for a door-to-door auto transport delivery service, where their vehicles are collected & dropped off at their doorstep, regardless of the distance.
Car transport services can be classified into two primary categories: having someone operate your vehicle to the destination or placing it on a trailer for shipment.
Have Someone Operate Your Vehicle
Employing someone to operate your vehicle to its destination is a straightforward solution for car shipping, whether it's across the nation or to another state. This approach is often less expensive 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 added mileage to your automobile, especially when shipping a car across the country, & the slight risk of damage during the journey. These concerns are particularly relevant for individuals purchasing 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 is a safer alternative that guarantees a higher level of protection compared to having someone operate it. Car shipping trailers come in various options, depending on the value & size of your automobile. Single trailers, while more costly, are ideal for transporting expensive or classic cars that require extra care. The safest way to transport a vehicle is in a shipping container, although this is the most expensive option. Multi-car transporters, which can carry several automobiles at once, are another popular choice.
Open car shipping is the most economical & common alternative offered by car shipping companies. 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 the drive, 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 vehicles on a carrier that is enclosed, protecting them from dust, weather, & debris during transit. This alternative is preferable for more expensive or newer automobiles where the owner wants to minimize the risk of damage.
If you need to move your vehicle overseas, it's best to find a specialist service or a company with experience in overseas car shipping, as they can provide tailored advice based on your requirements.
How Much Does It Cost To Ship A Vehicle?
The cost of shipping 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 car transport may cost more or less depending on your specific circumstances. The best way to determine the cost of auto transport is to obtain quotes from vehicle transport companies, which is easily done through platforms like Shiply.
Factors That Can Influence The Cost Of Auto Transport
While everyone wants inexpensive car transport, several factors can affect the cost of vehicle shipping services. Some of the main factors include:
1. Distance: Cross-state & cross-country journeys cost significantly more than interstate car delivery, which is often the most economical option. However, the average price per mile decreases as the journey length increases.
2. International shipping: Transporting a vehicle overseas is always more costly due to the logistics involved & the distance traveled. It may also require special enclosed trailers or shipping containers.
3. Route: The route taken from the collection spot to the delivery location can affect pricing. Routes with higher traffic, such as in LA, may cost more due to the added time. Unforeseen circumstances like major roadworks can also incur extra costs or require a longer alternative route.
4. Shipping dates: Flexibility in timings can lead to lower costs, as vehicle shipping companies can fit your delivery into their schedule & reduce overheads. Expedited shipping, where you require auto transport within a strict timeframe, typically costs more.
5. Vehicle size: The height, length, & width of the automobile affect the cost of transport. Larger vehicles like SUVs generally cost more to transport than sedans. Accessories such as bike racks or roof racks can also change the required trailer size.
6. Vehicle condition: If your car is not drivable, it may increase the cost of auto transport, as extra equipment like a winch or forklift may be needed to load & unload the automobile.
7. Auto transport service type: Having someone operate your vehicle is the most economical option, while single car trailers & enclosed transport are more costly due to the specialized equipment required.
8. Pickup & delivery locations: Urban areas usually have vehicle shipping services nearby, & common destination routes often offer inexpensive car shipping. Rural deliveries can cost more due to deviations from normal routes & extra mileage. Hard-to-access collection or drop-off points may also increase costs.
9. Auto transport insurance: While auto transport companies must carry liability insurance, many do not offer additional coverage. If cargo insurance is not provided, it's highly recommended to acquire it separately for your automobile during transit.
10. Time of year: Seasonality affects car shipping prices, with winter being the most expensive due to ice, snow, & reduced maximum speeds. Spring & fall offer better rates & availability, while summer is the busiest season, with higher prices.
How To Ship A Vehicle - Finding An Auto Transport Service
With hundreds of vehicle transport companies available, finding the right one can be overwhelming. Searching on Google or through phone books can be time-consuming, & many companies are reluctant to provide pricing without a detailed quote application.
How Can Shiply Help Find Auto Transport Companies?
Shiply simplifies the process of finding a vehicle shipping service. By filling out a simple form with your car's make & model, pickup & delivery locations, & desired shipping 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 the company questions about their availability, insurance coverage, & how they secure automobiles during transport. Shiply's feedback & ratings system also allows you to view previous customers' experiences & overall scores, helping you make an informed choice.
Why People Often Move Vehicles To & From South Valley, New Mexico
South Valley, located in Bernalillo County, New Mexico, is a growing community that attracts many new residents each year. People often move to South Valley for its affordable housing, proximity to Albuquerque, & access to outdoor recreation opportunities. As a result, there is a significant demand for vehicle shipping services to & from South Valley.
When moving to South Valley, many people choose to ship their cars rather than drive them across the country. This is especially true for those moving from distant states, as the long drive can be time-consuming & stressful. By using a vehicle shipping service, new residents can have their automobiles delivered directly to their new homes in South Valley, allowing them to settle in more quickly & easily.
Similarly, when residents of South Valley move away, they often need to ship their cars to their new locations. Whether moving for work, family, or other reasons, vehicle shipping services provide a convenient way to transport automobiles to their new homes. This is particularly useful for those moving to areas with limited public transportation or where having a car is essential for daily life.
In addition to residential moves, vehicle shipping services are also popular among car dealerships & online car buyers in South Valley. Dealerships may need to ship cars from other locations to meet customer demand, while online car buyers may purchase automobiles from out-of-state sellers & require shipping to South Valley.
Overall, the growing population & diverse transportation needs of South Valley create a strong demand for reliable & affordable vehicle shipping services. Whether moving to or from the area, shipping a car purchased online, or transporting automobiles for business purposes, vehicle shipping companies play a vital role in connecting South Valley with the rest of the country.
The Benefits of Using Shiply for Vehicle Transportation
Time-Efficient - Rather than filling out a quotation form each instance you desire an accurate cost from a business on transporting a vehicle, on our site you complete one quotation form & can then obtain quotes based on the information you supply from several companies. This can save you hours of time you would have spent phoning businesses & inputting details. Communication with these firms is also feasible through 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 challenge is that, while most businesses are willing to provide average prices & rough estimates, you won't receive a definite vehicle transport quote without having to give information & fill in specifics. While this is reasonable, it means that price comparison & getting a vehicle transport estimate isn't exactly simple. Utilizing Shiply enables you to receive authentic, final price estimates from vehicle shipping businesses & compare them in one location, offering the ability to message them individually to ask any questions you may have & ultimately decide on the best firm for you.
Affordable Vehicle Shipping - Auto transport businesses on Shiply can usually 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 taking & have already invested the cost 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 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 are convenient for you, you can often save up to 75% on auto transport by using our service.
Environmentally Friendly - Using Shiply for auto transport is not only less expensive but 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 car shipper, the emissions into the atmosphere would have doubled as another entire journey 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 many people who could have used that transporter to move their vehicles 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 chosen an auto transport company to transport 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 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 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 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, 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 determine 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.
If you're looking for reliable & affordable car shipping south valley or south valley car shipping services, Shiply is the perfect platform to connect with top-rated auto transport companies. With our user-friendly interface & competitive pricing, shipping your vehicle has never been easier or more cost-effective. Get started today & experience the convenience of Shiply for all your car shipping needs!
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