What Is Vehicle Transportation?
Vehicle transportation, also known 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. It's beneficial for moving a vehicle in various situations where you can't operate the car yourself. For instance, you might be buying or selling a pre-owned car online & need to transport it to another state, or maybe you've recently moved & need to ship your automobile across the country. Vehicle shipping services can also be extremely useful when you need to transport your car overseas & ferries aren't available, requiring you to rely on an auto transport company to manage the job.
Luckily, there are numerous vehicle transport services available to satisfy your specific requirements, which we'll discuss below.
Types Of Vehicle Shipping Services
There are various vehicle transport services available, summarized below. It's advantageous to read through & determine the precise type of car transportation service you require or prefer for transporting your automobile.
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 auto delivery is an option, where designated collection & drop-off points are used, often at the vehicle transport company's stores or operating bases. Terminal-to-terminal auto delivery is usually more affordable but requires more effort on your part to get the automobile home. However, most people require a door-to-door auto transport delivery service, where 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 automobile in the first place!
Vehicle transport services are generally divided into two categories: having someone operate your car to the destination or putting it on a trailer & transporting it.
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 auto transport method are that it's often more affordable, as 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 vehicle shipping companies that lead some people to choose other types of car transport. Firstly, mileage is added to your automobile during the journey, meaning that if you're moving a vehicle across the country, significant miles will be added, although less so when transporting a car to a nearby state. Secondly, there is a slight risk of damage occurring to your automobile while it's being operated from point A to point B. These concerns are particularly worrisome 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 automobile on a trailer is a safer way to ensure a higher level of protection than having someone operate your car to its destination. With vehicle shipping trailers, there are several options available depending on the value & size of your automobile.
Firstly, you need to decide whether you want a single trailer for your vehicle. These are often more expensive as they only transport one automobile at a time but are a great choice if you're moving an expensive or classic car that you don't want to risk getting damaged. The safest way to transport a vehicle 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 automobiles at once & comes in a few variants:
Open vehicle shipping by any car shipping company is the most affordable & most common option when transporting an automobile. Your car is placed on an open carrier & driven to the destination. All vehicles are securely fastened, but as the name suggests, they are exposed to the elements during the drive, so vehicle shipping companies may not recommend this for highly valuable automobiles. Furthermore, while it may be the most affordable way to transport a vehicle cross-country, long journeys in open trailers obviously run a higher risk of damage & leave your car exposed to the elements for longer periods.
Enclosed auto transport involves multiple vehicles secured on a carrier, but they are enclosed, meaning they are not exposed to dust, weather, & debris from the outside world during transit. This is often preferable for more expensive or newer automobiles where the owner wants to minimize the risk of damage during auto transport.
If you need to move your car overseas through an auto transport company, try to find one of the specialist services 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 transporting a vehicle, but on average, auto 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 car transport may cost more or less depending on the circumstances. The best way to find out how much auto transport will cost you is to collect vehicle shipping quotes from car transport companies, which is very easy to do on Shiply.
If you want to get an idea of how much you can expect your vehicle delivery to cost, take a look below at the factors that can affect the price of car transport services.
Factors That Can Affect The Cost Of Vehicle Transport
We all want affordable vehicle transport, but several factors & variables can affect how much your car shipping will cost. Below, we'll outline the main ones so you can get a rough idea of whether your auto transport requirements will be expensive or cheap.
As mentioned earlier, distance is one of the factors that will significantly impact how much your vehicle transport will cost, with cross-state & cross-country journeys costing much more than interstate car delivery, which is often the most affordable vehicle shipping option.
While longer distances do cost more, fortunately, the average price per mile drops as the journey gets longer, meaning you aren't 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 automobile.
Route - Along with distance, the route needed to take your vehicle from its collection spot to its delivery spot can affect the pricing of your car carrier service. Routes with known higher traffic, such as in LA, may end up costing more than quieter roads due to the added time. Likewise, unforeseen circumstances like major roadworks could also incur extra costs from the vehicle moving companies or require a different, longer route.
Shipping Dates - How quickly you need your vehicle transportation service to operate can also affect the price. For example, if you can be flexible with timings, you may find that your car shipping service charges significantly less because they can fit your automobile delivery into their schedule & reduce overheads, passing the savings on to you. However, if you require auto transport within a strict timeframe (often known as expedited shipping), this will typically end up costing you more, as the vehicle transport company may need to dedicate a trailer & driver just for your delivery.
Vehicle Size - The height, length, & width of the automobile will all affect the cost of transporting your car. Vehicle shippers will require larger trailers for bigger automobiles, with SUVs typically costing more on average to transport than sedans. Additionally, always 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.
Vehicle Condition - If your automobile is not in drivable condition, it may make your auto transport more expensive. This is because it may require extra equipment, such as a winch or forklift, to get your car on & off the trailer. If your vehicle 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 car transport service. Most vehicle carriers consider a car that can brake, roll, & steer to be in good enough condition to ship easily.
Auto Transport Service Type - The type of auto 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 most affordable option, as you are essentially just paying for a driver's time & petrol, whereas single car trailers & enclosed transport are likely to be more expensive due to the extra equipment required. Enclosed vehicle shipping will always be the most expensive method of transporting a car, as it means your automobile is traveling alone & still needs specialist equipment to load, unload, & protect it during transport.
Locations Of Pickup & Delivery - Depending on where you need the vehicle collected from & dropped off, the price of shipping a car may increase. Urban areas usually have vehicle shipping services in close proximity, & if it is a common destination route, you will tend to get affordable car shipping. Rural deliveries can cost more, as they require deviations from normal routes & extra mileage for the company. If a collection or drop-off point is in an unusual or hard-to-access space, extra steps may be needed to load your automobile, which can also increase the vehicle shipping cost.
Auto Transport Insurance - While all auto transport companies are required to carry liability insurance, many do not offer additional insurance, as it is not required by law. If a vehicle transport company does not offer cargo insurance, it is highly recommended that you seek out & acquire some for your automobile 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 vehicle shipping, with many services costing more to transport 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 vehicle delivery service can transport cars. 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, so 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 affordable rates & high availability when it comes to moving your car. March is often a better time to ship than April or May; however, there is often a rush to move vehicles 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 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 affordable vehicle shipping during the summer.
Fall is a good time to ship a vehicle if you are looking for a slightly more affordable 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 Ship A Vehicle - Finding An Auto Transport Service
Now that you know more about what vehicle shipping & a car shipping service are & what sort of auto transport service you need, you probably want to go ahead & actually try to find a vehicle transport service that is going to be 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 car 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 become very time-consuming.
How Can Shiply Help Find Auto Transport Companies?
Given all of the options & variables involved with finding a vehicle 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 get started with 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 auto transport providers on Shiply enough information to be able 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, you can ask them 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 also 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 Utica, New York, US
Utica, located in the heart of New York State, is a city that sees a significant amount of vehicle shipping activity. Many people move to Utica for various reasons, such as job opportunities, educational pursuits, or to be closer to family. When relocating to Utica, individuals often choose to ship their automobiles rather than drive them across long distances. This is particularly true for those moving from distant states or even from other countries.
On the other hand, people also frequently move away from Utica, whether it's for career advancement, retirement, or personal reasons. In these cases, they may need to ship their vehicles to their new location, especially if it's a long-distance move. Utica vehicle shipping services make it convenient for residents to transport their automobiles to their new homes without the hassle of driving them personally.
Furthermore, Utica is home to several colleges & universities, such as Utica College & SUNY Polytechnic Institute. Students attending these institutions often require vehicle shipping services to bring their automobiles to Utica at the beginning of the academic year & to ship them back home during breaks or at the end of the school year.
Whether you're moving to or from Utica, or simply need to transport your vehicle for other reasons, vehicle shipping utica services & utica car shipping companies can provide a convenient & reliable solution. By working with experienced professionals, you can ensure that your automobile arrives at its destination safely & efficiently.
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The Benefits of Using Shiply for Vehicle Transport in Utica
Time-Efficient - Rather than filling out a quotation form each time 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 save you a significant amount of time that you would have spent phoning companies & providing details. Communication with these businesses is also feasible through our platform, allowing you to store all of your Utica vehicle shipping data 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 supply information & complete details. While this is understandable, it means that comparing prices & obtaining a vehicle transport quote is not a simple task. Using Shiply enables you to receive authentic, final price estimates from vehicle shipping companies & compare them in one place, with the ability to message them individually to ask any questions you may have & ultimately choose the best company for your needs.
Affordable Vehicle Shipping - Auto transport businesses on Shiply can usually offer their services at 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 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 simply 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 example above, if your vehicle did not 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 required 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 cars in the opposite direction. Many of the auto transporters on Shiply are also looking to fill their trailers on return journeys, resulting in even less wasted CO2 being released into the atmosphere, as well as continued affordable transport for our users.
Preparing Your Vehicle for Shipping
If you have selected 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 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 & 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 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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