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 you are unable to drive the vehicle yourself, such as when purchasing or selling a used car online & need to transport it to another state, relocating & requiring long-distance vehicle shipping, or moving your automobile overseas when ferries are not an option. Luckily, there are numerous vehicle transport services available to cater to your specific requirements.
Categories Of Vehicle Transport Services
When selecting a vehicle transport service, the initial choice you need to make is where you want your automobile collected from & delivered to, whether it's a long-distance vehicle transport or shipping a car to another state. Terminal-to-terminal auto delivery is a possibility, where designated collection & drop-off points, frequently the vehicle transport company's stores or operating bases, are utilized. While this option is typically more affordable, it requires more effort on your part to get the vehicle home. However, most individuals prefer door-to-door auto transport delivery service, where their automobiles are collected & dropped off at their doorstep, regardless of the distance.
Vehicle transport services are generally divided into two types: having someone drive your automobile to the destination or placing it on a trailer for transport. Having someone drive your vehicle is a straightforward solution that is often more affordable as it doesn't require trailers or an additional 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 automobile (especially when shipping a car across country) & the slight risk of damage during the journey. These concerns are particularly relevant for individuals buying or selling cars 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 safety than having someone drive it. There are multiple options available depending on the value & size of your vehicle. You can choose a single trailer for your automobile, which is more expensive but ideal for transporting expensive or classic cars without risking damage. The safest way to transport a vehicle is in a shipping container, but this is the most expensive option. Alternatively, you can opt for a multi-car transporter, which comes in a few variants:
Open vehicle shipping is the most affordable & most common option offered by vehicle shipping companies. Your automobile is placed on an open carrier & driven to the destination. While all cars are safely secured, they are exposed to the elements during the drive, making it less suitable for highly valuable vehicles. Long journeys in open trailers also pose a higher risk of damage & exposure to the elements.
Enclosed auto transport involves securing multiple cars on a carrier that is enclosed, protecting them from dust, weather, & debris during transit. This option is preferable for more expensive or newer vehicles where the owner wants to minimize the risk of damage during auto transport.
If you need to move your vehicle overseas, it's best to find a specialist service or a company with experience in overseas vehicle shipping to 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, 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 vehicle transport may cost more or less depending on the circumstances. The best way to find out the cost of auto transport is to collect vehicle shipping quotes from vehicle transport companies, which is easy to do on Shiply.
Factors that can affect the cost of auto transport include:
- Distance: Cross-state & cross-country journeys cost more than interstate vehicle delivery.
- International shipping: Transferring a vehicle overseas is expensive due to logistics & distance.
- Route: Routes with higher traffic or unforeseen circumstances like roadworks can increase costs.
- Shipping dates: Flexible timings can result in lower costs, while expedited shipping is more expensive.
- Vehicle size: Larger automobiles like SUVs cost more to transport than sedans.
- Vehicle condition: Non-drivable cars may require extra equipment, increasing the cost.
- Auto transport service type: Having someone drive your vehicle is the most affordable, while enclosed vehicle shipping is the most expensive.
- Locations of pickup & delivery: Urban areas are usually more affordable, while rural or hard-to-access locations can increase costs.
- Auto transport insurance: Additional cargo insurance may be necessary & can affect the overall cost.
- Time of year: Seasonality can impact prices, with winter being the most expensive & spring being more affordable.
How To Transport A Vehicle - Finding An Auto Transport Service
Finding the right vehicle transport service can be overwhelming, as there are hundreds of vehicle transport companies out there. 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. To get started, fill out a simple form with the make & model of the vehicle, pickup & delivery locations, & the dates you need to move the automobile. This information allows auto transport providers on Shiply to provide accurate quotes for your job.
Once your listing is live, you will receive quotes in your Shiply inbox & email. We recommend keeping email notifications on to know immediately when a new quote arrives. Quotes can start coming in within minutes of posting your listing, but it's best to wait for a few options before making a decision.
When you have a few quotes, you can ask the companies any questions you may have, such as availability, insurance, & how they secure your vehicle. It's important to ask these questions to ensure a smooth & expected experience.
Shiply's feedback & ratings system allows you to view previous customers' experiences with a company & their overall score, which we highly recommend checking before selecting a quote to ship your automobile.
Why People Often Move Cars To & From Burlington, North Carolina, US
Burlington, North Carolina, is a city located in the central part of the state, known for its rich history, vibrant community, & growing economy. Many people move cars to & from Burlington for various reasons, such as relocating for work, attending college, or simply seeking a change of scenery.
The city's strategic location, with easy access to major highways like I-40 & I-85, makes it an attractive destination for businesses & individuals alike. As a result, there is a steady demand for vehicle shipping services to & from Burlington, whether it's for personal or commercial purposes.
Burlington is home to several notable employers, including LabCorp, Honda Power Equipment Manufacturing, & Sheetz Distribution Center, which often attract professionals from other parts of the country. When these individuals relocate, they may need to ship their vehicles to their new home in Burlington.
Additionally, Burlington is home to Elon University, a private liberal arts college that draws students from across the United States. Many students choose to bring their vehicles to campus, creating a demand for vehicle shipping services during the start & end of each academic year.
As Burlington continues to grow & develop, the need for reliable vehicle shipping services to & from the city is likely to increase. Whether you're moving to Burlington for work, education, or personal reasons, using a trusted vehicle shipping company can make the process of relocating your automobile much easier & stress-free.
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 car, on our site you complete one quotation form & then can obtain quotes based on the information you supply from several companies. This can conserve you hours of effort you would have had to invest phoning companies & inputting details. Communication with these businesses is all feasible through our platform too, allowing you to store all of your vehicle shipping details in a single location.
Cost Comparison - When it comes down to it, 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 costs & rough estimates, you won't actually be given a definite vehicle transport estimate without having to input information & fill in specifics. While this is reasonable, it does mean that cost comparison & getting a vehicle transport estimate isn't precisely a simple task. Utilizing Shiply allows you to receive authentic, final price estimates from vehicle shipping companies & compare them in one place, offering the ability to contact them individually to ask any questions you may have & ultimately decide on the optimal company for you.
Affordable Vehicle Shipping - Auto transport businesses 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 & have already invested the cost for. Say, for instance, you were relocating from Los Angeles to New York & needed to move your automobile there. On Shiply, a company 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 work for you, you can often save up to 75% on auto transport by using our service.
More 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 needed just for your automobile. 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 lots of people who could have used that transporter to move their vehicles in the other 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 released into the atmosphere, as well as continued affordable transport for our users.
Readying For Your Vehicle To Be Transported
If you have chosen an auto transport company to move your vehicle & feel confident using them, then it's time to ready your vehicle for shipping. We suggest following these steps:
Paperwork - It is crucial to ensure that any documents you may need are accessible at pick up or drop off, especially if you are selling your car. Cleansing - 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. Operational 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 operational 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 Proof - 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 automobile. 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 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 car to the photos taken of it before to ascertain 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 automobile 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 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 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 most affordable way to ship a vehicle? Having someone drive your car 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 car. 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 car during my vehicle shipment? Most vehicle transport companies will be fine with you keeping some personal items in the car when it is transported. However, there are two important things to remember: 1. The weight of the items may affect the price of the car shipment, & 2. Any items in the car will not be covered by insurance for the transport of the vehicle itself. How much gas should I have in my car during transit? Generally, you should aim to have around a quarter of your tank full. This allows for easy loading & unloading of the car but will not add too much extra weight to the vehicle. Can I ship my car if it isn't running? You can ship your car 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 car? Almost any type of car 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 vehicle shipping burlington or burlington vehicle shipping services, Shiply is the perfect platform to connect with trusted auto transport companies. Compare quotes, read reviews, & choose the best provider for your needs. Experience hassle-free vehicle shipping today with Shiply!
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