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. 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 a vehicle to another state, or when you've relocated & need to ship a car across the nation. Auto transport services can also be extremely useful when you need to move your vehicle internationally, & unless ferries are available, you'll need to depend on a car shipping company to manage this for you.
Luckily, there are numerous vehicle transport services available to fulfill your requirements, which we've enumerated below.
Varieties Of Car Shipping Services
There are various car shipping services available, which we've outlined below. It can be extremely helpful to review & determine precisely what type of auto transportation service you require or desire to transport your vehicle.
The initial decision you need to make is where you want your automobile collected from & delivered to, whether it's a cross-country vehicle transport or shipping a car to another state. Terminal-to-terminal car delivery is an option, which means that designated collection & drop-off points are used, often the auto transport company's stores or operating bases. For this reason, terminal-to-terminal car delivery is usually more affordable but will require more effort on your end to get the vehicle home. However, the vast majority of individuals require a door-to-door vehicle transport delivery service so that their automobiles are collected & dropped off at their door, regardless of whether it's a cross-country car transport or just to move a vehicle to another state. This is often preferable as it means you don't need to go anywhere to collect your car - something that can be challenging without your vehicle in the first place!
Auto transport services are generally divided into two categories: either you have someone drive your automobile to where it needs to be, or it's put on a trailer & taken there.
Have Someone Drive Your Automobile
This is a straightforward solution to vehicle shipping that involves hiring someone to come & drive your car to where it needs to go - whether the need is to transport a vehicle across the country or to ship cars to another state. The benefits of this car transport method are that it's often more affordable as trailers & an extra vehicle aren't required, & it can also be fast due to the straightforward nature of the transportation.
However, there are some downsides to this method offered by auto shipping companies that lead some individuals to opt for other types of vehicle transport. First, mileage is obviously added to your car on the journey, meaning if you're shipping a vehicle across the country, there will be significant miles added - less so when simply shipping a car to a nearby state. Second, there's a slight risk of damage happening to your automobile while it's driven from A to B. These are particularly worrisome for individuals buying or selling cars online who want to ensure the vehicle arrives in exactly the same condition as it was advertised.
Put Your Automobile On A Trailer
Putting your car in a trailer is a safe way to guarantee a higher level of security than having someone drive your vehicle to its destination. With auto shipping trailers, there are multiple options you may want to go with depending on the value & size of your automobile.
First, you need to decide whether you want a single trailer for your car. These are often more expensive as they only transport one vehicle at a time but are a great option if you're moving an expensive or classic automobile which you don't want to risk getting damaged. The absolute safest way to transport a car is to put it in a shipping container, but this is by far the most costly option. The other option is a multi-car transporter which can move many vehicles at once, of which there are a few variants:
Open vehicle shipping by any auto shipping company is the most affordable & by far the most common option when transporting a car. Your automobile is placed on an open carrier & is driven to the destination. All cars are safely secured but, as the name suggests, they're exposed to the elements during the drive, so this may not be recommended by vehicle shipping companies for highly valuable automobiles. Further, while it may be the most affordable way to ship a car cross country, long journeys in open trailers will obviously run more risk of damage & leave your vehicle exposed to the elements for longer periods of time.
Enclosed car transport involves multiple automobiles secured on a carrier, but they're enclosed, meaning they're not exposed to the dust, weather & debris of the outside world during transit. This is often preferable for more expensive or newer vehicles where the owner wants to minimize the risk of damage during car transport.
Should you need to move your automobile overseas through a car transport company, you should try to find one of the specialist services on our platform or one which has experience in overseas vehicle shipping, as they can provide you with tailored advice based on what you require.
How Much Does It Cost To Ship A Vehicle?
There are several variables when trying to work out how much it will cost to ship a car, but on average in the US, car transport companies charge 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, this drops to $0.78.
These numbers are just averages for vehicle moving companies, however, & your auto transport may cost more or less than these figures depending on the circumstances. The best way to find out how much car transport is going to cost you is to collect some vehicle shipping quotes from auto transport companies, something that's very easy to do on Shiply.
If you do want to try 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 Car Transport
We all want affordable vehicle transport, but there are several factors & variables that can affect how much your auto shipping will cost. Below we'll lay out the main ones so that you can get a rough idea of whether your car transport requirements will be costly or cheap.
As mentioned above, distance is one of the factors that will play a big part in how much your vehicle transport will cost, with cross-state & cross-country journeys costing a lot more than an interstate auto delivery, which is often the most affordable car shipping.
While longer distances do cost more, thankfully the average price per mile does drop the longer the journey is, meaning that you aren't paying over the odds.
International shipping will always result in costly vehicle shipping quotes due to the logistics of transferring a car overseas & the distance it will need to travel. It can 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 pick-up spot to its delivery spot can affect the pricing of your auto carrier service. Routes with known higher traffic, in LA for example, may end up costing more than quieter roads due to the time this can add to a journey. Likewise, unforeseen circumstances such as major roadworks could also incur extra costs from the vehicle moving companies or mean that a different route is required that may take longer.
Shipping Dates - How fast you need your vehicle transportation service to operate can also affect the price. For example, if you're able to be flexible around timings, you may find that your auto shipping service charges a lot less. This is because they're able to fit your car delivery into their schedule & reduce overheads for themselves, passing the savings on to you. However, if you require car transport in a strict timeframe (often known as expedited shipping), this will typically end up costing you more due to the vehicle transport company likely having to dedicate a trailer & driver just for your delivery.
Vehicle Size - The height, length & width of the automobile will all affect how much it will cost to transport your vehicle. Car shippers will require larger trailers for bigger automobiles, with SUVs typically costing more on average to transport than a sedan. Further, you should always make sure to let the car transport company know 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 automobile is not in a drivable condition, this may make your car transport cost 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, & takes more time, effort & machinery to complete the delivery than a standard auto transport service. Most vehicle carriers would 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 drive your automobile to its destination will always be the most affordable option, as you're essentially just paying for a driver's time & petrol, whereas with single car trailers & enclosed transport, the price is likely to be higher as there is extra equipment required. Something like enclosed vehicle shipping will always be the most costly method of shipping a car, as it means not only is your automobile traveling on its own, but it still needs specialist equipment to load, unload & protect your vehicle during transport.
Locations Of Pickup & Delivery - Depending on where you need the vehicle picked up from & dropped off, this may also increase the price of shipping a car. Urban areas will usually have auto shipping services in close proximity, & if it's a common destination route, you'll 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 pick-up or drop-off point is also in an unusual or hard-to-access space, extra steps may need to be taken to load your automobile, which can also increase the vehicle 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 a vehicle transport company does not offer cargo insurance, it's highly recommended that you seek out & acquire some for your automobile during its transit. As with all insurance policies, make sure you're clear on what type of damage is covered, whether there's 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 ship 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 automobile. 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. February, however, is usually quiet, & so great rates are often available from vehicle shipping services during this month.
Spring is a great time to ship your automobile with a car 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 vehicle. March is often a better time to ship than April or May, however, again there's 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 affordable vehicle shipping during the summer.
Fall is a good time to ship a car if you're looking for a slightly more affordable price. Auto shipping companies are less busy & there's typically more driver availability after the summer rush. However, you're better off looking to move your automobile in October or November rather than September, as this is peak time for students shipping their vehicles to university.
How To Ship A Vehicle - Finding A Car Transport Service
Now that you know a bit more about what vehicle shipping & a car 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 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 end up resulting in scrolling through hundreds of pages trying to find the best auto shipping company for the best price, & the same is true if you were going to go through phone books. Further, many of these companies are reluctant to give you pricing, meaning you'll most 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 Car 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 car 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'll 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're 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 Kannapolis, North Carolina
Kannapolis, North Carolina is a city located in the Charlotte metropolitan area. Many individuals move cars to & from Kannapolis for various reasons. One common reason is relocation - whether it's for a new job, to be closer to family, or for a change of scenery, moving to a new city often requires shipping a vehicle. Kannapolis is a growing city with a strong economy, making it an attractive destination for many people.
Another reason individuals may need auto shipping services in Kannapolis is when buying or selling a car online. With the rise of online marketplaces, it's become increasingly common for people to purchase automobiles from out of state. If you find your dream vehicle in Kannapolis but live elsewhere, you'll need to arrange for car shipping to get it to your location. Similarly, if you're selling an automobile to someone in Kannapolis, you may need to use a vehicle shipping service to get it to the buyer.
Whether you're moving to Kannapolis, buying a car from the city, or need to ship an automobile for any other reason, there are plenty of auto shipping companies that can help. By using a platform like Shiply, you can easily compare quotes from multiple providers & find the best kannapolis car shipping service for your needs.
In conclusion, vehicle shipping is a valuable service that can make relocating or buying a car from another city much easier. If you need kannapolis auto shipping, be sure to compare quotes from several providers & choose a reputable company with experience in the industry. With the right car shipping service, you can have your automobile delivered to Kannapolis or shipped from the city to your location with minimal hassle.
The Benefits of Using Shiply for Auto Transport in Kannapolis
Time-Efficient - Rather than filling out a quotation form each time you desire an accurate estimate from a company regarding Kannapolis auto transport, on our platform you complete one quotation form & can then obtain estimates based on the information you supply from several companies. This can save you hours of time you would have spent phoning companies & inputting details. Communication with these businesses is also feasible through our platform, allowing you to store all of your auto shipping details in a single location.
Rate Comparison - Ultimately, the price of the auto shipping estimate is the most crucial factor in choosing which vehicle transport company to employ to transport your automobile. The challenging aspect is that, while most companies are willing to provide average rates & rough estimates, you won't receive a definite auto transport quote without having to give information & complete details. While this is understandable, it means that rate comparison & obtaining an auto transport quote is not exactly a simple process. Utilizing Shiply enables you to receive authentic, final price estimates from auto shipping companies & compare them in one place, offering the ability to message them individually to ask any questions you may have & ultimately decide on the optimal company for you.
Affordable Auto Shipping in Kannapolis - Vehicle transport companies 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 often 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 automobile there, a company on Shiply 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 wasting 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 vehicle transport by using our service.
Environmentally Friendly - Not only is using Shiply for vehicle transport more affordable, but it is also more environmentally friendly. In the above example, if your automobile didn't get on that multi-car transporter & instead you arranged transport from a separate auto shipper, then the emissions into the atmosphere would have doubled as another entire trip would be needed just for your automobile. Similarly, many auto 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 transport their automobiles in the opposite direction. Many of the vehicle transporters on Shiply are also looking to fill their trailers on return trips, meaning even less wasted CO2 is being emitted into the atmosphere, as well as continued affordable transport for our users.
Preparing Your Automobile for Shipping
If you have chosen a vehicle transport company to transport your automobile & feel confident using them, then it's time to prepare your automobile 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 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 ascertain 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 judge the condition of the vehicle upon arrival.
Photographic Evidence - One very important thing to do when preparing your vehicle for the auto delivery service to pick up is to take high-quality photographs of all parts of the automobile. This provides you with evidence of the automobile's condition before shipping should anything happen to it during transport.
What to Do After Delivery
Once the auto 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 automobile is in the expected condition, as well as enable you to immediately raise concerns with the auto 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 an automobile can, in rare cases, cause damage, & you want to be sure your auto transport service has not done so.
Check Mileage - This is more relevant to auto 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 vehicle transport company you used through Shiply so that others can browse auto shipping services with the same peace of mind.
FAQ - Frequently Asked Questions
Below we have answered some of the most asked questions about auto shipping:
How much to ship an automobile? Auto 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 an automobile? Having someone drive your vehicle to its destination is the most affordable way to ship an automobile, 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 an automobile.
How do I pay for my vehicle transport? This is down to each individual vehicle transport company on Shiply & is something you should discuss with your chosen auto delivery service before confirming the delivery. Most companies will be flexible with payment options, however.
Can I track my auto transport online? Each auto shipping company on Shiply has different ways of operating, but many offer the ability to track your auto shipment, with some even able to provide personal updates. If you require tracking, you should message individual auto transport companies to confirm that this is possible with them.
Does someone have to be present for pickup & delivery? In most cases, the auto 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 automobile keys.
Can I keep items in my vehicle during my auto shipment? Most auto 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 automobile 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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