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 cross-country vehicle shipping, or moving your automobile abroad when ferries are not available. 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 cross-country vehicle transport or shipping a car to another state. Terminal-to-terminal auto delivery is an option, where designated collection & drop-off points, often the vehicle transport company's stores or operating bases, are used. While this option is typically more affordable, it requires more effort on your part to get the vehicle home. Most individuals, however, opt for 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.
Have Someone Drive Your Vehicle
Hiring someone to drive your automobile to its destination is a straightforward solution for vehicle shipping, whether it's across the country or to another state. The advantages of this method include lower costs, as trailers & extra vehicles are not required, & faster delivery due to the simplicity of the transport. However, there are some drawbacks to this method that lead some individuals to choose other types of vehicle transport. Firstly, mileage is added to your automobile during the journey, which can be significant when shipping a car across the country. Secondly, there is a slight risk of damage to your vehicle while it is being driven. 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.
Put Your Vehicle On A Trailer
Placing your automobile on a trailer is a safer way to ensure a higher level of protection than having someone drive it to its destination. Vehicle shipping trailers come in various options, depending on the value & size of your automobile. You can choose between a single trailer for your vehicle, which is more expensive but ideal for transporting expensive or classic cars, or a multi-car transporter that can carry several automobiles at once.
Open vehicle shipping is the most affordable & common option offered by vehicle shipping companies. Your automobile 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 vehicles. Additionally, long journeys in open trailers 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 transport.
If you need to move your automobile overseas, it's best to find a specialist service or a company with experience in overseas vehicle 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 vehicle transport may cost more or less depending on your specific circumstances. The best way to determine the cost of auto transport is to obtain vehicle shipping quotes from various companies, which is easily done through Shiply.
Factors That Can Affect The Cost Of Vehicle Transport
Several factors can impact the cost of vehicle shipping, including:
1. Distance: Cross-state & cross-country journeys cost significantly more than interstate vehicle delivery, which is often the cheapest option. However, the average price per mile decreases as the journey length increases.
2. International shipping: Transporting a vehicle overseas is always more expensive 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 than quieter roads 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 result in lower charges, 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 due to the dedication of a trailer & driver for your delivery.
5. Vehicle size: The height, length, & width of the automobile affect the cost of transport. Larger vehicles, such as SUVs, generally cost more to transport than sedans. Accessories like 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. Non-operational vehicles require extra equipment, such as a winch or forklift, to load & unload them from the trailer, taking more time, effort, & machinery compared to a standard vehicle transport service.
7. Auto transport service type: The type of auto transport service you choose affects the cost. Having someone drive your vehicle is the cheapest option, while single car trailers & enclosed transport are more expensive due to the specialized equipment required.
8. Pickup & delivery locations: The location of the collection & drop-off points can impact the price of shipping a vehicle. Urban areas usually have vehicle shipping services in close proximity & common destination routes, resulting in cheaper vehicle shipping. Rural deliveries can cost more due to deviations from normal routes & extra mileage for the company. Unusual or hard-to-access spaces may also require extra steps to load your automobile, increasing the cost.
9. Auto transport insurance: While all auto transport companies must carry liability insurance, many do not offer additional insurance. If a company does not provide cargo insurance, it is highly recommended to acquire it separately for your automobile during transit. Ensure you understand what type of damage is covered, any deductibles, & which parts of the vehicle are included in the insurance policy.
10. Time of year: Seasonality can affect the price of vehicle shipping, with winter often being the most expensive due to ice, snow, & blizzard conditions causing delays & reduced maximum speeds. Spring is a great time to ship your automobile, with improved weather, longer days, & more available drivers. Summer is the prime season for shipping cars, with increased demand from students, vacationers, & those moving houses, resulting in higher prices. Fall can offer slightly cheaper prices due to reduced demand after the summer rush.
How To Ship A Vehicle - Finding An Auto Transport Service
With hundreds of vehicle transport companies available, finding the right one can be a daunting task. 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 the right vehicle shipping service. To get started, fill out a simple form with the make & model of the car, collection & 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 be immediately informed of new quotes. Quotes can start arriving within minutes of posting your listing, but it's best to wait for a few options before making a decision.
When you have received several quotes, you can ask the companies any questions you may have, such as their availability, insurance coverage, & how they secure cars during transport. 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 Valley City, North Dakota, US
Valley City, located in North Dakota, US, is a popular destination for vehicle shipping due to various reasons. Many individuals relocate to Valley City for job opportunities, as the city has a diverse economy with a focus on agriculture, manufacturing, & healthcare. The presence of Valley City State University also attracts students who may need to ship their automobiles to the city. Additionally, Valley City's proximity to major highways, such as Interstate 94, makes it a convenient location for vehicle transport companies to collect & deliver automobiles. The city's central location within North Dakota also contributes to its popularity as a vehicle shipping destination, as it is easily accessible from other parts of the state. Whether moving to Valley City for work, education, or personal reasons, many individuals find themselves in need of reliable vehicle shipping services to transport their automobiles to & from this vibrant North Dakota city.
The Benefits of Using Shiply for Auto Transport in Valley City
Time-Efficient - Rather than filling out a quotation form each time you desire an accurate cost from a company for valley city vehicle transport, on our site you complete one quote 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 and completing forms. Communication with these businesses is also possible via our platform, allowing you to store all of your auto shipping details in a single location.
Cost Comparison - Ultimately, the price of the vehicle shipping estimate is the most crucial factor when choosing which car transport company to employ to transport your vehicle. The challenging aspect is that, while most companies are willing to provide average prices & rough estimates, you won't receive a definite car transport quote without supplying information & filling in details. Although this is understandable, it means that comparing prices and obtaining a vehicle transport quote is not a simple task. 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 choose the best company for your needs.
Affordable Vehicle Shipping - Car transport companies on Shiply can usually provide 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 car there, a company on Shiply may already have a multi-car transporter making that journey 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 car transport by using our service.
Environmentally Friendly - Using Shiply for car transport is not only less expensive but also more environmentally friendly. In the previous example, if your car 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 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 car 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 checking fluid levels, battery charge, & tire pressure. Again, this can also help you better evaluate 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 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.
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