What Is Vehicle Transportation?
Vehicle transportation, also referred to as automobile transport or auto shipping, is a service offered by car hauling companies that involves collecting your automobile from one spot & transporting it to another. It's beneficial for moving a vehicle in various circumstances where you can't operate the car yourself. For instance, you might be buying or selling a pre-owned vehicle online & require shipping it to another state, or maybe you've recently moved & need to transport your automobile across the nation. Auto shipping services can also be extremely useful when you need to relocate your car overseas & ferries aren't available, necessitating you to rely on a vehicle transport company to manage the job.
Luckily, there are numerous automobile shipping services available to satisfy your particular requirements, which we'll discuss below.
Types Of Vehicle Shipping Services
Here's an overview of the various vehicle shipping services offered. It's advantageous to read through & decide the precise type of auto transportation service you need or prefer for transporting your automobile.
The initial decision you need to make is where you want your vehicle picked up from & delivered to, whether it's a cross-country car hauling or moving an automobile 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. Terminal-to-terminal auto delivery is usually less expensive but requires more effort on your part to get the automobile home. However, most people require a door-to-door vehicle shipping delivery service, so their cars are collected & dropped off at their doorstep, regardless of whether it's a cross-country automobile 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 vehicle, which can be challenging without your automobile in the first place!
Vehicle shipping services generally fall into two categories: having someone operate your car to the destination or putting it on a trailer & hauling it.
Have Someone Operate Your Vehicle
This straightforward solution to vehicle shipping involves hiring someone to drive your automobile to the desired location, whether you need to move a car across the country or to another state. The advantages of this auto transport method are that it's often less expensive, as trailers & an extra vehicle aren't required, & it can be faster due to the straightforward nature of the transport.
However, there are some drawbacks to this method offered by vehicle hauling companies that lead some people to choose other types of automobile transport. Firstly, mileage is added to your car during the journey, meaning significant miles will be added if you're moving an automobile across the country, less so when moving a car to a nearby state. Secondly, there's a slight risk of damage to your vehicle while it's being operated from point A to point B. These concerns are particularly relevant for people buying or selling automobiles online who want to ensure the car arrives in the exact condition as advertised.
Put Your Automobile On A Trailer
Putting your vehicle in a trailer is a safer way to ensure a higher level of protection than having someone operate your automobile to its destination. With car hauling trailers, there are multiple options available depending on the value & size of your car.
First, you need to decide whether you want a single trailer for your automobile. These are often more expensive as they only transport one vehicle 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 ship an automobile 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 vehicles at once & comes in a few variants:
Open vehicle shipping by any automobile hauling company is the cheapest & most common option for transporting a car. Your automobile is placed on an open carrier & driven to the destination. All cars are securely fastened, but as the name suggests, they are exposed to the elements during the drive, so vehicle hauling companies may not recommend this for highly valuable automobiles. Furthermore, while it may be the cheapest way to move a car cross-country, long journeys in open trailers obviously run a higher risk of damage & leave your vehicle exposed to the elements for longer periods.
Enclosed auto transport involves securing multiple automobiles on a carrier, but they are enclosed, protecting them from dust, weather & debris during transit. This is often preferable for more expensive or newer vehicles where the owner wants to minimize the risk of damage during auto shipping.
If you need to relocate your car overseas through a vehicle transport company, try to find a specialist service on our platform or one with experience in overseas automobile shipping, as they can provide tailored advice based on your requirements.
How Much Does It Cost To Move An Automobile?
Several variables affect the cost of moving a car, but on average, vehicle 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 automobile moving companies, & your vehicle transport may cost more or less depending on the circumstances. The best way to find out how much auto shipping will cost you is to collect car hauling quotes from vehicle transport companies, which is easy to do on Shiply.
If you want to get an idea of how much you can expect your automobile delivery to cost, consider the factors that can affect the price of vehicle shipping services, which we'll discuss below.
Factors That Can Affect The Cost Of Vehicle Transport
We all want cheap automobile transport, but several factors & variables can affect how much your car moving will cost. Here are the main ones to consider:
As mentioned earlier, distance plays a significant role in determining the cost of your vehicle transport, with cross-state & cross-country journeys costing much more than interstate automobile delivery, which is often the cheapest car hauling option.
While longer distances do cost more, fortunately, the average price per mile drops as the journey gets longer, so you're not paying excessively.
International shipping always results in expensive car moving quotes due to the logistics of transferring an automobile overseas & the distance it needs to travel. It may also require special enclosed trailers or even a shipping container for your vehicle.
Route - Along with distance, the route required to take your car from its collection spot to its delivery spot can affect the pricing of your vehicle carrier service. Routes with known higher traffic, such as in LA, may end up costing more than quieter roads due to the added time. Similarly, unforeseen circumstances like major roadworks could also incur extra costs from the automobile moving companies or require a different, longer route.
Shipping Dates - How quickly you need your vehicle transportation service can also affect the price. If you can be flexible with timings, you may find that your car hauling service charges less because they can fit your automobile delivery into their schedule & reduce overheads, passing the savings on to you. However, if you require auto shipping within a strict timeframe (often known as expedited shipping), it will typically cost 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 car will all affect the cost of transporting your automobile. Vehicle shippers will require larger trailers for bigger cars, with SUVs typically costing more on average to transport than sedans. Make sure to 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 shipping 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 automobile 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 vehicle shipping service you select will also affect the cost of your automobile moving. Having someone operate your car to its destination will always be the cheapest option, as you're essentially just paying for a driver's time & petrol. Single automobile trailers & enclosed transport are likely to be more expensive, as they require extra equipment. Enclosed vehicle shipping is always the most expensive method of moving a car, as it means your automobile travels on its own & still needs specialist equipment to load, unload & protect it during transport.
Locations Of Pickup & Delivery - The locations of the vehicle pickup & drop-off may also increase the price of moving an automobile. Urban areas usually have car hauling services in close proximity, & if it's a common destination route, you'll tend to get cheap vehicle 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 in an unusual or hard-to-access space, extra steps may be needed to load your car, which can also increase the automobile shipping cost.
Auto Transport Insurance - While all vehicle transport companies are required to carry liability insurance, many do not offer additional insurance, as it's not required by law. If an automobile shipping company does not offer cargo insurance, it's highly recommended that you seek out & acquire some for your car 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 automobile moving, 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 auto transport costs:
Winter is often the most expensive season to ship your car. Ice, snow & blizzard conditions can all cause delays on the roads & reduce the maximum speed at which the vehicle delivery service can transport automobiles. 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 vehicle hauling costs. However, February is usually quiet, so great rates are often available from automobile shipping services during this month.
Spring is a great time to ship your car with a vehicle transportation service. With improved weather conditions, longer days & more drivers ready to work, Spring can often mean cheap rates & high availability when it comes to moving your automobile. March is often a better time to ship than April or May, as there is often a rush to move cars from colder to warmer states.
Summer is the prime season for shipping automobiles - 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 auto transport industry, & you should not expect cheap vehicle shipping during the summer.
Fall is a good time to ship a car if you're looking for a slightly cheaper price. Vehicle hauling companies are less busy, & there is 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 cars to university.
How To Move An Automobile - Finding A Vehicle Transport Service
Now that you know more about what vehicle shipping & an automobile hauling service are & what sort of auto transport service you need, you probably want to go ahead & find a car shipping service that's 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 automobile 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 be very time-consuming.
How Can Shiply Help Find Vehicle Transport Companies?
Given all the options & variables involved with finding an automobile hauling 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 start collecting quotes. All we need from you are the make & model of the car that needs shipping, the pickup location & delivery location, & the dates that you need to move the vehicle. This gives the auto transport providers on Shiply enough information 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 choose from.
Once you have a few quotes, you can ask the companies 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 car. 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 highly recommend looking at before selecting a quote to ship your vehicle. This system allows you to view previous customers' experiences with a company, as well as their overall score.
Why People Often Relocate Automobiles To & From Lorain, Ohio, US
Lorain, Ohio, US is a city located on the shores of Lake Erie, about 30 miles west of Cleveland. People often relocate automobiles to & from Lorain for various reasons. One common reason is relocation, either for work or personal reasons. Lorain is home to several industries, including steel production, automotive manufacturing & healthcare, which attract people from other parts of the country. Additionally, Lorain's proximity to Cleveland & other major cities in Ohio makes it an attractive location for those seeking a more affordable cost of living while still being close to urban amenities.
Another reason people may need to relocate automobiles to or from Lorain is for buying or selling vehicles. Lorain has a diverse population & a range of car dealerships, which can make it a good place to find a specific make or model of car. Online automobile buying & selling platforms have also made it easier for people to purchase vehicles from other parts of the country, necessitating the use of car hauling services to transport the car to or from Lorain.
Seasonal migration is another factor that contributes to the demand for vehicle shipping services in Lorain. Some residents may choose to spend the winter months in warmer climates & need to have their automobiles shipped to their temporary residence. Similarly, students attending colleges or universities in other parts of the country may need to have their cars shipped to or from Lorain during breaks or at the beginning & end of the academic year.
Whether you're moving to or from Lorain, buying or selling an automobile, or need to transport your car for any other reason, there are many vehicle hauling companies that can help. By using a platform like Shiply, you can easily compare quotes from multiple providers & find the best option for your specific needs & budget. With door-to-door service & the option for enclosed or open transport, you can have peace of mind knowing that your automobile will be safely & efficiently transported to its destination in or around Lorain, Ohio.
,887 words
The Advantages of Utilizing Shiply for Vehicle Transportation
Time-efficient - Rather than completing a quotation form each instance you desire to obtain a precise cost from an organization on transporting a vehicle, on our platform you complete one quotation form & then can receive estimates 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 organizations is all feasible through our platform as well, signifying you can maintain all of your vehicle shipping data in one 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 utilize to transport your vehicle. The challenging aspect is that, while most organizations are willing to provide average costs & rough estimates, you won't actually be given a definite vehicle transport estimate without having to supply information & fill in details. 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 genuine, final price estimates from vehicle 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 best organization for you.
Affordable Vehicle Shipping - Auto transport organizations 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 vehicle there. On Shiply, an organization 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 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 utilizing our service.
Better For The Environment - Not only is utilizing Shiply for auto transport more affordable, but it is also better for the environment. 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 vehicle. Similarly, many vehicle transporters return from a delivery empty-handed, which is not only costly 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 decided on an auto transport organization to move your vehicle & feel secure using them, then it's time to prepare your vehicle for shipping. We recommend following these steps:
Documents - It is important 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 vehicle delivery service to pick up is to take high-quality photographs of all parts of the vehicle. This provides you with evidence of the vehicle's condition before shipping should anything happen to it during transport.
What To Do After Delivery
Once the vehicle shipping organization 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 vehicle 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 vehicle 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 organization 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 vehicle 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 organization on Shiply & is something you should discuss with your chosen vehicle delivery service before confirming the delivery. Most organizations will be flexible with payment options, however.
Can I track my vehicle transport online? Each vehicle shipping organization 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 organizations to confirm that this is possible with them.
Does someone have to be present for pickup & delivery? In most cases, the vehicle shipping organization 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 vehicle keys.
Can I keep items in my vehicle during my vehicle shipment? Most vehicle transport organizations 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 vehicle 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 vehicle shipping lorain or lorain vehicle shipping services, Shiply is the perfect platform to connect with top-rated auto transport organizations. Get free estimates, compare prices, & book your vehicle shipment with ease on Shiply today.
,416 words
