What Is Vehicle Transportation?
Vehicle transportation, also known as car shipping or auto transport, is a service offered by auto transport companies that involves collecting your vehicle from one location & transporting it to another. It's beneficial for moving a car in various situations where you can't drive the automobile yourself. For instance, you might be buying or selling a used vehicle online & need to transport it to another state, or perhaps you've recently moved & need to ship your car across the nation. Auto transport services can also be extremely helpful when you need to transfer your vehicle overseas & ferries aren't available, requiring you to rely on a car shipping company to manage the job.
Luckily, there are several vehicle transport services available to satisfy your specific requirements, which we'll discuss below.
Types Of Car Shipping Services
There are various car shipping services available, summarized below. It's advantageous to read through & determine the precise type of auto transportation service you require or prefer for transporting your vehicle.
The first decision you need to make is where you want your automobile picked up 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, often the vehicle transport company's stores or operating bases, are used. Terminal-to-terminal car delivery is typically more affordable but requires more effort on your part to get the automobile home. However, most people require a door-to-door car transport delivery service, where their vehicles are picked up & dropped off at their doorstep, regardless of whether it's a cross-country auto transport or just shipping a car to another state. This is often preferable as it eliminates the need to go somewhere else to collect your automobile, which can be challenging without your vehicle in the first place!
Vehicle transport services are generally divided into two categories: having someone drive your car to the destination or putting it on a trailer & shipping it.
Have Someone Drive Your Automobile
This is a straightforward solution to vehicle shipping that involves hiring someone to drive your car to the desired location, whether you need to transport a car across the country or to another state. The advantages of this car transport method are that it's often more affordable, as trailers & an extra vehicle aren't required, & it can be faster due to the straightforward nature of the shipping.
However, there are some drawbacks to this method offered by auto transport companies that lead some people to choose other types of vehicle shipping. Firstly, mileage is added to your automobile during the journey, meaning that if you're moving a car across the country, significant miles will be added, although less so when simply transporting a car to a nearby state. Secondly, there is a slight risk of damage occurring to your vehicle while it's being driven from point A to point B. These concerns are particularly worrisome for people buying or selling automobiles online who want to ensure the car arrives in the same condition as advertised.
Put Your Automobile On A Trailer
Putting your vehicle on a trailer is a safer way to ensure a higher level of protection than having someone drive your car to its destination. With auto 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 car at a time but are a great choice if you're moving an expensive or classic automobile that you don't want to risk damaging. The safest way to ship a car 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 auto transport company is the most affordable & most common option when moving a car. Your automobile 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 car shipping companies may not recommend this for highly valuable automobiles. Furthermore, while it may be the cheapest way to transport 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 car transport involves multiple automobiles 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 vehicles where the owner wants to minimize the risk of damage during auto shipping.
If you need to transfer your automobile overseas through a car 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 Car?
Several variables affect the cost of moving a car, but on average, car shipping 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 auto transport may cost more or less depending on the circumstances. The best way to find out how much car shipping will cost you is to collect vehicle transport quotes from auto shipping companies, which is very easy to do on Shiply.
If you want to get an idea of how much you can expect your automobile delivery to cost, take a look below at the factors that can affect the price of vehicle transport services.
Factors That Can Affect The Cost Of Car Shipping
We all want affordable auto transport, but several factors & variables can affect how much your vehicle shipping will cost. Below, we'll outline the main ones so you can get a rough idea of whether your car transport requirements will be expensive or cheap.
As mentioned earlier, distance is one of the factors that will significantly impact how much your automobile transport will cost, with cross-state & cross-country journeys costing much more than interstate vehicle delivery, which is often the most affordable car 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 auto shipping quotes due to the logistics of transferring a vehicle 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 car from its pick-up 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. Likewise, unforeseen circumstances like major roadworks could also incur extra costs from the car moving companies or require a different, longer route.
Shipping Dates - How quickly you need your auto transportation service to operate can also affect the price. For example, if you can be flexible with timings, you may find that your vehicle 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 car transport within a strict timeframe (often known as expedited shipping), this will typically end up costing you more, as the auto shipping 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 vehicle. Car shippers will require larger trailers for bigger automobiles, with SUVs typically costing more on average to transport than sedans. Additionally, always inform the car 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 car 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 automobile on & off the trailer. For example, if your vehicle has a locked wheel, 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.
Car Shipping Service Type - The type of auto transport service you select will also affect the cost of your vehicle shipping. Having someone drive your car to its destination will always be the most affordable option, as you are essentially just paying for a driver's time & petrol. In contrast, single car trailers & enclosed transport are likely to be more expensive, as they require extra equipment. Enclosed vehicle shipping will always be the most expensive method of transporting a car, as it means your automobile travels on its own & still needs specialist equipment to load, unload, & protect your vehicle during transport.
Locations Of Pickup & Delivery - Depending on where you need the car picked up from & dropped off, this may also increase the price of moving a vehicle. Urban areas will usually have auto 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 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 shipping companies are required to carry liability insurance, many do not offer any additional insurance, as it is not required by law. If an auto transport company does not offer cargo insurance, it is highly recommended that you seek out & acquire some for your vehicle 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 automobile 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 car shipping 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. However, February is usually quiet, so great rates are often available from car transport services during this month.
Spring is a great time to ship your vehicle with an automobile 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 automobiles 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 car transport industry, & you should not expect affordable auto shipping during the summer.
Fall is a good time to ship a car 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 Transport A Car - Finding A Car Shipping Service
Now that you know a bit more about what vehicle shipping & an auto transport service are & what sort of car shipping service you need, you probably want to go ahead & actually try to find an automobile transport service that is going to be right for you.
The issue is that there are hundreds of auto shipping companies out there. Trying to find them on Google can end up resulting in scrolling through numerous pages trying to find the best vehicle transport 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 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 an auto 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 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 Automobiles To & From Claremore, Oklahoma
Claremore, Oklahoma, is a city located in the northeastern part of the state, known for its rich history & vibrant community. Many people move vehicles to & from Claremore for various reasons, such as relocating for work, attending college, or simply seeking a change of scenery. Claremore is home to Rogers State University, which attracts students from all over the country who may need to ship their automobiles to the city. Additionally, Claremore's proximity to Tulsa & other major cities in Oklahoma makes it a popular destination for those looking to move to a smaller, more affordable city while still having access to urban amenities. When moving to or from Claremore, many people choose to use vehicle shipping services to ensure their cars arrive safely & efficiently at their new destination. Claremore auto transport companies offer a range of options, from open vehicle shipping to enclosed car transport, to meet the needs of their customers.
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The Benefits of Using Shiply for Car Shipping in Claremore
Time-Saving - Rather than filling out a quotation form each instance you desire an accurate cost from a company for claremore car shipping, on our platform you complete one quotation form & can then obtain quotes based on the information you supply from several companies. This can conserve you hours of effort you would have spent phoning companies & inputting details. Communication with these businesses is also feasible through our platform, allowing you to store all your car shipping data in a single location.
Price Comparison - Ultimately, the expense of the car shipping estimate is the most crucial aspect in choosing which auto transport company to employ to transport your vehicle. The challenging part is that, while most companies willingly provide average prices & rough estimates, you won't actually receive a definite car transport quote without supplying information & filling in details. Although this is reasonable, it means that price comparison & getting a car transport quote isn't precisely a simple task. Utilizing Shiply enables you to acquire genuine, final price estimates from car shipping companies & compare them in one place, offering the capability to message them individually to ask any questions you may have & ultimately decide on the optimal company for you.
Affordable Car Shipping - Auto transport businesses 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 move your car there, on Shiply, a company may already have a multi-car transporter making that journey with 5 of the 6 spots occupied, & they are just aiming to ensure they are not squandering 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 auto transport by utilizing our service.
Environmentally Friendly - Not only is using Shiply for auto transport more economical, but it is also more environmentally friendly. In the above example, if your car didn't get on that multi-car transporter & instead you arranged transport from a separate car shipper, then the emissions into the atmosphere would have doubled as another entire trip would be required just for your vehicle. Similarly, many car 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 utilized 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 trips, meaning even less wasted CO2 is being emitted into the atmosphere, as well as continued affordable transport for our users.
Preparing Your Car for Shipping
If you have chosen an auto transport company to transport your vehicle & feel confident using them, then 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 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, 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 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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