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 proves useful in numerous situations where you are unable to drive the vehicle yourself, such as when purchasing or selling a used car online & requiring it to be shipped to a different state, relocating & needing cross-country vehicle shipping, or transporting your automobile overseas when ferries are unavailable. Luckily, there are various auto transport services available to cater to your specific requirements.
Categories Of Vehicle Shipping Services
When selecting a vehicle transport service, the initial choice you must make is where you want your automobile collected from & delivered to, whether it's a cross-country car shipping or transporting a vehicle to another state. Terminal-to-terminal auto delivery is an option, where designated collection & drop-off points, frequently the vehicle transport company's stores or operating bases, are utilized. While this alternative is typically less expensive, it demands more effort on your part to get the automobile home. However, most individuals prefer door-to-door auto transport delivery service, where their vehicles are collected & dropped off at their doorstep, irrespective of the distance.
Vehicle shipping services are generally categorized into two types: having someone drive your automobile to the destination or placing it on a trailer for transportation. Employing someone to drive your vehicle is a straightforward solution that is often less costly as it doesn't necessitate trailers or an additional vehicle. It can also be quicker due to the straightforward nature of the transport. However, this approach has some drawbacks, such as increasing the mileage on your vehicle (particularly when shipping a car across the country) & the slight risk of damage during the journey. These concerns are especially relevant for individuals buying or selling automobiles online who want to ensure the vehicle arrives in the same condition as advertised.
Placing your automobile on a trailer is a safer alternative that guarantees a higher level of safety than having someone drive your vehicle. There are multiple options available depending on the value & size of your automobile. A single trailer is often more expensive as it only transports one vehicle at a time but is an excellent choice for moving expensive or classic cars without risking damage. The safest way to transport a vehicle is in a shipping container, although this is the most costly option. Multi-car transporters, which can transport many automobiles at once, come in a few variants:
Open car shipping is the least expensive & most common alternative, where your vehicle is placed on an open carrier & driven to the destination. While all automobiles 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 vehicles on a carrier that is enclosed, protecting them from dust, weather, & debris during transit. This alternative is often preferable for more expensive or newer automobiles where the owner wants to minimize the risk of damage.
If you need to move your vehicle overseas, it's best to find a specialist service or one with experience in overseas car shipping to provide tailored advice based on your requirements.
Factors That Can Influence The Cost Of Vehicle Shipping
Several factors & variables can affect the cost of car shipping. Distance plays a significant role, with cross-state & cross-country journeys costing more than interstate car delivery. While longer distances cost more, the average price per mile drops as the journey length increases. International shipping always results in expensive car shipping quotes due to the logistics of transferring a car overseas & the distance it needs to travel. It may also require special enclosed trailers or a shipping container for your vehicle.
The route taken from the pick-up spot to the delivery spot can also affect pricing. Routes with known higher traffic, such as in LA, may cost more than quieter roads due to the added time. Unforeseen circumstances like major roadworks could also incur extra costs or require a different, longer route.
The flexibility of your shipping dates can impact the price. If you can be flexible with timings, car shipping services may charge less as they can fit your vehicle delivery into their schedule & reduce overheads. However, if you require auto transport within a strict timeframe (known as expedited shipping), it will typically cost more as the car transport company may need to dedicate a trailer & driver just for your delivery.
The size of your vehicle, including its height, length, & width, will affect the cost of transport. Car shippers require larger trailers for bigger vehicles, with SUVs typically costing more on average than sedans. It's essential to inform the auto transport company about any bike racks, roof racks, or other accessories on the car, as these can change the size of the trailer required.
If your car is not in drivable condition, it may make auto transport more expensive. Extra equipment like a winch or forklift may be needed to load & unload your car from the trailer. A car with a locked wheel, for example, cannot simply be rolled onto & off a trailer, requiring more time, effort, & machinery to complete the delivery compared to a standard car transport service. Most car carriers consider a car that can brake, roll, & steer to be in good enough condition for easy shipping.
The type of auto transport service you select will also affect the cost. Having someone drive your car to its destination is always the cheapest option, as you are essentially paying for the driver's time & petrol. Single car trailers & enclosed transport are likely to be more expensive due to the extra equipment required. Enclosed car shipping is always the most expensive method, as it means your car travels alone & still needs specialist equipment for loading, unloading, & protection during transport.
The pickup & delivery locations may also increase the price of shipping a car. Urban areas usually have car shipping services in close proximity, & common destination routes tend to offer cheap 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 in an unusual or hard-to-access space, extra steps may be needed to load your vehicle, which can also increase the car shipping cost.
While all auto transport companies are required to carry liability insurance, many do not offer additional insurance as it is not legally required. If a car transport company does not offer cargo insurance, it is highly recommended that you seek out & acquire some for your vehicle during transit. As with all insurance policies, make sure you are clear on the type of damage covered, the presence of a deductible, the parts of the vehicle covered by the insurance, & any other relevant questions.
Seasonality can also affect the price of car shipping, with many services costing more to ship a car in the winter due to ice & snow slowing the routes. Winter is often the most expensive season to ship your vehicle, as ice, snow, & blizzard conditions can cause delays & reduce the maximum speed at which the car delivery service can transport cars. December is typically a difficult time to have a vehicle shipped as drivers are on holiday, while many travel to warmer states in January, leading to increased vehicle shipping costs. February, however, is usually quiet, & great rates are often available from car shipping services during this month.
Spring is a great time to ship your vehicle with a car 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 car. 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 cars, with the longest days of the year, students traveling home from universities, employees taking vacations, & a popular time for moving house. June, July, & August are all busy months for the auto transport industry, & you should not expect cheap car shipping during the summer.
Fall is a good time to ship a car if you are looking for a slightly cheaper price. Car shipping companies are less busy, & there is typically more driver availability after the summer rush. However, you are better off looking to move your vehicle in October or November rather than September, as this is peak time for students shipping their cars to university.
How To Ship A Car - Finding An Auto Transport Service
Now that you know more about car shipping, car shipping services, & the type of auto transport service you need, you probably want to find a car transport service that is right for you. The issue is that there are hundreds of car transport companies out there, & trying to find them on Google can result in scrolling through numerous pages to find the best car shipping company at the best price. The same is true if you were to go through phone books. Furthermore, many of these companies are reluctant to provide 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 Auto Transport Companies?
Given all the options & variables involved in finding a car shipping service, 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 & delivery locations, & the dates 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 & via 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 their availability (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 that 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 Move Cars To & From Durant, Oklahoma
Durant, Oklahoma, is a city located in the southeastern part of the state, near the border with Texas. People often move cars to & from Durant for various reasons. One of the main reasons is the presence of Southeastern Oklahoma State University, which attracts students from all over the country. Many students bring their cars to Durant for the duration of their studies, & when they graduate or move away, they often need to ship their vehicles back home or to their new location.
Another reason people move cars to & from Durant is due to job relocations. Durant is home to several large employers, such as the Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma, the Medical Center of Southeastern Oklahoma, & the Durant Independent School District. When people accept new job opportunities in Durant or are transferred by their current employer, they often need to ship their cars to their new home.
Additionally, Durant's proximity to Lake Texoma, a popular recreational destination, attracts many visitors who may choose to ship their cars to the area for extended stays or vacations. The city's location near major highways, like US-69 & US-75, also makes it a convenient stop for people shipping their cars cross-country.
In summary, the presence of a university, job opportunities, recreational attractions, & convenient location all contribute to the frequent movement of cars to & from Durant, Oklahoma.
The Advantages of Utilizing Shiply for Vehicle Transport
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 save you hours of time you would have had to invest calling up organizations & filling in forms. Communication with these organizations is all feasible through our platform as well, signifying you can maintain all of your vehicle shipping details 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 prices & rough estimates, you won't actually be given a definite vehicle transport estimate without having to supply information & complete details. While this is reasonable, it does mean that cost comparison & getting a vehicle transport estimate isn't precisely a simple task. Using Shiply allows you to receive genuine, final cost estimates from vehicle shipping organizations & compare them in one location, providing 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 direct to them. This is because they are often looking 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-vehicle transporter making that trip with 5 of the 6 spots filled, & they are just looking to ensure they are not wasting 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.
Better for the Environment - Not only is using 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-vehicle 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.
Preparing 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 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.
If you're looking for reliable & affordable car shipping durant or durant car shipping services, Shiply is the perfect platform to connect with top-rated auto transport companies. With our user-friendly interface & competitive pricing, shipping your vehicle has never been easier or more cost-effective. Get started today & experience the convenience of Shiply for all your vehicle transport needs.
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