What Is Vehicle Transportation?
Vehicle transportation, also referred to as car shipping or auto transport, is a service offered by car shipping companies that involves collecting your automobile from one location & transporting it to another. This service is beneficial in various circumstances where operating the vehicle yourself is not practical, such as when purchasing or selling a used car online & requiring it to be shipped to another state, moving to a new residence & needing cross-country car shipping, or transporting your automobile overseas when ferries are not available.
Luckily, there are numerous auto transport services available to accommodate your specific requirements, which we will discuss below.
Types Of Car Transport Services
When it comes to car transport services, there are several options to consider. The initial decision you'll need to make is where you want your vehicle collected from & delivered to, whether it's a cross-country car transport or shipping an automobile to another state. Terminal-to-terminal auto delivery is an option, where designated collection & drop-off points, often the car transport company's stores or operating bases, are used. While this option is typically less expensive, it requires more effort on your part to get the vehicle home.
Most individuals, however, prefer a door-to-door auto transport delivery service, where their automobiles are collected & dropped off at their doorstep, regardless of whether it's a cross-country car transport or just shipping a vehicle to another state. This option eliminates the need to arrange transportation to collect your automobile, which can be challenging without your car.
Car transport services are generally divided into two categories: having someone operate your vehicle to the destination or placing it on a trailer for transport.
Have Someone Operate Your Vehicle
Hiring someone to operate your vehicle to its destination is a straightforward solution for car shipping, whether you need to ship an automobile across the country or to another state. This method is often less expensive as it doesn't require trailers or an additional vehicle. It can also be faster due to the simplicity of the transport process.
However, there are some drawbacks to this method offered by car shipping companies. Firstly, mileage is added to your automobile during the journey, which can be significant when shipping a car across the country & less so when shipping to a nearby state. Secondly, there is a slight risk of damage to your vehicle during the drive. These concerns are particularly relevant for people buying or selling cars online who want to ensure the automobile arrives in the same condition as advertised.
Put Your Automobile On A Trailer
Using a trailer to transport your vehicle is a safer option that guarantees a higher level of protection compared to having someone operate your automobile. Car shipping trailers come in various options, depending on the value & size of your vehicle.
Single trailers are often more expensive as they only transport one automobile at a time, but they are an excellent choice for moving expensive or classic cars that you want to protect from potential damage. The safest way to transport a vehicle is by using a shipping container, although this is the most expensive option.
Multi-car transporters, which can carry several automobiles at once, come in a few variants:
Open car shipping is the least expensive & most common option offered by car shipping companies. Your vehicle is placed on an open carrier & driven to the destination. While all automobiles 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 & prolonged exposure to the elements.
Enclosed auto transport involves securing multiple automobiles 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 auto transport.
If you need to move your automobile overseas, it's best to find a specialist service on our platform or one with experience in overseas car shipping, as they can provide tailored advice based on your requirements.
How Much Does It Cost To Ship An Automobile?
The cost of shipping a vehicle varies depending on several factors, but on average, auto 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, & your car transport cost may be higher or lower depending on your specific circumstances. The best way to determine the cost of auto transport is to obtain car shipping quotes from various car transport companies, which is easily done on Shiply.
To get a better idea of what factors can influence the price of car transport services, please refer to the section below.
Factors That Can Affect The Cost Of Car Transport
While we all desire inexpensive car transport, several factors & variables can impact the cost of car shipping. Let's explore the main ones to help you understand whether your auto transport requirements will be costly or affordable.
As previously mentioned, distance plays a significant role in determining the cost of car transport, with cross-state & cross-country journeys being more expensive than interstate car delivery, which is often the least expensive option.
Although longer distances cost more, the average price per mile decreases as the journey length increases, ensuring that you're not paying excessively.
International shipping always results in costly car shipping quotes due to the logistics of transferring a vehicle overseas & the distance it must travel. It may also require special enclosed trailers or even a shipping container for your automobile.
Route - Along with distance, the route required to transport your vehicle from its collection spot to its delivery location can affect the pricing of your car carrier service. Routes with known higher traffic, such as in LA, may cost more than quieter roads due to the additional time added to the journey. Similarly, unforeseen circumstances like major roadworks could incur extra costs from the car moving companies or necessitate a different, longer route.
Shipping Dates - The speed at which you require your car transportation service can also impact the price. If you have flexibility in timings, you may find that your car shipping service charges less, as they can fit your vehicle delivery into their schedule & reduce overheads, passing the savings on to you. However, if you require auto transport within a strict timeframe (often referred to as expedited shipping), it will typically cost more, as the car transport company may need to dedicate a trailer & driver solely 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 vehicles, with SUVs typically costing more on average to transport 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 also change the size of the trailer required for the delivery.
Vehicle Condition - If your automobile is not in a drivable condition, it may increase the cost of your auto transport. This is because it may require extra equipment, such as a winch or forklift, to load & unload your car from the trailer. For example, if your vehicle has a locked wheel, it will be impossible to simply roll it onto a trailer & off again, requiring more time, effort, & machinery to complete the delivery compared to a standard car transport service. Most car carriers consider an automobile that can brake, roll, & steer to be in good enough condition for easy shipping.
Auto Transport Service Type - The type of auto transport service you choose will also affect the cost of your car shipping. Having someone operate your vehicle to its destination will always be the least expensive option, as you are essentially paying for the driver's time & fuel. Single car trailers & enclosed transport will likely be more expensive, as they require extra equipment. Enclosed car shipping is always the most expensive method of shipping a vehicle, as it means your automobile travels alone & still requires specialized equipment for loading, unloading, & protection during transport.
Locations Of Pickup & Delivery - The locations of the vehicle's collection & drop-off points can also increase the price of shipping a car. Urban areas usually have car shipping services in close proximity, & if it is a common destination route, you will generally find inexpensive car shipping. Rural deliveries can cost more, as they require deviations from normal routes & extra mileage for the company. If a collection or drop-off point is in an unusual or hard-to-access space, additional steps may be necessary to load your automobile, which can also increase the car shipping cost.
Auto Transport Insurance - 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 its transit. As with all insurance policies, ensure that you are clear on what type of damage is covered, whether there is a deductible, which parts of the automobile are covered by the insurance, & any other relevant questions.
Time Of Year - Seasonality can also affect the price of car shipping, with many services costing more to ship a vehicle in the winter due to ice & snow slowing the routes. Here is a quick breakdown of how each season can affect auto transport costs:
Winter is often the most expensive season to ship your automobile. Ice, snow, & blizzard conditions can all cause delays on the roads & reduce the maximum speed at which the car delivery service can transport vehicles. December is typically a difficult time to have an automobile shipped, as drivers are on holiday, while many travel to warmer states in January, leading to increased vehicle shipping costs. However, February is usually quiet, & great rates are often available from car 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 inexpensive rates & high availability when it comes to moving your vehicle. 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 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 auto transport industry, & you should not expect inexpensive car shipping during the summer.
Fall is a good time to ship a vehicle 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 automobile in October or November rather than September, as this is peak time for students shipping their cars to university.
How To Ship An Automobile - Finding A Car Transport Service
Now that you have a better understanding of what car shipping & a car shipping service entail, as well as the type of auto transport service you need, you probably want to proceed with finding a car transport service that suits your requirements.
The challenge lies in the fact that there are hundreds of car transport companies out there. Searching for them on Google can result in scrolling through numerous pages trying to find the best car shipping company at the best price, & the same applies if you were to go through phone books. Moreover, 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 Car Transport Companies?
Considering all the options & variables involved in finding a car shipping service, the task of searching for & finding the right one can seem daunting, & this is where Shiply can assist you.
On Shiply, you simply need to complete a simple form to start collecting quotes. All we require from you is the make & model of the vehicle that needs shipping, the pickup & delivery locations, & the dates you need to move the automobile. This information allows the auto transport providers on Shiply 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 be immediately notified when a new quote arrives. Quotes can start coming through within a few minutes of posting your listing, but we always suggest 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 providers any questions you may have, such as their availability (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 highly recommend reviewing before selecting a quote to ship your automobile. This system allows you to view previous customers' experiences with a company, as well as their overall score.
Why People Often Move Vehicles To & From Midwest City, Oklahoma, US
Midwest City, Oklahoma, US is a popular destination for car shipping due to various reasons. Many people relocate to Midwest City for job opportunities, as the city is home to several major employers, including Tinker Air Force Base, the largest single-site employer in Oklahoma. As a result, individuals & families often require car shipping services to transport their automobiles to their new homes in Midwest City.
Additionally, Midwest City's proximity to Oklahoma City makes it an attractive location for those who want to live in a smaller, more affordable city while still having access to the amenities & job opportunities of a larger metropolitan area. This leads to a demand for car shipping services between the two cities.
Furthermore, Midwest City is a popular destination for military personnel & their families due to the presence of Tinker Air Force Base. When service members are deployed or relocated, they often need to ship their vehicles to or from Midwest City.
Lastly, the city's central location within the United States makes it a convenient stopover point for cross-country car shipping. Many car shipping companies include Midwest City in their routes, making it easier & more affordable for customers to transport their automobiles to or from this location.
In conclusion, the combination of job opportunities, affordability, military presence, & geographic location contributes to the frequent need for car shipping services to & from Midwest City, Oklahoma, US.
The Advantages of Utilizing Shiply for Vehicle Transportation
Time-efficient - Rather than completing a quotation form each instance you desire an exact cost from an organization for transporting a vehicle, on our platform you complete one quotation form and can then obtain quotes from various companies based on the information you supply. This can conserve you hours of effort you would have spent phoning companies and inputting details. Communication with these organizations is also feasible through our platform, allowing you to store all your vehicle shipping data in a single location.
Cost Comparison - Ultimately, the price of the vehicle shipping estimate is the most crucial factor in selecting which auto transport company to employ for transporting your vehicle. The challenge is that, while most companies willingly provide average prices and rough estimates, you won't receive a definite vehicle transport quote without supplying information and completing details. Although this is reasonable, it means that comparing prices and obtaining a vehicle transport quote is not a simple task. Using Shiply enables you to receive genuine, final price estimates from vehicle shipping companies and compare them in one place, offering the ability to message them individually to ask any questions you may have and ultimately decide on the optimal company for you.
Affordable Vehicle Shipping - Auto transport companies on Shiply can typically provide their services at a lower cost than if you contacted them directly. This is because they are often seeking to fill space on trips they are already making and have already invested the cost for. For instance, if you were relocating from Los Angeles to New York and needed to transport your vehicle there, a company on Shiply may already have a multi-car transporter making that journey with 5 of the 6 spots occupied, and they are simply looking to ensure they are not wasting any space. As long as the dates, times, and pick-up/drop-off locations are suitable for you, you can often save up to 75% on auto transport by using our service.
Environmentally Friendly - Not only is using Shiply for auto transport more economical, but it is also more environmentally friendly. In the previous example, if your vehicle didn't get on that multi-car transporter and 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 expensive for them but also for the environment as there are many people who could have used that transporter to move their vehicles in the opposite direction. Many of the auto transporters on Shiply are also looking to fill their trailers on return journeys, meaning even less wasted CO2 is being emitted into the atmosphere, as well as continued affordable transport for our users.
Getting Your Vehicle Ready for Shipping
If you have chosen an auto transport company to transport your vehicle and feel confident using them, it's time to prepare your vehicle 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 and 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 ensuring that there is enough fluid, as well as checking battery charge and 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, and 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, and 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 and 500 miles, and 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 and 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 and delivery? In most cases, the car shipping company will require you to be in attendance for the pickup and 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, and 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 and 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 and 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 and has the right equipment to safely carry it out.
If you're looking for reliable and affordable car shipping midwest city or midwest city car shipping services, Shiply is your go-to platform. With a wide network of trusted auto transport companies, you can easily compare quotes, read reviews, and choose the best provider for your needs. Whether you're moving across the country or just need to transport your vehicle to a nearby city, Shiply makes the process simple and hassle-free. Get started today and experience the convenience of using Shiply for all your car shipping needs in Midwest City and beyond.
,416 words
