What Is Vehicle Transportation?
Vehicle transportation, also referred to as car shipping or auto transport, is a service offered by vehicle shipping companies that involves collecting your automobile from one location & transporting it to another. This service is beneficial in various circumstances where you are unable to drive the car yourself, such as when purchasing or selling a used vehicle online & need to transport it to another state, relocating & requiring long-distance vehicle shipping, or moving your automobile overseas when ferries are not available. Luckily, there are numerous auto transport services available to cater to your specific requirements.
Categories Of Vehicle Transport Services
When selecting a vehicle transport service, the initial choice you need to make is where you want your automobile collected from & delivered to, whether it's a long-distance vehicle transport or shipping a car 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 option is typically more affordable, it necessitates more effort on your part to get the automobile home. Most individuals, however, opt for door-to-door auto transport delivery service, where their vehicles are collected & dropped off at their doorstep, regardless of the distance.
Vehicle transport services are generally categorized into two types: having someone drive your automobile to the destination or placing it on a trailer for transport. Having someone drive your car is a straightforward solution that involves hiring a driver to take your vehicle to its destination. This method is often more affordable as it doesn't necessitate trailers or an extra vehicle, & it can be quicker due to its simplicity. However, there are some drawbacks, such as added mileage to your vehicle (especially when shipping a car across country) & the slight risk of damage during the journey.
Placing your automobile on a trailer is a safer option that guarantees a higher level of protection than having someone drive it. There are multiple trailer options available, depending on the value & size of your vehicle. Single trailers, while more expensive, are ideal for transporting expensive or classic cars that require extra care. The safest way to transport a car is in a shipping container, although this is the most costly option. Multi-car transporters, which can carry several vehicles at once, come in two main variants: open & enclosed.
Open car shipping is the most affordable & common option, where your vehicle is placed on an open carrier & driven to its destination. While all cars are securely fastened, they are exposed to the elements during transit, making this option less suitable for highly valuable vehicles. Enclosed auto transport, on the other hand, involves multiple cars secured on a carrier that is enclosed, protecting them from dust, weather, & debris during the journey. This option is preferable for more expensive or newer vehicles.
If you need to move your vehicle overseas, it's best to find a specialist service or a company with experience in overseas car shipping, as they can provide tailored advice based on your requirements.
What Is The Price Of Transporting A Vehicle?
The price of transporting a vehicle varies depending on several factors, but on average, US auto transport companies charge around $2.92 per mile for journeys less than 200 miles, $0.93 for journeys between 200 & 500 miles, & $0.78 for journeys over 1,000 miles. However, these are just averages, & your vehicle transport may cost more or less depending on your specific circumstances. The best way to determine the cost of auto transport is to obtain quotes from vehicle transport companies, which is easily done on Shiply.
Several factors can affect the cost of auto transport, including:
- Distance: Cross-state & cross-country journeys cost more than interstate vehicle delivery.
- International shipping: Transporting a vehicle overseas is more expensive due to the logistics involved & the distance traveled.
- Route: Routes with higher traffic or unforeseen circumstances like roadworks can increase costs.
- Shipping dates: Flexible timings often result in lower costs, while expedited shipping is more expensive.
- Vehicle size: Larger vehicles, such as SUVs, typically cost more to transport than sedans.
- Vehicle condition: Non-drivable cars may require extra equipment, increasing the cost.
- Auto transport service type: Having someone drive your car is the cheapest option, while enclosed car shipping is the most expensive.
- Pickup & delivery locations: Urban areas usually have lower costs, while rural or hard-to-access locations can increase the price.
- Auto transport insurance: Additional cargo insurance may be necessary, affecting the overall cost.
- Time of year: Seasonality can impact prices, with winter being the most expensive & spring offering the best rates.
How To Transport A Vehicle - Locating A Vehicle Transport Service
With numerous vehicle transport companies available, finding the right one can be overwhelming. Searching on Google or through phone books can be time-consuming, & many companies are reluctant to provide pricing without a detailed quote application. This is where Shiply can help simplify the process.
How Can Shiply Assist In Finding Vehicle Transport Companies?
Shiply streamlines the process of finding a vehicle shipping service by requiring you to fill out a simple form with the make & model of the car, pickup & delivery locations, & the dates you need to move the vehicle. This information allows auto transport providers on Shiply to provide accurate quotes for your job.
Once your listing is live, you will receive quotes in your Shiply inbox & email. It's recommended to keep email notifications on to be promptly informed of new quotes. While quotes can start coming in within minutes of posting your listing, it's advisable to wait for a few options before making a decision.
Before selecting a quote, you can ask the companies questions about their availability, insurance coverage, & how they secure cars during transport. Shiply's feedback & ratings system is also a valuable resource, allowing you to view previous customers' experiences & overall scores for each company.
Why Individuals Frequently Transport Vehicles To & From Oklahoma City
Oklahoma City, the capital & largest city of Oklahoma, US, is a popular destination for vehicle shipping due to various reasons. As a major economic & cultural center in the state, many people move to Oklahoma City for job opportunities, education, or a change of lifestyle. The city's central location also makes it a convenient hub for vehicle transport, connecting to major highways & interstates.
Additionally, Oklahoma City is home to several military bases, including Tinker Air Force Base & Fort Sill, which often requires service members to relocate & ship their vehicles. The city's growing population & expanding suburbs also contribute to the demand for vehicle shipping services, as residents move within the metropolitan area or to neighboring states.
Whether you're moving to Oklahoma City for work, family, or other reasons, or you need to transport a vehicle from the city to another location, Shiply can help you find reliable & affordable vehicle shipping oklahoma city services. By connecting you with a network of trusted auto transport providers, Shiply ensures that your oklahoma city vehicle shipping experience is smooth & hassle-free.
The Benefits of Using Shiply for Auto Transport in Oklahoma City
Time-Efficient - Rather than filling out a quotation form each time you desire an accurate estimate from a company on transporting a vehicle, on our platform you complete one quotation form & then can obtain estimates based on the information you supply from several companies. This can save you hours of time you would have spent phoning companies & providing details.
Communication with these businesses is also feasible through our platform, allowing you to store all of your Oklahoma City vehicle shipping data in one location.
Cost Comparison - Ultimately, the price of the auto shipping estimate is the most crucial factor in choosing which vehicle transport company to employ to transport your automobile. The challenging aspect is that, while most companies are willing to provide average prices & rough estimates, you won't receive a definite vehicle transport quote without having to give information & complete details. While this is understandable, it means that price comparison & obtaining a vehicle transport quote is not exactly a simple process.
Utilizing Shiply enables you to receive authentic, final price estimates from auto shipping companies & compare them in one location, offering the ability to message them individually to ask any questions you may have & ultimately decide on the best company for you.
Affordable Auto Shipping - Vehicle transport companies on Shiply are usually 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. For instance, if you were relocating from Los Angeles to New York & needed to transport your vehicle there, a company on Shiply may already have a multi-car transporter making that trip with 5 of the 6 spots occupied, & they are just looking to ensure they are not wasting any space. As long as the dates, times, & pick-up/drop-off locations are convenient for you, you can often save up to 75% on vehicle transport by using our service.
Environmentally Friendly - Not only is using Shiply for vehicle transport more affordable, but it is also more environmentally friendly! In the above example, if your vehicle didn't get on that multi-car transporter & instead you arranged transport from a separate auto shipper, then the emissions into the atmosphere would have doubled as another entire trip would be needed just for your automobile.
Similarly, many vehicle 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 vehicle transporters on Shiply are also looking to fill their trailers on return trips, meaning even less wasted CO2 is being released into the atmosphere, as well as continued affordable transport for our users.
Preparing Your Vehicle for Shipping
If you have chosen a vehicle transport company to transport your automobile & feel confident using them, then it's time to prepare your vehicle for shipping. We suggest following these steps:
Documents - It is crucial 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 auto delivery service to pick up is to take high-quality photographs of all parts of the automobile. 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 vehicle 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 automobile is in the expected condition, as well as enable you to immediately raise concerns with the auto 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 an automobile 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 auto 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 vehicle transport company you used through Shiply so that others can browse auto 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 an automobile? Auto 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 an automobile? Having someone drive your vehicle to its destination is the most affordable way to ship an automobile, 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 an automobile.
How do I pay for my vehicle transport? This is down to each individual vehicle transport company on Shiply & is something you should discuss with your chosen auto delivery service before confirming the delivery. Most companies will be flexible with payment options, however.
Can I track my automobile transport online? Each auto shipping company 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 companies to confirm that this is possible with them.
Does someone have to be present for pickup & delivery? In most cases, the auto 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 automobile keys.
Can I keep items in my vehicle during my automobile shipment? Most vehicle 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 automobile 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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