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 vehicle yourself, such as when purchasing or selling a used car online & need to transport it to another state, relocating & requiring cross-country vehicle shipping, or moving your automobile overseas when ferries are not available. Vehicle shipping companies provide a variety of auto transport services to accommodate your unique 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 cross-country vehicle transport or shipping 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 utilized. While this option is typically more affordable, it demands more effort on your part to get the vehicle home. Most individuals, however, opt for door-to-door auto transport delivery service, where their automobiles 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 vehicle is a straightforward solution that is often more affordable as it doesn't require trailers or an additional vehicle. It can also be quicker due to the straightforward nature of the transport. However, this method has some drawbacks, such as increasing mileage on your vehicle (especially when shipping a car across country) & the slight risk of damage during the journey. These concerns are particularly relevant for individuals purchasing 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 way to guarantee a higher level of protection than having someone drive it. Vehicle shipping trailers come in various options depending on the value & size of your automobile. Single trailers, while more costly, are an excellent choice for transporting expensive or classic cars that you want to safeguard from damage. The safest way to transport a vehicle is in a shipping container, but this is also the most expensive option. Multi-car transporters, which can transport many automobiles at once, come in a few variants:
Open vehicle shipping is the most affordable & most common option offered by vehicle shipping companies. Your automobile is placed on an open carrier & driven to the destination. While all vehicles are safely secured, they are exposed to the elements during the drive, making this option less suitable for highly valuable automobiles. 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 option is often preferable for more expensive or newer automobiles where the owner wants to minimize the risk of damage during auto transport.
If you need to move your vehicle overseas, it's best to find a specialist service or a company with experience in overseas vehicle shipping, as they can provide tailored advice based on your requirements.
What Is The Cost To Transport A Vehicle?
The cost of transporting 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. 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 gather vehicle shipping quotes from various companies, which is easy to do on Shiply.
Factors that can influence the cost of auto transport include:
- Distance: Cross-state & cross-country journeys cost more than interstate vehicle delivery, which is often the most affordable option. However, the average price per mile decreases as the journey length increases.
- International shipping: Transporting a vehicle overseas is always more costly due to the logistics involved & the distance traveled. It may also require special enclosed trailers or shipping containers.
- Route: The route taken from the collection spot to the delivery location can impact pricing. Routes with higher traffic or unforeseen circumstances like roadworks may incur extra costs or require longer alternative routes.
- Shipping dates: Flexibility in timings can lead to lower costs, as vehicle shipping companies can fit your delivery into their schedule & reduce overheads. Expedited shipping within a strict timeframe typically costs more.
- Vehicle size: The height, length, & width of the vehicle affect the cost of transport. Larger vehicles like SUVs cost more to transport than sedans. Accessories like bike racks or roof racks can also change the required trailer size.
- Vehicle condition: Non-drivable cars may incur higher costs due to the need for extra equipment like winches or forklifts for loading & unloading.
- Auto transport service type: Having someone drive your vehicle is the most affordable option, while single car trailers & enclosed transport are more costly due to the specialized equipment required.
- Locations of pickup & delivery: Urban areas with common destination routes often have more affordable vehicle shipping services. Rural deliveries or hard-to-access locations may cost more due to extra mileage & loading challenges.
- Auto transport insurance: While auto transport companies must carry liability insurance, additional cargo insurance is recommended & may affect the overall cost.
- Time of year: Seasonality can impact vehicle shipping prices, with winter being the most expensive due to weather-related delays. Spring & fall offer better rates, while summer is the busiest season.
How To Transport A Vehicle - Finding An Auto Transport Service
With hundreds of vehicle transport companies available, finding the right one can be a daunting task. Searching on Google or through phone books can be time-consuming, & many companies are reluctant to provide pricing without individual quotes. This is where Shiply can help simplify the process.
How Can Shiply Help Find Auto Transport Companies?
Shiply makes it easy to find the right vehicle shipping service by allowing you to fill out a simple form to start collecting quotes. You only need to provide the make & model of the vehicle, the pickup & delivery locations, & the dates you need to move the automobile. This information enables 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 & via email. It's recommended to keep email notifications on so you can be immediately notified when a new quote arrives. Quotes can start coming in within minutes of posting your listing, but it's best to wait for a few options before making a decision.
After receiving a few quotes, you can ask the companies any questions you may have, such as their availability, insurance coverage, & how they secure vehicles during transport. It's important to ask these questions to ensure a smooth & expected experience.
Shiply's feedback & ratings system is another valuable resource when selecting a vehicle shipping company. This system allows you to view previous customers' experiences & overall scores, helping you make an informed decision.
Why People Often Move Vehicles To & From Sapulpa, Oklahoma
Sapulpa, Oklahoma, is a city located in Creek & Tulsa counties, with a population of around 21,000 people. Many individuals move vehicles to & from Sapulpa for various reasons, such as relocating for work, purchasing or selling automobiles online, or transporting classic cars to events or shows. Sapulpa's proximity to major highways like I-44 & US-75 makes it a convenient location for vehicle shipping services to collect & deliver automobiles. Additionally, the city's central location within the United States makes it a popular stopover point for cross-country vehicle transport routes. When looking for vehicle shipping in Sapulpa, it's essential to compare quotes from multiple providers & choose a reputable company with experience in the area to ensure a smooth & safe transport process.
The Benefits of Using Shiply for Vehicle Transport in Sapulpa
Time-Efficient - Rather than filling out a quotation form each instance you desire an accurate cost from a company on Sapulpa vehicle transport, on our platform you complete one quotation form & then can obtain quotes based on the information you supply from several companies. This can conserve you hours of effort you would have had to invest contacting companies & inputting details. Communication with these businesses is all feasible through our platform as well, allowing you to 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 businesses 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 understandable, it does mean that cost comparison & getting a vehicle transport estimate isn't exactly a simple task. Utilizing Shiply allows you to receive genuine, final price estimates from vehicle shipping companies & compare them in one place, providing the ability to message them individually to ask any questions you may have & ultimately decide on the best business for you.
Affordable Vehicle Shipping in Sapulpa - Auto transport businesses on Shiply are typically able to offer 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 example, you were relocating from Los Angeles to New York & needed to move your vehicle there. On Shiply, a company 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 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.
Eco-Friendly - Not only is using Shiply for auto 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 car shipper, then the emissions into the atmosphere would have doubled as another entire trip would be needed just for your vehicle. Similarly, many car 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 Your Vehicle for Shipping
If you have chosen an auto transport company to relocate your vehicle & feel secure using them, then it's time to ready 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.
Post-Delivery Steps
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 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.
,378 words