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 operating the vehicle yourself is not practical, such as when purchasing or selling a used car online, relocating to a new residence, or transporting your automobile overseas. Vehicle shipping companies provide a variety of auto transport services to accommodate different requirements.
Categories Of Auto Transport Services
When selecting an auto transport service, the initial choice you must 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 a possibility, where designated collection & drop-off points are utilized, frequently at the car transport company's stores or operating bases. While this alternative is typically more affordable, it demands more effort on your part to get the vehicle home. Most individuals, however, opt for a door-to-door auto transport delivery service, where their automobiles are collected & dropped off at their doorstep, regardless of the distance.
Vehicle transport services generally fall into two categories: having someone operate your automobile to the destination or placing it on a trailer for transport.
Have Someone Operate Your Vehicle
Employing someone to operate your automobile to its destination is a straightforward solution for vehicle shipping, whether it's across the country or to another state. The advantages of this method include lower costs, as trailers & extra vehicles are not necessary, & faster delivery due to the simplicity of the transport. However, there are some drawbacks to consider, such as the addition of mileage to your vehicle, especially when shipping an automobile across the country, & the slight risk of damage during the journey. These concerns are particularly relevant for people buying or selling cars online who want to ensure the vehicle arrives in the same condition as advertised.
Place Your Vehicle On A Trailer
Placing your automobile on a trailer offers a higher level of safety compared to having someone operate it to its destination. Vehicle shipping trailers come in various options, depending on the value & size of your automobile. Single trailers, while more expensive, are ideal for transporting expensive or classic cars, minimizing the risk of 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 carry several vehicles at once, come in different variants:
Open car shipping is the most affordable & common option offered by vehicle shipping companies. Your automobile 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. Additionally, long journeys in open trailers pose a higher risk of damage & prolonged exposure to the elements.
Enclosed auto transport involves securing multiple cars 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 owners want 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 or a company with experience in overseas vehicle shipping, as they can provide tailored advice based on your requirements.
How Much Does It Cost To Ship A Vehicle?
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. 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 vehicle shipping quotes from various companies, which is easily done through platforms like Shiply.
Factors That Can Influence The Cost Of Auto Transport
While everyone wants cheap vehicle transport, several factors can influence the cost of car shipping services. These include:
Distance: Cross-state & cross-country journeys cost significantly more than interstate vehicle delivery, which is often the cheapest option. However, the average price per mile decreases as the journey length increases.
International shipping: Transporting a vehicle overseas is always expensive due to the logistics involved & the distance traveled. It may also require special enclosed trailers or shipping containers.
Route: The route taken from the pick-up spot to the delivery location can affect pricing. Routes with higher traffic, such as in LA, may cost more due to the added time. Unforeseen circumstances, like major roadworks, can also incur extra costs or require a longer alternative route.
Shipping dates: Flexibility in timings can result in lower charges, as vehicle shipping companies can fit your delivery into their schedule & reduce overheads. Expedited shipping, where you require auto transport within a strict timeframe, typically costs more, as the company may need to dedicate a trailer & driver specifically for your delivery.
Vehicle size: The height, length, & width of the automobile affect the cost of transport. Larger vehicles, such as SUVs, generally cost more to transport than sedans. It's essential to inform the auto transport company about any accessories, like bike racks or roof racks, as they can change the required trailer size.
Vehicle condition: If your automobile is not drivable, it may increase the cost of auto transport. Non-operational vehicles require extra equipment, such as a winch or forklift, to load & unload them from the trailer. A car that can brake, roll, & steer is considered to be in good enough condition for easy shipping by most vehicle carriers.
Auto transport service type: The type of auto transport service you choose will impact the cost of vehicle shipping. Having someone operate your automobile is the cheapest option, as you're essentially paying for the driver's time & fuel. Single car trailers & enclosed transport are more expensive due to the specialized equipment required. Enclosed vehicle shipping is the most costly method, as your automobile travels alone & still needs special equipment for loading, unloading, & protection during transport.
Pickup & delivery locations: The locations of pickup & delivery can also affect the price of shipping a vehicle. Urban areas usually have vehicle shipping services nearby, & common destination routes often offer cheap car shipping. Rural deliveries can cost more, as they require deviations from normal routes & extra mileage for the company. Unusual or hard-to-access pickup or drop-off points may necessitate extra steps for loading your automobile, increasing the vehicle shipping cost.
Auto transport insurance: While all auto transport companies must carry liability insurance, many do not offer additional insurance. If a vehicle transport company doesn't provide cargo insurance, it's highly recommended that you obtain some for your automobile during transit. When considering insurance policies, ensure you understand what type of damage is covered, if there's a deductible, which parts of the vehicle are covered, & any other relevant details.
Time of year: Seasonality can also influence the price of vehicle shipping. Many services charge more to ship an automobile in winter due to ice & snow slowing down routes. Here's a quick breakdown of how each season can affect auto transport costs:
Winter: Often the most expensive season to ship your automobile due to potential delays caused by ice, snow, & blizzard conditions, which can also reduce the maximum speed of transport. December is typically challenging, 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 during this month.
Spring: An excellent time to ship your automobile, with improved weather conditions, longer days, & more available drivers. March often offers better rates than April or May, as there is often a rush to move cars from colder to warmer states.
Summer: 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, & cheap vehicle shipping is less likely during the summer.
Fall: A good time to ship a vehicle if you're looking for slightly cheaper prices. Vehicle shipping companies are less busy, & there is typically more driver availability after the summer rush. October or November are better options than September, which is peak time for students shipping their automobiles to university.
How To Ship A Vehicle - Finding An Auto Transport Service
With hundreds of vehicle transport companies available, finding the right one can be overwhelming. Searching on Google can lead to scrolling through numerous pages to find the best vehicle shipping company at the best price, & many companies are reluctant to provide pricing without a quote application & detailed information, which can be time-consuming.
How Can Shiply Help Find Auto Transport Companies?
Shiply simplifies the process of finding the right vehicle shipping service. To get started, fill out a simple form with the make & model of the automobile, 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'll receive quotes in your Shiply inbox & email. We recommend keeping email notifications on to know immediately 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.
When you have a few quotes, you can ask the companies any questions you may have, such as their availability, insurance coverage, & how they secure automobiles during transport. It's crucial to ask these questions to ensure a smooth & expected experience.
Shiply's feedback & ratings system is a valuable resource when selecting a vehicle shipping company. It allows you to view previous customers' experiences & the company's overall score.
Why People Often Move Vehicles To & From Lake Oswego, Oregon, US
Lake Oswego, a suburb of Portland, Oregon, is a popular destination for vehicle shipping due to several factors. Many people move to Lake Oswego for its high-quality schools, beautiful natural surroundings, & proximity to Portland's urban amenities. The city's strong economy & job market also attract professionals & families, leading to an increased demand for vehicle shipping services.
Additionally, Lake Oswego is home to several luxury car dealerships, which often require vehicle shipping services to transport automobiles to & from the area. Classic car enthusiasts in Lake Oswego may also need to ship their vehicles to events or exhibitions across the country.
As a result, vehicle shipping companies in Lake Oswego, Oregon, are well-equipped to handle various auto transport needs, whether it's moving a family automobile during a relocation or shipping a rare classic car to a show. By understanding the unique requirements of the area, these companies can provide tailored vehicle shipping solutions to & from Lake Oswego.
The Benefits of Using Shiply for Car Shipping in Lake Oswego
Time-Saving - Rather than filling out a quotation form each instance you desire an accurate cost from a business for transporting a vehicle, on our site you complete one quotation form and can then obtain quotes from various companies based on the information you supply. This can conserve you significant time that you would have otherwise spent phoning companies and inputting details. Communication with these businesses is also feasible via our platform, allowing you to store all your Lake Oswego car shipping details in a single location.
Price Comparison - Ultimately, the expense of the car shipping estimate is the most crucial factor when choosing which auto transport company to employ for transporting your vehicle. The challenge is that, while most businesses are willing to provide average prices and rough estimates, you won't receive a definite car transport quote without supplying information and completing details. Although this is understandable, it means that comparing prices and obtaining a car transport quote is not exactly a simple task. Utilizing Shiply enables you to acquire genuine, final price estimates from car 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.
Cheap Car Shipping - Auto transport businesses on Shiply can typically provide their services at a lower cost than if you approached 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 car 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 utilizing our service.
Better for the Environment - Not only is using Shiply for auto transport more affordable, but it is also more environmentally friendly. In the above example, if your car didn't get on that multi-car transporter and instead you arranged transport from a separate car shipper, then the emissions into the atmosphere would have doubled as another entire journey would be needed just for your car. 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 many people who could have used that transporter to move their cars in the other direction. Many of the auto transporters on Shiply are looking to fill their trailers on return journeys too, meaning even less wasted CO2 is being released into the atmosphere, as well as continued cheap transport for our users.
Preparing Your Car for Shipping
If you have selected an auto transport company to transport your car and 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 determine 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, then 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 assess 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 determine 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.
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