What Is Vehicle Transportation?
Vehicle transportation, also referred to as auto shipping or car transport, is a service offered by vehicle shipping companies that involves collecting your automobile from one spot & transporting it to another. This service proves useful in numerous situations where you are unable to operate the vehicle yourself, such as when purchasing or selling a used car online & requiring it to be transported to a different state, relocating & needing cross-country vehicle shipping, or moving your automobile overseas when ferries are unavailable. Luckily, there are various auto shipping services accessible to cater to your particular requirements.
Categories Of Vehicle Shipping Services
When selecting a vehicle transport service, the initial choice you must make is where you desire your automobile to be collected from & delivered to, whether it's a cross-country car shipping or transporting a vehicle to a different state. One option is terminal-to-terminal auto delivery, where designated collection & drop-off points, frequently the auto transport company's stores or operating bases, are utilized. Although this alternative is typically more affordable, it demands more effort on your part to bring the vehicle home. However, the majority of individuals prefer door-to-door auto shipping delivery service, where their vehicles are collected & dropped off at their doorstep, irrespective of the distance.
Auto shipping services are generally categorized into two types: having someone operate your vehicle to the destination or placing it on a trailer for transportation.
Engage Someone To Operate Your Vehicle
Engaging someone to operate your vehicle to its destination is a straightforward solution for auto shipping, whether it's across the country or to a different state. The advantages of this approach include lower expenses, as trailers & additional vehicles are not necessary, & quicker delivery due to the simplicity of the transport. However, there are some drawbacks to this method that cause some individuals to opt for other vehicle transport options. Firstly, mileage is added to your automobile during the trip, which can be substantial when shipping a car across the country. Secondly, there is a slight chance of harm to your vehicle during the drive, which is especially concerning for those purchasing or selling cars online who want to ensure the automobile arrives in the same condition as advertised.
Place Your Vehicle On A Trailer
Placing your vehicle on a trailer is a safer way to guarantee a higher level of protection than having someone operate it to its destination. Auto 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 require extra protection. The safest way to move a vehicle is in a shipping container, but this is also the most expensive option. Multi-car transporters, which can carry several automobiles at once, are another alternative & come in a few variants:
Open car shipping is the most economical & common option provided by auto shipping companies. 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 the drive, making this option less suitable for highly valuable automobiles. Additionally, long journeys in open trailers pose a higher risk of damage & prolonged exposure to the elements.
Enclosed auto transport involves securing multiple vehicles on a carrier that is enclosed, shielding them from dust, weather, & debris during transit. This alternative is often preferred for more expensive or newer automobiles where the owner wants to minimize the risk of damage during transport.
If you need to transport your vehicle overseas, it's best to find a specialist service or a company with experience in overseas auto shipping, as they can provide tailored advice based on your requirements.
The Benefits of Utilizing Shiply for Vehicle Transportation in Lancaster
Time-Efficient - Instead of submitting a quotation request each time you require a precise cost for transporting your automobile, on our platform, you only need to complete one form & then can receive estimates based on the information you supply from various businesses. This could save you hours that you would have otherwise spent contacting companies and completing forms.
Communication with these vehicle transport providers is also possible through our platform, allowing you to maintain all of your car shipping information in one location.
Cost Comparison for Lancaster Vehicle Transportation
Ultimately, the pricing of the vehicle transport quote is the most significant factor in selecting which auto shipping company to utilize. The challenging aspect is that, while most are willing to provide rough estimates, you won't actually receive a firm quote without first providing information. Although this is understandable, it means that price comparison & obtaining an accurate vehicle shipping quote is not exactly straightforward.
Utilizing Shiply enables you to obtain genuine, final quotes from vehicle transport businesses & compare them all together, providing you with the ability to message them individually to ask any questions & ultimately choose the best one for you.
Affordable Vehicle Transportation Lancaster
Auto transporters on Shiply can usually offer their services for less than if you went to them directly. This is because they're frequently seeking to fill unused space on trips they're already making. For example, if you were relocating from LA to NYC & needed to transport your vehicle there. On Shiply, a company may already have a multi-car carrier making that route with 5 of the 6 spots filled, & they just want to ensure they aren't wasting any space. As long as the dates, times, & locations are convenient for you, you can save up to 75% on vehicle shipping by using our service!
More Environmentally Friendly
Not only is using Shiply for auto transport more affordable, but it's also more environmentally friendly! In the example above, if your vehicle didn't get on that multi-car hauler & instead you arranged shipping from a separate company, then the emissions would have doubled since another full trip would be needed just for your automobile.
Similarly, many vehicle transporters return empty-handed after a delivery, which isn't just costly for them but also harmful to the environment since there are people who could have used that carrier to transport their vehicles the other way! Many of the auto shippers on Shiply are also looking to fill their trailers on return trips, meaning even less wasted CO2 being released, as well as continued affordable transport for users.
Readying Your Vehicle For Transportation
If you've chosen an auto transport service & feel confident about using them, then it's time to prepare your vehicle for shipping. We recommend following these steps:
Documents - It's crucial to have any docs you may need available for pickup or dropoff, especially if you're selling the automobile.
Cleaning - You should remove all personal belongings from your vehicle before shipping, for the obvious reason that you don't want them getting lost or damaged during transit. It's also highly recommended to clean your automobile so you can check its condition & notice any new damages after delivery.
Running Condition - If the vehicle will be driven at all during shipping or driven home after dropoff then you should make sure it's operable. This means checking fluid levels, battery charge, & tire pressure. This also helps assess the automobile's state when it arrives.
Photos - One essential thing is to take high-quality pics of all angles of the vehicle before pickup. This provides evidence of its condition before shipping in case anything happens during transport.
After Delivery
Once the vehicle shipping service has completed delivery, there are some things to do:
Check Vitals - Lights, brakes, engine should all be inspected right away to ensure the expected condition, & to raise any issues with the shipper if something isn't working properly.
Exterior - You can compare the exterior to the photos taken before to see if any new damage occurred. Shipping a vehicle can rarely cause damage, so you want to make sure your transporter didn't.
Mileage - This is more relevant if the automobile was driven, but it helps to check the miles match up with the trip.
We'd really appreciate if you could leave a review for the auto transport company you used through Shiply so others can browse with confidence.
FAQ - Common Questions
Here we've answered some frequently asked questions about vehicle shipping:
How much to ship a vehicle? Vehicle shipping prices vary a lot depending on the situation, but on average a trip should cost around $2.92 per mile if under 200 miles, $0.93 if 200-500 miles, & if over 1,000 miles then this drops to $0.78.
What's the most affordable way to ship a vehicle? Having someone drive it is cheapest, however, if you need a trailer then a multi-car hauler will be your best option for the most economical vehicle shipping.
How do I pay for auto transport? This is up to each individual company on Shiply & something you should discuss with your chosen shipper before confirming. Most are flexible with payment though.
Can I track my shipment online? Each vehicle transport company has different policies, but many offer online tracking, with some even providing personal updates. Message individual shippers to confirm if tracking is possible.
Does someone need to be there for pickup/delivery? In most cases, yes, the shipping company requires you to be present to sign release forms & hand over the keys.
Can I leave items in my automobile? Most transporters allow some personal belongings, but remember: 1. The weight may affect the shipping cost, & 2. Any items aren't covered by insurance for the vehicle itself.
How much gas for transit? Generally around a 1/4 tank. This allows easy loading/unloading but doesn't add too much extra weight.
Can I ship if it's not running? Yes, but it's more expensive since special equipment is needed to load/unload.
Can I ship a modified automobile? Almost any type of vehicle can be shipped on Shiply, with hundreds of transporters available there's always someone with the right equipment to safely handle it.
