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 spot & transporting it to another. This service is beneficial in numerous situations where you are unable to operate the vehicle yourself, such as when purchasing or selling a used car online, relocating to a new residence, or moving your automobile overseas. 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, you must determine the pickup and delivery spots, whether it's a nationwide car transport or moving a vehicle to another state. Terminal-to-terminal auto delivery is a choice where designated collection & drop-off points are utilized, frequently at the car transport company's locations or operating bases. This choice is typically more affordable but demands more effort on your part to get the automobile home. However, most individuals prefer door-to-door auto transport delivery service, where their vehicles are collected and dropped off at their doorstep, regardless of the distance.
Vehicle transport services are categorized into two primary types: 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 vehicle to its destination is a straightforward solution for vehicle shipping, whether it's across the nation or to another state. The advantages of this approach include lower costs, as trailers and additional vehicles are not necessary, and quicker delivery due to the simplicity of the transport. However, there are some drawbacks to consider, such as the addition of mileage to your automobile, especially when shipping a car across the country, and the slight risk of damage during the trip. These concerns are particularly relevant for individuals purchasing 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 vehicle on a trailer provides a higher level of security compared to having someone operate it to its destination. Vehicle shipping trailers come in various options, depending on the value and size of your automobile. Single trailers are more expensive as they only transport one car at a time but are ideal for moving costly or classic cars that require extra protection. The safest way to transport a vehicle is in a shipping container, although this is the most expensive option.
Multi-car transporters are another option, which can transport many vehicles at once & come in a few variants:
- Open car shipping: The most affordable and common option, where your vehicle is placed on an open carrier and driven to the destination. While all cars are safely secured, they are exposed to the elements during the drive, making it less suitable for highly valuable vehicles. Long journeys in open trailers also pose a higher risk of damage.
- Enclosed auto transport: Multiple cars are secured on a carrier and enclosed, protecting them from dust, weather, and debris during transit. This option is preferable for more expensive or newer vehicles where the owner wants to minimize the risk of damage.
For overseas vehicle transportation, it's best to find specialist services or companies with experience in overseas car shipping to provide tailored advice based on your requirements.
How Much Does It Cost To Ship A Vehicle?
The expense of shipping a vehicle varies depending on several factors, but on average, US auto transport companies charge around $2.92 per mile for trips less than 200 miles, $0.93 for trips between 200 and 500 miles, and $0.78 for trips over 1,000 miles. However, these are just averages, and your vehicle transport cost may differ based 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 easily done on Shiply.
Factors That Can Influence The Expense Of Vehicle Transport
While everyone wants affordable vehicle transport, several factors can impact the cost of car shipping services:
- Distance: Cross-state and cross-country trips cost more than interstate vehicle delivery, which is often the most affordable option. However, the average price per mile decreases as the trip length increases.
- International shipping: Transporting a vehicle overseas is always more expensive due to the logistics involved and 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 or unforeseen circumstances like roadworks may incur extra costs or require longer alternative routes.
- Shipping dates: Flexibility in timings can result in lower charges, as vehicle shipping companies can fit your delivery into their schedule and reduce overheads. Expedited shipping within a strict timeframe typically costs more.
- Vehicle size: The height, length, and width of the automobile affect the cost of transport. Larger vehicles like SUVs cost more to transport than sedans. Accessories such as bike racks or roof racks can also change the required trailer size.
- Vehicle condition: Non-drivable cars may incur higher transport costs due to the need for extra equipment like winches or forklifts for loading and unloading.
- Auto transport service type: Having someone operate your vehicle is the most affordable option, while single car trailers and enclosed transport are more expensive due to the specialized equipment required.
- Pickup and delivery locations: Urban areas with common destination routes often have more affordable vehicle shipping services. Rural deliveries or hard-to-access spaces may cost more due to extra mileage and loading challenges.
- Auto transport insurance: While auto transport companies must carry liability insurance, additional cargo insurance is recommended. Clarify the coverage details, deductibles, and covered vehicle parts with the insurance provider.
- Time of year: Seasonality affects vehicle shipping prices, with winter being the most expensive due to weather-related delays. Spring and fall offer better rates and availability, while summer is the busiest season for the auto transport industry.
How To Ship A Vehicle - Finding A Vehicle Transport Service
With hundreds of vehicle transport companies available, finding the right one can be overwhelming. Searching on Google or through phone books can be time-consuming, and many companies are reluctant to provide pricing without individual quotes.
How Can Shiply Assist In Finding Vehicle Transport Companies?
Shiply simplifies the process of finding a vehicle shipping service. By filling out a simple form with your vehicle's make and model, pickup and delivery locations, and desired shipping dates, you can easily collect quotes from auto transport providers. Quotes start arriving in your Shiply inbox and email within minutes of posting your listing, and it's recommended to wait for a few options before making a decision.
Before selecting a quote, ask the companies about their availability, insurance coverage, and how they secure vehicles during transport. Shiply's feedback and ratings system allows you to view previous customers' experiences and overall scores, helping you make an informed decision.
Why People Often Move Vehicles To & From Canóvanas, Puerto Rico
Canóvanas, a municipality in Puerto Rico, is a popular destination for vehicle shipping due to various reasons. Many people relocate to Canóvanas for work opportunities, family reasons, or to enjoy the tropical climate and beautiful beaches. When moving to Canóvanas, shipping a vehicle from the US mainland or other parts of Puerto Rico is often necessary to maintain personal transportation.
Similarly, people leaving Canóvanas may need to ship their vehicles to their new destination. Whether moving back to the US mainland or to another part of Puerto Rico, vehicle shipping services make the process more convenient and stress-free. Canóvanas vehicle shipping companies are experienced in handling the unique challenges of transporting automobiles to and from the island, ensuring a smooth and efficient process for customers.
The Benefits of Using Shiply for Vehicle Transportation
Time-efficient - Rather than submitting a quotation form each time you desire an accurate cost from a business for transporting a vehicle, on our site you complete one quotation form & can then obtain quotes from various companies based on the information you supply. This can conserve you hours of effort that you would have spent phoning companies & entering details. Communication with these businesses is also feasible via 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 choosing which auto transport company to employ to transport your vehicle. The challenge is that, while most businesses are willing to provide average prices & rough estimates, you won't receive a definite vehicle transport quote without having to submit information & fill out details. While this is understandable, it means that comparing prices & getting a vehicle transport quote is not exactly a simple process. Utilizing Shiply enables you to receive authentic, final price estimates from vehicle shipping companies & compare them in one place, offering the opportunity to message them individually to ask any questions you may have & ultimately select the optimal company for you.
Affordable Vehicle Shipping - Auto transport businesses on Shiply can usually provide their services at a lower cost than if you went directly to them. This is because they are frequently 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 journey with 5 of the 6 spots occupied, & they are simply 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 auto transport by utilizing 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 journey would be needed 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 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 transport your vehicle & feel confident using them, then it's time to get your vehicle ready 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 & 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 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 proof 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, & 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, & 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 most affordable 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 most economical 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.
If you're looking for reliable & affordable car shipping canóvanas or canóvanas car shipping services, Shiply is the perfect platform to connect with trusted auto transport companies. With our user-friendly interface & competitive pricing, shipping your vehicle has never been simpler!