What Is Vehicle Transportation?
Vehicle transportation, also known as car shipping or auto transport, is a service offered by auto transport companies that involves collecting your vehicle from one location & transporting it to another. It's beneficial for moving a car in various situations where you can't operate the vehicle yourself. For instance, you might be buying or selling a used car online & need to transport it to another state, or maybe you've recently moved & need to ship your vehicle across the country. Auto transport services can also be extremely useful when you need to transfer your car overseas, and unless ferries are available, you'll have to depend on a car shipping company to manage this for you.
Luckily, there are numerous vehicle transport services available to fulfill your requirements, which we've detailed below.
Varieties Of Car Shipping Services
There are various car shipping services available, summarized below. It can be extremely helpful to read through & determine precisely what kind of auto transportation service you require or prefer for transporting your vehicle.
The first decision you need to make is where you want your car collected from & delivered to, whether it's a cross-country vehicle transport or moving a car to another state. Terminal-to-terminal auto delivery is an option, which means using designated collection & drop-off points that are often the auto transport company's stores or operating bases. For this reason, terminal-to-terminal car delivery is usually more affordable but will require some additional effort on your part to get the vehicle home. However, the vast majority of people require a door-to-door car shipping delivery service so that their vehicles are collected & dropped off at their doorstep, regardless of whether it's a cross-country auto transport or just shipping a car to another state. This is often preferable as it means you don't need to go anywhere to collect your car - something that can be challenging without your vehicle in the first place!
Auto transportation services are generally divided into two categories: either you have someone operate your car to where it needs to go, or it's loaded onto a trailer & shipped there.
Have Someone Operate Your Vehicle
This is a straightforward solution to vehicle shipping that involves hiring someone to come & operate your car to its destination - whether the need is to transport a vehicle across the country or to move cars to another state. The advantages of this car shipping method are that it's often more affordable since trailers & an extra vehicle aren't required, & it can also be faster due to the straightforward nature of the transport.
However, there are some drawbacks to this method offered by auto transport companies that lead some people to choose other types of vehicle shipping. First, mileage is obviously added to your car during the journey, meaning if you're moving a vehicle across the country, there will be significant miles added - less so when simply transporting a car to a nearby state. Second, there is a slight risk of damage occurring to your vehicle while it's being operated from point A to point B. These concerns are particularly worrisome for people buying or selling cars online who want to ensure the vehicle arrives in exactly the same condition as it was advertised.
Put Your Vehicle On A Trailer
Putting your car on a trailer is a safe way to guarantee a higher level of protection than having someone operate your vehicle to its destination. With auto shipping trailers, there are multiple options you may want to choose depending on the value & size of your car.
First, you need to decide whether you want a single trailer for your vehicle. These are often more expensive as they only transport one car at a time but are a great option if you're moving an expensive or classic vehicle that you don't want to risk getting damaged. The absolute safest way to ship a car is to put it in a shipping container, but this is by far the most expensive option. The other option is a multi-car transporter that can move many vehicles at once, of which there are a few variants:
Open vehicle shipping by any auto transport company is the most affordable & by far the most common option when moving a car. Your vehicle is placed on an open carrier & driven to the destination. All cars are securely fastened but, as the name suggests, they are exposed to the elements during the drive, so this may not be recommended by car shipping companies for highly valuable vehicles. Furthermore, while it may be the cheapest way to transport a car cross-country, long journeys in open trailers will obviously run more risk of damage & leave your vehicle exposed to the elements for longer periods.
Enclosed car shipping involves multiple vehicles secured on a carrier, but they are enclosed, meaning they are not exposed to the dust, weather, & debris of the outside world during transit. This is often preferable for more expensive or newer cars where the owner wants to minimize the risk of damage during auto transport.
If you need to transfer your car overseas through a vehicle shipping company, you should try to find one of the specialist services on our platform or one that has experience in overseas auto transport, as they can provide you with tailored advice based on your requirements.
How Much Does It Cost To Transport A Vehicle?
There are several variables to consider when trying to determine how much it will cost to transport a car, but on average, vehicle shipping 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.
These figures are just averages for vehicle moving companies, however, & your car transport may cost more or less depending on the circumstances. The best way to find out how much auto shipping will cost you is to collect some vehicle transportation quotes from car shipping companies, which is very easy to do on Shiply.
If you want to get an idea of how much you can expect your vehicle delivery to cost, take a look below at the factors that can affect the price of car transport services.
Factors That Can Affect The Cost Of Car Shipping
We all want affordable auto transport, but there are several factors & variables that can impact how much your vehicle shipping will cost. Below, we'll outline the main ones so you can get a rough idea of whether your car transport requirements will be expensive or cheap.
As mentioned above, distance is one of the factors that will play a significant role in how much your vehicle transport will cost, with cross-state & cross-country journeys costing much more than an interstate car delivery, which is often the most affordable auto shipping option.
While longer distances do cost more, fortunately, the average price per mile drops the longer the journey is, meaning you aren't paying over the odds.
International shipping will always result in expensive vehicle shipping quotes due to the logistics of transferring a car overseas & the distance it needs to travel. It can also require special enclosed trailers or even a shipping container for your vehicle.
Route - Along with distance, the route needed to take your car from its pick-up spot to its delivery spot can affect the pricing of your vehicle carrier service. Routes with known higher traffic, in LA, for example, may end up costing more than quieter roads due to the time this can add to a journey. Likewise, unforeseen circumstances such as major roadworks could also incur extra costs from the vehicle moving companies or mean that a different route is required that may take longer.
Shipping Dates - How quickly you need your vehicle transportation service to operate can also affect the price. For example, if you are able to be flexible around timings, you may find that your car shipping service charges much less. This is because they are able to fit your vehicle delivery into their schedule & reduce overheads for themselves, passing the savings on to you. However, if you require auto transport within a strict timeframe (often known as expedited shipping), this will typically end up costing you more due to the car transport company likely having to dedicate a trailer & driver just for your delivery.
Vehicle Size - The height, length, & width of the car will all affect how much it will cost to ship your vehicle. Auto shippers will require larger trailers for bigger vehicles, with SUVs typically costing more on average to transport than a sedan. Further, you should always make sure to let the car shipping company know about any bike racks, roof racks, or other accessories on the vehicle, as these can also change the size of the trailer required for the delivery.
Vehicle Condition - If your car is not in drivable condition, this may make your auto transport more expensive. This is because it may require extra equipment such as a winch or forklift to get your vehicle on & off the trailer. If your car has a locked wheel, for example, it will be impossible to simply roll it onto a trailer & off again, & takes more time, effort, & machinery to complete the delivery than a standard vehicle transport service. Most car carriers would consider a vehicle that can brake, roll, & steer to be in good enough condition to ship easily.
Auto Transport Service Type - The type of car shipping service you select will also affect the cost of your vehicle transportation. Having someone operate your car to its destination will always be the most affordable option, as you are essentially just paying for a driver's time & petrol, whereas with single car trailers & enclosed transport, the price is likely to be higher as there is extra equipment required. Something like enclosed vehicle shipping will always be the most expensive method of transporting a car, as it means not only is your vehicle traveling on its own, but it still needs specialist equipment to load, unload, & protect your car during transport.
Locations Of Pickup & Delivery - Depending on where you need the vehicle picked up from & dropped off, this may also increase the price of shipping a car. Urban areas will usually have auto transport services in close proximity, & if it is a common destination route, you will tend to get affordable car shipping. Rural deliveries can cost more as they require deviations from normal routes & extra mileage for the company. If a pick-up or drop-off point is also in an unusual or hard-to-access space, extra steps may need to be taken to load your vehicle, which can also increase the vehicle shipping cost.
Car Shipping Insurance - While all car transport companies are required to carry liability insurance, many do not offer any additional insurance as it is not required by law. If an auto transport company does not offer cargo insurance, it is highly recommended that you seek out & acquire some for your vehicle during its transit. As with all insurance policies, make sure you are clear on what type of damage is covered, whether there is a deductible, what parts of the car are covered by the insurance, & any other questions you may have.
Time Of Year - Seasonality can also affect the price of vehicle shipping, with many services costing more to transport a car in the winter due to ice & snow slowing the routes. Here is a quick breakdown of how each season can affect car shipping costs:
Winter is often the most expensive season to ship your car. This is because ice, snow, & blizzard conditions can all cause delays on the roads, as well as reduce the maximum speed at which the vehicle delivery service can transport cars. December is typically a difficult time to have a car shipped as drivers are on holiday, while many travel to warmer states in January, leading to increased auto shipping costs. February, however, is usually quiet, & so great rates are often available from vehicle transport services during this month.
Spring is a great time to ship your car with an auto transportation service. With improved weather conditions, longer days, & more drivers ready to work, Spring can often mean affordable rates & high availability when it comes to moving your vehicle. March is often a better time to ship than April or May; however, again, there is often a rush to move cars from colder to warmer states.
Summer is the prime season for shipping vehicles - the days are the longest in the year, students are traveling home from universities, employees take vacations, & it is also a very popular time to move house. This means that June, July, & August are all busy months for the car transport industry, & you should not expect affordable auto shipping during the summer.
Fall is a good time to ship a vehicle if you are looking for a slightly cheaper price. Car shipping companies are less busy, & there is typically more driver availability after the summer rush; however, you are better off looking to move your car in October or November rather than September, as this is peak time for students shipping their vehicles to university.
How To Transport A Vehicle - Finding A Car Shipping Service
Now that you know a bit more about what vehicle shipping & an auto transport service are & what sort of car shipping service you need, you probably want to go ahead & actually try to find a vehicle transport service that is going to be right for you.
The issue is that there are hundreds of auto transport companies out there. Trying to find them on Google can end up resulting in scrolling through hundreds of pages trying to find the best vehicle shipping company for the best price, & the same is true if you were going to go through phone books. Further, many of these companies are reluctant to give you pricing, meaning you will most likely need to apply for a quote & fill out details with each of them individually, which can become very time-consuming.
How Can Shiply Help Find Car Transport Companies?
Given all of the options & variables involved with finding an auto shipping service, actually searching for & finding the right one can seem like a daunting task, & this is where Shiply can help.
On Shiply, you simply need to fill out a simple form to get started with collecting quotes. All we need from you are the make & model of the vehicle that needs shipping, the pickup location & delivery location, & the dates that you need to move the car. This gives the car transport providers on Shiply enough information to be able to provide you with an accurate quote for your job.
Once your listing is live, you will receive quotes in your Shiply inbox & to your email. We recommend keeping email notifications turned on so that you can know immediately when a new quote comes through. Quotes can start coming through within a few minutes of posting your listing, but we always recommend waiting for a few to come through before making a decision so that you have multiple options to pick from.
Once you have a few, you can ask them any questions you may have, such as when they are available (if a time frame is given), what insurance they have, & how they would secure your vehicle. We recommend asking any company you may use these questions to ensure that everything goes smoothly & as expected.
Shiply has a feedback & ratings system which we also highly recommend looking at before selecting a quote to ship your car. This system allows you to view previous customers' experiences with a company, as well as view their overall score.
San Antonio Vehicle Shipping
San Antonio, located in the U.S. state of Texas, is a popular city for people to move to & from. Many individuals relocate their cars to or from San Antonio for various reasons, such as job transfers, military deployments, or simply seeking a change of scenery. When it comes to vehicle shipping in San Antonio, there are several reliable options available.
One of the main reasons people choose to ship their vehicles to or from San Antonio is the city's strong economy & job market. San Antonio is home to several major industries, including healthcare, tourism, & the military, which attract professionals from all over the country. Additionally, the city's warm climate & vibrant culture make it an appealing destination for retirees & families looking for a change of pace.
When searching for auto transport services in San Antonio, it's essential to consider factors such as the company's reputation, experience, & insurance coverage. Shiply can help you find trustworthy vehicle shipping companies in San Antonio by allowing you to compare quotes & read customer reviews all in one place.
Whether you're moving to San Antonio for work, family, or simply a fresh start, shipping your car with a reputable company can make the transition much smoother & less stressful. With the help of Shiply, you can easily find the best vehicle shipping San Antonio has to offer & ensure that your car arrives at its destination safely & on time.
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The Benefits of Using Shiply for Car Shipping in San Antonio
Time-Efficient - 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 a single quote form and can then obtain estimates based on the information you supply from several companies. This can conserve you significant time that you would have otherwise spent phoning businesses and completing forms. Communication with these firms is also feasible via our platform, allowing you to store all of your San Antonio car shipping details in one location.
Cost Comparison - Ultimately, the price of the car 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 and rough estimates, you won't receive a definite car transport quote without having to submit information and fill in 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 receive authentic, 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.
Affordable Car Shipping - Auto transport businesses on Shiply can typically provide their services at 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 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 filled, and they are just 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 using our service.
Environmentally Friendly - 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 affordable transport for our users.
Readying Your Vehicle 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 vehicle for shipping. We suggest following these steps:
Paperwork - It is crucial to ensure that any documents you may require are available at pick up or drop off, especially if you are selling your vehicle.
Cleansing - You should take care to remove all personal belongings 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 determine its condition and notice any damages that may occur during delivery.
Operational 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 Proof - 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:
Inspect 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 State - 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.
Verify 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 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 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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