What Is Vehicle Transportation?
Vehicle transportation, also known 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. It's beneficial for moving a vehicle in various situations where you can't operate the car yourself. For instance, you might be buying or selling a used automobile online & need to transport it to another state, or maybe you've recently moved & need to ship your vehicle across the country. Auto shipping services can also be extremely useful when you need to transport your car overseas & ferries aren't available, requiring you to rely on a vehicle transport company to manage the job.
Luckily, there are numerous vehicle shipping services available to satisfy your specific requirements, which we'll discuss below.
Types Of Vehicle Shipping Services
Here's an overview of the different vehicle transport services available. It's advantageous to read through & determine the precise type of auto transportation service you require or prefer for transporting your automobile.
The first decision you need to make is where you want your vehicle collected from & delivered to, whether it's a cross-country car shipping or transporting a vehicle 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 used. Terminal-to-terminal auto delivery is usually more affordable but requires more effort on your part to get the automobile home. However, most people require a door-to-door vehicle transport delivery service, where their cars are collected & dropped off at their doorstep, regardless of whether it's a cross-country car shipping or just moving an automobile to another state. This is often preferable as it eliminates the need to go somewhere else to collect your vehicle, which can be challenging without your car in the first place!
Vehicle shipping services generally fall into two categories: having someone operate your automobile to the destination or putting it on a trailer & transporting it.
Have Someone Operate Your Vehicle
This straightforward solution to vehicle shipping involves hiring someone to operate your automobile to the desired location, whether you need to transport a car across the country or to another state. The advantages of this auto transport method are that it's often more affordable, as trailers & an extra vehicle aren't required, & it can be faster due to the straightforward nature of the shipping.
However, there are some drawbacks to this method offered by vehicle shipping companies that lead some people to choose other types of auto transport. Firstly, mileage is added to your car during the journey, which can be significant when transporting a vehicle across the country, although less so when shipping an automobile to a nearby state. Secondly, there's a slight risk of damage to your car while it's being operated from point A to point B. These concerns are particularly relevant for people buying or selling automobiles online who want to ensure the vehicle arrives in the exact condition as advertised.
Put Your Automobile On A Trailer
Putting your vehicle in a trailer is a safer way to ensure a higher level of protection than having someone operate your automobile to its destination. With car shipping trailers, there are several options available depending on the value & size of your vehicle.
First, you need to decide whether you want a single trailer for your automobile. These are often more expensive as they only transport one car at a time but are a great choice if you're moving a costly or classic vehicle that you don't want to risk getting damaged. The 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, which can move many automobiles at once & comes in a few variants:
Open vehicle shipping by any auto transport company is the most affordable & most common option when transporting a car. Your automobile is placed on an open carrier & driven to the destination. All vehicles are securely fastened, but as the name suggests, they're exposed to the elements during the drive, so vehicle shipping companies may not recommend this for highly valuable cars. Furthermore, while it may be the most affordable way to transport a vehicle cross-country, long journeys in open trailers obviously pose a higher risk of damage & leave your automobile exposed to the elements for extended periods.
Enclosed auto transport involves securing multiple vehicles on a carrier, but they're enclosed, protecting them from dust, weather & debris during transit. This is often preferable for more expensive or newer automobiles where the owner wants to minimize the risk of damage during vehicle transport.
If you need to move your car overseas through a vehicle transport company, try to find a specialist service on our platform or one with experience in overseas auto shipping, as they can provide tailored advice based on your requirements.
How Much Does It Cost To Transport A Vehicle?
Several variables affect the cost of transporting a vehicle, but on average, auto 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, & your auto transport may cost more or less depending on the circumstances. The best way to find out how much vehicle shipping will cost you is to collect car transport quotes from auto shipping companies, which is easy to do on Shiply.
If you want to get an idea of how much you can expect your vehicle delivery to cost, consider the factors that can affect the price of auto transport services, which we'll discuss below.
Factors That Can Affect The Cost Of Vehicle Transport
We all want affordable car shipping, but several factors & variables can affect how much your vehicle transport will cost. Here are the main ones to consider:
As mentioned earlier, distance plays a significant role in determining the cost of your auto shipping, with cross-state & cross-country journeys costing much more than interstate vehicle delivery, which is often the most affordable car transport option.
While longer distances do cost more, fortunately, the average price per mile decreases as the journey length increases, so you're not paying excessively.
International shipping always results in costly vehicle transport quotes due to the logistics of transferring an automobile overseas & the distance it needs to travel. It may also require special enclosed trailers or even a shipping container for your car.
Route - Along with distance, the route required to take your vehicle from its collection spot to its delivery spot can affect the pricing of your auto carrier service. Routes with known higher traffic, such as in LA, may end up costing more than quieter roads due to the added time. Similarly, unforeseen circumstances like major roadworks could also incur extra costs from the vehicle moving companies or require a different, longer route.
Shipping Dates - How quickly you need your auto transportation service can also affect the price. If you're able to be flexible with timings, you may find that your vehicle shipping service charges less because they can fit your car delivery into their schedule & reduce overheads, passing the savings on to you. However, if you require vehicle transport within a strict timeframe (often known as expedited shipping), it will typically cost more as the auto shipping company may need to dedicate a trailer & driver just for your delivery.
Vehicle Size - The height, length & width of the automobile will all affect the cost of transporting your car. Auto shippers will require larger trailers for bigger vehicles, with SUVs typically costing more on average to transport than sedans. Make sure to inform the vehicle transport company about any bike racks, roof racks, or other accessories on the automobile, as these can also change the size of the trailer required for the delivery.
Vehicle Condition - If your automobile is not in drivable condition, it may make your vehicle transport more expensive. This is because it may require extra equipment, such as a winch or forklift, to load & unload your car from the trailer. If your automobile has a locked wheel, for example, it will be impossible to simply roll it onto a trailer & off again, taking more time, effort & machinery to complete the delivery than a standard auto transport service. Most car carriers consider an automobile that can brake, roll & steer to be in good enough condition to ship easily.
Vehicle Transport Service Type - The type of auto shipping service you select will also affect the cost of your vehicle transport. Having someone operate your automobile to its destination will always be the most affordable option, as you're essentially just paying for a driver's time & fuel, whereas single car trailers & enclosed transport are likely to be more expensive due to the extra equipment required. Enclosed vehicle shipping is always the most expensive method of transporting a car, as it means your automobile travels alone & still needs specialist equipment to load, unload & protect it during transport.
Locations Of Pickup & Delivery - The locations of the automobile's collection & drop-off points may also increase the price of shipping a vehicle. Urban areas usually have auto transport services in close proximity, & if it's a common destination route, you'll tend to get affordable vehicle shipping. Rural deliveries can cost more as they require deviations from normal routes & extra mileage for the company. If a collection or drop-off point is in an unusual or hard-to-access space, extra steps may be needed to load your car, which can also increase the vehicle shipping cost.
Vehicle Transport Insurance - While all auto shipping companies are required to carry liability insurance, many do not offer additional insurance as it's not required by law. If a vehicle transport company doesn't offer cargo insurance, it's highly recommended that you seek out & acquire some for your automobile during its transit. As with all insurance policies, make sure you're clear on what type of damage is covered, whether there's a deductible, what parts of the vehicle 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's a quick breakdown of how each season can affect auto transport costs:
Winter is often the most expensive season to ship your car. Ice, snow & blizzard conditions can all cause delays on the roads & reduce the maximum speed at which the vehicle delivery service can transport automobiles. 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. However, February 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, as there is often a rush to move automobiles 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's also a very popular time to move house. This means that June, July & August are all busy months for the vehicle transport industry, & you should not expect affordable auto shipping during the summer.
Fall is a good time to ship an automobile if you're looking for a slightly more affordable price. Vehicle shipping companies are less busy & there is typically more driver availability after the summer rush. However, you're better off looking to move your car in October or November rather than September, as this is peak time for students shipping their automobiles to university.
How To Transport A Vehicle - Finding A Car Shipping Service
Now that you know more about what vehicle shipping & an auto transport service are & what sort of car shipping service you need, you probably want to go ahead & find an auto transportation service that's right for you.
The issue is that there are hundreds of vehicle transport companies out there. Trying to find them on Google can result in scrolling through numerous pages trying to find the best auto shipping company for the best price, & the same is true if you were going to go through phone books. Furthermore, many of these companies are reluctant to give you pricing, meaning you'll likely need to apply for a quote & fill out details with each of them individually, which can be very time-consuming.
How Can Shiply Help Find Vehicle Transport Companies?
Given all 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 start collecting quotes. All we need from you are the make & model of the automobile that needs shipping, the pickup location & delivery location, & the dates that you need to move the vehicle. This gives the car transport providers on Shiply enough information to provide you with an accurate quote for your job.
Once your listing is live, you'll 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 choose from.
Once you have a few quotes, you can ask the companies any questions you may have, such as when they're available (if a time frame is given), what insurance they have & how they would secure your automobile. We recommend asking any company you may use these questions to ensure that everything goes smoothly & as expected.
Shiply has a feedback & ratings system that we 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 their overall score.
Why People Often Move Automobiles To & From Hope Valley, Rhode Island, US
Hope Valley, Rhode Island, US, is a popular destination for people moving their vehicles for various reasons. Many individuals relocate to Hope Valley for work opportunities, as the area has a thriving job market. Others move to the town for its scenic beauty, outdoor recreational activities & close-knit community atmosphere. Additionally, Hope Valley's proximity to major cities like Providence & Boston makes it an attractive location for those who want to live in a more rural setting while still having access to urban amenities. As a result, auto shipping hope valley & hope valley vehicle shipping services are in high demand, with many people requiring reliable car transport to & from the area.
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The Benefits of Using Shiply for Vehicle Transportation
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 & can then obtain quotes from various companies based on the information you submit. This can save you a significant amount of time that you would have otherwise spent contacting companies & providing details. Communication with these businesses is also feasible through our platform, allowing you to store all of your vehicle shipping data in one location.
Cost Comparison - Ultimately, the price of the vehicle shipping estimate is the most crucial factor in selecting which auto transport company to employ for transporting your vehicle. The challenge is that, while most businesses are willing to provide average prices & general estimates, you won't receive a definite vehicle transport quote without supplying information & completing details. Although this is understandable, it means that comparing prices & obtaining a vehicle transport quote is not a simple task. Utilizing Shiply enables you to acquire genuine, 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 choose the ideal company for your needs.
Affordable Vehicle 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 & 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 suitable for you, you can often save up to 75% on auto transport by utilizing our service.
Eco-Friendly - Using Shiply for auto transport is not only more economical but also more environmentally friendly. In the previous example, if your vehicle didn't get on that multi-car transporter & instead, you arranged transport from a separate car shipper, the emissions into the atmosphere would have doubled as another entire journey would be required 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 utilized 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, resulting in even less wasted CO2 being emitted into the atmosphere, as well as continued affordable transport for our users.
Preparing Your Vehicle for Shipping
If you have selected an auto transport company to transport your vehicle & feel confident using them, it's time to prepare your vehicle 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 during transit. It is also highly recommended that you clean your vehicle before transport, as this will allow you to assess 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, 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.
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 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.
If you're looking for reliable & affordable car shipping hope valley or hope valley car shipping services, Shiply is your go-to platform. With a wide network of trusted transport providers, you can easily compare quotes, choose the best option for your needs, & have your vehicle delivered to its destination hassle-free.
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