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 proves useful in various circumstances where you are unable to drive the vehicle yourself, such as when purchasing or selling a used car online & requiring it to be shipped to another state, relocating to a new residence & needing cross-country vehicle shipping, or moving your automobile abroad when ferries are unavailable. Luckily, there are numerous auto transport services available to cater to your specific requirements.
Categories Of Vehicle Transport Services
When selecting a vehicle transport service, the initial choice you must make is where you want your automobile collected from & delivered to, whether it's a cross-country car transport or shipping 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 utilized. While this alternative is typically less expensive, it 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 & dropped off at their doorstep, regardless of the distance.
Vehicle transport services are generally categorized into two types: having someone drive your automobile to the destination or placing it on a trailer for transport.
Have Someone Drive Your Vehicle
Employing someone to drive 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 approach 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 a car across the country, & the slight risk of damage during the journey. These concerns are particularly relevant for individuals buying or selling automobiles online who want to ensure the vehicle arrives in the same condition as advertised.
Place Your Vehicle On A Trailer
Putting your automobile on a trailer is a safer option that guarantees a higher level of protection compared to having someone drive your vehicle. 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 that require extra care. The safest way to transport a vehicle is by using a shipping container, although this is the most costly option. Multi-car transporters, which can carry several automobiles at once, are another popular choice & come in two main variants:
Open car shipping is the most affordable & common option offered by vehicle shipping companies. Your automobile is securely placed on an open carrier & driven to its destination. While all cars are safely secured, they are exposed to the elements during the drive, making this option less suitable for highly valuable vehicles. Additionally, long journeys using 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 the owner wants to minimize the risk of damage during transport.
If you need to move your vehicle overseas, it's best to find a specialist service on our platform or one with experience in overseas car shipping, as they can provide tailored advice based on your requirements.
The Benefits of Using Shiply for Vehicle Transport in Quonochontaug
Time-Efficient - Rather than filling out a quotation form each time you desire an accurate cost from a company for quonochontaug vehicle transport, on our platform, you complete one quotation form and can then obtain quotes from various companies based on the information you submit. This can save you significant time that you would have spent contacting companies and completing forms. Communication with these companies is also possible through our platform, allowing you to keep all your vehicle transport details in a single location.
Cost Comparison - Ultimately, the price of the vehicle transport quote is the most crucial factor when choosing which auto shipping company to use for your vehicle. The challenge is that while most companies willingly provide average prices and rough estimates, you won't receive a definite vehicle transport quote without supplying information and filling in details. Although understandable, this means that comparing prices and obtaining a vehicle transport quote is not a simple task. Utilizing Shiply enables you to receive authentic, final price quotes from vehicle transport companies and compare them in one place, with the ability to message them individually to ask any questions you may have and ultimately select the best company for your needs.
Affordable Vehicle Transport - Auto shipping companies on Shiply can typically offer 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 in the cost. For example, if you were relocating from Los Angeles to New York and 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 filled, 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 using our service.
Environmentally Friendly - Using Shiply for auto transport is not only more affordable but also more environmentally friendly! In the example above, if your vehicle didn't get on that multi-car transporter and instead, you arranged transport from a separate vehicle shipper, the emissions into the atmosphere would have doubled as another entire trip would be required just for your vehicle. Similarly, many vehicle transporters return empty-handed after a delivery, 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 vehicles in the opposite direction! Many auto transporters on Shiply are also looking to fill their trailers on return trips, resulting in even less wasted CO2 being released into the atmosphere, as well as continued affordable transport for our users.
Preparing Your Vehicle for Transport
If you have chosen an auto transport company to move your vehicle and feel confident using them, it's time to prepare your vehicle for shipping. We recommend following these steps:
Documents - Ensure that any necessary documents are available at pick-up or drop-off, especially if you are selling your vehicle.
Cleaning - Remove all personal items from your vehicle before shipping to avoid the risk of them getting lost or damaged in transit. It is also highly recommended to clean your vehicle before transport, as this will allow you to assess 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, ensure that it is in running condition. This means checking fluid levels, battery charge, and tire pressure. This can also help you better evaluate the vehicle's condition upon arrival.
Photographic Evidence - Before the vehicle delivery service picks up your vehicle, take high-quality photographs of all parts of the car. This provides you with evidence of the car's condition before shipping in case anything happens to it during transport.
What to Do After Delivery
Once the vehicle shipping company you selected has completed their delivery, there are a few things you should do:
Check Vital Signs - Immediately check lights, brakes, and engines to ensure that the car is in the expected condition and to raise any concerns with the vehicle delivery service if anything is not working as it should.
Exterior Condition - Compare the exterior of the vehicle to the photos taken before to determine if any additional damage has occurred. In rare cases, shipping a car can cause damage, and you want to ensure 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 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 frequently asked questions about vehicle shipping:
How much does it cost to ship a car? Vehicle shipping prices can vary significantly 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, this drops to $0.78.
What is the most affordable 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 require a trailer, a multi-car transporter will be your best option for the most affordable way to ship a car.
How do I pay for my auto transport? This depends on each individual auto transport company on Shiply and is something you should discuss with your chosen vehicle delivery service before confirming the delivery. Most companies will be flexible with payment options.
Can I track my car transport online? Each vehicle 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 vehicle 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 can be shipped on Shiply. With hundreds of transport providers available to bid on your job, there will always be someone who is up for the task and has the right equipment to safely carry it out.
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