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 is beneficial in various circumstances where operating the vehicle yourself is not practical, such as when purchasing or selling a used car online, relocating to a new residence across the nation, or moving your automobile overseas. Vehicle shipping companies provide a variety of auto transport services to accommodate different 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. Terminal-to-terminal auto delivery is an alternative where designated collection & drop-off locations, frequently the car transport company's facilities or operating bases, are utilized. While this option is typically more affordable, it necessitates more effort on your part to get the vehicle home. However, most individuals prefer door-to-door auto transport delivery, where their automobiles are collected & dropped off at their doorstep, regardless of whether it's a cross-country car transport or simply moving a car to another state.
Vehicle transport services can be classified into two primary categories: having someone operate your automobile to the destination or placing it on a trailer for transport.
Engage Someone To Operate Your Vehicle
Engaging someone to operate your automobile to its destination is a straightforward solution for vehicle shipping, whether you need to transport a car across the nation or to another state. This approach is often more affordable as it doesn't necessitate trailers or an additional vehicle, & it can be quicker due to its simplicity. However, there are some drawbacks to consider, such as the addition of mileage to your automobile, especially when shipping a car across the country, & the slight risk of damage during the journey. These concerns are particularly relevant for individuals purchasing or selling automobiles online who want to ensure the car arrives in the same condition as advertised.
Place Your Automobile On A Trailer
Placing your automobile on a trailer provides a higher level of security compared to having someone operate it. Vehicle shipping trailers come in various options depending on the value & size of your automobile. Single trailers, while more costly, are ideal for transporting expensive or classic cars that require extra protection. The safest way to move a car is in a shipping container, although this is the most expensive option.
Multi-car transporters, which can carry several vehicles simultaneously, come in different variants:
Open car shipping is the most affordable & common option, where 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 transit, making this option less suitable for highly valuable vehicles. Long journeys in open trailers also pose a higher risk of damage.
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 minimizing the risk of damage is a priority.
For overseas vehicle transportation, it's best to find a specialist service or a company with experience in overseas car shipping to receive tailored advice based on your requirements.
What Is The Cost To Transport A Vehicle?
The expense of transporting a vehicle varies depending on several factors, but on average, US auto transport companies 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. However, these are just averages, & your car transport cost may differ based on your specific circumstances. The best way to determine the cost of auto transport is to obtain car shipping quotes from various companies, which is easily done through Shiply.
Variables That Can Impact The Expense Of Vehicle Transport
Several factors can influence the expense of car shipping, including:
Distance: Cross-state & cross-country journeys cost more than interstate car delivery, which is often the most affordable option. However, the average price per mile decreases as the journey length increases.
International shipping: Transporting a car overseas is always expensive due to the logistics involved & 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 lead to lower costs, as car shipping companies can fit your delivery into their schedule & reduce overheads. Expedited shipping within a strict timeframe typically costs more.
Vehicle size: The height, length, & width of the vehicle impact the cost of transport. Larger vehicles like SUVs generally cost more to ship 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 & unloading.
Auto transport service type: Having someone drive your car is the most affordable option, while single car trailers & enclosed transport are more expensive due to the specialized equipment required.
Pickup & delivery locations: Urban areas with common destination routes often have more affordable car shipping services. Rural deliveries may cost more due to deviations from normal routes & extra mileage.
Auto transport insurance: While auto transport companies must carry liability insurance, additional cargo insurance is recommended & may increase the overall cost.
Time of year: Seasonality affects car shipping prices, with winter being the most expensive due to weather-related delays. Spring & fall offer better rates, while summer is the busiest season.
How To Transport A Vehicle - Locating A Vehicle Transport Service
With numerous car transport companies available, finding the right one can be overwhelming. Searching through Google or phone books can be time-consuming, & many companies are reluctant to provide pricing without individual quote applications.
How Can Shiply Assist In Finding Vehicle Transport Companies?
Shiply simplifies the process of finding a car shipping service. By filling out a simple form with your car's make & model, pickup & delivery locations, & required dates, you can easily collect quotes from auto transport providers. Quotes start arriving in your Shiply inbox & email within minutes of posting your listing, allowing you to compare multiple options before making a decision.
Before selecting a quote, it's essential to ask the company questions about availability, insurance, & how they secure your car during transport. Shiply's feedback & ratings system allows you to view previous customers' experiences & overall scores, helping you make an informed choice.
Why People Frequently Move Vehicles To & From Rapid City, South Dakota, US
Rapid City, located in western South Dakota, is a popular destination for car shipping due to various reasons. As the second-largest city in the state, Rapid City attracts many people who are relocating for work or personal reasons. The city's proximity to notable tourist attractions like Mount Rushmore, the Black Hills, & Badlands National Park also contributes to the demand for car shipping services, as visitors often prefer to have their own vehicles for exploring the area.
Moreover, Rapid City is home to Ellsworth Air Force Base, which sees frequent transfers of military personnel. These individuals often require car shipping services to transport their vehicles when moving to or from the base. The presence of several colleges & universities in the area, such as the South Dakota School of Mines & Technology & National American University, also leads to an influx of students who may need to ship their cars to & from Rapid City during the academic year.
The city's central location within the United States makes it a convenient stopover point for cross-country car shipping. Many car shipping companies include Rapid City in their routes, as it serves as a connecting point between major cities in the Midwest, West, & Rocky Mountain regions.
In summary, Rapid City's growing population, tourist attractions, military presence, educational institutions, & strategic location contribute to the high demand for car shipping services in the area. Whether you're moving to or from Rapid City, shipping your car with a reliable auto transport company can make the process more convenient & stress-free.
The Benefits of Utilizing Shiply for Swift City Auto Transport & Auto Transport Swift City
Time-Saving - Instead of completing a quote form each time you desire a precise price from a company on transporting your automobile, on our platform you simply fill out one quote form & then can receive quotes based on the information you provide from several businesses. This can save you hours of time you would've had to spend calling up firms & filling in forms.
Communication with these companies is all possible through our platform too, allowing you to keep all of your auto shipping info in one place.
Price Comparison - When it comes down to it, the cost of the auto shipping quote is the biggest factor in selecting which vehicle transport business to use to ship your automobile. The tricky thing is that, while most firms are happy to provide average prices & ballpark figures, you won't actually be given a firm auto transport quote without having to give information & fill in details. While this is understandable, it does mean that price comparison & getting an auto transport quote isn't exactly a simple task.
Using Shiply allows you to get genuine, final price quotes from auto shipping businesses & compare them in one place, giving you the ability to message them individually to ask any questions you may have & ultimately decide on the best company for you.
Affordable Auto Shipping
Vehicle transport businesses on Shiply are typically able to offer their services for a lower fee than if you went direct to them. This is because they are often looking to fill space on journeys they are already making & have already sunk the cost for. Say, for example, you were moving from Los Angeles to New York & needed to move your automobile there. On Shiply, a company may already have a multi-car transporter making that journey with 5 of the 6 spots filled, & they are just looking to ensure they are not wasting any space. As long as the dates, times, & pick-up/drop-off locations work for you, you can often save up to 75% on vehicle transport by using our service.
Better For The Environment
Not only is using Shiply for vehicle transport cheaper, but it is also better for the environment! In the above example, if your automobile didn't get on that multi-car transporter & instead you arranged transport from a separate auto shipper, then the emissions into the atmosphere would have doubled as another entire journey would be needed just for your automobile.
Similarly, many auto transporters return from a delivery empty-handed, which is not only costly for them but also for the environment as there are lots of people who could have used that transporter to move their automobiles in the other direction! Many of the vehicle 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 cheap transport for our users.
Preparing For Your Automobile To Be Shipped
If you have decided on a vehicle transport company to move your automobile & feel secure using them, then it's time to prepare your automobile for shipping. We recommend following these steps:
Documents - It is important to ensure that any documents you may need are available at pick up or drop off, especially if you are selling your vehicle.
Cleaning - You should take care to remove all personal items 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 figure out 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 judge the condition of the vehicle upon arrival.
Photographic Evidence - One very important thing to do when preparing your vehicle for the auto delivery service to pick up is to take high-quality photographs of all parts of the automobile. This provides you with evidence of the automobile's condition before shipping should anything happen to it during transport.
What To Do After Delivery
Once the auto 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 automobile is in the expected condition, as well as enable you to immediately raise concerns with the auto 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 figure out whether any extra damage has occurred. Shipping an automobile can, in rare cases, cause damage, & you want to be sure your auto transport service has not done so.
Check Mileage - This is more relevant to auto shipping services where the automobile 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 vehicle transport company you used through Shiply so that others can browse auto shipping services with the same peace of mind.
FAQ - Frequently Asked Questions
Below we have answered some of the most asked questions about auto shipping:
How much to ship an automobile? Auto 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 an automobile? Having someone drive your vehicle to its destination is the cheapest way to ship an automobile, however, if you need a trailer then a multi-car transporter will be your best option with regard to the cheapest way to ship an automobile.
How do I pay for my vehicle transport? This is down to each individual vehicle transport company on Shiply & is something you should discuss with your chosen auto delivery service before confirming the delivery. Most companies will be flexible with payment options, however.
Can I track my auto transport online? Each auto shipping company on Shiply has different ways of operating, but many offer the ability to track your auto shipment, with some even able to provide personal updates. If you require tracking, you should message individual auto transport companies to confirm that this is possible with them.
Does someone have to be present for pickup & delivery? In most cases, the auto 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 automobile keys.
Can I keep items in my vehicle during my auto shipment? Most auto 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 automobile 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.
