What Is Vehicle Transportation?
Vehicle transportation, also referred to as auto shipping or car 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 various scenarios where you are unable to operate the vehicle yourself, such as when purchasing or selling a used car online & need to transport a vehicle to another state, or when you've relocated & require cross-country vehicle shipping. Auto transportation services can also be incredibly useful when you need to move your car overseas, & unless ferries are available, you'll need to depend on a car shipping company to manage this for you.
Luckily, there are numerous vehicle transport services available to satisfy your requirements, which we've enumerated below.
Types Of Car Shipping Services
There are various car shipping services available, which we've summarized below. It can be incredibly helpful to read through & determine precisely what type of auto transportation service you require or desire to relocate your vehicle.
The initial decision you need to make is where you want your automobile picked up from & delivered to, whether it's a cross-country vehicle transport or shipping a car to another state. Terminal-to-terminal car delivery is an option, which means utilizing designated pick-up & drop-off points that are frequently the auto transport company's stores or operating bases. For this reason, terminal-to-terminal car delivery is often more affordable but will necessitate more effort on your end to get the vehicle home. However, the vast majority of individuals require a door-to-door car shipping delivery service so that their automobiles are picked up & dropped off at their door, regardless of whether it's a cross-country vehicle transport or just moving 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 shipping services are generally divided into two categories: either you have someone operate your car to where it needs to be, or it's put on a trailer & taken there.
Have Someone Operate Your Vehicle
This is a straightforward solution to vehicle shipping that involves hiring someone to come & drive your automobile to where it needs to go - whether the need is to transport a car across the country or to ship vehicles to another state. The benefits of this car transport method are that it is often more affordable as trailers & an extra vehicle are not required, & it can also be fast due to the straightforward nature of the transportation.
However, there are some downsides to this method offered by auto shipping companies that lead some people to opt for other types of vehicle transport. The first is that mileage is obviously added to your car on the journey, meaning if you are transporting a vehicle across the country, there will be significant miles added - less so when simply shipping a car to another state (as long as it is close by). Second, there is a slight risk of damage happening to your automobile while it is driven from A to B. These 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 Automobile On A Trailer
Putting your car in a trailer is a safe way to guarantee a higher level of safety than having someone operate your vehicle to its destination. With auto shipping trailers, there are multiple options that you may want to go with depending on the value & size of your automobile.
First off, you need to decide whether you want a single trailer for your car. These are often more expensive as they only transport one vehicle at a time but are a great option if you are moving an expensive or classic automobile which you don't want to risk getting damaged. The absolute safest way to transport 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 vehicles at once, of which there are a few variants:
Open vehicle shipping by any auto shipping company is the cheapest & by far the most common option when transporting a car. Your automobile is placed on an open carrier & is driven to the destination. All cars are safely secured but, as the name suggests, they are exposed to the elements during the drive & so this may not be recommended by vehicle shipping companies for highly valuable automobiles. Further, while it may be the cheapest way to ship 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 of time.
Enclosed car transport involves multiple automobiles 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 vehicles where the owner wants to minimize the risk of damage during auto shipping.
Should you need to move your automobile overseas through a car shipping company, then you should try & find one of the specialist services on our platform or one which has experience in overseas vehicle shipping as they can provide you with tailored advice based on what you require.
How Much Does It Cost To Ship A Vehicle?
There are a number of variables when trying to work out how much it will cost to ship a car, but on average in the US auto transport companies charge 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.
These numbers are just averages for vehicle moving companies, however, & your car transport may cost more or less than these figures depending on the circumstances. The best way to find out how much auto shipping is going to cost you is to collect some vehicle shipping quotes from car transport companies, something that is very easy to do on Shiply.
If you do want to try & 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 shipping services.
Factors That Can Affect The Cost Of Car Transport
We all want affordable vehicle transport, but there are a number of factors & variables that can affect how much your auto shipping will cost. Below we will lay out the main ones so that 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 big part in how much your vehicle transport will cost, with cross-state & cross-country journeys costing a lot more than an interstate auto delivery which is often the cheapest car shipping.
While longer distances do cost more, thankfully the average price per mile does drop the longer the journey is, meaning that 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 will need to travel. It can also require special enclosed trailers or even a shipping container for your automobile.
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 auto 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 fast you need your vehicle transportation service to operate can also affect the price. For example, if you are able to be flexible around timings then you may find that your auto shipping service charges a lot less, this is because they are able to fit your car delivery into their schedule & reduce overheads for themselves, passing the savings on to you. However, if you require car transport in a strict timeframe (often known as expedited shipping) then this will typically end up costing you more due to the vehicle transport company likely having to dedicate a trailer & driver just for your delivery.
Vehicle Size - The height, length, & width of the automobile will all affect how much it will cost to transport your car. 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 transport 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 automobile is not in a drivable condition then this may make your car transport cost more expensive. This is because it may require extra equipment such as a winch or forklift to get your vehicle on & off of the trailer. If your car has a locked wheel for example then 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 auto transport service. Most vehicle carriers would consider a car that can brake, roll & steer to be in good enough condition to ship easily.
Car Shipping Service Type - The type of vehicle transport service you select will also affect the cost of your auto shipping. Having someone drive your car to its destination will always be the cheapest 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 shipping a car as it means not only is your automobile traveling on its own, but it still needs specialist equipment to load, unload & protect your vehicle during transport.
Locations Of Pickup & Delivery - Depending on where you need the car picked up from & dropped off this may also increase the price of shipping a vehicle. Urban areas will usually have auto shipping 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 automobile which can also increase the vehicle shipping cost.
Car Transport Insurance - While all car shipping companies are required to carry liability insurance, many do not offer any additional insurance as it is not required by law. If a vehicle transport company does not offer cargo insurance it is highly recommended that you seek out & acquire some for your automobile 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 ship a car in the winter due to ice & snow slowing the routes. Here is a quick breakdown of how each season can affect auto transport costs:
Winter is often the most expensive season to ship your automobile. 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 car transport services during this month.
Spring is a great time to ship your vehicle with a car 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 automobile. 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 a vacation & 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 cheap vehicle shipping during the summer.
Fall is a good time to ship a car if you are looking for a slightly cheaper price. Auto shipping companies are less busy & there is typically more driver availability after the summer rush, however, you are better off looking to move your automobile in October or November rather than September as this is peak time for students shipping their cars to university.
How To Ship A Vehicle - Finding A Car Transport Service
Now that you know a bit more about what vehicle shipping & a car shipping service are & what sort of auto transport service you need, you probably want to go ahead & actually try & 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 Shipping Companies?
Given all of the options & variables involved with finding a vehicle transport 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 automobile 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 automobile. This system allows you to view previous customers' experiences with a company, as well as view their overall score.
Why People Often Move Cars To & From Sioux Falls, South Dakota, US
Sioux Falls, South Dakota, US is a popular destination for vehicle shipping for several reasons. Many people move to Sioux Falls for job opportunities, as it is a growing city with a strong economy. Others may be relocating for family reasons or to attend one of the universities in the area. Additionally, Sioux Falls is a hub for automobile dealerships & auctions, so many people may need to ship a car to or from the city for these purposes. Whatever the reason, auto shipping sioux falls & sioux falls vehicle shipping are common services that many people require.
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The Benefits Of Utilizing Shiply For Vehicle Transport in Sioux Falls
Time-Efficient - Instead of submitting a quotation inquiry each time you require a precise price for transporting your automobile, on our platform you simply complete one form & then can receive estimates based on the information you provided from several businesses. This could save you hours you would've spent contacting companies and completing forms.
Communication with these carriers is all possible through our platform as well, allowing you to store all of your car shipping sioux falls details in one location.
Price Comparison - The Crucial Aspect
When it comes down to it, the price of the car shipping sioux falls estimate is the most significant factor in deciding which auto transport service to utilize to transport your vehicle. The challenging part is that, while most are willing to offer average prices & rough estimates, you won't actually receive a definite car transport quote without supplying information and filling in specifics. While this is reasonable, it does mean that price comparison and obtaining a car transport quote isn't precisely easy.
Utilizing Shiply enables you to get genuine, final price estimates from car shipping companies & compare them in one location, providing you with the capability to message them individually to ask any questions & ultimately choose the best one for you.
Affordable Car Shipping
Auto transport companies on Shiply are usually able to provide their services for a lower cost than if you went directly to them. This is because they are frequently looking to fill space on trips they are already taking & have already paid for the expense. Say, for instance, you were relocating from Los Angeles to New York & needed to transport your car there. On Shiply, a company may already have a multi-car carrier making that trip with 5 of the 6 spots occupied, & they are just looking to ensure they aren't 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!
Superior For The Environment
Not only is using Shiply for auto transport more affordable, but it's also superior for the planet! In the example above, if your car didn't get on that multi-car carrier & instead you arranged transport from a separate car shipper, then the emissions into the atmosphere would have doubled as another entire trip would be required just for your car.
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 carrier to transport their cars in the opposite direction! Many of the auto transporters on Shiply are looking to fill their trailers on return trips too, meaning even less wasted CO2 is being emitted into the atmosphere, as well as continued affordable transport for our users.
Readying Your Car For Shipping
If you've chosen an auto transport company to transport your car & feel confident about using them, then it's time to ready your vehicle for shipping. We suggest following these steps:
Documents - It's crucial to ensure any documents you may require are available at pick up or drop off, especially if you are selling your car.
Cleaning - You should take care to remove all personal items from your car prior to shipping, for the obvious reason that you don't want to risk them getting lost or damaged in transit. It's also highly recommended that you clean your car before transport as this will allow you to see its condition & notice any damages that may occur during delivery.
Running Condition - If the car will be driven at any point during shipping or driven home from the drop-off spot then you should ensure that it's in running shape. This means ensuring there is enough fluid, as well as checking battery charge & tire pressure levels. Again this can also help you better assess the car's condition upon arrival.
Photo Evidence - One very important thing to do when prepping your car for the delivery service to pick up is to take high-quality pictures of all parts of the vehicle. This gives you proof of the car's condition before shipping should anything happen to it during transport.
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, and engines should all be inspected right away to ensure the car is in the expected shape, as well as enable you to immediately raise concerns with the delivery service should anything not be working properly.
Exterior Condition - You can compare the exterior of the car to the photos taken of it before to see whether any extra damage has occurred. Shipping a vehicle can, in rare cases, cause damage, & you want to be sure your transport service has not done so.
Check Mileage - This is more relevant to services where the car is driven to the destination but it can help to check the miles to ensure it matches up with the journey taken.
We would really appreciate it if you could also leave a review for the auto transport company you used through Shiply so others can browse shipping services with the same peace of mind.
FAQ - Common Questions
Below we've answered some of the most common questions about car shipping:
How much to ship a car? Car shipping prices can vary a lot depending on the circumstances, but on average a journey should cost you around $2.92 per mile if under 200 miles, $0.93 if between 200 & 500 miles, and if over 1,000 miles then this drops to $0.78.
What is the cheapest way to ship a car? Having someone drive your car to its destination is the most affordable way to ship it, however, if you require a trailer then a multi-car transporter will be your best option for the cheapest way to ship a car.
How do I pay for my auto transport? This is up to each individual auto transport company on Shiply & is something you should discuss with your chosen delivery service before confirming. 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 shipment, with some even able to provide personal updates. If you require tracking, you should message individual transport companies to confirm if this is possible with them.
Does someone have to be present for pickup and delivery? In most cases, the shipping company will require you to be there for the pickup & delivery of the vehicle. This is because there are likely release forms you need to sign, as well as handing over the keys.
Can I keep items in my car during shipment? Most transport companies will be fine with you keeping some personal items in the car when it's transported. However, there are two important things to remember: 1. The weight of the items may affect the price, and 2. Any items won't be covered by insurance for the car transport itself.
How much gas should I have in my vehicle? Generally, you should aim to have around a quarter tank full. This allows for easy loading & unloading but won't add too much extra weight.
Can I ship my car if it isn't running? You can ship your vehicle if it's not in running condition, however, this will cost more as special equipment is needed to load & unload it.
Can I ship a modified vehicle? Almost any type of car is able to be shipped on Shiply, with hundreds of transport providers available to bid on your job there will always be someone with the right equipment to safely carry it out.
