What Is Vehicle Transportation?
Vehicle transportation, also referred to as car shipping or auto transport, is a service offered by vehicle transportation companies that involves collecting your automobile from one location & transporting it to another. This service is beneficial in various circumstances where you are unable to operate the vehicle yourself, such as when purchasing or selling a used car online & need to transport it to another state, relocating & requiring long-distance vehicle transportation, or moving your automobile overseas when ferries are not an option. Vehicle transportation companies provide a variety of auto transport services to accommodate your unique requirements.
Categories Of Vehicle Transportation Services
When selecting a vehicle transportation service, the initial choice you must make is where you want your automobile collected from & delivered to, whether it's a long-distance vehicle transport or moving a car to another state. Terminal-to-terminal auto delivery is an alternative, where designated collection & drop-off points, frequently the vehicle transport company's stores or operating bases, are utilized. While this alternative is typically more affordable, 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 operate your automobile to the destination or placing it on a trailer for transportation. Having someone operate your vehicle is a straightforward solution that is often more affordable as it doesn't require trailers or an additional vehicle. It can also be quicker due to the straightforward nature of the transport. However, this approach has some drawbacks, such as increasing mileage on your automobile, especially when moving a car across the country, & a slight risk of damage during the journey. These concerns are particularly relevant for individuals purchasing or selling vehicles online who want to ensure the automobile arrives in the same condition as advertised.
Placing your automobile on a trailer is a more secure option that guarantees a higher level of protection than having someone operate your vehicle. Vehicle shipping trailers come in various options depending on the value & size of your automobile. Single trailers are more expensive as they only transport one vehicle at a time but are ideal for moving expensive or classic automobiles that require extra protection. The safest way to transport a vehicle is in a shipping container, although this is the most expensive option. Multi-car transporters, which can transport many vehicles at once, are another option with a few variants:
- Open vehicle shipping: The most affordable & common option, where your automobile is placed on an open carrier & driven to the destination. While all vehicles are safely secured, they are exposed to the elements during the drive, making it less suitable for highly valuable automobiles.
- Enclosed auto transport: Multiple vehicles are secured on a carrier but are enclosed, protecting them from dust, weather, & debris during transit. This option is preferable for more expensive or newer automobiles.
If you need to move your automobile overseas, it's best to find a specialist service or a company with experience in overseas vehicle shipping to provide tailored advice based on your requirements.
What Is The Cost Of Transporting A Vehicle?
The cost of transporting a vehicle varies depending on several factors, but on average, auto transport 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. However, these are just averages, & your vehicle transport may cost more or less depending on your specific circumstances. The best way to determine the cost of auto transport is to collect vehicle shipping quotes from various companies, which is easy to do on platforms like Shiply.
Several factors can affect the cost of auto transport, including:
- Distance: Cross-state & cross-country journeys cost more than interstate vehicle delivery, which is often the most affordable option. However, the average price per mile decreases as the journey length increases.
- International shipping: Transporting a vehicle overseas is always more expensive due to the logistics involved & the distance traveled. It may require special enclosed trailers or even a shipping container.
- Route: The route taken from the collection spot to the delivery location can impact 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 result in lower costs, as vehicle 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 automobile affect the cost of transport. Larger automobiles like SUVs cost more to transport than sedans. Accessories like bike racks or roof racks can also change the required trailer size.
- Vehicle condition: Non-drivable vehicles may incur higher costs due to the need for extra equipment like winches or forklifts to load & unload the automobile.
- Auto transport service type: Having someone operate your vehicle is the most affordable option, while single vehicle 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 vehicle shipping services, while rural deliveries or hard-to-access spaces may incur extra costs.
- Auto transport insurance: While auto transport companies must carry liability insurance, additional cargo insurance is recommended & may affect the overall cost.
- Time of year: Seasonality can impact vehicle shipping prices, with winter being the most expensive due to potential delays caused by ice, snow, & blizzard conditions. Spring & fall are generally more affordable, while summer is the busiest season with higher demand.
How To Transport A Vehicle - Finding A Vehicle Transportation Service
With numerous vehicle transport companies available, finding the right one can be a daunting task. Searching on Google or through phone books can be time-consuming, & many companies are reluctant to provide pricing without a personalized quote. This is where platforms like Shiply can help simplify the process.
How Can Shiply Assist In Finding Vehicle Transportation Companies?
Shiply streamlines the process of finding a vehicle shipping service by allowing you to fill out a simple form with your automobile's make & model, collection & delivery locations, & the dates you need to move the vehicle. This information enables auto transport providers on Shiply to provide accurate quotes for your specific job.
Once your listing is live, you'll receive quotes in your Shiply inbox & via email. It's recommended to keep email notifications turned on to stay informed about new quotes, which can start arriving within minutes of posting your listing. To ensure you have multiple options, wait for a few quotes to come through before making a decision.
When considering quotes, feel free to ask the auto transport companies any questions you may have, such as their availability, insurance coverage, & how they secure vehicles during transport. Shiply's feedback & ratings system is also a valuable resource, allowing you to view previous customers' experiences & overall scores for each company.
Why People Frequently Move Vehicles To & From Murfreesboro, Tennessee
Murfreesboro, Tennessee, is a growing city located in the heart of the state, just southeast of Nashville. As the population continues to expand, many people find themselves moving to or from Murfreesboro for various reasons, often requiring vehicle shipping services. Some common reasons for moving vehicles to & from Murfreesboro include:
- Relocating for work: With a thriving economy & diverse job opportunities, Murfreesboro attracts professionals from various industries who may need to ship their vehicles when moving to the city.
- Attending college: Murfreesboro is home to Middle Tennessee State University (MTSU), one of the largest undergraduate universities in the state. Students from across the country may require vehicle shipping services when moving to Murfreesboro for their studies.
- Retiring: Murfreesboro's mild climate, affordable cost of living, & proximity to Nashville make it an appealing destination for retirees. When downsizing or moving to retirement communities, seniors may need to ship their automobiles.
- Buying or selling automobiles online: As online vehicle buying & selling become increasingly popular, Murfreesboro residents may find themselves needing to ship vehicles to or from the city when completing transactions.
- Military relocation: With several military installations nearby, including Fort Campbell & Arnold Air Force Base, military personnel & their families may require vehicle shipping services when relocating to or from Murfreesboro.
When shipping a vehicle to or from Murfreesboro, it's essential to choose a reputable vehicle shipping company that offers reliable & affordable services. By using platforms like Shiply, Murfreesboro residents can easily compare quotes from multiple vehicle shipping companies & find the best option for their specific needs, ensuring a smooth & stress-free vehicle shipping experience.
The Benefits Of Employing Shiply For Vehicle Transport In Murfreesboro
Time-saving - Rather than filling out a quotation form each instance you desire to obtain an accurate cost from an organization on transporting a vehicle, on our platform you complete one quotation form & then can receive estimates based on the information you supply from several companies. This can conserve you hours of effort you would have had to invest phoning companies & inputting details. Communication with these organizations is all feasible through our platform as well, signifying you can store all of your Murfreesboro vehicle shipping data in one location.
Price Comparison - When it comes down to it, the expense of the vehicle shipping estimate is the most crucial factor in deciding which auto transport company to employ to transport your vehicle. The challenging aspect is that, while most organizations are content to provide average prices & rough figures, you won't actually be given a definite vehicle transport estimate without having to supply information & fill in details. While this is understandable, it does mean that price comparison & getting a vehicle transport estimate isn't precisely a simple task. Utilizing Shiply allows you to receive genuine, final price estimates from vehicle shipping companies & compare them in one place, providing the capability to message them individually to inquire about any questions you may have & ultimately decide on the optimal company for you.
Economical Vehicle Shipping In Murfreesboro
Auto transport organizations on Shiply are typically able to offer their services for a reduced fee than if you went direct to them. This is because they are often seeking to fill space on trips they are already making & have already sunk the cost for. Say, for instance, you were relocating from Los Angeles to New York & needed to move your vehicle 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 squandering any space. As long as the dates, times, & pick-up/drop-off locations work for you, you can often save up to 75% on auto transport by using our service.
Better For The Environment - Not only is using Shiply for auto transport more affordable, but it is also better for the environment! In the above example, if your vehicle didn't get on that multi-car transporter & instead you arranged transport from a separate vehicle shipper, then the emissions into the atmosphere would have doubled as another entire trip would be needed just for your vehicle. Similarly, many vehicle 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 vehicles in the other 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 released into the atmosphere, as well as continued inexpensive transport for our users.
Preparing For Your Vehicle To Be Transported
If you have decided on an auto transport company to move your vehicle & feel secure using them, then it's time to ready your vehicle 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 ascertain 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 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.
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