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 & delivering it to another. This service is beneficial in various circumstances where you are unable to drive the vehicle yourself, such as when purchasing or selling a used car online, relocating to a new residence, or transporting a vehicle across the nation. Auto shipping services can also be advantageous when you need to transport your car internationally, and unless ferry services are available, you will have to depend on a vehicle transport company to manage the job for you.
Luckily, there are numerous automobile transport services available to cater to your specific requirements, which we have detailed below.
Types Of Vehicle Shipping Services
When it comes to vehicle transport services, there are several choices to consider. The initial decision you'll need to make is where you want your automobile 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 and drop-off points are utilized, frequently at the vehicle transport company's stores or operating bases. While this choice is typically less expensive, it does necessitate more effort on your part to get the automobile home.
Most individuals, however, opt for 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 transporting a vehicle to another state. This option is more convenient as it eliminates the need to travel to collect your car, which can be challenging without your vehicle in the first place!
Vehicle transport services are usually categorized into two types: having someone drive your automobile to the destination or placing it on a trailer for shipping.
Have Someone Drive Your Vehicle
One straightforward solution to vehicle shipping is hiring someone to drive your automobile to its destination, whether you need to transport a car across the country or to another state. The advantages of this auto transport method include lower costs, as trailers & an extra vehicle are not necessary, & faster delivery due to the simplicity of the shipping process.
However, there are some drawbacks to this method offered by vehicle shipping companies that lead some people to select other types of car transport. Firstly, mileage is added to your vehicle during the trip, which can be significant when transporting a car across the country, although less so when shipping a vehicle to a nearby state. Secondly, there is a slight risk of damage to your automobile during the drive. These concerns are especially relevant for people buying or selling cars online who want to ensure the vehicle arrives in the same condition as advertised.
Put Your Vehicle On A Trailer
Placing your automobile on a trailer is a safer way to ensure a higher level of protection than having someone drive your car to its destination. When it comes to vehicle shipping trailers, there are several options available depending on the value & size of your car.
First, you need to decide whether you want a single trailer for your automobile. These are often more expensive as they only transport one vehicle at a time, but they are a great choice if you are moving an expensive or classic car that you don't want to risk damaging. The safest way to ship a vehicle is to put it in a shipping container, but this is by far the most costly option.
The other choice is a multi-car transporter, which can ship many vehicles at once. There are a few variants of multi-car transporters:
Open vehicle shipping is the cheapest & most common option when transporting a car. 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, so this may not be recommended by vehicle shipping companies for highly valuable cars. Additionally, long journeys in open trailers pose a higher risk of damage & exposure to the elements for your automobile.
Enclosed auto transport involves securing multiple vehicles on a carrier, but they are enclosed, protecting them from dust, weather, & debris during transit. This option is often preferable for more expensive or newer cars where the owner wants to minimize the risk of damage during auto 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 vehicle shipping, as they can provide tailored advice based on your requirements.
How Much Does It Cost To Ship A Vehicle?
The cost of shipping a vehicle varies depending on several factors, but on average, auto transport companies in the US charge around $2.92 per mile for trips less than 200 miles, $0.93 for trips between 200 & 500 miles, & $0.78 for trips over 1,000 miles.
These figures are just averages, & your vehicle transport cost may be higher or lower depending on your specific circumstances. The best way to determine the cost of auto transport is to obtain vehicle shipping quotes from multiple car transport companies, which is easy to do on Shiply.
To get an idea of what factors can affect the price of vehicle transport services, take a look at the information below.
Factors That Can Affect The Cost Of Vehicle Transport
While we all want cheap vehicle transport, several factors & variables can impact the cost of your car shipping. Here are the main ones to consider:
Distance plays a significant role in determining the cost of your vehicle transport. Cross-state & cross-country trips will cost more than interstate car delivery, which is often the cheapest option. However, the average price per mile decreases as the trip length increases, so you won't be paying excessively for longer distances.
International shipping will always result in expensive vehicle shipping quotes due to the logistics of transferring a car overseas & the distance it needs to travel. It may also require special enclosed trailers or even a shipping container for your automobile.
Route - Along with distance, the route required to take your car from its collection spot to its delivery location can affect the pricing of your vehicle carrier service. Routes with known higher traffic, such as in LA, may cost more than quieter roads due to the additional time added to the trip. Unforeseen circumstances like major roadworks could also incur extra costs from the vehicle moving companies or require a different, longer route.
Shipping Dates - The speed at which you need your vehicle transportation service to operate can also affect the price. If you can be flexible with timings, you may find that your vehicle shipping service charges less, as they can fit your automobile delivery into their schedule & reduce overheads, passing the savings on to you. However, if you require auto transport within a strict timeframe (often known as expedited shipping), it will typically cost more, as the vehicle transport company may need to dedicate a trailer & driver specifically for your delivery.
Vehicle Size - The height, length, & width of the automobile will all affect the cost of transporting your vehicle. Car shippers will require larger trailers for bigger vehicles, with SUVs typically costing more on average to transport than sedans. Make sure to inform the auto transport company about any bike racks, roof racks, or other accessories on the car, as these can change the size of the trailer required for the delivery.
Vehicle Condition - If your car is not in a drivable condition, it may increase the cost of your auto transport. This is because it may require extra equipment, such as a winch or forklift, to load & unload your car from the trailer. If your car has a locked wheel, for example, it will be impossible to simply roll it onto a trailer & off again, requiring more time, effort, & machinery to complete the delivery compared to a standard vehicle transport service. Most vehicle carriers consider a car that can brake, roll, & steer to be in good enough condition to ship easily.
Auto Transport Service Type - The type of auto transport service you select will also affect the cost of your vehicle shipping. Having someone drive your car to its destination will always be the cheapest option, as you are essentially just paying for the driver's time & fuel. Single car trailers & enclosed transport will likely be more expensive, as they require extra equipment. Enclosed vehicle shipping is always the most expensive method of shipping 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 collection & drop-off points may also increase the price of shipping a vehicle. Urban areas usually have vehicle shipping services in close proximity, & if it is a common destination route, you will tend to get cheap 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 automobile, which can also increase the vehicle shipping cost.
Auto Transport Insurance - While all auto transport companies are required to carry liability insurance, many do not offer 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 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 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. Ice, snow, & blizzard conditions can all cause delays on the roads & reduce the maximum speed at which the vehicle delivery service can transport cars. December is typically a difficult time to have a vehicle shipped, as drivers are on holiday, while many travel to warmer states in January, leading to increased automobile shipping costs. February, however, is usually quiet, & great rates are often available from vehicle shipping services during this month.
Spring is a great time to ship your automobile with a vehicle transportation service. With improved weather conditions, longer days, & more drivers ready to work, Spring can often mean cheap rates & high availability when it comes to moving your car. March is often a better time to ship than April or May, as there is often a rush to move vehicles from colder to warmer states.
Summer is the prime season for shipping cars - the days are the longest in the year, students are traveling home from universities, employees take vacations, & it is also a very popular time to move house. This means that June, July, & August are all busy months for the auto 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. Vehicle 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 An Auto Transport Service
Now that you know more about what vehicle shipping & a vehicle shipping service are & what sort of auto transport service you need, you probably want to go ahead & find a vehicle transport service that is 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 vehicle 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 provide pricing, meaning you will 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 Auto Transport Companies?
Given all of the options & variables involved with finding a vehicle 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 car that needs shipping, the pickup location & delivery location, & the dates that you need to move the vehicle. This gives the auto transport providers on Shiply enough information 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 choose from.
Once you have a few quotes, you can ask the companies 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 car. 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 vehicle. This system allows you to view previous customers' experiences with a company, as well as their overall score.
Why People Often Move Cars To & From Nashville, Tennessee
Nashville, Tennessee, is a popular city for people to move to & from, & many of them need to transport their vehicles as well. As the capital of Tennessee, Nashville is known for its vibrant music scene, thriving economy, & growing population. Many people move to Nashville for job opportunities, particularly in the healthcare, education, & tourism industries. The city is also home to several universities, attracting students from across the country.
When people move to or from Nashville, they often need to ship their cars as well. Driving long distances can be time-consuming & stressful, especially if you are moving across the country. By using a vehicle shipping service, you can have your automobile transported safely & efficiently, allowing you to focus on other aspects of your move.
Nashville is well-connected by major highways, making it easy for vehicle shipping companies to transport automobiles to & from the city. Whether you are moving to Nashville for work, school, or personal reasons, or leaving the city for a new opportunity elsewhere, there are plenty of vehicle shipping options available to meet your needs.
If you are looking for vehicle shipping in Nashville, Shiply can help connect you with reliable & affordable auto transport companies. By comparing quotes from multiple providers, you can find the best deal for your specific needs & budget. With door-to-door service & experienced drivers, you can trust that your automobile will be in good hands during its journey to or from Nashville, Tennessee.
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The Benefits of Using Shiply for Car Shipping in Nashville
Time-Efficient - Rather than filling out a quotation form each time you desire an accurate cost from a company for transporting a vehicle, on our platform you complete one quotation 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 spent phoning companies & providing details. Communication with these businesses is also feasible through our platform, allowing you to store all of your Nashville car shipping data in a single location.
Cost Comparison - Ultimately, the price of the car shipping estimate is the most crucial factor in choosing which auto transport company to employ to transport your vehicle. The challenge is that, while most companies are willing to provide average prices & rough estimates, you won't receive a definite car transport quote without having to supply information & complete details. While this is understandable, it means that comparing prices & obtaining a car transport quote is not a simple task. Utilizing Shiply enables you to receive authentic, final price estimates from car shipping companies & compare them in one location, with the ability to message them individually to ask any questions you may have & ultimately select the best company for your needs.
Affordable Car Shipping - Auto transport companies on Shiply can usually offer their services at a lower cost than if you went directly to them. This is because they are frequently 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 car there, a company on Shiply may already have a multi-car transporter making that journey with 5 of the 6 spots filled, & they are simply looking to ensure they are not wasting any space. As long as the dates, times, & pick-up/drop-off locations are convenient 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 less expensive but also more environmentally friendly. In the above example, if your car 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 needed just for your car. Similarly, many car transporters return from a delivery empty-handed, 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 cars in the opposite direction. Many of the auto transporters on Shiply are also looking to fill their trailers on return journeys, meaning even less wasted CO2 is being released into the atmosphere, as well as continued affordable transport for our users.
Preparing Your Car for Shipping
If you have chosen an auto transport company to transport your car & feel confident using them, it's time to get your car ready 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 in transit. It is also highly recommended that you clean your vehicle before transport as this will allow you to determine 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 assess 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 determine 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.
