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 you are unable to drive 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 shipping, or moving your automobile overseas when ferries are unavailable. Luckily, there are numerous auto transport services available to cater to your specific requirements.
Categories Of Vehicle Shipping Services
When selecting a vehicle transport service, the initial choice you need to make is where you want your automobile collected from & delivered to, whether it's a long-distance vehicle transport or shipping a car to another state. Terminal-to-terminal auto delivery is a possibility, where designated collection & drop-off points, frequently the vehicle transport company's stores or operating bases, are utilized. While this option 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 shipping services are generally categorized into two types: having someone drive your automobile to the destination or placing it on a trailer for transportation.
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 method 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 this approach that lead some individuals to opt for other vehicle transport options. Firstly, mileage is added to your automobile during the journey, which can be significant when shipping a car across the country. Secondly, there is a slight risk of damage to your vehicle while it is being driven. These concerns are especially relevant for individuals buying or selling cars online who want to ensure the automobile arrives in the same condition as advertised.
Place 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 it to its destination. Vehicle shipping trailers come in various options, depending on the value & size of your automobile. You can choose between a single trailer for your vehicle, which is more expensive but ideal for transporting expensive or classic cars, or a multi-car transporter that can carry several automobiles at once. The safest way to transport a vehicle is in a shipping container, but this is also the most expensive option.
Multi-car transporters come in different variants:
- Open vehicle shipping: The most affordable & common option, where your automobile is placed on an open carrier & driven to its destination. While all cars are securely fastened, they are exposed to the elements during the drive, making this option less suitable for highly valuable vehicles. Long journeys in open trailers also pose a higher risk of damage.
- Enclosed auto transport: Multiple cars 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 vehicles where the owner wants to minimize the risk of damage.
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.
How Much Does It Cost To Ship A Vehicle?
The cost of shipping 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 vehicle transport may cost more or less depending on your specific circumstances. The best way to determine the cost of auto transport is to obtain vehicle shipping quotes from various companies, which is easily done through Shiply.
Factors That Can Influence The Cost Of Auto Transport
While everyone wants affordable vehicle transport, several factors can impact the cost of car shipping services:
- Distance: Cross-state & cross-country journeys cost significantly 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 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 collection spot to the delivery location can affect pricing. Routes with higher traffic, such as in LA, may cost more due to the additional time required. Unforeseen circumstances like major roadworks could also incur extra costs or necessitate a longer alternative route.
- Shipping dates: Flexibility in timings can result in lower charges, as vehicle shipping companies can fit your delivery into their schedule & reduce overheads. Expedited shipping within a strict timeframe typically costs more, as it may require a dedicated trailer & driver.
- Vehicle size: The height, length, & width of the automobile affect the cost of transport. Larger vehicles like SUVs generally cost more to transport 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 to load & unload the automobile. Most car carriers consider a vehicle in good enough condition to ship easily if it can brake, roll, & steer.
- Auto transport service type: Having someone drive your automobile is the most affordable option, while single car trailers & enclosed transport are more expensive due to the specialized equipment required. Enclosed vehicle shipping is the most expensive method, as it involves transporting your car alone while still needing specialist equipment for loading, unloading, & protection during transit.
- Collection & delivery locations: Urban areas usually have vehicle shipping services in close proximity, & common destination routes often offer affordable car shipping. Rural deliveries can cost more due to deviations from normal routes & extra mileage. Unusual or hard-to-access collection or drop-off points may also increase costs due to the extra steps required to load your automobile.
- Auto transport insurance: While all auto transport companies must carry liability insurance, many do not offer additional insurance. If a company does not provide cargo insurance, it is highly recommended to acquire some for your automobile during transit. Ensure you understand what type of damage is covered, any deductibles, & which parts of the vehicle are included in the insurance policy.
- Time of year: Seasonality affects vehicle shipping prices, with winter being the most expensive due to ice, snow, & blizzard conditions causing delays & reduced speeds. Spring is a great time to ship, with improved weather, longer days, & more available drivers. Summer is the prime season for shipping cars, with increased demand from students, vacationers, & those moving house. Fall offers slightly cheaper prices due to reduced demand, with October & November being better options than September.
How To Ship A Vehicle - Finding An Auto Transport Service
With hundreds of 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 detailed quote application. This is where Shiply can help simplify the process.
How Can Shiply Help Find Auto Transport Companies?
Shiply streamlines the process of finding the right vehicle shipping service at the best price. To get started, simply fill out a simple form with the make & model of the car, collection & delivery locations, & the dates you need to move the automobile. This information allows auto transport providers on Shiply to provide accurate quotes for your job.
Once your listing is live, you will receive quotes in your Shiply inbox & email. We recommend keeping email notifications on to be immediately informed of new quotes, which can start arriving within minutes of posting your listing. It's best to wait for a few quotes before making a decision to have multiple options to choose from.
After receiving quotes, you can ask the companies any questions you may have, such as their availability, insurance coverage, & how they secure cars during transport. We recommend asking these questions to any company you consider to ensure a smooth & expected experience.
Shiply's feedback & ratings system is a valuable resource when selecting a vehicle shipping company. It allows you to view previous customers' experiences & overall scores, helping you make an informed decision.
Why People Often Move Vehicles To & From Oak Ridge, Tennessee
Oak Ridge, Tennessee, is a city with a rich history & a thriving community. Many people move automobiles to & from Oak Ridge for various reasons, such as relocating for work, attending educational institutions like the Oak Ridge National Laboratory or the University of Tennessee, or simply seeking a change of scenery in the beautiful Appalachian foothills. The city's strong economy, driven by research & technology sectors, attracts professionals from across the country, often necessitating vehicle shipping services. Additionally, Oak Ridge's proximity to major cities like Knoxville & Chattanooga makes it an appealing location for those looking to balance urban amenities with a more relaxed lifestyle. When moving to or from Oak Ridge, reliable vehicle shipping services, like those found on Shiply, can help ensure a smooth transition for both you & your automobile.
The Advantages of Utilizing Shiply for Vehicle Transport
Time-efficient - Rather than completing a quotation form each instance you desire to obtain a precise 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 maintain all of your vehicle shipping oak ridge data in one location.
Cost Comparison - When it comes down to it, the price of the vehicle shipping estimate is the most crucial factor in choosing which auto transport company to utilize to transport your vehicle. The challenging aspect is that, while most organizations are willing to provide average costs & rough estimates, you won't actually be given a definite vehicle transport estimate without having to supply information & fill in details. While this is reasonable, it does mean that cost comparison & getting a vehicle transport estimate isn't precisely a simple task. Using Shiply allows you to receive genuine, final price estimates from vehicle shipping companies & compare them in one place, providing the ability to message them individually to ask any questions you may have & ultimately decide on the best organization for you.
Affordable Vehicle Shipping - Auto transport organizations on Shiply are typically able to provide their services for 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 & have already invested the cost for. Say, for instance, you were relocating from Los Angeles to New York & needed to move your vehicle there. On Shiply, an organization may already have a multi-car transporter making that trip 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 auto transport by using our service.
Environmentally Friendly - Not only is using Shiply for auto transport more affordable, but it is also more environmentally friendly. 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 affordable transport for our users.
Preparing For Your Vehicle To Be Transported
If you have decided on an auto transport organization to move your vehicle & feel secure using them, then it's time to prepare 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 vehicle delivery service to pick up is to take high-quality photographs of all parts of the vehicle. This provides you with evidence of the vehicle's condition before shipping should anything happen to it during transport.
What To Do After Delivery
Once the vehicle shipping organization 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 vehicle is in the expected condition, as well as enable you to immediately raise concerns with the vehicle 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 vehicle can, in rare cases, cause damage, & you want to be sure your vehicle transport service has not done so.
Check Mileage - This is more relevant to vehicle shipping services where the vehicle is driven to the destination but it can help to check the mileage to ensure that it matches up with the trip taken.
We would greatly appreciate it if you could also leave a review for the auto transport organization you used through Shiply so that others can browse vehicle shipping services with the same peace of mind.
FAQ - Frequently Asked Questions
Below we have answered some of the most asked questions about vehicle shipping:
How much to ship a vehicle? Vehicle shipping prices can vary drastically depending on the circumstances, but on average a trip should cost you around $2.92 per mile if the trip is less than 200 miles, $0.93 if the trip is between 200 & 500 miles, & if the trip is over 1,000 miles then this drops to $0.78.
What is the most affordable way to ship a vehicle? Having someone drive your vehicle to its destination is the most affordable way to ship a vehicle, however, if you need a trailer then a multi-car transporter will be your best option with regard to the most affordable way to ship a vehicle.
How do I pay for my auto transport? This is down to each individual auto transport organization on Shiply & is something you should discuss with your chosen vehicle delivery service before confirming the delivery. Most organizations will be flexible with payment options, however.
Can I track my vehicle transport online? Each vehicle shipping organization on Shiply has different ways of operating, but many offer the ability to track your vehicle shipment, with some even able to provide personal updates. If you require tracking, you should message individual vehicle transport organizations to confirm that this is possible with them.
Does someone have to be present for pickup & delivery? In most cases, the vehicle shipping organization 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 vehicle keys.
Can I keep items in my vehicle during my vehicle shipment? Most vehicle transport organizations 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 vehicle 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. Oak ridge vehicle shipping is a great option for those looking for reliable & affordable vehicle transport services.
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