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 Transport Services
When selecting a vehicle transport service, the initial choice you need to make is where you want your automobile picked up from & delivered to, whether it's a long-distance vehicle transport or shipping a car to another state. Terminal-to-terminal auto delivery is an option, where designated collection & drop-off points, often the vehicle transport company's stores or operating bases, are used. While this option is typically more affordable, it requires more effort on your part to get the automobile home. Most individuals, however, 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 divided into two types: having someone drive your automobile to the destination or placing it on a trailer for transport. Hiring someone to drive 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 method has some drawbacks, such as adding 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 buying or selling cars online who want to ensure the vehicle arrives in the same condition as advertised.
Placing your automobile on a trailer is a safer option that guarantees a higher level of protection than having someone drive your vehicle. There are multiple trailer options available, depending on the value & size of your automobile. Single trailers, which transport only one vehicle at a time, are more expensive but are a great choice for moving expensive or classic cars that you don't want to risk damaging. The safest way to transport a vehicle is in a shipping container, but this is by far the most expensive option.
Multi-car transporters, which can transport many vehicles at once, come in a few variants. Open vehicle shipping is the most affordable & most 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 this option less suitable for highly valuable automobiles. Long journeys in open trailers also pose a higher risk of damage & exposure to the elements.
Enclosed auto transport involves securing multiple vehicles on a carrier that is enclosed, protecting them from dust, weather, & debris during transit. This option is often preferable for more expensive or newer automobiles where the owner wants to minimize the risk of damage during auto transport.
If you need to move your automobile overseas, it's best to find a specialist service or one with experience in overseas vehicle shipping, as they can provide tailored advice based on your requirements.
What Is The Price Of Transporting A Vehicle?
The price 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 vehicle transport may cost more or less depending on your specific circumstances. The best way to determine the price of auto transport is to collect vehicle shipping quotes from various companies, which is easy to do on Shiply.
Factors That Can Influence The Price Of Vehicle Transport
Several factors can impact the price of vehicle shipping, 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 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 than quieter roads due to the added time. Unforeseen circumstances like major roadworks could also incur extra costs or require a different, longer route.
- Shipping dates: Flexibility in timings can result in lower charges, as vehicle shipping companies can fit your delivery into their schedule & reduce overheads. Strict timeframes (expedited shipping) typically cost more, as the company may need to dedicate a trailer & driver just for your delivery.
- Vehicle size: The height, length, & width of the automobile affect the cost of transport. Larger automobiles like SUVs cost more on average than sedans, as they require larger trailers. Accessories such as bike racks or roof racks can also change the size of the trailer needed.
- Vehicle condition: Non-drivable vehicles may cost more to transport, as they require extra equipment like winches or forklifts to load & unload. Vehicles that can brake, roll, & steer are considered in good enough condition for easy shipping.
- Auto transport service type: Having someone drive your vehicle is the most affordable option, while single vehicle trailers & enclosed transport are more expensive due to the extra equipment required. Enclosed vehicle shipping is the most expensive method, as it involves your automobile traveling alone & needing specialist equipment for loading, unloading, & protection during transport.
- Pickup & delivery locations: Urban areas usually have vehicle shipping services in close proximity & common destination routes, resulting in more affordable 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.
- Auto transport insurance: While all auto transport companies must carry liability insurance, many do not offer additional insurance. If a company does not offer cargo insurance, it is highly recommended to acquire some for your automobile during transit. Make sure to clarify what type of damage is covered, the deductible, & which parts of the vehicle are insured.
- Time of year: Seasonality can affect 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 vehicles, making it a busy & potentially more expensive time. Fall offers slightly more affordable prices due to less demand & more driver availability after the summer rush.
How To Transport 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.
How Can Shiply Help Find Auto Transport Companies?
Shiply simplifies the process of finding a vehicle shipping service. By filling out a simple form with your automobile's make & model, collection & delivery locations, & desired shipping dates, you can easily collect quotes from auto transport providers. Quotes start coming in within minutes of posting your listing, & it's recommended to wait for a few options before making a decision.
Once you have received quotes, you can ask the companies any questions you may have, such as availability, insurance coverage, & how they secure vehicles during transport. Shiply's feedback & ratings system allows you to view previous customers' experiences & overall scores, helping you make an informed decision.
Why People Often Move Vehicles To & From Arlington, Texas, US
Arlington, Texas, is a thriving city located in the heart of the Dallas-Fort Worth metroplex. As a major hub for business, education, & entertainment, Arlington sees a significant amount of vehicle shipping activity. Many people relocate to Arlington for job opportunities, particularly in the aerospace, manufacturing, & healthcare industries. The city is home to the University of Texas at Arlington, which attracts students from across the country who may need to ship their automobiles. Additionally, Arlington hosts numerous sporting events & concerts at AT&T Stadium & Globe Life Park, drawing visitors who may require vehicle shipping services. With its central location & diverse attractions, Arlington is a popular destination for those relocating within Texas or from other states, contributing to the demand for reliable vehicle shipping arlington & arlington vehicle shipping services.
The Benefits of Using Shiply for Vehicle Transport
Time-efficient - Rather than filling out a quotation form each instance you desire an accurate cost from a business for transporting a vehicle, on our site you complete one quotation form & can then obtain quotes from various companies based on the information you submit. This can conserve you hours of effort you would have spent phoning businesses and completing forms.
Communication with these businesses is also feasible via our platform, allowing you to store all your vehicle shipping details in a single location.
Cost Comparison - Ultimately, the price of the "vehicle transport arlington" estimate is the most crucial factor in choosing which auto shipping company to employ for transporting your vehicle. The challenge is that, while most businesses are willing to provide average prices and rough estimates, you won't actually receive a definite "arlington vehicle transport" quote without supplying information & filling in details. Although this is reasonable, it means that comparing prices and obtaining a vehicle shipping estimate isn't precisely a simple task.
Utilizing Shiply enables you to acquire genuine, final cost estimates from vehicle transport businesses & compare them in one place, offering the capability to message them individually to inquire about any questions you might have & ultimately decide on the optimal company for your needs.
Affordable Vehicle Transport - Auto shipping businesses on Shiply can usually provide their services at a lower cost than if you approached them directly. This is because they are frequently seeking to fill space on trips they are already making & have already invested the expense for. For instance, if you were relocating from Los Angeles to New York & needed to transport your vehicle there, a company on Shiply might already have a multi-car transporter making that trip with 5 of the 6 spots occupied, & they are simply 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 shipping by utilizing our service.
Eco-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 shipping from a separate car transporter, then the emissions into the atmosphere would have doubled as another entire trip would be required just for your vehicle.
Likewise, many car transporters return from a delivery empty, which is not only expensive for them but also for the environment as there are many individuals who could have utilized that transporter to move their vehicles in the opposite direction! Many of the auto transporters on Shiply are also seeking to fill their trailers on return trips, meaning even less wasted CO2 is being emitted into the atmosphere, as well as continued affordable transport for our users.
Preparing Your Vehicle for Shipping
If you have chosen an auto transport company to ship your vehicle & feel confident using them, then it's time to get your vehicle 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 during transport. It is also highly recommended that you clean your vehicle prior to 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, then you should ensure that it is in running condition. This means checking that there is enough fluid, as well as verifying 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 proof 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 promptly 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.
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.
,416 words
