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 location & transporting it to another. It's beneficial for moving a vehicle in various situations where you can't operate the car yourself. For instance, you might be buying or selling a used automobile online & need to transport it to another state, or maybe you've recently moved & need to ship your vehicle across the country. Vehicle transportation services can also be extremely useful when you need to transfer your car overseas & ferries aren't available, requiring you to rely on an auto shipping company to manage the task.
Luckily, there are numerous vehicle transport services available to cater to your specific requirements, which we'll discuss below.
Types Of Car Shipping Services
There are various car shipping services available, summarized below. It's advantageous to read through & determine the precise type of auto transportation service you require or prefer for transporting your vehicle.
The first 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 moving a car to another state. Terminal-to-terminal auto delivery is an option, where designated collection & drop-off points are used, often at the vehicle transport company's stores or operating bases. Terminal-to-terminal auto delivery is typically more affordable but requires more effort on your part to get the car home. However, most people require a door-to-door car shipping delivery service, where their vehicles are picked up & dropped off at their doorstep, regardless of whether it's a cross-country vehicle transport or just moving a car to another state. This is often preferable as it eliminates the need to travel to collect your automobile, which can be challenging without your car in the first place!
Vehicle transport services are generally divided into two categories: having someone operate your car to the destination or putting it on a trailer & transporting it.
Have Someone Operate Your Vehicle
This is a straightforward solution to vehicle shipping that involves hiring someone to drive your automobile to the desired location, whether you need to transport a car across the country or to another state. The advantages of this auto shipping method are that it's often more affordable, as trailers & an extra vehicle aren't required, & it can be faster due to the straightforward nature of the transport.
However, there are some drawbacks to this method offered by vehicle shipping companies that lead some people to choose other types of car transport. Firstly, mileage is added to your automobile during the journey, which can be significant when moving a car across the country, less so when transporting a vehicle to a nearby state. Secondly, there is a slight risk of damage to your car while it's being operated from point A to point B. These concerns are particularly relevant for people buying or selling automobiles online who want to ensure the vehicle arrives in the same condition as advertised.
Place Your Automobile On A Trailer
Placing your vehicle on a trailer is a safer way to ensure a higher level of protection than having someone operate your car to its destination. With vehicle shipping trailers, there are several options available depending on the value & size of your automobile.
Firstly, 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 choice if you're moving an expensive or classic automobile that you don't want to risk damaging. The safest way to ship 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 & comes in a few variants:
Open vehicle shipping by any car transport company is the most affordable & most common option for moving a car. Your automobile is placed on an open carrier & driven to the destination. All vehicles are securely fastened, but as the name suggests, they are exposed to the elements during the drive, so vehicle shipping companies may not recommend this for highly valuable automobiles. Furthermore, while it may be the most affordable way to transport a car cross-country, long journeys in open trailers obviously pose a higher risk of damage & leave your vehicle exposed to the elements for extended periods.
Enclosed auto shipping involves securing multiple cars on a carrier, but they are enclosed, protecting them from dust, weather & debris during transit. This is often preferable for more expensive or newer vehicles where the owner wants to minimize the risk of damage during auto transport.
If you need to transfer your automobile overseas through an auto shipping company, try 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 Transport A Vehicle?
Several variables affect the cost of moving a car, but on average, auto shipping 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.
These figures are just averages for vehicle moving companies, & your car transport may cost more or less depending on the circumstances. The best way to find out how much auto shipping will cost you is to collect vehicle shipping quotes from car transport companies, which is easy to do on Shiply.
If you want to estimate how much you can expect your vehicle delivery to cost, consider the factors that can affect the price of car shipping services, outlined below.
Factors That Can Affect The Cost Of Car Shipping
We all want affordable vehicle transport, but several factors & variables can impact the cost of your car shipping. Below, we'll outline the main ones so you can get a rough idea of whether your auto shipping requirements will be expensive or cheap.
As mentioned earlier, distance is a significant factor in determining the cost of your vehicle transport, with cross-state & cross-country journeys costing much more than interstate car delivery, which is often the most affordable vehicle shipping option.
While longer distances do cost more, fortunately, the average price per mile decreases as the journey length increases, ensuring you're not paying excessively.
International shipping always results 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 pick-up spot to its delivery spot can affect the pricing of your vehicle carrier service. Routes with known higher traffic, such as in LA, may end up costing more than quieter roads due to the added time. Similarly, unforeseen circumstances like major roadworks could also incur extra costs from the vehicle moving companies or necessitate a different, longer route.
Shipping Dates - How quickly you need your vehicle transportation service to operate can also affect the price. For example, if you can be flexible with timings, you may find that your car shipping service charges significantly less. This is because they can fit your automobile delivery into their schedule & reduce overheads, passing the savings on to you. However, if you require auto shipping within a strict timeframe (often known as expedited shipping), it will typically cost more due to the vehicle transport company likely having to dedicate a trailer & driver solely 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 ship than sedans. Additionally, always inform the auto shipping company about any bike racks, roof racks, or other accessories on the car, as these can also change the size of the trailer required for the delivery.
Vehicle Condition - If your car is not in drivable condition, it may increase the cost of your auto shipping. This is because it may require extra equipment, such as a winch or forklift, to load & unload your automobile from the trailer. For example, if your car has a locked wheel, 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 car carriers consider a vehicle that can brake, roll & steer to be in good enough condition for easy shipping.
Auto Shipping Service Type - The type of auto shipping service you select will also affect the cost of your vehicle shipping. Having someone operate your car to its destination will always be the most affordable option, as you're essentially just paying for the driver's time & fuel. In contrast, single car trailers & enclosed transport are likely to be more expensive, as they require extra equipment. Enclosed vehicle shipping is always the most expensive method of moving a car, as it means your automobile travels alone & still needs specialist equipment for loading, unloading & protection during transport.
Locations Of Pickup And Delivery - The locations of the vehicle's pick-up & drop-off points may also increase the price of shipping a car. Urban areas usually have vehicle shipping services in close proximity, & if it's a common destination route, you'll 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 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 Shipping Insurance - While all auto shipping companies are required to carry liability insurance, many do not offer additional insurance, as it's not legally required. If a vehicle transport company doesn't offer cargo insurance, it's highly recommended that you seek out & acquire some for your automobile during its transit. As with all insurance policies, make sure you understand what type of damage is covered, whether there is a deductible, which 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 transport a car in the winter due to ice & snow slowing the routes. Here's a quick breakdown of how each season can affect auto shipping 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. However, February is usually quiet, so 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 affordable 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's also a very popular time to move house. This means that June, July & August are all busy months for the auto shipping industry, & you should not expect affordable vehicle shipping during the summer.
Fall is a good time to ship a car if you're looking for a slightly more affordable price. Vehicle shipping companies are less busy & there is typically more driver availability after the summer rush. However, you're 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 Transport A Vehicle - Finding An Auto Shipping Service
Now that you know more about what vehicle shipping & a car transport service are & what sort of auto shipping service you need, you probably want to go ahead & find a vehicle transport service that's 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 to go through phone books. Furthermore, many of these companies are reluctant to provide pricing, meaning you'll 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 Car Shipping Companies?
Given all the options & variables involved in 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 vehicle that needs shipping, the pickup location & delivery location & the dates you need to move the automobile. This gives the auto shipping providers on Shiply enough information to provide you with an accurate quote for your job.
Once your listing is live, you'll receive quotes in your Shiply inbox & to your email. We recommend keeping email notifications turned on so 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 you have multiple options to choose from.
Once you have a few quotes, you can ask the providers 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 that we highly recommend looking at before selecting a quote to ship your automobile. This system allows you to view previous customers' experiences with a company & see their overall score.
Why People Often Move Vehicles To & From Layton, Utah
Layton, Utah, is a growing city located in the heart of Davis County, just north of Salt Lake City. Many people move cars to & from Layton for various reasons. One common reason is relocation, as Layton is a popular destination for families & individuals seeking a high quality of life, excellent schools & abundant job opportunities. The city's proximity to major highways, including I-15 & US-89, makes it an attractive location for those who need to commute to nearby cities for work.
Another reason people often move vehicles to & from Layton is for military purposes. The city is home to Hill Air Force Base, one of the largest employers in the state of Utah. Military personnel & their families frequently relocate to Layton, requiring the transportation of their automobiles.
Additionally, Layton's central location in Utah makes it a convenient hub for vehicle shipping. Many car transport companies, including those specializing in Layton vehicle shipping, offer services to & from the city, connecting it to various destinations across the country. This makes it easier for people to ship their automobiles when moving to or from Layton, whether for personal or professional reasons.
In conclusion, Layton, Utah, sees a significant amount of vehicle shipping activity due to its growing population, strong economy, military presence & strategic location within the state. As a result, many car transport companies, including those focusing on vehicle shipping Layton, are available to help individuals & families move their automobiles to & from this vibrant city.
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The Advantages of Utilizing Shiply for Vehicle Transportation
Time-efficient - Rather than completing a quotation form each instance you desire an exact cost from an organization for transporting a vehicle, on our platform you complete one quotation form and can then obtain quotes from various companies based on the information you supply. This can conserve you hours of effort you would have spent phoning companies and filling out forms. Communication with these organizations is also feasible through our platform, allowing you to store all your vehicle shipping details in a single location.
Cost Comparison - Ultimately, the price of the vehicle shipping estimate is the most crucial factor in selecting which auto transport company to employ for shipping your vehicle. The challenge is that, while most companies willingly provide average prices and rough estimates, you won't receive a definite vehicle transport quote without supplying information and completing details. Although this is reasonable, it means that comparing prices and obtaining a vehicle transport quote is not a simple task. Utilizing Shiply enables you to receive authentic, final price estimates from vehicle shipping companies and compare them in one place, offering the ability to message them individually to ask any questions you may have and ultimately choose the best company for your needs.
Affordable Vehicle Shipping - Auto transport companies on Shiply can typically provide their services at a lower cost than if you approached them directly. This is because they are often seeking to fill space on trips they are already making and have already invested the cost for. For instance, if you were relocating from Los Angeles to New York and needed to transport your vehicle there, a company on Shiply may already have a multi-car transporter making that journey with 5 of the 6 spots occupied, and they are simply looking to ensure they are not wasting any space. As long as the dates, times, and pick-up/drop-off locations are convenient for you, you can often save up to 75% on auto transport by utilizing our service.
Environmentally Friendly - Not only is using Shiply for auto transport more economical, but it is also more environmentally friendly. In the previous example, if your vehicle didn't get on that multi-car transporter and instead you arranged transport from a separate car shipper, the emissions into the atmosphere would have doubled as another entire journey would be required just for your vehicle. 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 transporter to move their vehicles in the opposite direction. Many of the auto transporters on Shiply are also looking 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 selected an auto transport company to transport your vehicle and feel confident using them, it's time to prepare your vehicle 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 assess its condition and 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 and 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, and 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, and 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 and 500 miles, and 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 most economical way to ship a car; however, if you require a trailer, then a multi-car transporter will be your best option with regard to the most affordable way to ship a car.
How do I pay for my auto transport? This is down to each individual auto transport company on Shiply and 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 and delivery? In most cases, the car shipping company will require you to be in attendance for the pickup and 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, and 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 and 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 and 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 and has the right equipment to safely carry it out.
If you're looking for reliable and affordable car shipping layton or layton car shipping services, Shiply is the perfect platform to connect with top-rated auto transport companies. With our user-friendly interface and competitive pricing, shipping your vehicle has never been simpler.
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