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 not an option. 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 necessitates more effort on your part to get the vehicle home. However, the majority of individuals prefer door-to-door auto transport delivery service, where their automobiles are collected & dropped off at their doorstep, irrespective 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 transport.
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 during the drive, which is particularly worrying for those buying or selling cars online who want to ensure the car 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 it to its destination. Vehicle shipping trailers come in various options, depending on the value & size of your automobile. Single trailers, which transport only one vehicle at a time, are often more expensive but are an excellent 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 also the most costly option.
Multi-car transporters, which can carry many vehicles at once, come in a few variants:
- Open vehicle shipping: The most affordable & common option, where your automobile is placed on an open carrier & driven to its destination. While all vehicles are securely fastened, 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 & prolonged exposure to the elements.
- Enclosed auto transport: Multiple vehicles are secured on a carrier but are 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 transport.
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, 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, 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 collect vehicle shipping quotes from various companies, which is easily done on Shiply.
Factors That Can Affect The Cost Of Vehicle Transport
While everyone wants affordable vehicle transport, several factors can influence the cost of vehicle 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: Always results in expensive vehicle shipping quotes due to the logistics of transferring a vehicle overseas & the distance it must travel. It may also require special enclosed trailers or shipping containers.
- Route: Along with distance, the route required to transport your vehicle from its pick-up spot to its delivery location can affect the 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 longer alternative route.
- Shipping dates: The speed at which you need your vehicle transportation service can also impact the price. Flexibility in timings may result in lower charges, as vehicle shipping companies can fit your delivery into their schedule & reduce overheads. However, expedited shipping within a strict timeframe typically costs more, as the company may need to dedicate a trailer & driver solely for your delivery.
- Vehicle size: The height, length, & width of the vehicle all affect the cost of transport. Larger vehicles, such as SUVs, generally cost more to transport than sedans, as they require larger trailers. Always inform the auto transport company about any accessories on the vehicle, like bike racks or roof racks, as they can change the size of the trailer needed.
- Vehicle condition: If your vehicle is not in drivable condition, it may increase the cost of auto transport. Non-operational vehicles may require extra equipment, such as a winch or forklift, to load & unload them from the trailer, taking more time, effort, & machinery compared to a standard vehicle transport service. Most vehicle carriers consider a vehicle that can brake, roll, & steer to be in good enough condition for easy shipping.
- Auto transport service type: The type of auto transport service you choose will also affect the cost. Having someone drive your vehicle to its destination is always the most affordable option, as you are essentially paying for the driver's time & fuel. Single vehicle trailers & enclosed transport are likely to be more expensive due to the extra equipment required. Enclosed vehicle shipping is always the most expensive method, as it involves your vehicle traveling alone while still needing specialist equipment for loading, unloading, & protection during transport.
- Pickup & delivery locations: The locations of pickup & delivery can also increase the price of shipping a vehicle. Urban areas usually have vehicle shipping services in close proximity, & common destination routes tend to offer affordable vehicle 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 vehicle, which can also increase the cost.
- Auto transport insurance: While all auto transport companies must 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 vehicle during transit. When considering insurance policies, ensure you understand what type of damage is covered, whether there is a deductible, which parts of the vehicle are covered, & any other relevant questions.
- Time of year: Seasonality can also affect the price of vehicle shipping, with many services costing more to ship a vehicle in the winter due to ice & snow slowing the routes. Here's a quick breakdown of how each season can affect auto transport costs:
- Winter: Often the most expensive season to ship your vehicle due to potential delays caused by ice, snow, & blizzard conditions, as well as reduced maximum speeds for vehicle delivery services. December is typically a difficult time for vehicle shipping, as drivers are on holiday, while many travel to warmer states in January, leading to increased costs. February, however, is usually quiet, & great rates are often available during this month.
- Spring: A great time to ship your vehicle, with improved weather conditions, longer days, & more available drivers, often resulting in affordable rates & high availability. March is generally a better time to ship than April or May, as there is often a rush to move vehicles from colder to warmer states.
- Summer: The prime season for shipping vehicles, with the longest days of the year, students traveling home from universities, employees taking vacations, & a popular time for moving house. June, July, & August are all busy months for the auto transport industry, & affordable vehicle shipping should not be expected during the summer.
- Fall: A good time to ship a vehicle if you're looking for slightly cheaper prices. Vehicle shipping companies are less busy, & there is typically more driver availability after the summer rush. However, it's better to move your vehicle in October or November rather than September, which is peak time for students shipping their vehicles to university.
How To Ship A Vehicle - Finding An Auto Transport Service
Now that you have a better understanding of vehicle shipping, the types of vehicle shipping services available, & the factors that affect the cost, you may be wondering how to find the right vehicle transport service for your needs. With hundreds of vehicle transport companies out there, searching for the best one at the best price can be a daunting & time-consuming task, often requiring you to fill out individual quote forms with each company.
How Can Shiply Help Find Auto Transport Companies?
This is where Shiply can help simplify the process of finding the right vehicle shipping service. On Shiply, you only need to fill out a simple form to start collecting quotes. Provide the make & model of the vehicle that needs shipping, the pickup & delivery locations, & the dates you need to move the vehicle. This information allows the auto transport providers on Shiply to provide you with accurate quotes for your job.
Once your listing is live, you will receive quotes in your Shiply inbox & via email. We recommend keeping email notifications turned on so that you can be immediately notified when a new quote arrives. Quotes can start coming in within minutes of posting your listing, but it's always a good idea to wait for a few options before making a decision.
When you have received a few quotes, you can ask the providers any questions you may have, such as their availability (if a time frame is given), insurance coverage, & how they would secure your vehicle. We recommend asking these questions to any company you are considering to ensure a smooth & expected process.
Shiply also has a feedback & ratings system, which we highly recommend reviewing before selecting a quote to ship your vehicle. This system allows you to view previous customers' experiences with a company & their overall score, helping you make an informed decision.
Why People Often Move Vehicles To & From West Jordan, Utah, US
West Jordan, located in Utah, US, is a popular city for vehicle shipping due to various reasons. Many people move to West Jordan for job opportunities, as the city has a growing economy & a diverse range of industries. Others may relocate to West Jordan for its proximity to Salt Lake City & the beautiful natural surroundings, including parks, trails, & ski resorts. Additionally, some people may need to ship their vehicles to or from West Jordan when buying or selling automobiles online, or when moving to or from the area for personal reasons, such as family or education. With its central location in the Salt Lake Valley & easy access to major highways, West Jordan is a convenient destination for vehicle shipping services, making it a common choice for those needing to transport their automobiles.
The Benefits of Using Shiply for Automobile Transport in West Jordan
When it comes to shipping a car in West Jordan, Shiply provides several advantages that simplify the process, reduce costs, and are more eco-friendly. Here are some of the primary benefits of utilizing Shiply for your vehicle transportation requirements.
Saves Time
Rather than filling out a quotation form each time you want to obtain an accurate price from a company for transporting a vehicle, on our platform, you complete one quote form and can then receive estimates based on the information you provide from multiple businesses. This can save you hours of time that you would have spent calling companies and filling out forms.
Communication with these businesses is also possible through our platform, allowing you to keep all of your West Jordan car shipping information in one location.
Price Comparison
Ultimately, the cost of the car shipping quote is the most crucial factor in choosing which auto transport company to use to ship your vehicle. The challenging aspect is that, while most companies are willing to provide average prices and rough estimates, you won't actually receive a firm car transport quote without having to supply information and fill in details. While this is understandable, it does mean that comparing prices and getting a car transport quote isn't exactly a straightforward task.
Using Shiply allows you to receive authentic, final price quotes from car shipping companies and compare them in one place, providing the ability to message them individually to ask any questions you may have and ultimately decide on the best company for you.
Affordable Car Shipping in West Jordan
Auto transport businesses on Shiply are typically able to offer their services for a lower fee than if you went directly to them. This is because they are often looking to fill space on journeys they are already making and have already invested the cost for. For example, if you were relocating from Los Angeles to New York and needed to move your car there, on Shiply, a company may already have a multi-car transporter making that journey with 5 of the 6 spots filled, and they are just looking to ensure they are not wasting any space. As long as the dates, times, and pick-up/drop-off locations work for you, you can often save up to 75% on auto transport by using our service.
More 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 car didn't get on that multi-car transporter and instead you arranged transport from a separate car shipper, then the emissions into the atmosphere would have doubled as another entire journey would be needed just for your vehicle.
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 other direction! Many of the auto transporters on Shiply are looking to fill their trailers on return journeys too, 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 move your vehicle and feel confident using them, then it's time to prepare your car for shipping. We recommend 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 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 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, then 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 automobile. 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 automobile 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 in West Jordan:
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 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 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 automobile.
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.
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