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 operating the vehicle yourself is not practical, such as when purchasing or selling a used car online, relocating to a new residence, or moving your automobile overseas. Vehicle shipping services provide a practical solution for people who need to transfer their vehicles without the inconvenience of driving long distances.
Auto transport companies provide a variety of services to accommodate different requirements. Whether you need cross-country vehicle transport, moving a car to another state, or even international automobile transportation, there are solutions available to meet your needs. It's crucial to comprehend the various types of auto transport services to make a well-informed choice when selecting a vehicle shipping company.
Categories Of Auto Transport Services
When it comes to vehicle shipping, there are several alternatives to consider. The first decision you'll need to make is whether you prefer terminal-to-terminal or door-to-door delivery. Terminal-to-terminal auto delivery involves designated collection and drop-off points, usually at the vehicle transport company's stores or operating bases. While this option is often more cost-effective, it requires extra effort on your part to get the automobile to its final destination.
On the other hand, door-to-door auto transport is the most favored choice among customers. With this service, your vehicle is collected & dropped off right at your doorstep, regardless of whether it's a cross-country vehicle transport or moving a car to another state. Door-to-door delivery eliminates the need to arrange transportation to collect your automobile, making it a convenient option for most people.
Vehicle transport services can be further categorized into two main methods: having someone operate your car or placing it on a trailer. Each method has its advantages & disadvantages, & the choice ultimately depends on your specific needs & preferences.
Have Someone Operate Your Vehicle
Hiring someone to operate your vehicle to its destination is a straightforward solution for vehicle shipping. This method is often cheaper compared to using a trailer, as it eliminates the need for additional equipment & vehicles. It can also be a faster option due to the simplicity of the transport process.
However, there are some drawbacks to consider when opting for this method. Firstly, your automobile will accumulate mileage during the journey, which can be significant if you are moving a car across the country. Secondly, there is a slight risk of damage to your vehicle while it is being operated. These concerns are particularly 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 vehicle on a trailer offers a higher level of safety compared to having someone operate it. Vehicle shipping trailers come in various options, depending on the value & size of your automobile. For expensive or classic cars, a single trailer is often the preferred choice. While more costly, it ensures that your automobile is transported alone, minimizing the risk of damage. The safest option is to use a shipping container, although this is the most expensive method.
Multi-car transporters are another popular option, allowing several vehicles to be transported simultaneously. Open vehicle shipping is the most common & affordable choice, 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 transit, making this option less suitable for highly valuable vehicles.
Enclosed auto transport provides an added layer of protection by securing multiple cars on a carrier that is fully enclosed. This method shields your automobile from dust, weather, & debris during transportation, making it a preferable choice for newer or more expensive cars.
For overseas vehicle transportation, it's essential to find a specialist service or a company with experience in international vehicle shipping. These providers can offer tailored advice based on your specific requirements, ensuring a smooth & efficient process.
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. Using Shiply enables you to receive genuine, final price quotes 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 you.
Affordable Vehicle Shipping - Auto transport companies on Shiply can typically provide their services at 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 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 filled, 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 suitable 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 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 costly for them but also for the environment as there are many people who could have used 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 journeys, meaning even less wasted CO2 is being released into the atmosphere, as well as continued affordable transport for our users.
Readying 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 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 belongings 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 determine 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 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, 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 determine 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, 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 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 Lyndonville or Lyndonville car shipping services, Shiply is the perfect platform to connect with top-rated auto transport companies. With our user-friendly quote system and price comparison tools, you can easily find the best deal for your specific needs. Trust Shiply to make your car shipping experience hassle-free and cost-effective.
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