What Is Vehicle Transportation?
Vehicle transportation, also known as car shipping or auto transport, is a service offered by auto transport companies that involves collecting your vehicle from one location & transporting it to another. It's beneficial for moving a car in various situations where you can't operate the vehicle yourself. For instance, you might be buying or selling a used car online & need to transport it to another state, or maybe you've recently moved & need to ship your vehicle across the country. Auto transport services can also be extremely useful when you need to transfer your car overseas & ferries aren't available, requiring you to rely on a car shipping company to manage the task.
Luckily, there are numerous vehicle transport services available to satisfy your specific requirements, which we'll discuss below.
Types Of Car Shipping Services
Here's an overview of the different car shipping services available. 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 vehicle collected 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, often the auto transport company's stores or operating bases, are used. Terminal-to-terminal car delivery is usually more affordable but requires more effort on your part to get the vehicle home. However, most people require a door-to-door car shipping delivery service, where their vehicles are collected & 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 go somewhere else to collect your car, which can be challenging without your vehicle in the first place!
Auto transport services generally fall into two categories: having someone operate your vehicle to the destination or putting it on a trailer & transporting it.
Have Someone Operate Your Vehicle
This straightforward solution to vehicle shipping involves hiring someone to operate your car to the desired location, whether you need to transport a vehicle across the country or to another state. The advantages of this car transport 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 auto shipping companies that lead some people to choose other types of vehicle transport. Firstly, mileage is added to your car during the journey, which can be significant when moving a vehicle across the country, although less so when transporting a car to a nearby state. Secondly, there is a slight risk of damage to your vehicle while it's being operated from point A to point B. These concerns are particularly relevant for people buying or selling cars online who want to ensure the vehicle arrives in the exact condition as advertised.
Put Your Vehicle On A Trailer
Putting your car in a trailer is a safer way to ensure a higher level of protection than having someone operate your vehicle to its destination. With auto shipping trailers, there are several options available depending on the value & size of your car.
First, you need to decide whether you want a single trailer for your vehicle. These are often more expensive as they only transport one car at a time but are a great choice if you're moving an expensive or classic vehicle that you don't want to risk getting damaged. 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 auto shipping company is the most affordable & most common option when transporting a car. Your vehicle is placed on an open carrier & operated to the destination. All cars are securely fastened, but as the name suggests, they are exposed to the elements during the drive, so auto shipping companies may not recommend this for highly valuable vehicles. 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 car transport involves securing multiple vehicles on a carrier, but they are enclosed, protecting them from dust, weather & debris during transit. This is often preferable for more expensive or newer cars where the owner wants to minimize the risk of damage during vehicle transport.
If you need to transfer your car overseas through a car transport 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, car 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 auto transport may cost more or less depending on the circumstances. The best way to find out how much car shipping will cost you is to collect auto transport quotes from vehicle transport companies, which is very easy to do on Shiply.
If you want to get an idea of how much you can expect your vehicle delivery to cost, consider the factors that can affect the price of auto transport services, which we'll discuss below.
Factors That Can Affect The Cost Of Car Shipping
We all want affordable vehicle transport, but several factors & variables can affect how much your auto shipping will cost. Here are the main ones to consider:
As mentioned earlier, distance plays a significant role 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 auto 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 car.
Route - Along with distance, the route required to take your vehicle from its collection spot to its delivery spot can affect the pricing of your auto 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 car transportation service to operate can also impact the price. If you can be flexible with timings, you may find that your auto shipping service charges significantly less. This is because they can fit your vehicle delivery into their schedule & reduce overheads, passing the savings on to you. However, if you require car transport 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 car will all affect the cost of transporting your vehicle. Auto shippers will require larger trailers for bigger cars, with SUVs typically costing more on average to transport than sedans. Additionally, always inform the car transport company about any bike racks, roof racks, or other accessories on the vehicle, as these can also change the size of the trailer required for the delivery.
Vehicle Condition - If your car is not in a drivable condition, it may increase the cost of your vehicle transport. This is because it may require extra equipment, such as a winch or forklift, to load & unload your vehicle 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 auto transport service. Most vehicle carriers consider a car that can brake, roll & steer to be in good enough condition for easy shipping.
Car Transport Service Type - The type of car transport service you select will also affect the cost of your auto shipping. Having someone operate your vehicle 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 vehicle travels alone & still needs specialist equipment for loading, unloading & protection during transport.
Locations Of Pickup & Delivery - The pickup & drop-off locations can also impact the price of moving a car. Urban areas usually have auto shipping services in close proximity, & if it's a common destination route, you'll tend to get 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 car, which can also increase the auto shipping cost.
Car Transport Insurance - While all car transport 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 car 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 relevant questions.
Time Of Year - Seasonality can also affect the price of auto shipping, with many services costing more to move a car in the winter due to ice & snow slowing the routes. Here's a quick breakdown of how each season can affect car transport costs:
Winter is often the most expensive season to ship your car. 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 car shipped, as drivers are on holiday, while many travel to warmer states in January, leading to increased auto shipping costs. However, February is usually quiet, so great rates are often available from auto shipping services during this month.
Spring is a great time to ship your car 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 vehicle. March is often a better time to ship than April or May, as there is often a rush to move cars from colder to warmer states.
Summer is the prime season for shipping vehicles - 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 car transport industry, & you should not expect affordable auto shipping during the summer.
Fall is a good time to ship a vehicle if you're looking for a slightly more affordable price. Auto shipping companies are less busy & there is typically more driver availability after the summer rush. However, you're better off looking to move your car in October or November rather than September, as this is peak time for students shipping their vehicles to university.
How To Ship A Vehicle - Finding A Car Transport Service
Now that you know more about what auto shipping & a vehicle shipping service are & what sort of car transport service you need, you probably want to go ahead & find an auto 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 to find the best auto 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 Transport Companies?
Given all the options & variables involved in finding an auto 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 car. This gives the car transport 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 that 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 companies 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, which we highly recommend looking at before selecting a quote to ship your car. This system allows you to view previous customers' experiences with a company & see their overall score.
Why People Often Move Vehicles To & From Burien, Washington, US
Burien, Washington, US is a popular location for auto shipping due to its proximity to Seattle & its growing population. Many people move to Burien for job opportunities, affordable housing & a high quality of life. As a result, there is a significant demand for vehicle shipping services to & from Burien.
People often need to ship their vehicles to Burien when relocating for work or family reasons. They may not want to operate their car across the country or may be unable to do so due to time constraints or other factors. In such cases, using an auto shipping service is a convenient & safe option.
Similarly, people moving away from Burien may need to ship their vehicles to their new location. This is particularly common for students leaving for college or individuals relocating for work.
Burien vehicle shipping is also popular among car dealerships & online car buyers & sellers. Dealerships may need to transport cars to & from Burien for inventory purposes, while online buyers & sellers may need to ship a vehicle purchased or sold through an online platform.
Overall, the demand for auto shipping services in Burien, Washington, US, is driven by the city's growing population, job opportunities & the needs of individuals & businesses alike.
The Benefits of Utilizing Shiply for Vehicle Transport in Burien
Time-Efficient - Instead of completing a quotation form each time you desire a precise cost from a business on transporting your vehicle, on our platform you only complete one quotation form & then can receive estimates based on the information you supply from several companies. This can conserve you hours of time you would've had to invest contacting companies & inputting details.
Communication with these businesses is all feasible through our platform as well, signifying you can maintain all of your Burien vehicle shipping information in one location.
Cost Comparison - The Crucial Aspect
When it comes down to it, the price of the vehicle shipping estimate is the most significant factor in choosing which auto transport company to utilize to transport your automobile. The challenging thing is that, while most businesses are willing to provide average prices & rough estimates, you won't actually be given a definite Burien vehicle shipping quote without having to supply info & fill in details. While this is reasonable, it does signify that cost comparison & getting a vehicle transport quote isn't precisely a simple task.
Utilizing Shiply allows you to receive authentic, final cost estimates from vehicle shipping companies & compare them in one location, offering the capability to message them individually to inquire any questions you may have & ultimately decide on the optimal company for you.
Inexpensive Vehicle Shipping - The Budget-Friendly Choice
Auto transport businesses on Shiply are typically able to provide their services for a reduced fee than if you went direct 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, a company 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 squandering 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 utilizing our service!
Superior For The Environment - The Eco-Friendly Option
Not only is using Shiply for auto transport more affordable, but it is also superior for the environment! In the above example, if your vehicle didn't get on that multi-car transporter & instead you arranged transport from a separate car 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 inexpensive transport for our users.
Readying For Your Vehicle To Be Transported
If you have decided on an auto transport company 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 automobile.
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 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 cars 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 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 occured. 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.
