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 vehicle 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 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 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. Having someone drive your car is a straightforward solution that involves hiring someone to drive your vehicle to its destination. This method is often more affordable as it doesn't require trailers or an extra vehicle, & it can be quicker due to its simplicity. However, there are some drawbacks, such as added mileage to your automobile, especially when shipping a car across the country, & a 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 way to guarantee a higher level of protection than having someone drive it. There are multiple options available depending on the value & size of your vehicle. You can choose a single trailer for your car, which is more expensive but ideal for transporting expensive or classic automobiles without risking damage. The safest way to transport a vehicle is in a shipping container, but this is the most costly option. Alternatively, you can opt for a multi-car transporter, which comes in a few variants:
- Open vehicle shipping: The most affordable & common option, where your automobile is placed on an open carrier & driven to the destination. While all cars are securely fastened, they are exposed to the elements during the drive, making it less suitable for highly valuable vehicles. Long journeys in open trailers also pose a higher risk of damage.
- Enclosed auto transport: Multiple vehicles are secured on a carrier but are enclosed, protecting them from dust, weather, & debris during transit. This option is preferable for more expensive or newer automobiles where the owner wants to minimize the risk of damage.
If you need to move your vehicle overseas, it's best to find a specialist service or one with experience in overseas vehicle shipping to provide tailored advice based on your requirements.
What Is The Cost Of Transporting A Vehicle?
The cost 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 cost of auto transport is to collect vehicle shipping quotes from various companies, which is easily done on Shiply.
Several factors can affect the cost of auto transport, 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: Always results in expensive vehicle shipping quotes due to the logistics of transferring an automobile overseas & the distance it needs to travel. It may also require special enclosed trailers or shipping containers.
- Route: The route required to transport your vehicle from its collection spot to its delivery spot can affect pricing. Routes with higher traffic or unforeseen circumstances like roadworks may incur extra costs or require longer alternative routes.
- Shipping dates: Flexibility in timings can lead to lower costs, as vehicle shipping services can fit your delivery into their schedule & reduce overheads. Expedited shipping within a strict timeframe typically costs more.
- Vehicle size: The height, length, & width of the automobile, as well as any accessories like bike racks or roof racks, affect the cost of transport. Larger vehicles like SUVs generally cost more to transport than sedans.
- Vehicle condition: Non-drivable cars may incur higher costs due to the need for extra equipment like winches or forklifts to load & unload the automobile.
- Auto transport service type: Having someone drive your vehicle is the most affordable option, while single car trailers & enclosed transport are more expensive due to the specialized equipment required.
- Pickup & delivery locations: Urban areas with common destination routes often have more affordable vehicle shipping services, while rural deliveries or hard-to-access spaces may cost more.
- Auto transport insurance: While all auto transport companies must carry liability insurance, additional cargo insurance is recommended & may affect the overall cost.
- Time of year: Seasonality can impact vehicle shipping prices, with winter being the most expensive due to weather-related delays. Spring & fall are generally more affordable, while summer is the busiest season with higher demand.
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 personalized quote. This is where Shiply can help simplify the process.
How Can Shiply Help Find Auto Transport Companies?
Shiply streamlines the process of finding a vehicle shipping service by allowing you to fill out a simple form with your automobile's make & model, collection & delivery locations, & the dates you need to move the vehicle. This information enables auto transport providers on Shiply to provide accurate quotes for your job.
Once your listing is live, you'll receive quotes in your Shiply inbox & email. It's recommended to keep email notifications on to be immediately notified of new quotes. While quotes can start coming in within minutes, it's best to wait for a few options before making a decision.
Before selecting a quote, you can ask the auto transport companies questions about their 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 Cars To & From Oak Hill, West Virginia
Oak Hill, located in Fayette County, West Virginia, is a small city with a population of around 8,000 people. Despite its size, Oak Hill sees a significant amount of vehicle shipping activity due to various reasons. Many individuals relocate to Oak Hill for its affordable cost of living, proximity to natural attractions like the New River Gorge National Park, & a growing job market in industries such as healthcare & education. Additionally, Oak Hill's central location within West Virginia makes it a convenient hub for vehicle shipping services, as it is easily accessible from major highways like I-64 & I-77. This accessibility allows vehicle transport companies to efficiently collect & deliver automobiles to & from Oak Hill, making it an attractive option for those looking to relocate or sell their cars to buyers in other states.
Furthermore, Oak Hill's scenic beauty & outdoor recreational opportunities attract many tourists & seasonal residents who may require vehicle shipping services to enjoy the area's offerings without the need to drive long distances. The city's proximity to popular destinations like the Summit Bechtel Reserve, a large-scale scouting facility, also contributes to the demand for vehicle shipping services in Oak Hill.
In conclusion, Oak Hill's combination of affordability, natural beauty, central location, & growing economic opportunities make it a popular destination for those looking to move or ship their vehicles, resulting in a steady demand for auto transport services in the area.
The Benefits of Using Shiply for Vehicle Transport in Oak Hill
Time-efficient - Rather than filling out a quotation form each instance you desire an accurate cost from a business on transporting a vehicle, on our site you complete one quotation form & then can obtain quotes based on the information you supply from several companies. This can conserve you hours of effort you would have had to invest phoning companies & inputting details.
Communication with these businesses is all feasible via our platform as well, allowing you to store all of your Oak Hill vehicle shipping details in a single location.
Rate Comparison - When it comes down to it, the price of the vehicle shipping estimate is the most crucial factor in choosing which auto transport company to employ to transport your vehicle. The challenging aspect is that, while most businesses are willing to provide average prices & rough estimates, you won't actually be given a definite vehicle transport quote without having to supply information & fill in details. While this is understandable, it does mean that rate comparison & getting a vehicle transport estimate isn't exactly a simple task.
Utilizing Shiply allows you to receive authentic, final cost estimates from vehicle shipping Oak Hill businesses & compare them in one place, providing the ability to message them individually to ask any questions you may have & ultimately decide on the optimal company for you.
Affordable Vehicle Shipping - Auto transport businesses on Shiply are typically able to provide their services for 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 & 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 wasting 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 using our service.
Eco-Friendly - Not only is using Shiply for auto transport more affordable, but it is also more eco-friendly! In the above example, if your vehicle didn't get on that multi-car transporter & instead you arranged transport from a separate vehicle 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 affordable 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 ready your vehicle for shipping. We recommend following these steps:
Paperwork - 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.
Cleansing - You should take care to remove all personal belongings from your automobile 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 automobile before transport as this will allow you to ascertain its condition & notice any damages that may occur during delivery.
Operational Condition - If the automobile will be driven at any point during shipping or driven home from the drop-off location then you should ensure that it is in operational 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 automobile upon arrival.
Photographic Evidence - One very important thing to do when preparing your automobile for the vehicle 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 vehicle 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 vehicle delivery service should anything not be working as it should.
Exterior Condition - You can compare the exterior of the automobile to the photos taken of it before to ascertain whether any extra damage has occurred. Shipping a car can, in rare cases, cause damage, & you want to be sure your vehicle transport service has not done so.
Check Mileage - This is more relevant to vehicle 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 vehicle shipping services with the same peace of mind.
FAQ - Frequently Asked Questions
Below we have answered some of the most asked questions about vehicle shipping:
How much to ship a car?
Vehicle 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 automobile 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 vehicle delivery service before confirming the delivery. Most companies will be flexible with payment options, however.
Can I track my car transport online?
Each vehicle 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 vehicle transport companies to confirm that this is possible with them.
Does someone have to be present for pickup & delivery?
In most cases, the vehicle shipping company will require you to be in attendance for the pickup & delivery of the automobile. 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 vehicle transport companies will be fine with you keeping some personal items in the automobile when it is transported. However, there are two important things to remember: 1. The weight of the items may affect the price of the automobile shipment, & 2. Any items in the automobile 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 automobile 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 automobile if it isn't in operational 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 automobile 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.
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