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 and transporting it to another. This service proves useful in numerous situations where you are unable to operate the vehicle yourself, such as when purchasing or selling a used car online and needing to transport it to a different state, relocating and requiring long-distance vehicle shipping, or moving your automobile overseas when ferries are unavailable. Luckily, there are various auto transport services available to cater to your unique requirements.
Categories Of Vehicle Shipping Services
When selecting a vehicle transport service, the initial choice you must make is where you want your automobile collected from and delivered to, whether it's a long-distance vehicle transport or shipping a car to a different state. Terminal-to-terminal auto delivery is a possibility, where designated collection and drop-off points, frequently the vehicle transport company's stores or operating bases, are utilized. While this option is typically more affordable, it demands more effort on your part to get the automobile home. However, most individuals prefer door-to-door auto transport delivery service, where their vehicles are collected and dropped off at their doorstep, irrespective of the distance.
Vehicle shipping services are generally categorized into two types: having someone operate your automobile to the destination or placing it on a trailer for transport. Employing someone to drive your vehicle is a straightforward solution that is often more economical as it doesn't necessitate trailers or an additional vehicle. It can also be quicker due to the straightforward nature of the transport. However, this method has some drawbacks, such as increasing mileage on your vehicle (especially when shipping a car across the country) and a slight risk of damage during the journey. These concerns are particularly relevant for individuals buying or selling automobiles 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 operate it. There are multiple options available depending on the value and size of your vehicle. A single trailer, while more costly, is an excellent choice for transporting expensive or classic automobiles that you don't want to risk damaging. The safest way to transport a vehicle is in a shipping container, but this is by far the most expensive option. Multi-car transporters, which can transport many automobiles at once, come in a few variants:
Open vehicle shipping is the most affordable and common option offered by vehicle shipping companies. Your automobile is placed on an open carrier and driven to the destination. While all vehicles are safely secured, they are exposed to the elements during the drive, making it less recommended for highly valuable automobiles. Long journeys in open trailers also run a higher risk of damage and leave your vehicle exposed to the elements for longer periods.
Enclosed auto transport involves securing multiple automobiles on a carrier, but they are enclosed, protecting them from dust, weather, and debris during transit. This option 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 move your vehicle overseas, it's best 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.
What Is The Cost Of Transporting A Vehicle?
The expense of transporting a vehicle varies based on several factors, but on average, auto transport companies in the US charge around $2.92 per mile for journeys less than 200 miles, $0.93 for journeys between 200 and 500 miles, and $0.78 for journeys over 1,000 miles. However, these are just averages, and your vehicle transport may cost more or less depending on the circumstances. The best way to determine the expense of auto transport is to gather vehicle shipping quotes from vehicle transport companies, which is easy to do on Shiply.
Factors that can influence the expense of auto transport include:
- Distance: Cross-state and cross-country journeys cost more than interstate vehicle delivery, which is often the most affordable option. However, the average price per mile drops for longer journeys.
- International shipping: This always results in expensive vehicle shipping quotes due to the logistics of transferring a vehicle overseas and the distance it needs to travel. It may also require special enclosed trailers or a shipping container.
- Route: Routes with higher traffic or unforeseen circumstances like roadworks can add to the cost or require a different, longer route.
- Shipping dates: Flexibility in timings can lead to lower costs, while expedited shipping in a strict timeframe typically costs more.
- Vehicle size: The height, length, and width of the vehicle, as well as accessories like bike racks or roof racks, affect the cost as larger vehicles require larger trailers.
- Vehicle condition: Non-drivable automobiles may cost more to transport as they require extra equipment to load and unload.
- Auto transport service type: Having someone operate your vehicle is the most affordable option, while single vehicle trailers and enclosed transport are more expensive due to the extra equipment required.
- Locations of pickup and delivery: Urban areas with common destination routes tend to have cheaper vehicle shipping, while rural deliveries and hard-to-access spaces can increase costs.
- Auto transport insurance: While all auto transport companies carry liability insurance, additional cargo insurance is recommended and may affect the overall cost.
- Time of year: Seasonality can impact vehicle shipping prices, with winter being the most expensive due to weather conditions and holiday-related factors. Spring and fall are generally better times to ship a vehicle at a lower cost, while summer is the busiest and most expensive season.
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, and many companies are reluctant to provide pricing without an individual quote application. This is where Shiply can help.
How Can Shiply Assist In Finding Auto Transport Companies?
Shiply simplifies the process of finding a vehicle shipping service. To get started, complete a simple form with the make and model of the vehicle that needs shipping, the pickup and delivery locations, and the dates you need to move the automobile. This information allows auto transport providers on Shiply to provide accurate quotes for your job.
Once your listing is live, you will receive quotes in your Shiply inbox and email. We recommend keeping email notifications turned on to know immediately when a new quote arrives. Quotes can start coming through within minutes of posting your listing, but it's best to wait for a few options before making a decision.
When you have a few quotes, you can ask the companies any questions you may have, such as their availability, insurance coverage, and how they would secure your vehicle. It's important to ask these questions to ensure a smooth and expected experience.
Shiply's feedback and ratings system is another valuable resource when selecting a vehicle shipping company. It allows you to view previous customers' experiences and the company's overall score, helping you make an informed decision.
Why People Frequently Move Vehicles To & From Oshkosh, Wisconsin, US
Oshkosh, Wisconsin, is a city situated in the heart of the Fox Valley region, known for its robust economy, exceptional education system, and high quality of life. Many individuals relocate to Oshkosh for job opportunities, particularly in the manufacturing, healthcare, and education sectors. The city is home to the University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh, which attracts students and faculty from across the country. Additionally, Oshkosh hosts the annual EAA AirVenture, the world's largest aviation event, drawing thousands of visitors each year.
When moving to or from Oshkosh, many people opt to use vehicle shipping services to transport their automobiles. This is especially common for long-distance moves, as driving the vehicle themselves may not be practical or cost-effective. By using a reliable vehicle shipping Oshkosh service, residents can ensure their automobiles arrive at their new home safely and efficiently, without adding extra mileage or risking damage during the move. Oshkosh vehicle shipping companies are experienced in handling a variety of automobiles and can provide door-to-door service for added convenience.
The Benefits of Using Shiply for Vehicle Transport in Oshkosh
Time-Efficient - Rather than filling out a quotation form each time you desire an accurate cost from a company for Oshkosh vehicle transport, on our platform, you complete one quotation form and can then obtain quotes from various companies based on the information you submit. This can save you hours of time that you would have spent contacting companies and completing forms. Communication with these companies is also possible through our platform, allowing you to keep all your vehicle shipping details in one location.
Cost Comparison - Ultimately, the price of the vehicle shipping quote is the most crucial factor in selecting which auto transport company to use for your vehicle. The challenge is that while most companies are willing to provide average prices and rough estimates, you won't receive a definite vehicle transport quote without supplying information and filling in details. Although this is understandable, 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 quotes from vehicle shipping companies and compare them in one place, with 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 offer 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 in the cost. For example, 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 - Using Shiply for auto transport is not only more affordable but also more environmentally friendly! In the example above, if your vehicle didn't get on that multi-car transporter and instead, you arranged transport from a separate vehicle shipper, the emissions into the atmosphere would have doubled as another entire trip would be required just for your vehicle. Similarly, many vehicle transporters return empty-handed after a delivery, 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 trips, resulting in even less wasted CO2 being released into the atmosphere, as well as continued affordable transport for our users.
Preparing Your Vehicle for Shipping
If you have chosen 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 before shipping, for the obvious reason that you don't want to risk them getting lost or damaged during 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 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.
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