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 operate 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 operate your automobile to the destination or placing it on a trailer for transport. Having someone drive your vehicle is a straightforward solution that involves hiring a driver to take your automobile 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 country) & a slight risk of damage during the journey.
Placing your automobile on a trailer is a safer option that guarantees a higher level of protection than having someone operate it. There are multiple trailer options available, depending on the value & size of your vehicle. Single trailers, while more expensive, are ideal for transporting expensive or classic cars that require extra care. The safest way to transport a car is in a shipping container, although this is the most costly option. Multi-car transporters, which can carry several vehicles at once, come in two main variants:
Open vehicle shipping is the most affordable & most common option, 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 involves securing multiple cars on a carrier that is enclosed, protecting them from dust, weather, & debris during the journey. This option is preferable for more expensive or newer vehicles where the owner wants to minimize the risk of damage during transport.
If you need to move your vehicle 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 Transport 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.
- International shipping: Transporting a vehicle overseas is always more expensive due to the logistics involved & the distance traveled.
- Route: Routes with higher traffic or unforeseen circumstances like roadworks can increase costs.
- Shipping dates: Flexible timings often result in lower costs, while expedited shipping is more expensive.
- Vehicle size: Larger vehicles, such as SUVs, typically cost more to transport than sedans.
- Vehicle condition: Non-drivable cars may require extra equipment, increasing the cost.
- Auto transport service type: Having someone drive your vehicle is the most affordable option, while enclosed vehicle shipping is the most expensive.
- Pickup & delivery locations: Urban areas usually have lower costs, while rural or hard-to-access locations can increase the price.
- Auto transport insurance: Additional cargo insurance, while not required by law, is highly recommended.
- Time of year: Seasonality can affect prices, with winter being the most expensive & spring offering the best rates.
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 detailed quote application. This is where Shiply can help simplify the process.
How Can Shiply Help Find Auto Transport Companies?
Shiply makes it easy to collect quotes from auto transport companies. Simply fill out a simple form with the make & model of the vehicle, pickup & delivery locations, & 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'll receive quotes in your Shiply inbox & email. We recommend keeping email notifications on so you can be immediately informed when a new quote arrives. Quotes can start coming in 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, & how they secure vehicles during transport. It's important to ask these questions to ensure a smooth & expected experience.
Shiply's feedback & ratings system is another valuable tool when selecting a vehicle shipping company. This system allows you to view previous customers' experiences & the company's overall score, helping you make an informed decision.
Why People Often Move Vehicles To & From Douglas, Wyoming
Douglas, Wyoming, is a small city located in the eastern part of the state, known for its rich history & beautiful natural surroundings. Many people move vehicles to & from Douglas for various reasons, such as relocating for work, attending college, or simply seeking a change of scenery. The city's proximity to major highways, like I-25 & US-20, makes it a convenient location for vehicle shipping services.
Additionally, Douglas is home to the Wyoming State Fair, which attracts visitors from across the region every August. This event often leads to an increased demand for vehicle shipping services, as people transport their automobiles to attend the fair or participate in its various competitions & exhibitions.
Whether you're moving to Douglas for a new job opportunity, shipping a vehicle to a student attending Eastern Wyoming College, or simply need to transport an automobile to or from this charming city, Shiply can help you find reliable & affordable vehicle shipping douglas services. By connecting you with a network of trusted auto transport providers, Shiply ensures that you can easily compare quotes & find the best option for your specific needs, making the process of douglas vehicle shipping as seamless as possible.
The Benefits of Using Shiply for Vehicle Transportation
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 businesses and completing forms.
Communication with these businesses is all feasible through our site as well, allowing you to maintain all of your vehicle shipping details in one location.
Cost 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 utilize to transport your vehicle. The challenging aspect is that, while most businesses are willing to provide average costs and rough estimates, you won't actually be given a definite vehicle transport estimate without having to provide information & fill in details. While this is understandable, it does mean that cost comparison and getting a vehicle transport estimate isn't exactly a simple task.
Utilizing Shiply allows you to receive genuine, final cost estimates from vehicle shipping businesses & compare them in one place, providing the ability to message them individually to ask any questions you may have & ultimately decide on the best business for you.
Inexpensive Vehicle Shipping - Auto transport businesses on Shiply are typically able to offer their services for a lower cost than if you went direct to them. This is because they are often looking to fill space on trips they are already making & have already sunk the cost for. Say, for example, you were relocating from Los Angeles to New York and needed to move your vehicle there. On Shiply, a business may already have a multi-vehicle 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.
Better For The Environment - Not only is using Shiply for auto transport more affordable, but it is also better for the environment. In the above example, if your vehicle didn't get on that multi-vehicle 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 inexpensive transport for our users.
Readying For Your Vehicle To Be Transported
If you have decided on an auto transport business to move your vehicle & feel secure using them, then it's time to ready 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 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.
Running 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 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 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 vehicle. This provides you with evidence of the vehicle's condition before shipping should anything happen to it during transport.
What To Do After Delivery
Once the vehicle shipping business 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 vehicle 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 vehicle 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 automobile is driven to the destination but it can help to check the mileage to ensure that it matches up with the trip taken.
We would greatly appreciate it if you could also leave a review for the auto transport business 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 vehicle? Vehicle shipping prices can vary drastically depending on the circumstances, but on average a trip should cost you around $2.92 per mile if the trip is less than 200 miles, $0.93 if the trip is between 200 & 500 miles, & if the trip is over 1,000 miles then this drops to $0.78.
What is the most affordable way to ship a vehicle? Having someone drive your automobile to its destination is the most affordable way to ship a vehicle, however, if you need a trailer then a multi-vehicle transporter will be your best option with regard to the most affordable way to ship a vehicle.
How do I pay for my auto transport? This is down to each individual auto transport business on Shiply & is something you should discuss with your chosen vehicle delivery service before confirming the delivery. Most businesses will be flexible with payment options, however.
Can I track my vehicle transport online? Each vehicle shipping business on Shiply has different ways of operating, but many offer the ability to track your vehicle shipment, with some even able to provide personal updates. If you require tracking, you should message individual vehicle transport businesses to confirm that this is possible with them.
Does someone have to be present for pickup & delivery? In most cases, the vehicle shipping business 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 vehicle keys.
Can I keep items in my automobile during my vehicle shipment? Most vehicle transport businesses 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 vehicle itself.
How much gas should I have in my automobile 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 automobile.
Can I ship my automobile if it isn't running? You can ship your automobile if it isn't in running condition, however, this will be more expensive as specialist equipment is required to load & unload the automobile.
Can I ship a modified automobile? 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.
If you're looking for reliable & affordable vehicle shipping douglas or douglas vehicle shipping services, Shiply is the perfect platform to connect with trusted auto transport businesses. Get started today & experience the convenience of shipping your vehicle with Shiply!
