Getting Vehicle Transport Quotes is Easy on Shiply

How To Transport A Vehicle

Whatever vehicle you need to be transported, Shiply can help make the process easier. Whether it’s a car, motorcycle, or something larger, there are hundreds of vehicle shipping companies on Shiply ready to bid on your job. Choosing the right vehicle transport service for your needs, however, can be difficult as there are a number of variables and options to consider.

Shiply can make transporting your vehicle easy by providing an all-in-one platform where you can collect quotes, often at rates of up to 75% less than usual, compare services and ensure you are getting the exact vehicle transport service you require. The first step is to work out what sort of vehicle shipping you need.

Types Of Vehicle Transport Services

What type of vehicle you need to ship is generally the factor that will determine the type of vehicle transportation service you need. Motorcycles, ATVs, and similar will usually be able to be put on a trailer, which you can decide to be open or closed depending on how precious the vehicle is. For example, if you are moving a vintage motorcycle, you may want a closed trailer to protect the vehicle from the elements as it is transported. Cars can also be put in single enclosed trailers, making them ideal for expensive purchases, but generally, an enclosed trailer is not available for something bigger.

If you want to save some money, multi-vehicle trailers are available from many vehicle transport services. Alternatively, if the vehicle to be transported is in working condition, you can try and find a driver service where your vehicle will simply be driven from A to B by a driver from the company, however, this will add mileage to your vehicle and runs the risk of damage during transit.

You also need to decide whether you would like a terminal-to-terminal or a door-to-door delivery for your vehicle. Terminal deliveries will typically be cheaper as they are pre-defined routes the vehicle shipping company will already be driving, but the vast majority of people opt for door delivery due to the convenience.

How Much Does It Cost To Transport A Vehicle

For a rough idea, vehicle shipping companies charge approximately $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. 

Distance is obviously an important factor, but here are some more things that may affect the price of your vehicle transport:

Type Of Vehicle - Transporting a truck costs a lot more than transporting an ATV, and this is where the biggest decider in your vehicle transportation cost comes in. Smaller vehicles typically require less equipment and smaller trailers to move, so the rates you will be quoted for smaller vehicle transport shipping will be much cheaper than for considerably larger vehicles.

Type Of Vehicle Shipping - As stated earlier, the method of transport will play a part in the cost of your vehicle transport, with enclosed, single trailers typically costing the most while multi-car carriers will be the cheapest method of transport. Door-to-door delivery will also generally be more expensive than terminal-to-terminal deliveries.

Timings - If you need your vehicle transported within a strict timeframe then this may end up costing you more than if you are flexible with dates. The driver may have a schedule for their vehicle shipping service and moving your vehicle outside of this schedule will incur extra charges as the driver is making special precautions for you.

Time Of Year - Whilst not always an issue depending on location, certain roads can be blocked or closed due to adverse weather conditions. This is more of a problem in Winter, and so there may be the rare occasion where your vehicle transport costs more due to the unavailability of shorter routes, however, this is unlikely.

Locations Of Pickup And Delivery - If you need a door-to-door delivery, your location of pickup and delivery can affect the pricing of your vehicle shipping service. Remote locations will require more time and fuel to get to, and if an area is particularly out of the way, you may see the cost quoted by a vehicle transport company go up.

How Can Shiply Help Find Vehicle Shipping Companies?

With all the factors above to consider, choosing the right vehicle transport service for you can seem like a daunting task. This is where Shiply can help.

All you need to do is enter some basic information about the vehicle that needs moving such as the vehicle type, pickup and delivery locations, and dates for moving. Once you submit this information, sit back and wait as hundred of vehicle shipping companies on our platform review your job. Those who want to accept it will then send quotes directly to your Shiply inbox, allowing you to compare all of your quotes in one easy space.

Our platform utilizes a rating system that allows you to see previous user scores for any shipping company, as well as a messaging system so that you may ask potential vehicle transport companies any specific questions you may have.

Often the vehicle shippers on Shiply are trying to fill empty space on journeys they are already making, for example, they may happen to have one spot free on a multi-car carrier heading in the same direction your vehicle needs to go. For this reason, quotes on Shiply can often be up to 75% less than typical rates as the costs are already sunken for the vehicle transport service and they just need to fill all of their space.

Preparing For Your Vehicle To Be Moved

If you have looked at all your options and decided on a vehicle transport company to carry out your job, then the next step is to prepare your vehicle for pickup. We recommend these steps:

Documents - If you are selling your vehicle or sending it internationally then documents may be required to be with the vehicle during transit. We always recommend ensuring you have these documents ready and in place for pickup.

Running Condition - Depending on whether the vehicle will be driven by the vehicle transportation service or not, you may need to ensure that it is in running condition. This means you need to ensure that there is enough fluid, battery charge, and that the tire pressure levels are correct.

Cleaning - It can be a great idea (and a great excuse) to clean your vehicle before it is transported. It can also let you remove any personal items in the vehicle and take stock of its condition.

Photographs - After cleaning your car, you should take high-resolution images of the vehicle and its condition. This is very useful for determining the condition of your vehicle prior to pick up and helps ascertain whether any unfortunate damages have occurred during transit.

What To Do After Delivery

Once your vehicle has been delivered, there are a few things you should check:

Vital Signs - Lights, brakes, and engines should all be checked as soon as possible to ensure that the vehicle is in the condition that was expected.

Exterior Condition - Use the photographs you took before pickup to check for any damages that may have occurred during your vehicle transportation service - raise any issues as soon as possible.

Check Mileage - If your vehicle was driven to its destination, you should check the mileage meter to ensure that only the expected distance was driven.

Once your vehicle shipping is complete we ask that you leave a review for the vehicle transport service you used so that future Shiply users can know what to expect.