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 car across the country. Auto transport services can also be extremely useful when you need to transfer your vehicle overseas & ferries aren't available, requiring you to rely on a car shipping company to manage the task.
Luckily, there are several 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 car collected from & delivered to, whether it's a cross-country vehicle transport or moving a car to another state. Terminal-to-terminal car 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, so 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 vehicle, which can be challenging without your car in the first place!
Auto transport services generally fall into two categories: having someone operate your car to the destination or putting it on a trailer & shipping it.
Have Someone Operate Your Vehicle
This straightforward solution to vehicle transportation involves hiring someone to operate your car to the desired location, whether you need to transport a car across the country or to another state. The advantages of this car shipping 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 transport companies that lead some people to choose other types of vehicle transport. Firstly, mileage is added to your car during the journey, meaning significant miles will be added if you're moving a car across the country, less so when transporting a car to a nearby state. Secondly, there's 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 same 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 transport 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 ship 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 transport company is the most affordable & most common option for moving a car. Your vehicle is placed on an open carrier & driven to the destination. All cars are securely fastened, but as the name suggests, they are exposed to the elements during the drive, so car shipping companies may not recommend this for highly valuable vehicles. Furthermore, while it may be the cheapest 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 auto transport.
If you need to transfer your vehicle overseas through a car shipping company, try to find a specialist service on our platform or one with experience in overseas vehicle transportation, as they can provide tailored advice based on your requirements.
How Much Does It Cost To Transport A Car?
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 car transport may cost more or less depending on the circumstances. The best way to find out how much auto transport will cost you is to collect vehicle shipping quotes from car transport companies, which is 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 car transport services, which we'll discuss below.
Factors That Can Affect The Cost Of Car Transport
We all want affordable vehicle transport, but several factors & variables can affect how much your car 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 car shipping option.
While longer distances do cost more, fortunately, the average price per mile decreases as the journey length increases, so 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 vehicle.
Route - Along with distance, the route required to take your car from its collection spot to its delivery spot can affect the pricing of your vehicle 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 require a different, longer route.
Shipping Dates - How quickly you need your vehicle transportation service can also affect the price. If you can be flexible with timings, you may find that your car shipping service charges less because they can fit your vehicle delivery into their schedule & reduce overheads, passing the savings on to you. However, if you require auto transport within a strict timeframe (often known as expedited shipping), it will typically cost more as the car transport company may need to dedicate a trailer & driver just for your delivery.
Vehicle Size - The height, length & width of the car will all affect the cost of transporting your vehicle. Car shippers will require larger trailers for bigger vehicles, with SUVs typically costing more on average to transport than sedans. Make sure to inform the auto transport company about any bike racks, roof racks, or other accessories on the car, as these can change the size of the trailer required for the delivery.
Vehicle Condition - If your car is not in drivable condition, it may make your auto transport more expensive. This is because it may require extra equipment, such as a winch or forklift, to load & unload your car from the trailer. If your car has a locked wheel, for example, it will be impossible to simply roll it onto a trailer & off again, taking more time, effort & machinery to complete the delivery than a standard car transport service. Most car carriers consider a car that can brake, roll & steer to be in good enough condition to ship easily.
Auto Transport Service Type - The type of auto transport service you select will also affect the cost of your car shipping. Having someone operate your car to its destination will always be the most affordable option, as you're essentially just paying for a driver's time & fuel, whereas single car trailers & enclosed transport will likely be more expensive due to the extra equipment required. Enclosed car shipping is always the most expensive method of moving a car, as it means your vehicle travels alone & still needs specialist equipment to load, unload & protect it during transport.
Locations Of Pickup & Delivery - The collection & drop-off locations may also increase the price of moving a car. Urban areas usually have car shipping services in close proximity, & if it's a common destination route, you'll tend to get affordable car shipping. Rural deliveries can cost more as they require deviations from normal routes & extra mileage for the company. If a collection or drop-off point is in an unusual or hard-to-access space, extra steps may be needed to load your vehicle, which can also increase the car shipping cost.
Auto Transport Insurance - While all auto transport companies are required to carry liability insurance, many do not offer additional insurance as it's not required by law. If a car transport company does not offer cargo insurance, it's highly recommended that you seek out & acquire some for your vehicle during transit. As with all insurance policies, make sure you are clear on what type of damage is covered, whether there is a deductible, what parts of the vehicle are covered by the insurance & any other questions you may have.
Time Of Year - Seasonality can also affect the price of car shipping, with many services costing more to transport a car in the winter due to ice & snow slowing the routes. Here's a quick breakdown of how each season can affect auto transport costs:
Winter is often the most expensive season to ship your vehicle. Ice, snow & blizzard conditions can all cause delays on the roads & reduce the maximum speed at which the car delivery service can transport vehicles. 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 vehicle shipping costs. However, February is usually quiet, so great rates are often available from car shipping services during this month.
Spring is a great time to ship your vehicle with a car 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 car. March is often a better time to ship than April or May, as there is often a rush to move vehicles from colder to warmer states.
Summer is the prime season for shipping cars - 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 auto transport industry, & you should not expect affordable car shipping during the summer.
Fall is a good time to ship a car if you're looking for a slightly more affordable price. Car shipping companies are less busy, & there is typically more driver availability after the summer rush. However, you're better off looking to move your vehicle in October or November rather than September, as this is peak time for students shipping their cars to university.
How To Ship A Car - Finding An Auto Transport Service
Now that you know more about what car shipping & a car shipping service are & what sort of auto transport service you need, you probably want to go ahead & find a car transport service that's right for you.
The issue is that there are hundreds of car transport companies out there. Trying to find them on Google can result in scrolling through numerous pages trying to find the best car shipping company for the best price, & the same is true if you were going to go through phone books. Furthermore, many of these companies are reluctant to give you pricing, meaning you will 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 Auto Transport Companies?
Given all the options & variables involved with finding a car 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 car that needs shipping, the collection location & delivery location, & the dates that you need to move the vehicle. This gives the auto transport providers on Shiply enough information to provide you with an accurate quote for your job.
Once your listing is live, you will 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 that you have multiple options to choose from.
Once you have a few, you can ask them 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 car. We recommend asking any company you may use these questions to ensure that everything goes smoothly & as expected.
Shiply has a feedback & ratings system that we highly recommend looking at before selecting a quote to ship your vehicle. This system allows you to view previous customers' experiences with a company, as well as view their overall score.
Leesburg Car Shipping
Leesburg, Virginia, US is a popular location for people to move their cars to & from. Many people choose to use car shipping services to transport their vehicles to or from Leesburg for various reasons, such as relocating for work, buying or selling a car online, or moving to a new home.
Leesburg is a historic town located in Loudoun County, Virginia, approximately 33 miles northwest of Washington, D.C. It is a popular destination for those looking to escape the hustle & bustle of the city while still being close enough to enjoy its amenities. The town is known for its charming downtown area, which features a variety of shops, restaurants & historic buildings.
When it comes to car shipping in Leesburg, there are several options available. Many car shipping companies offer services to & from Leesburg, making it easy to transport your vehicle to or from the area. Whether you need to ship your car across the country or just to a nearby state, there are plenty of reliable car shipping companies that can help.
One of the benefits of using a car shipping service to transport your vehicle to or from Leesburg is that it can save you time & money. Driving your car long distances can be time-consuming & expensive, especially when you factor in the cost of gas, food & lodging. By using a car shipping service, you can have your vehicle transported to your destination without having to worry about the hassle & expense of driving it yourself.
Another benefit of using a car shipping service is that it can help protect your vehicle from wear & tear. Long-distance driving can put a lot of strain on your car, especially if you're driving through harsh weather conditions or on rough roads. By using a car shipping service, you can ensure that your vehicle arrives at its destination in the same condition it was in when it was collected.
If you're considering using a car shipping service to transport your vehicle to or from Leesburg, it's important to do your research & choose a reputable company. Look for a company that has experience shipping cars to & from the area & that offers competitive pricing & excellent customer service. You should also make sure that the company you choose is fully licensed & insured to protect your vehicle during transport.
In conclusion, if you need to transport your car to or from Leesburg, Virginia, US, using a car shipping service can be a convenient & cost-effective option. With many reliable car shipping companies offering services to & from the area, you can have your vehicle transported safely & efficiently, without the hassle & expense of driving it yourself.
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The Benefits of Using Shiply for Car Shipping in Leesburg
Time-Efficient - Rather than filling out a quotation form each instance you desire an accurate cost from a company on Leesburg car shipping, on our platform 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 through our platform too, allowing you to store all of your car shipping details in a single location.
Cost Comparison - When it comes down to it, the price of the car 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 & rough estimates, you won't actually be given a definite car transport quote without having to input information & fill in specifics. While this is understandable, it does mean that cost comparison & getting a car transport estimate isn't precisely a simple task. Utilizing Shiply allows you to acquire genuine, final price estimates from car shipping businesses & compare them in one place, offering the ability to contact them individually to inquire about any questions you may have & ultimately decide on the optimal company for you.
Affordable Car Shipping - Auto transport businesses on Shiply are typically able to provide their services for a reduced fee 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 transport your car there. On Shiply, a company may already have a multi-car transporter making that trip with 5 of the 6 spots occupied, & 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.
Environmentally Friendly - Not only is using Shiply for auto transport more affordable, but it is also more environmentally friendly. In the above example, if your car 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 car transporters return from a delivery empty-handed, which is not only expensive for them but also for the environment as there are many people who could have utilized that transporter to transport their cars in the opposite 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 emitted into the atmosphere, as well as continued affordable transport for our users.
Preparing Your Car for Shipping
If you have chosen an auto transport company to transport your car & feel confident using them, then it's time to ready your car for shipping. We suggest following these steps:
Documents - It is crucial to ensure that any documents you may require 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 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 assess 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 evaluate 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 proof 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, & 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 determine whether any extra damage has occurred. 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 most affordable 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.
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