What Is Vehicle Transportation?
Vehicle transportation, also referred to as car shipping or auto transport, is a service offered by car shipping companies that involves collecting your automobile from one location & transporting it to another. This service is beneficial in various circumstances where operating the vehicle yourself is not practical, such as when purchasing or selling a used car online, relocating to a new residence across the nation, or transporting your automobile overseas. Car shipping services provide a convenient solution when ferries are unavailable & you must depend on an auto transport company to transport your vehicle.
Fortunately, there are numerous car transport services available to satisfy your specific requirements, which we will explore below.
Types Of Auto Transport Services
When it comes to auto transport services, there are several options to consider. The initial decision you'll need to make is where you want your vehicle collected from & delivered to, whether it's a cross-country car transport or shipping a car to another state. Terminal-to-terminal auto delivery is an option, where designated collection & drop-off points are utilized, frequently at the car transport company's stores or operating bases. While this option is typically less expensive, it requires more effort on your part to get the vehicle home.
Most individuals, however, prefer a door-to-door auto transport delivery service, where their vehicles are collected & dropped off at their doorstep, regardless of whether it's a cross-country car transport or simply moving a car to another state. This option eliminates the need to arrange transportation to collect your vehicle, which can be challenging without your automobile.
Car transport services can be categorized into two main types: having someone operate your vehicle to the destination or placing it on a trailer for transport.
Have Someone Operate Your Vehicle
One straightforward solution for car shipping is to employ someone to operate your vehicle to its destination, whether it's shipping a car across the country or to another state. This method is often less expensive as it doesn't require trailers or an additional vehicle. It can also be quicker due to the simplicity of the transport process.
However, there are some drawbacks to this method that lead some individuals to choose other car transport options. Firstly, operating the vehicle adds mileage to the automobile, which can be significant when shipping a car across the country. Secondly, there is a slight risk of damage occurring to your vehicle 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.
Place Your Vehicle On A Trailer
Placing your vehicle on a trailer offers a higher level of safety compared to having someone operate it to the destination. Car shipping trailers come in various options, depending on the value & size of your automobile.
Single trailers are often more expensive as they only transport one vehicle at a time, but they are a great choice for moving expensive or classic cars that you want to protect from potential damage. The safest way to transport a vehicle is in a shipping container, although this is the most expensive option.
Multi-car transporters, which can move several vehicles at once, come in a few variants:
Open car shipping is the least expensive & most common option offered by car shipping companies. Your vehicle 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, so this may not be recommended for highly valuable vehicles. Additionally, long journeys in open trailers pose a higher risk of damage & exposure to the elements.
Enclosed auto transport involves securing multiple vehicles on a carrier that is enclosed, protecting them from dust, weather, & debris during transit. This option is often preferred for more expensive or newer automobiles 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 car shipping. These companies can provide tailored advice based on your specific requirements.
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 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 time you would have had to invest contacting companies & inputting details.
Communication with these businesses is all feasible through our platform as well, allowing you to maintain all of your car shipping portsmouth data in a single 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 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 car transport quote without having to supply information & fill in details. While this is understandable, it does mean that cost 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 companies & 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.
Affordable Vehicle Shipping - Auto transport businesses on Shiply are typically able to offer 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 example, you were relocating from Los Angeles to New York & needed to move your vehicle there. On Shiply, a business 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 environmentally friendly! In the above example, if your vehicle 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 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 business 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 portsmouth 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 journey 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 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 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-car 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 belongings in my automobile during my vehicle shipment?
Most vehicle transport businesses will be fine with you keeping some personal belongings in the automobile when it is transported. However, there are two important things to remember: 1. The weight of the belongings may affect the price of the automobile shipment, & 2. Any belongings 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 vehicle.
Can I ship my automobile if it isn't operational?
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 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.
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