Car shipping is important, especially when moving from one location to another. Some people opt for driving their car by road. However, this is not a cost-friendly and convenient alternative. If you want to choose the most effective way to ship your car, you should opt for a door-to-door car transport company. However, before choosing a company, make sure that you are well-versed in the services they provide. Apart from this, read their online reviews to check their reliability. To carry out the car shipping process more conveniently, take a look at the points mentioned below:
1. How much will it cost to ship a car across the country?
The average cost of shipping a car may range from $500 to $1700. However, the price depends on your car type and the shipping company you choose. Several factors should be considered to know the estimated value of shipping a car. These factors will vary from company to company. First, let’s understand these factors:
- Type of car: The quote is highly dependent on the type of your car. Factors such as weight and dimensions help car transport companies to determine how many cars can be shipped at the same time. Even though the trailers that these companies use are huge, the space is limited. Therefore, knowing the car’s shape and weight is extremely important. This also proves to be a profitable option for car owners, as the company can fit multiple small cars in large trailers, which then reduces the total cost for each owner.
- The condition of your car: If your car is not functioning properly, you will be required to pay an extra charge. Since the brakes and steering are not functioning properly, the car will have to be placed on and off the trailer, and this task requires an extra charge. Special equipment is required for this process, which is why it adds up to your overall costs.
- The speed of shipping the car: It is highly recommended that you book a shipping company in advance. This will help you get the best deal from the car shipping company. There might be a chance that you have to ship your car at a short notice. In such a situation, you can use an express service. However, the cost of this alternative is usually 30% extra.
- Know the time of the year you will be carrying out the shipping activity: The summer season is usually the most popular season for shipping cars. This is why car shipping services are extra expensive during the summer season. In case of unfavorable weather conditions, this cost may also see a great elevation. Another time of the year when the car shipping process can be expensive is the beginning of winter and spring.
2. Know the type of car shipping you require:
There are two alternatives when it comes to choosing a car shipping company. These are open car transports and enclosed auto transports. Keep reading to know about these two alternatives:
Enclosed car transport:
Enclosed auto transport provides great protection to the vehicle. Therefore, you don’t need to worry about the weather or other road debris that may damage your car. This alternative proves to be beneficial for a luxury car or a classic car. This is why this method is very popular among high-value car owners. In this process, the vehicles are placed in a covered trailer. However, the number of vehicles that can be carried through the trailer is smaller as compared to the open car transport. If your car is in a clean condition, it will be delivered in the exact condition. However, the extra care that is needed comes with a cost. Therefore, enclosed car transport may cost you an additional 30% to 40%. Most car shipping companies also provide lift gates and racing ramps to make the loading process easy and safe. All this makes enclosed car transport expensive.
Open car transport:
Open car transport is the one that you usually see on the highways. The trailer in this method is open, which is why your car is subjected to traffic grime and other environmental elements. However, the safety and security of your vehicle are not compromised by this method. The open car transport method is also a cost-friendly alternative to the enclosed car transport method. Therefore, as open car transport is affordable and secure, many car dealerships opt for this alternative.
3. Check the customer reviews:
When you are opting for a car shipping company, don’t forget to check their online reviews. You can do this by checking their website’s testimonials section. However, to get more realistic reviews, you can also search for the company on Google. Google’s search engine is a great way to know the real reviews of car shipping companies. You can also sort these reviews based on the timings, which will help you get a clear idea of the new services. You can also check the social media handles of the companies to read the feedback that the previous customers have provided.
The above-given points will help you to choose the best car shipping company. In case you are shipping a car across the country, you will also have to consider the additional costs required to ship a car across the country. You can also use the instant online quote calculator to find an appropriate quote.
It’s good to know that the type of open automobile transport that you typically see on roads has an open trailer, which exposes your vehicle to road filth and other environmental conditions. This reminds me of my dad who is considering purchasing an equipment trailer for sale specifically designed to transport cars. He runs a small car restoration business, and having a reliable trailer would enable him to safely and efficiently transport vehicles to and from his shop for repairs and renovations.
It’s a good idea to keep in mind that because specific equipment is required to load and unload the vehicle from the trailer if a car isn’t functioning smoothly during auto transport, it might result in higher costs. Since my uncle is really interested in auto transportation, I’ll make sure to pass this along to him so he can remember it. If there are any event equipment trailer transportation services that could be able to help him, I will without a doubt check into them.
It’s good to be reminded that if a car isn’t running well during car transport, it could result in more expenses because special equipment is needed to load and unload the vehicle from the trailer. I’ll be sure to share this with my uncle so he can keep it in mind as he has a keen interest in car transport. I’ll definitely look into any services that could be able to assist him if needed.