Use this guide from the beginning of the vehicle transport process, as you collect quotes and research companies, to the moment that the vehicle is delivered securely. Knowing what to expect while moving a vehicle with a trusted car moving company can make all the difference, helping to prep your car and booking confidently.
Even if the auto transportation company has an impeccable driving record, accidents happen all the time, and you want to make sure that your vehicle is protected in the event of an emergency. The auto shipping company needs to be able to get your car on a moving truck – and you want to be sure that your vehicle will be drivable when it arrives at its destination.
You will have continuous communication with the car transportation company while your car is making its journey toward the desired destination. While your car is in transit and during the entire transportation process, you will be in continuous contact with your transporter and the agent at the car transport company. Before the transportation company takes your car, they will conduct a pre-shipping inspection on your car, making an exception for any problems in an inspection report.
All legit car shipping companies will offer you a contract when you reserve your car to be shipped. Most companies will give you a quote for car transportation at no charge, making it easier for you to compare costs between various services. You might be able to score a deal by moving everything through a single carrier, which can ultimately save you money.
Usually, the most cost-effective way to move a vehicle is by booking it directly with a local or regional company. When you are making a decision about how to send a car, chances are that you want to organize the transportation of the car via a broker.
It does not matter whether you are moving across state lines or buying your vehicle online; it is always much easier to choose a vehicle transport company rather than driving it yourself. In addition to saving you money, using an auto transport company to ship your car prevents your car from wearing down, saving time, and allows you to focus on getting settled into your new neighborhood. If you are moving across the country, and just need your family’s car shipped to your new home, you should probably simply cut corners and opt for open transportation. While you can have your vehicle shipped to any part of the country, shipping to a town close to your new house is almost always a better choice.
If you need your vehicle at a very specific time at its final destination, you will want to take an expedited delivery route. Cars that have to be shipped out of the general path will cost more, as the truck will take longer to leave the general route, pick it up, and then go right back down. You are paying a little bit more upfront, meaning that the trucker ends up making more money by shipping your car, causing demand to surge for your car, leading to your car getting onto a trailer a lot faster than you would have had if you had shipped on a basic, standard path.
The cost to transport your vehicle can vary greatly depending on the distance, origin and destination cities, and time. The cost of shipping a vehicle depends on many different factors, which makes putting together an approximate estimate hard. In addition to distance and location, the time you need to send the vehicle is likely to be the biggest determinant in the price you pay. Auto transportation can range anywhere from $1,500 to $5,000, depending on where you are going, what kind of car, and what car transport company you pick.
Your standard car insurance likely will not cover the transportation of your car cross-country, so be sure that your car-shipping company has proper insurance coverage. Check with your auto insurer to find out what your coverage is for transportation.
Make sure that your driver accepts and signs off on any damages, then immediately contact both the shipping company and your car insurance provider to make your claims. Be sure to check with the FMCSA (Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration) to see if the vehicle transporter you are considering has a current license and insurance records, and whether there are complaints against them.
As long as you decide to work with a trusted, reputable vehicle transportation company, and prepare your vehicle for transport by gathering essential information and getting rid of any personal items, you will be able to relax while your vehicle makes its way back to you. Many big, full-service moving companies offer auto transportation, so a moving company that you are already working with might also be able to move your car. Find a moving company that will transport furniture in addition to your vehicle. Car moving companies may move your car in the back of an open-air truck (i.e., an open-air haul) or in an enclosed, completely enclosed truck.
Enclosed car transport means that your car will be inside of a completely enclosed truck. Open car shipping is industry standard, which involves your vehicle being placed in an open-topped truck. Vehicle transportation is used when you cannot physically take your vehicle somewhere. It is always easier to get your vehicle shipped from a vehicle moving company when you have a long trip that needs to take place – not to mention saves your vehicle the wear of driving cross-country.
Working with a moving company is a major endeavor, which can get costly depending on your vehicle, location, and transportation methods. You will have to research car carriers or transportation companies, get quotes on auto shipping, decide where you want your pickup and drop-off locations, decide whether or not you want to have any insurance for your shipment, keep an eye out for hidden fees, and make many other minor decisions. Check the online market for auto transport services offering average costs, auto transportation calculators, or other methods for getting transparent auto transport costs.
