No matter if you’re relocating, purchasing a car, or planning to send a car to a relative, shipping a vehicle cross-country is a big responsibility. Planning ahead of time can help streamline the process and make it easier compared to what most people imagine. Planning everything in detail and making strategic moves can help save costs, time, and money.
Through this guide, we aim to share the top 5 things cross-country vehicle owners should do to efficiently ship their vehicles. With proper planning and foresight, one can guarantee optimum results and avoid car shipping inconveniences.
1. Explore the Varied Shipping Methods Available
As is the case with many other services, shipping a vehicle comes with its array of alternatives. Selecting a shipping method will impact the price you pay, the delivery time, and the level of safety your car will receive during the shipment.
Common Car Shipping Methods:
Open Transport – This is the most affordable option. However, cars being shipped via Open transport are rather unprotected as they sit outside and are exposed to the natural elements alongside other vehicles, which may lead to a delay in their shipping.
This option requires the transportation of your car in fully enclosed carriers. This is best used on high-value, classic, and luxury cars as it protects them from any potential damage, weather, and road debris. High-value vehicles tend to offer higher profits than open-car transports.
With this service, the car is procured and delivered to the specified addresses. This is the most convenient option. However, it is also more costly than the other options.
This option is cheaper when it comes to cost, as there are designated terminals to drop your car off and pick it up. While it is cheaper and more affordable, this option requires more work. The savings are considerable against the alternative “Door-to-Door” service.
The first step is the same for every method of shipping. Establish a clear budget, evaluate the value of the car, analyze the potential requirements for convenience, and finally choose a suitable method. For people searching for cheap transportation, open transports often provide the lowest shipping price, alongside terminal-to-terminal delivery, which tends to be the cheapest method.
2. Value Quadrant, Unique Offers, and Cost Pricing
Car shipping offers include shipping methods and car shipping companies, and comparing both value and cost. These quotes can usually be found on the company’s official website. For the best deals, be sure to inquire about multiple services and compare their offers against one another to find out the true value of the deal.
- Distance: The cost will be proportionately higher for longer distances, like picking up or delivering the car to a remote area. While longer distances often offer better rates, the overall costs will still be high.
- Vehicle Type And Size: Moving larger vehicles such as trucks, SUVs, and other larger automobiles constitutes a higher shipping cost due to their increased size and weight.
- Pickup And Delivery Locations: If your vehicle needs to be picked up or delivered to a remote location, this added inaccessibility for the carrier will increase expenses.
- Seasonal Demand: Shipping prices usually go up during the summer and winter holidays, as demand is high. If you have flexibility with your time frame, consider shipping during off-peak times to save money.
To avoid the risk of overspending, comparing quotes from different companies in order to determine average shipment costs is useful. Make sure to utilize Move My Car, as it provides a reliable estimate and helps identify competitive rates.
3. Evaluate A Company’s Reputation And User Reviews
In order to avoid delays, hidden fees, or poor servicing, conducting thorough research on a car shipment company is critical, as their reliability varies greatly.
What to consider when choosing a car shipping company:
- Licensing and Insurance: Verify that the company has proper licensing and full coverage insurance. A legitimate company will be registered with the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) and will provide insurance coverage for your vehicle during transport.
- Customer reviews: Analyze customer reviews for the past and ascertain the reliability and satisfaction level of the services offered. Airbnb customers have their reviews analyzed on Google Reviews, so you can easily find reviews about any company there.
- Experience: Prioritize companies that focus on long-distance car shipping. Well-established companies usually have more resources and an extensive network of experienced carriers, which enables them to provide a better service.
- Transparency: Look out for the total cost of service without any additional, unexplained fees. Be careful with companies selling themselves at a significantly lower rate than all competitors, because chances are they will use sub-standard quality services or hidden fees to compensate.
A poorly reputable shipping company may provide convenience, but ultimately will not give you the value you expect. Strategically navigating around getting the right company will ensure that you avoid unwanted surprises while resting assured that your car is well looked after.
4. Prepare Vehicle for Shipping
All vehicles undergo various stages of preparation, such as maintenance, washing, inspections, and more, which are crucial for ensuring the car is in top shape and ready for transit. Following the right procedures will provide an effortless transport process and ensure no damages occur.
Steps for Prepping Vehicle:
- Washing Vehicle: Taking time to identify any scratches or dents during the inspection pre-transit, while having a clean vehicle for thorough evaluation, is made considerably easier. Moreover, having a washed vehicle allows the driver to gauge its condition more accurately.
- Taking Out Personal Belongings: Permitting items like bags, wallets, purses, and even electronic gadgets seems enticing before transport, but it is absolutely not recommended. Most car transporters strictly prohibit personal belongings for safety measures. Furthermore, there is a chance your vehicle will be inspected during transport. Even during servicing, items can move around and cause damage.
- Looking for Oil Leaks: The vehicle should be inspected for any excess oil, liquid, or fuel leakage. Fuel leakage has a high potential for damage during transport due to fuel spills along with high chances of increased fees or complicated procedures in case of loophole jumps.
- Reducing Fuel: In personal vehicles, for ease of movement, having a quarter tank should be more than sufficient. This also aids in trimming down vehicle weight, minimizing spills during transport.
- Note Any Existing Damage: Capture images from multiple angles to document any pre-existing scratches, dents, and dings on your vehicle. This will protect your interests in the event that new damage occurs while the car is being transported.
Proper planning guarantees that there are no surprises upon delivery of your vehicle.
5. Grasp the Timeline and Delivery Instructions
Understanding the estimated time frame and steps involved in the delivery process is crucial. The time it takes to transport your vehicle will depend on the distance to the destination, the route taken, and the availability of the carrier.
Expect the following during the auto transport process:
- Pickup Scheduling: Once you book your shipment, the carrier contacts you for an agreed date for pickup, which may fall within a range of several days.
- Time in Transit: Domestically, vehicles are shipped within 5 to 10 days. Longer shipments may take 2 weeks or more. Internationally, vehicle transport can take several weeks.
- Delivery Window: After your automobile gets to its new location, you will usually be contacted to set up a delivery time. Keep in mind that deliveries are sometimes suspended because of the weather, as well as the state of the roads and other logistical issues.
- Final Inspection: Examine your vehicle for any potential damage. If any damages have been sustained, make sure that they are noted during the examination, after which they can be brought to the attention of the shipping company without delay.
Knowing the timeline along with the process that will be followed, you can prepare in advance to receive your car, thus reducing any stress.
Conclusion
Strategically, a lot goes into planning shipping a car out of state, but having the right information will ease the process and keep it budget-friendly. Understanding the different options available, requesting multiple quotes, selecting a trustworthy company, preparing your automobile, and having a good expectation of what the process will entail will ensure the safe shipment of your vehicle.
For low cost car shipping without compromising on service, comparison platforms such as Move My Car help you evaluate quotes from reputable car transport companies. With sufficient preparation and investigation, you can have your vehicle shipped on schedule, within budget, and transported safely.
