Transporting a vehicle to another state or off the country line can be an exceedingly complicated task. This brings the need to hire an auto transport company so that the car can arrive safely and on time. However, with so many choices, knowing the basics of car shipping including cost to ship a car, door to door shipping mode and car shipping cost calculator makes it easier to transport a car.
What does an Auto Transport Company do?
A service that specializes in the transportation of automobiles from one region to the other is referred to as an auto transport company. If you are moving accommodation, you have bought a car in another state, or you are in need of services from these companies, you will find some of the good logistics companies that will help you in moving cars from one place to another.
Most auto transport firms serve their customers through the provision of different modes of shipping like open transport and enclosed transport under which the customers make a choice according to their taste and budget.
How to Approach Shipping a Car?
Knowledge of the shipping procedure is useful when making a selection of the auto transport services. The process of figuring out how to ship a car generally starts with a phone call. A lot of companies run a ‘car shipping cost’ calculator on the home pages of the websites, so customers can find out the approximate amount of money in regard to the shipping costs. Such an estimate is simply achievable due to taking the factors such as:
Distance: Longer distances are associated with higher shipping costs even though the cost per mile may go down when a longer route is taken.
Type of transport: Open transport is cheaper, however, the safety of your car cannot be guaranteed due to lack of protection against weather conditions while enclosed transport is more expensive due to chassis level offers more insurance.
Vehicle size: Heavy cars such as trucks and SUVs will naturally incur higher shipping costs than lightweight vehicles such as sedans.
Pickup and delivery locations: Certain areas such as remote areas will have additional charges, whereas urban centers are cheaper because of the highways.
As for the pickup, after requesting for a quote and paying for the service, the company will fix a pickup time. Door service car shipping means that the logistics provider comes to your house or any address you identify. This is the most convenient option.
Benefits of Door-to-Door Car Shipping
One of the interesting services provided by auto transport companies is Door to Door car shipping and it has been accepted by most clients due to the ease offered. The following are some of the key advantages:
Convenience: Instead of having to travel to a terminal to drop off or pick up your vehicle, the carrier comes to you. This is quite beneficial, especially in long distance relocations, as it saves both time and energy.
Time Efficiency: With door to door service, the client does not have to make a lot of stops hence the delivery process is speedy. The car is picked and dropped off fully hence no loss of time in transit.
Peace of Mind: There is no longer a need to fret about where the car would be kept and how it would be treated while there are temporary stops at the depot. Since the car is in the custody of the carrier for the entire transit period, one is very sure that the car is safe.
Factors That Affect the Cost to Ship a Car
Also on the budget, knowing the cost to ship a car is also very vital especially if intending to move the car with a car transport. The price can vary significantly depending on several factors and some of them are:
Distance: Like we said before, the longer the distance, the more the money charged although long distance routes can provide more reasonable prices on per mile driven.
Shipping method: Of all the available options, Open transport is the cheapest option, but in the case of high-end cars, it is better to use enclosed transport as protection is further extended against weather conditions, debris or theft.
Vehicle condition: Generally, moving running cars is less expensive than inoperative vehicles since all loading and unloading of inoperative vehicles involves special equipment.
Seasonality: Prices can go up during certain seasons of the year e.g. summer when a number of people are relocating or winter due to snowbirds ferrying their cars from a central/northern state to southern parts.
Pickup and delivery locations: It is expected that the cost of transporting a vehicle from one city center to another, such as a metropolitan center, will be cheaper than transporting to and from isolated or less developed locations. If you’re in a hot zone, be prepared to pay an extra fee.
Timing: When you are on a tight schedule, there are options of expedited services provided but they are charged at an additional cost.
Knowing these factors, using a car shipping cost calculator gives you a better perspective on how much money you will be required to set aside for car transportation costs.
Factors to Consider When Choosing the Right Auto Transport Company
A great auto transport company is not easy to come by without proper investigation. Below are some of the factors worth considering:
Reputation: Check online reviews and ratings on platforms like the Better Business Bureau (BBB) or Google. opt for solutions where the majority of customers have positive comments on their timely delivery, vehicle safety, and customer service.
Insurance: There is a need for adequate insurance cover from the firm. It is important to ensure that your vehicle will be protected in case something happens to it including loss or damage.
Experience: People drive all types of vehicles and as such the more years in service the more expert a company becomes, as it overcomes different other related setbacks.
Transparent Pricing: Do not go for any companies that give their prices that are extremely lower than what the average market price is. There are chances that they will charge additional unexplained costs later on. The most efficient way of preventing such a background is to use their car shipping cost calculator and order for a general quotation.
Customer Service: Make sure you obtain services from a company whose customer service staff is friendly and willing to assist. Owing to the magnitude of activities involved in the process, you may need support at any stage, either when booking or when waiting to write tracking information of a package entrusted to you for shipment.
Ways to Get Your Car Ready for Shipping
Is necessary work done while preparing the vehicle for the auto transport company? This line is wide of the mark; however, it is funny how long it takes. Here are some essential things that must always be done before the vehicle comes under the custody of the auto carrier.
Clean your car: This allows you to easily spot any damage that might occur during transport. To take complete precautionary measures, take photographs to document the damage before loading the vehicle into the carrier.
Personal items: There must be items that belong to persons inside the vehicle but such are not preferred by most companies during transport as they may add bulk to the weight of the vehicle or even get lost.
Fluids and battery check: Certify that the car is well prepared and there are no fluid leaks and there are no auxiliary systems that are still replenishing the battery while the vehicle is stationary.
Alarms: There is no point in having such an alarm that will lead to comical outcomes such as causing embarrassment in transit when it is triggered – turn it off.
Gas tank: There is no need for undesirable return journeys; if the vehicle is nearly dry, the fuel tank may not exceed a quarter of a tank of fuel.
Conclusion
When registering with a car-moving business, anxieties are expected. Since you need your car to get to any of the shipping centers across the country to fetch it, shippers offer door to door options.
No matter if you choose to ship a car door to door or calculate the shipping cost using a car shipping calculator, it is vital to do proper research. You will have a great time shipping your car by knowing the procedures, looking at different companies, and also getting your car ready.
