Buying and selling a car online is great but if you’ve never shipped a car before, this article will help you understand the basics and how to choose the right car shipping company.
These are common scenarios where car shipping is the best solution:
- You bought a car online and now you need to figure out how to get it from the seller to you.
- You’re moving across the country to a new home, a new job or a new school and, along with all your stuff, you’ve got a vehicle to move.
- You need a car while you’re at your winter home but you’d rather fly because driving it all the way down south would be time consuming and exhausting.
Shipping a vehicle (be it a car, motorcycle, truck, or even a junk car that’s not running) is actually fairly common these days with the popularity of online sales. But like anything else, if you’ve never done it before, it can be bit intimidating.
In order to feel more confident about handing over your valuable property to an auto transport company, these questions and answers will shed some light on what the best practices are that you should be looking for. While every move is different and every vehicle is unique, these basics should always be in place.
How much does it cost to ship my car?
Many conditions specific to your individual situation factor into an accurate quote for your vehicle relocation. But all transport companies must take four basic factors into consideration when determining cost.
- Distance from origination to destination
- Vehicle size and condition (running or inoperable)
- Special options such as enclosed carrier or expedited service
- Quantity – the number of vehicles being shipped.
How long does it take to ship my car?
Time varies depending on where the vehicle is being shipped. The estimated times are directly affected by the distance in miles as seen in the chart below. Other factors including where we pick up and deliver your vehicle. For instance, if you live in a rural area, you would save time by meeting the truck driver near a more metropolitan area. This not only increases the speed of delivery, it would reduce the price.
| Number of Miles | Number of Days |
|---|---|
| 0 – 200 | 1 – 2 |
| 200 – 600 | 2 – 4 |
| 600 – 1000 | 3 – 5 |
| 1000 – 1500 | 4 – 6 |
| 1500 – 2000 | 5 – 7 |
| 2000 – 2400 | 6 – 8 |
| 2400+ | 7 – 9 |
More info: Pickup and Delivery FAQ
Will my car be insured during transport?
By law all brokers are required to do a data carrier profile for each carrier. Protect yourself and confirm that the carrier has the appropriate insurance before signing any contract.
More info: Insurance FAQ
What do I have to do to get my vehicle ready?
Every carrier has different requirements but most are similar. We have a Vehicle Checklist that answers this question in detail. Following this check list will help eliminate delays come pickup time.
These are just a few basic questions and there are plenty more to ask before you hand over your keys. We understand this and are happy to answer any of your questions. Making sure all of your questions are answered is key to your satisfaction. Continue to explore the information here on our website or give us a call to get all of your questions answered. When it comes to protecting your property, no question is unreasonable.
