Have you been looking up phrases like “transport car quote” on your favorite search engine, only to be bombarded with ads? Not sure how much shipping a car will cost yet you’re ready to find out? Moving out of state and need quotes for reliable car transport services? If you answered yes to any of the above questions, this guide is for you.
Below, we’ll discuss how to easily obtain multiple car transport quotes. We’re also going to reveal the factors that impact the cost of car transport the most so that you can find the best deal possible!
What Is a Car Transport Quote?
A car transport quote is an estimate of how much it will cost to ship your vehicle from the pickup location to the desired destination. While most reputable auto transportation companies make every effort to honor the quote that they provide, many different factors impact shipping costs.
As a result, the majority of transport agencies can only lock in prices for a 24- to 48-hour period. Keep this in mind when comparing quotes, especially because prices can fluctuate daily.
How Does Transporting a Car Work?
There are several different car transport methods available, including the following:
- Door-To-Door
- Terminal-To-Terminal
- Open Car Transport
- Enclosed Vehicle Shipping
- Expedited Service
Door-To-Door
As the name suggests, this shipping method allows you to have your car picked up at your current home and then delivered directly to your new residence. This arrangement is the most convenient shipping method.
Terminal-To-Terminal
When using this type of shipping option, you’ll need to drive your car to the nearest terminal. The car hauler will then deliver it to the terminal that is closest to your desired destination. That terminal will likely be in the same city that you are traveling to, but this is not necessarily always the case.
Open Car Transport
You can decide where your vehicle is picked up and dropped off, but you can also decide how it is transported via open or enclosed car transport, open tends to be the cheapest shipping method. Haulers can fit more vehicles on open trailers, meaning they can charge less money per car than other shipment providers can.
Enclosed Vehicle Shipping
Enclosed vehicle trailers cannot hold as many cars, so shippers have to charge more per car to cover their expenses. However, enclosed trailers offer maximum protection for your vehicle, so you can think of it as paying more for better security overall.
Expedited Service
Expedited service is by far the most expensive vehicle shipping method. The hauler will prioritize your delivery over other clients. Plus, you can pair this service with door-to-door or terminal-to-terminal shipping.
When deciding which service to use, you should consider factors like how soon you need your vehicle to arrive, how much protection you want during the transportation of your vehicle, whether you want your car delivered straight to you, and how much you are willing to spend for what you need.
Where To Get Car Transport Quotes
There are many organizations that provide car shipping options. Many of these companies also offer free car transport quotes, including these five:
5 Steps To Getting a Vehicle Shipping Quote
If you want to get a vehicle shipping quote online, simply follow these five steps.
Step 1: Get Multiple Quotes
When searching for car shipping services, we recommend requesting multiple quotes. There are many reputable auto shippers out there, but all of these shippers experience price fluctuations throughout the year. That is why we recommend obtaining multiple quotes before committing to a certain shipment provider. Doing so will result in you finding the best rates for your situation.
Step 2: Provide Vehicle Pick-Up and Drop-Off Information
After you have chosen which companies you want to obtain quotes from, you will need to provide the company with the addresses for your pick-up and drop-off destinations. This information will be used to calculate the cost of hauling your vehicle from Point A to Point B.
Step 3: Provide Vehicle Information
You will also need to provide information about your vehicle, including the make, model, and year. The trailer that your vehicle will be hauled on will have a limited amount of space, and since semi-trucks must adhere to federal weight limits when hauling freight, this information will inform the shipment providers as to when they can transport your car.
The car shipper will need to know how much your vehicle weighs and how big it is so that they can calculate how much space it will take up on the trailer. Larger and heavier vehicles are more expensive to ship because they limit how many other vehicles the hauler can fit on the trailer, so keep that in mind.
Step 4: Operational Status and Trailer Choice
After you provide car shippers with your vehicle’s information, you will be prompted to select a trailer type. Remember that even though enclosed trailers offer more protection for your vehicle, they are also more expensive.
Therefore, you should consider using an enclosed trailer when shipping exotic or rare vehicles, but you might want to use an open trailer when obtaining quotes for standard cars. Furthermore, the hauler will need to know if your vehicle is operational. If it is not, the hauler will have to send specialized equipment to the pick-up location so that they can load the vehicle onto the trailer.
Step 5: Get an Instant Quote
After you have provided the shipment company with the information they have asked for, press submit online and get ready to obtain your instant quote. The results page should explain how long the quote is valid for, but typically, it will only be reliable for approximately 24 hours due to how quickly prices fluctuate in the shipment industry.
Factors That Affect the Cost of Car Transport Quotes
Many different factors will impact the cost of your car transport.
Distance
Most car haulers charge by the mile, but the specific mileage rate will fluctuate during the year in response to changes in fuel costs and the demand for services. However, the total distance across which you need your car to be transported will have the biggest impact on the total cost.
Routes
If you need your car shipped to a rural area and there are no direct routes to that location, the shipper may charge extra fees. Navigating these rural roads will take additional time, and as they say, time is money.
Shipping Dates
If you select firm shipping dates, the car hauler will probably charge you a higher rate. However, if your shipping dates are flexible, they’ll have the freedom to schedule your pick-up and delivery times when they have trucks in your area. Choosing flexible dates will save the shipper money, and they’ll pass some of those savings onto you.
Vehicle Details
Larger and heavier vehicles, like a full-sized pickup truck, will consume a lot more space on a car hauler’s trailer than a compact car would. As a result, the shipper will charge a higher rate to haul the former when compared to the cost of shipping the latter.
Transport Type
Terminal-to-terminal shipping is cheaper than door-to-door shipping. Likewise, open container shipping is more cost-effective than enclosed trailer shipping. If you want to minimize your expenses, consider terminal-to-terminal open trailer shipping.
Vehicle Condition
Inoperable vehicles are more difficult to load. That’s because doing so always requires specialized equipment. Therefore, car haulers will impose a higher quote if your vehicle is not able to be driven.
Location
Both your current location and your desired destination can have a huge impact on your car transport quote. If your pick-up or drop-off location is near one of the hauler’s trucking hubs, your quote will probably be lower. On the other hand, the shipper will likely charge a higher rate if you are far away from their terminals.
Season
Summer is the season where the demand for car shipping services is at its highest. If you select shipping dates during the summer months, expect to receive a higher quote. Alternatively, winter shipping dates will generate a lower quote because demand is much lower during the cooler months.
Auto Transport Insurance
Virtually all car haulers tend to offer some type of basic auto transport coverage. That said, you may need to purchase additional coverage, especially if your vehicle is rare or exotic. Purchasing extra coverage of this nature will impact your total car transport costs as better coverage is more expensive in general.
Finding the Best Car Transport Quote
If you want to find the best car transport quote online, shop around and choose the hauling options that will best suit your needs. Additionally, we recommend that, if possible, you select dates outside of peak shipping season.
FAQ
Is It Better to Ship a Car or Drive?
Shipping a car is a convenient way to get your vehicle to your desired destination, especially if you are traveling several states away. Paying to ship your vehicle is a particularly appealing option if you have another vehicle and are already driving that car to your new home.
However, driving your vehicle yourself may be more economical if you are not traveling that far and only have a single car.
How Much Does It Cost to Ship a Car 1000 Miles?
The exact shipping costs will vary depending on the various factors outlined above. However, you should expect to pay somewhere between $750 and $1,250.
Can You Ship Your Car with Stuff in It?
Shippers do not generally allow you to ship your car with items in it other than standard equipment such as the spare tire and jack. Shipping items in your car would drive up the total cost of your transport as well. Car haulers account for the weight of your vehicle when generating your final invoice.
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