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Process Takeaways

Important Takeaways

Remember, a car shipping involves lots of variables that will affect price, service, and
your overall experience. If you’ve ever tried to put a price tag on peace of mind, you
already know it’s impossible. While the auto transport price is important, it’d definitely
not the only factor.

Also consider “INTANGIBLES”

    1. Availability, expertise,
      confidence and reputation.
    1. Using an auto shipping company
      with exceptionally high ratings.
    1. Making the best choice and
      getting serious value for your
      hard-earned dollars.
    1. The satisfaction of having your
      vehicle delivered safely and in a
      timely fashion anywhere across
      the nation.
    1. Experienced customer service
      representatives and overall
      flexibility can make all the
      difference.
    1. You and your family’s safety –
      driving a car cross-country can be
      dangerous.
  1. Deposit and payment options and
    terms (debit card, credit card).

What to do before choosing a car shipping company?

  • Familiarize yourself with how auto transport works by doing your research.
  • Make a list of everything you can think of, and ask lots of questions.
  • Figure out your schedule and auto shipping needs.
  • Consider your car shipping options.
  • Decide whether you’d rather get auto transport quotes directly from carriers or brokers.
  • Figure out your budget and determine a shipping price you can live with.
  • Contact your insurance company to see if they’ll cover your vehicle during transit.
  • Use the Better Business Bureau (BBB) website to vet the companies you’re considering.
  • Check other websites for transport reviews and tips on how to streamline the car shipping process.
  • Get more than one estimate and make sure you get a price guarantee.
  • Read each contract carefully so you’re not surprised by a hidden fee from a shady vehicle shipping broker.
  • Remember, if you’re moving from and to high-traffic areas like Daytona Beach, San Francisco or Boston, Massachusetts, you’ll have more options than you will from rural areas in states like Louisiana, South Carolina, Vermont or Maine.
  • Don’t take chances, ask for referrals from a friend or two, and use Facebook and other social media platforms as well as Google searches to find a reputable car shipping company. Or use our vehicle transport calculator and get car shipping quotes from some of the most reputable auto transport companies.
  • Ask providers if the Covid-19 (coronavirus) pandemic is causing transport disruptions on their platform.

Process Why Us

Why choose Carshipguru for your auto transport quote?

“If you fail to plan, plan to fail.”

We’ve all heard this quote. In the car shipping business, truer words were never spoken.

Talk about stress. Don’t let this happen to you and your family. There’s an alternative – use an auto shipping company you can trust. Remember, not all car transport companies are the same.

Imagine this…

Despite all your hard work you’ve chosen a less-than-reputable auto transport service.

It’s the day they were supposed to pick-up your vehicle, but there’s a problem.

They’re overbooked, and you and your car aren’t their top priority.

Worse yet, car shipping company is no telling when, or if, they’ll pick it up at all. You’re in a bind because finding another car carrier will be a huge hassle – if you can find one at all.

Process Prices

How Much Does Car Shipping Cost?

With so many factors involved, the cost to ship a car, truck or SUV can vary greatly.

< $1,000

< $500

> $2,500

When moves of all types and distances are taken into account, the national average auto shipping price is slightly less than $1,000.

However, if you’re having a family sedan transported a few hundred miles by open carrier during the off-season, the auto transport cost will likely be less than $500.

On the other hand, moving a bulky SUV or pickup truck from coast to coast during the summer could cost well over $2,500.

There’s really no way to calculate an average auto transport cost-per-mile, but gathering shipping quotes for a potential automobile move is a good way to compare carriers.

Below are ballpark shipment figures based on mileage:

< 500 miles

Between

$1.45 & $1.95 per mile

501 – 1,000 miles

$0.90 to $1.44 per mile

1,001 – 2,000 miles

$0.69 to $0.89 per mile

> 2,000 miles

Between

$0.45 & $0.68 per mile

Again, use these car shipping rates as general guidelines only. The only way to get accurate auto transport quotes based on your particular situation is by using a website like carshipguru.com’s quote calculator.

It’s generally true that the longer the distance between the pick-up and delivery locations, the higher the price will be, but even that’s not always the case on some shipments.

Process Factors

Car shipping cost also depends on things like:

  • Vehicle Condition

    Is your vehicle able to steer and brake? Is it in perfect condition or it is inoperable?

  • Open or enclosed

    Would you prefer that your vehicle be shipped inside an enclosed trailer, or is standart open transportation OK? Though the former may suffice for most cars, you’ll want enclosed vehicle transport for exotics, classics and other high-value vehicles. Most auto transport brokers and vehicle transport services providers offer both types of transportation.

  • Dimensions

    Height – Standart heights range from about 57 to 73 inches, depending on vehicle type like sedan, light truck or SUV.

    Length – Average length is about 190 inches, so longer vehicles may be more expensive, and shorter ones less so.

    Weight – Weight isn’t usually as big a factor as height and length, but it’s always more expensive to ship a Hummer than a Prius.

    Other items like aftermarket add-ons, ground clearence issues, and custom suspensions cause car shipping prices to increase as well.

  • Seasonality

    What time of year you’ll ship your vehicle is a big factor in overall cost. Auto transport is usually cheapest between September and May and more expensive in the winter.

  • Locations

    If you’re having your vehicle shipped from one high-traffic metropolitan area to another the car shipping cost may be less than if your origin and destination locations are in out-of-the-way rural areas.

  • Insurance Value

    Most auto transporters have a standard coverage option that applies to all the vehicles they ship, but they will offer upgraded protection for those who need more for luxury car brands like Lamborghini, Ferrari and Rolls Royce owners.

Process Verdict

Should I Drive or Hire an Auto Transport Company?

The decision to drive your car cross-country or ship it professionally usually comes down to distance, personal preference and budget, and assessing the pros and cons of each car shipping options carefully.

On the positive side, driving your car cross-country can be:

  1. Fun and adventurous
  2. Relatively inexpensive
  3. Faster than having it shipped

Conversely, it can be stressful and dangerous due to:

  1. Driving through unsafe road
    conditions and bad weather like ice
    and snow.
  2. Breakdowns in places like rural
    Arizona when it’s 115 degrees, you’re
    22 miles from the nearest service
    station, and don’t have cellphone
    service.
  3. Having to stay at ratty and possibly
    unsafe hotels off the interstate.
  4. The increased risk of accidents,
    which often end up costing more
    than shipping your car would have.
  5. The unpleasantness of being cooped
    up with spouses, kids, and pets for
    days on end.

The Verdict

Shipping your car with a professional auto transport provider is almost always safer and less stressful than driving, and in some instances it’s even cheaper too.