Insider’s Tip:
Car Shippers love flexible customers!
Before signing a contract with a vehicle transporter, consider the following:
- Book your car transport service well in advance of your actual move date – it’s a great way to lock in a low rate.
- If your pick-up and delivery dates are flexible, car carriers are much more likely to cut you a break on the price because you’re making their job easier.
- A last-minute car shipping request can create a big headache for a busy auto shipper, so they’ll increase their price to make it worth their while.
If you live in a rural area outside busy auto transport lanes, we recommend making arrangements to take your vehicle to the nearest city or town and having it picked up there.
This is often referred to as terminal-to-terminal, or hub-to-hub transportation, and it’s usually much cheaper than door-to-door service.
Shipping more than one vehicle on the same truck will save you money, so letting the pros handle your wheels and taking a flight may be the way to go if you’d rather not make a long drive.
Though auto transporters often advertise discounts and promotions, it’s wise to let them know if you’re a veteran or active military member, teacher, student, senior citizen, repeat customer, or police officer.
How Long Does Car Shipping Take?
- Car transport services almost always give their customers a “delivery window.”
- For instance, if you’re having your car shipped from Washington DC to Albuquerque, New Mexico, your delivery window may be between 4 and 8 days.
- That means that at their discretion, the car transport company can deliver your vehicle any day within that period and fulfill the terms of the contract.
- Of course on a shorter move, like one between Baltimore, Maryland and Trenton, New Jersey, the delivery window would be shorter because the mileage is much lower.
- Remember too, that the driver will need to make additional pick-ups and deliveries along the way.
- Of course breakdowns, inclement weather conditions and unexpected road closures and construction can also delay car transportation.
The time between when your vehicle is picked up and delivered is largely determined by distance, season, and whether you’re moving from and to rural states like Arkansas, Tennessee and Minnesota, or more populated urban ones like New York and California.
