How to Ship Your Car
There may come a time when you want to transport a car from one point to another, within the country or overseas. It may be that you’re relocating to a new job, or you have just purchased a car from someone by online means or a dealership in another state.
Shipping a car across the country may be expensive. But weigh it against the need to catch a flight to pick it up or the effort and time it takes to drive it to its new destination, and you realize shipping with a professional transport is well worth the money.
Here are some tips to keep in mind while shipping a car:
- Have patience: Do not expect to ship a car like you ship a package. Mostly, it cannot be done overnight. In the US, usually, shipping of car from pick up point to destination takes a four week window. For overseas delivery, it may take six to eight weeks.
- Choose between uncovered or covered carrier: An uncovered carrier is less expensive than a covered carrier, but the covered carrier is safer as it protects the car from any debris, which may fly in the track of the truck. Especially suited while transporting expensive cars, covered carriers will roughly cost 60% extra.
- Choose between open transport and scheduled pick up: Mostly, carrier companies will commit to pick up your car when they have an open slot of an empty truck travelling through your pick up and destination route. But if you insist on your own pickup and delivery dates, be prepared to pay more.
- Choose between terminal to terminal or door to door: Door to door is more convenient but more expensive. Terminal to terminal is cheaper but more practical. Terminal to terminal means the car will be shipped to a mutually agreed point from where you will take the responsibility of pick-up.
- Do extensive research on the carrier company: Post details of your car on a load board and get quotes from over 3 companies. There are several transport companies out there, but it is difficult to spot the right one. Consult Department of transport or Better Business Bureau to get information about carriers- their experience, credentials, safety records, insurance policy, etc.
- Consider other determinants of price: Location is one criterion: Transportation between two major cities is less expensive than between small cities as there may be more trucks on the routes. Vehicle size is crucial as heavy vehicles take more space and weight while shipping and is more expensive. The season is also a decider with winter being cheaper to transport due to less traffic.
These are some of the factors that impinge on using car shipping carriers for safe transportation of your car.