At a glance, you will have a lot to consider if you are needing to transport a car cross country. You have already decided you need the most affordable car shipping services to meet your budget, but you also need to be aware of things such as timing, transparency, and insurance.
1. Considering Your Options
After doing some research, you should discover there are several ways in which to ship your vehicle from one side of the country to the other. But before going off and committing to an auto transport broker you should check out some of your other options.
Driving Your Vehicle
The majority of people opt to ship their cars, as it’s inconvenient for them to drive it themselves. That still is an option left to consider, however. You just need to be aware of the cost of fuel and if your travels are for over a day, you will need to consider options for lodging. All of those expenses can add up fast and sometimes it makes sense to ship the car with an auto transport company. The costs can be significantly less to move a car with a transport company. Â
How Long Does It Take To Drive My Car Myself
An easy way that travel time can be calculated is by dividing your total distance by 500 miles. 500 miles is the most a person should drive in any given day. So if you consider a trip that is 2,000 miles, this would take about 4 days to travel.   Â
Towing The Vehicle Behind A Rental Truck
You’ve likely seen the U-Haul trucks on the highway with a car being towed behind it. These cars can be either transported on a car trailer or hooked up to a tow dolly. A tow dolly is basically a mini trailer that has only two wheels. A car trailer isn’t very cost-effective if the trip is over 500 miles though. Tow dollies however can generally save you as far as expenses go, even if you are shipping a car from state to state.Â
2. Comparing Different Shipping Quotes
The cost to transport a car will generally fluctuate from day to day and are based on several factors such as distance, geographical location, weight, dimensions, and the type of transport. The difference between car shipping companies can be $500 or more so it’s always a good idea to shop around for the best quotes.
Differences Between Open And Enclosed Transport
You have the option of transporting your vehicle either in an open or enclosed transport. Open carriers tend to be cheaper however, your car will be secured next to 10 other vehicles while also being exposed to harsh weather conditions and potential hazards on the road. With an enclosed carrier, however, everything is enclosed in four walls and also carries fewer vehicles which is why it tends to be about 40% more expensive than using an open carrier. Open carriers tend to make up the majority of cross-country transports. It is a smart plan to use an enclosed carrier if you are planning to ship a luxury vehicle or a classic car.  Â
3. Choosing The Right Company
You can generally save hundreds of dollars by transporting your vehicle with a reliable and reputable auto transport company. There are a few things to look out for when choosing the best car transport company:
- Pricing. You should always try to get quotes from at least three to four different companies to get the best rate available.Â
- Customer Service. Great customer service is essential for a good experience. Make sure the company has a solid rating online with Google and lots of 5 star reviews. Consider a company like We Will Transport It that scores consistently above average.
- Experience. The car transport industry is notorious for having companies that quickly go out of business. We recommend choosing a company that has been in business for at least 10 years. There are even some companies, like We Will Transport It, that have been in business for close to 3 decades.Â
- Insurance. While damage to vehicles during transport is rare, accidents can happen. You can also never be too safe so be sure to pick a company that provides additional coverage. Â
4. Preparing Your Vehicle For Pickup
When your car is ready to be picked up and shipped, the auto transport driver will reach out to you to schedule a pickup window. When the driver arrives, he will go over and note any existing damages that the vehicle currently has. The driver will then proceed to load the vehicle onto the transport carrier and ensure that it is safely secured. Once that’s done the driver will be off to hit the road and make the way towards your final destination.Â
5. Inspect For Any Damages At The Time Of Delivery
It is unlikely that your vehicle will be damaged during the transport, but you will need to inspect and make sure. You will need to compare any new damages against a document called the bill of lading, which describes any preexisting damages. Car transport companies will want you to sign this document upon arrival so you cannot claim that any preexisting damage was done during the transport.  Â
Your signature on the bill of lading is essential because if you do not document any new damages then the car transport company can claim it wasn’t their fault. This will make filing an insurance claim next to impossible so be sure to thoroughly document and take pictures of everything. Â
We Will Transport It For All Your Car Shipping Needs
Whether you need to relocate from one side of the country to the other or you’re just a snowbird traveling down south for the winter. Whatever your reason and regardless of the destination, We Will Transport It can accommodate any shipping requirements you may have at an affordable rate. Contact one of our shipping specialists now at 800-677-1196 and we can answer any questions and help you determine the best method to ship your vehicle.