How Auto Transporter Prices Are Influenced by Seasons

The auto transport industry has its own rules for determining the cost and time it takesto ship a car. Unlike standard package shipments, which depends exclusively on thepackage size and delivery date, auto transportation prices vary due to several factors,such as weather, location, make and model, vehicle condition, vehicle weight, andseason. A major factor in auto transport cost, besides vehicle type and distance, isseasonal factors. Understanding these seasonal fluctuations and how they affect carshipping prices enables you to plan ahead and choose wisely when it comes totransporting your vehicle from one place to another.

Summer Auto Transport – faster service and competetive prices

The period comprised between late spring (May) and early autumn (September) isconventionally a very busy season for the auto transport industry. This is the time whichoffers the best weather conditions for safe and fast auto transport. The roads are clear ofsnow, the days are longer and the weather makes it pleasant to be outside. There is nosecret that most people who do ship their cars, choose to transport it from one place toanother precisely between May and September. Having the car brought to your door ontime, in clean condition and free of salt is an argument strong enough to convince anycar enthusiast.

Summer is also the time when most people leave for extended vacations, which canmake the roads very busy. When the distance is too great to drive, auto transportcompanies are hired to pick up and deliver the vehicle it to its destination, preferably fastand without any hassle. Pair these two situations and you have an exodus of peopleshipping their cars which leads to busy auto transport companies. When these companieshave an high supply of vehicles to ship, they choose wisely, which means they go for thehigher priced ones first. It is at these times that customers will have to pay higher pricesin order to get their car shipped on time. When the demand for cars needing shipped ishigher and the supply of trucks is the same, prices tend to go up.

As with any other service, when there are enough cars that need to be shipped to keepall transport companies busy, prices tend to increase. So, if you plan to ship your carduring busy season, prepare to pay much more than you would during late autumn orwinter.

Another aspect to seasonal pricing is customers that go down south during the wintermonths and go back north in the spring. These type of clients are called "snow birds".They escape the cold northern winters and go to Florida and other warm southern states.The prices for shipping your car down south during the fall season is higher due to theincreased demand. The prices flip flop in the spring, when they go back north. Keep this

mind next time you are planning to escape the cold winters in the north for the beautifulFlorida sun.

Winter Auto Transport – longer delivery time, yet a little more expensive

Wintertime comes with a lot of problems for auto transport carriers, especially innorthern states, where heavy snow can slow down traffic and even close roads whichlead to delays. Transporting cars from, to or through states such as North Dakota,Wyoming, Nebraska, Michigan and Minnesota, can be quite troublesome and at timeseven risky. There have been cases in which car hauler trucks have lost control and spunoff of the highway. Also, notable delays are registered when the snowfall exceedednormal expectations.

These potential risks deter some carriers from going to certain routes, which candecrease the supply of carriers in an area, which in turn increases the shipping price.

During the winter season, there is a high probability that pick up times will be longerthan usual due to less supply of trucks and weather conditions. It may take up to a weekfor a carrier to pickup your vehicle, which can cause problems if you are in a hurry toship your car. It is recommended that in the winter season you should contact an autotransport company at least three weeks in advance to your preferred ship date. This earlybooking will assure that carriers have sufficient time to pick up your vehicle.

Auto transport costs change periodically in accordance with several factors. Therefore, itis advisable to receive several car shipping quotes from different transport companiesand save on your shipment.

Source: Auto Shipping Quotes