How Much Does it Cost to Transport a Car across the Country

Transporting a car across the country all by yourself can be very stressful. So, just incase you were moving out of town, relocating to another country or stateyou might wantto consider your options. You might consider selling the car and using the money to buyanother car at your new home or destination. The thing about this option is that it won’tbenefit you if the cost of living at your new location is high.Aside from that, you will needto find a buyer and negotiate on the price. You may not be able to sell the car at areasonable price that will buy you a new one at your new location.Under thesecircumstances, you will agree that it is necessary and way better to transport your carthere.

So, instead of dealing with the stress and tension of selling your car, you can either hirea person,who will drive it there for you or transport it across the country with the help ofan auto-shipping company.While hiring a person to drive it for you is quite cheap, thereis no guarantee that your car will arrive undamaged. Besides, driving the car acrossmiles will take its toll on thecar’s maintenancenot to mention that you are entrustingyour car to a total stranger. However, with auto-shipping companies, this problem istaken care of. The company will load your vehicle on a carrier and deliver it to yourdoorstep. This will save you time and resources.

There are, however, a couple of things to consider when transporting a car. Some hiddencharges may apply, but if the company is a reputable one, you need not worry aboutthem. The cost of vehicle shipment depends on a number of factors such as the size,weight, model, type, distance to transport it to and the season.

Get started

The automobile transportation industry is very large and it is a thriving industry. Thesecompanies will ship your car directly to your new location. With a huge array ofcompanies at your disposal, you are spoilt for choice. Look online for information aboutsuch companies. Also, check the previews and complaints from previous customersabout the company. Compare the pricing of each company. Then, you can choose fromthe options, the one that best suits your purpose and fits your budget. What’s more, youcan list your shipment on websites and wait for bidding or find the top carriers that offersquotes upfront.

Things to consider

You need a car transport company that is reliable. Understand your carrier’s limitation ofliability as well as any deductibles.Some of the carriers offer as high as $250,000 incoverage while most of them go for as low as $50,000 to $100,000 in coverage.Contactthe company and book your car shipmentlike two weeks ahead of your move.

Get quotes

Compare between companies and get a transport company that will give you costeffective services. Make sure you provide the shipping company with accurate details sothey can give you a quote that covers all the expenses pertaining to your car shipment.Schedule a pick-update and time and request forpayment details.In your dealings withtransport companies, you need to ensure that all agreements are in writing. This willenable you claim damages in the event that your car was damaged during shipment. Donot sign any contract, form or report unless you have read it and you agree with thecontent.

Cost

Vehicle shipment, basically costs about $700 to $900. In the U.S, you can expect tospend $600 to $1,000 for car shipment. Companies can, however, give you a discount if

you are shipping two or more cars. Some vehicle shipping services offer shipping withthe expenditure that takes up to two weeks or less for $200 to $500 and above.Largervehicle compared to smaller ones are more expensive to transport.

The distance which your car will be transported to also affect the cost. The type of carand the carrier that it will be loaded onto also determines the cost. Enclosed carriers aremore expensive, but safer for your car, especially if the car in question is vintage, classicor luxury car. The more standard open carriers are less expensive but will not protectyour car from the elements. And the weight of the car will also determine the amountyou will be charged. The season also affects the final shipping cost. Weather conditionscan affect the transportation process.

It is important for you to know that using a terminal for pick-up and delivery attractsextra expenses. For each day your car spends in the terminal facility, you will becharged. These charges differ depending on the terminal. Get more information aboutterminal charges from (using a terminal for car shipping).

Getting ready for shipping

Part of the things you should do inpreparation for shipping is to make sure you removeall your personal belongings from the car. To avoid damages that may occur during thetransportation of the vehicle. Another thing you should do is to inspect your car beforeshipping and if possible, take pictures of it from various angles.Soyou can make claims ifthere is any damage like a scratch that was not there prior to shipping.

Benefits

Having an auto-shipping company deliver your car is better than taking it through mileson the road, thereby exposing the car to wear and tear. It is much safer to allow thecompany to ship it to you in a crate where it will be protected from the elements.Alternatively, the car can be “toploaded” and it will travelon the upper deck of the trailer.This protects it from debris and scratching. Above all,you can rest assuredknowing thatthe entire auto-shipping industry has a 3% damage rate.

Source: Auto Shipping Quotes