The cheapest and most popular way to ship a car is to choose open transportation and terminal-to-terminal delivery as a method of transportation. Shipping a car takes 2 to 9 days on average, depending on pickup and drop off locations, distance, weather, road conditions and traffic. Every year, millions of cars are transported by truck, rail, air or large ships abroad for many reasons. Open transportation is more available than closed automatic shipping options, giving you more opportunities to compare quotes from several auto shipping companies for the cheapest rates.
For example, if you're looking for car transportation companies in Texas, you'll pay a lot more to ship that vehicle to Maine than to Arizona. If you ship your car 500 miles away, you'll pay less, even if the prices per mile are higher. Closed transport protects your vehicle from the elements, which may be the best option if you have a rare or high-end vehicle and don't want to run the risk of it being damaged. The best way to find out how much it would cost to ship your car door to door is to get an immediate quote.
During the designated pickup date, the vehicle transportation company will send a carrier or carrier to pick up your vehicle. To get started, do extensive research on vehicle transportation companies that meet your requirements in terms of cost, available services, reputation, and insurance coverage. Even though it's out of your control, the cost of fuel to transport your vehicle can increase the cost of shipping the car. Summer is the most popular time to ship vehicles, which means you may have to shell out more to ship your vehicle during this time of year.
Destination agent fees: Most auto shipping companies hire an agent at the port to handle the logistics needed to get the vehicle out of the cargo carrier and move it to a pickup location. Determining the cost of shipping your car may seem a bit like trying to solve a puzzle full of factors that could change the price of transportation. However, when comparing shipping rates with the cost of driving your car across the country, be sure to factor in the additional costs of fuel, food, and hotel accommodation during your trip.