Nowadays, shipping a car is a necessity. Whether you’re transporting your wheels for repair, buying a brand-new one, or relocating to a new home, the process can easily be expensive. The car transport costs usually depend on how you plan to ship it and where you are taking the delivery. But as fuel prices continue to rise, people are finding new ways to shave off expenses when shipping their vehicles. So if you wish to relocate your car on the cheap, here’s the perfect guide for you.
Factors That Affect Car Shipping Costs
Before learning various tips on how to save when shipping a car, you first need to understand the factors that affect the amount you’ll have to pay in the end. This will help you decide what considerations to make and compromises to take. That being said, here’s a brief list of what you need to know:
- Distance of the move: This is the primary factor that impacts the total price. Generally speaking, the longer the distance, the more it will cost to ship your car. The destination can also play a key role here. If your wheels are headed to a rural or less recognized address, the carrier might charge you more for going through less common routes.
- Method of transport: It’ll cost you more to ship your car by air or sea than rail. Additionally, the price of shipping a vehicle via an enclosed trailer is significantly higher than an open-air one.
- Peak and off seasons: There are certain times of the year when car shipping is in great demand. Obviously, summer is the priciest with people moving out for vacation. But don’t count winter costs just yet. It’s all expensive during this time since road conditions cause shipping companies to take more risks.
- Size and weight of the vehicle: This one’s quite the no-brainer. Of course, a larger and heavier car will be more expensive to move since it consumes more space in the container while requiring more fuel to move.
- Vehicle type: Luxury cars, sports cars, and vintage vehicles will cost more to ship than a standard sedan because they require specialized care and handling. Simple as that/
- Timing of transport: There are times when you’ll ship the car out of emergencies. If you need to have your vehicle shipped immediately, you will likely pay a premium for expedited service.
- Insurance: You might need to purchase insurance for your vehicle during transport for peace of mind. This protection against damage and theft can add a few hundred dollars to the total cost of shipping your car.
Car Shipping Saving Tips
The internet is dotted with useful articles, like ‘Cheapest Method of Transporting Your Car,’ ‘Best Car Shipping Saving Tips,’ or ‘Saving Money When Car Shipping’ that it can get confusing on which method actually works best. Fortunately, this article has compiled the most effective tips, so you don’t have to stress yourself further.
Tip 1: Shop for Quotes
Never settle for just one shipping company. You’re the customer, so you’ve got the right to choose. The more options you have, the more likely you can find a realizable carrier that fits your budget. Knowing this, get quotes from at least three different companies and compare rates, services offered, and customer reviews.
Tip 2: Know Your Method of Transport
The method of transport is crucial to understand. If you’re just moving a regular sedan, open-air transport will be the cheapest option. Just keep in mind that it’ll be riskier since your car will be exposed to the outside world (and weather and road debris). But if you’re transporting an expensive car, it’s worth considering enclosed transport. True, you’ll pay more, but your vehicle will most likely be free from dents or scratches.
Tip 3: Avoid the Peak Season
You already know how pricey moving a car during the summer and winter is, right? The only other time when it’ll make sense to save money is to move your wheels during the fall or spring when rates aren’t at their peak and road conditions aren’t as dangerous.
Tip 4: Follow Your Car Shipper Rules
You have to respect that shippers have their own policies, so make sure you follow them explicitly – especially if they’re marked as mandatory. If there are any rules concerning hazardous materials or live animals, then don’t take chances with anything else except what is instructed by the carrier company. This way, you’ll avoid extra costs and possible insurance claims in case something goes wrong.
Tip 5: Use Terminal Shipping
Terminal shipping is when the shippers drop your car off at the terminal instead of having it picked up. This is way cheaper than having your vehicle delivered straight to your door. Of course, you will have to coordinate with your shipping company on the designated location and pick-up date. Still, these actions are often worth it if you’re looking to save a few bucks.
Tip 6: Work Directly with Your Carrier on Rates
If budget isn’t an issue, then work with your carrier in order to get better rates for open-air transport or extra services. Carriers are more than willing to negotiate prices so long as they’re getting paid by you directly rather than from a broker who takes out his cut first.
Final Advice
No matter what saving hack you might come up with, everything comes down to your car shipper. You need a company that is transparent, reliable, and affordable. So be sure to scrutinize your potential carrier first before signing a deal. Hope everything goes well for you.
