Sending your car via a professional carrier can save time, stress, and miles. But how can you determine which option best meets your needs and budget?
Finding a company with a strong track record and positive reviews should be your top priority. Before making your choice, research their pricing structure, services offered, insurance policies in effect and any additional details they offer before settling on one.
Open Carrier
According to this link – open carrier shipping tends to be the cheapest of two options and an excellent choice for everyday sedans or family SUVs, although this method doesn’t provide as much protection for your car from weather elements like rain, snow or hail.
Open carrier shipping involves loading your vehicle onto a two-level trailer that you may have seen filled with vehicles on the highway. Most auto transport companies use these trailers for local, state, and nationwide transportation routes to maintain consistency while offering competitive pricing – meaning your car should get onto its truck quickly and efficiently.
Open carriers also feature the capability of carrying multiple vehicles at once, cutting transport time in half while giving more flexibility when scheduling pickup and delivery dates. Sending your car during off-peak seasons could save money without compromising reliability.
Enclosed Carrier
The enclosed carrier option protects your vehicle by surrounding it with a steel-aluminum shell that simulates the atmosphere of a garage on wheels, making for safe transport of high-value, classic or exotic cars that require special care during transport. While more costly than open transport methods, enclosed transport ensures an extra measure of security during its journey to its final destination.
Deciding between open or enclosed shipping for your car will depend on its current condition and value. Daily drivers used for commuting or family transportation may be more resistant to wear-and-tear associated with open transport; low mileage classics with immaculate interiors and exteriors often benefit from open shipping as it helps preserve their condition.
For vehicles that need added protection, enclosed transport may be the answer. Specialized trailers that house vehicles in enclosed carriers are typically designed to prevent rubbing and scratching between cars (source: https://www.roadrunnerautotransport.com/ship-a-car-across-country) as well as shield them from rain and road debris during transit. This is what makes this option suitable for high-value or exotic cars you would rather protect while in transit as well as classics with sentimental value or older models with high sentimentality values.
Open car transport thrives along roads with high traffic volumes, as these roads enable more pick-up and drop-off points for carriers. Plus, competitive pricing and rapid transit times make open auto transport suitable for an array of customers.
To ensure you choose a reputable and reliable enclosed car transport company, look for one with years of experience in the industry. Also ensure they offer lock-in quotes so there won’t be costly price increases during the transport process and make sure they have adequate insurance coverage, such as at least $1 Million liability and $100,000 cargo coverage to give yourself peace of mind.
Door-to-Door
Trucks are by far the most convenient method of car shipping. Truckers use either tractor-trailers or modified beds specially equipped to move cars. Brokers like Sherpa Auto Transport and Easy Auto Ship offer this service online, charging fees at booking or dispatch (they’ll then pay their carrier). However, you should consider how long it takes for your vehicle to reach its destination as this could affect overall shipping costs.
If you want to ensure that your car arrives on schedule, opt for shipping options that guarantee delivery on a specific date or allow you to pick up from a terminal for terminal-to-terminal shipping. This method may be cheaper if it allows you to drop off and collect from one of the shipping company’s terminals along an easy route.
Air freight can also be an option, though not usually for standard vehicle shipping. It can become quite pricey quickly. But using it expedited shipping may make sense if you need your vehicle transported quickly across country boundaries.
Shipping companies typically provide various services tailored to your car-shipping needs. They will require information such as the car make, model, pickup/dropoff locations, dates of pickup/delivery and whether open or enclosed trailers are preferred. Most offer free online quotes while for an accurate quotation some require further details from you.
Transport industry peak season typically coincides with summertime when people move and snowbirds head south, so to save money in transportation, you’ll need to be flexible when shipping – try shipping during autumn or spring when carriers have more capacity on their trailers, and you could benefit from lower rates!
Selecting an auto transporter experienced with transporting classic cars is essential to ensure its safe and timely transport. Make sure the transporter specializes in this particular niche, and understands how best to move vehicles through any winding streets and bridges. Furthermore, check their BBB, accreditations and Trustpilot ratings in order to assess how satisfied customers have been with their experience.
