Complete the form to get your free vehicle shipping quote.
Complete the form to get your free vehicle shipping quote.
If you’re wondering how to ship a vehicle because you’re relocating to a new city and want to understand what shipping a car across the country entails, you’ve come to the right place.
We’re here to help you understand exactly how to get your vehicle shipped to a new city, no matter where you’re going. In a few simple steps, here’s how vehicle transport works:
- Research logistics providers
- Choose the best logistics provider for your needs
- Book the transport
- Schedule a pick-up
- Prepare your vehicle for transit
- Meet the carrier for pickup
- Track your vehicle as it travels to your destination
- Accept your vehicle delivery
How to Ship a Vehicle Step-by-Step
Step 1: Research Your Options
The first step in the car shipping process is to understand your vehicle transportation requirements, select the method that best suits your needs, and research the different transportation companies that cater to your shipping preferences.
You can choose different transportation types, like open, enclosed, or expedited shipping. You can also select the most convenient delivery method, like door-to-door or terminal-to-terminal. Lastly, you can also look for a transportation company that best fits your shipping needs: it can be a regional, subregional, or national transportation carrier
Step 2: Select a Vehicle Transport Company:
Consider their experience, the suite of services the company provides, insurance, tracking capabilities, and claims process. Make sure to read customer reviews and focus on the reviews that detail experiences with the carrier’s customer service. This will tell you that others have trusted a carrier to transport their vehicles, and so can you. Get a free quote from the logistics provider or on a shipping marketplace, and compare the options to select the most cost-effective option. Ensure that your preferred carrier is registered with the US Department of Transportation, has a Motor Carrier number and follows FMCSA rules that govern vehicle shipping.
Step 3: Book the Transport Service
After choosing the most suitable logistics provider, schedule a pick-up for your vehicle. The more flexible you are with your pick-up date, the more likely you are to get a cheaper deal. Try to book your order at least 15 days before your preferred date. This will give you enough time to prepare your vehicle for pickup, and the transport company won’t have to charge for expedited shipping.
When scheduling pick-up, double-check the paperwork and verify that important clauses reflect your agreement with the carrier.
Step 4: Prepare Your Vehicle for Shipping
Prepare your vehicle for its transit in five easy steps.
Wash your vehicle
Thoroughly clean your car inside and out. Inspect for any paint chips, scratches, dents, and discoloration to make sure you can identify any new damage after transport.
Take pictures of pre-existing damage
After inspecting, take pictures of all existing damage, including scratches, dents, and chips. Ensure the photos are time and date-stamped for your records.
Remove all personal items
To avoid damage or theft, remove any valuables, such as electronics and toll transponders, from the car. Personal belongings are not covered by insurance.
Secure or remove loose parts
Make sure to secure or remove any loose parts like antennas or spoilers to prevent damage during transport.
Maintenance check for your journey
Perform a maintenance check. Ensure the gas tank is less than half full, check for leaks, record mileage, and confirm the battery is charged and tires are inflated.
This will help you determine if there’s any damage to your vehicle when you accept it at your preferred destination.
Step 5: Meet the Carrier for Pickup
Now, it’s time to hand your keys to the carrier for transit. Ensure you have all the necessary paperwork and documents for the carrier to verify. During pick-up, the carrier will inspect your vehicle for any preexisting damage or mechanical faults.
Then, the carrier will record the details of your car on the Bill of Lading. This document is very important: it details your vehicle’s make, model, size, weight, condition and destination. Once the details are filled out, our carriers will submit the document digitally via our mobile app. You will need to review the document and inspection notes electronically, sign it, and a copy of the Bill of Lading (BOL) will be emailed to you.
Step 6: Track Your Vehicle During Transport
You can track your vehicle’s progress in real-time throughout its journey to your preferred destination. Our tracking system provides regular updates via nightly notifications, sent directly to your email and phone. You’ll be informed of key milestones during transport, such as pickup, transit status, and estimated delivery time. Sign up for these notifications during booking to stay fully informed about your vehicle’s location at all times.
Step 7: Inspect and Accept Your Vehicle at Delivery
The final step in the vehicle transportation process is to accept your vehicle at its final destination. You’ll be notified when to expect delivery once the vehicle is near its destination. During the delivery, you and the carrier will inspect your vehicle for any damages that might have occurred during transit. You should compare your vehicle with the pictures you took before transport. If you notice any damage, make sure it is recorded on the Bill of Lading.
Why Ship a Vehicle Instead of Driving?
If you are trying to decide whether to drive your vehicle to your destination or ship it, consider the following:
Convenience
Shipping your vehicle saves you valuable time compared to driving long distances. While driving can take days, flying to your destination allows you to avoid long hours on the road, giving you more time to relax and settle in while your vehicle is being transported. For specialised vehicles, we provide powersports shipping and motorcycle shipping services to cater to all your vehicle transportation needs.
Safety
Safety should always be top of mind when considering your mode of transportation. Shipping your vehicle protects it from harsh elements and extreme weather conditions that might be encountered on long drives. Navigating unfamiliar territory and dealing with potentially dangerous road conditions can put additional stress on your vehicle, leading to wear and tear. Driving long distances not only adds unnecessary mileage but also increases the risk of damage to your car’s tires and exterior. By choosing to ship your vehicle, you avoid these risks and ensure it arrives in the same condition as when it left. In such cases, shipping provides your vehicle with much-needed safety from turbulent weather conditions such as rain, sleet, hail, or storms.
Time Savings
Time is money, and you can save both through vehicle transportation services. Not only can you find the best deal on shipping your vehicle, but you can save the time you would otherwise have to spend driving your vehicle to a new city out of state lines or across the country.
What are the Different Types of Shipping a Vehicle?
How do transportation companies ship your vehicles? From the moment it’s picked up, your vehicle travels aboard an open trailer or an enclosed container. From there, it will be delivered to its final destination.
Here are the three different types of transport and delivery you can choose from:
Open Container Shipping
This method involves transporting your vehicle along with several others in an open container. Open car transport is the most cost-effective option but may take longer, as vehicles are loaded and unloaded along the route. This method exposes your vehicle to the elements but is suitable for those looking for an economical choice.
Enclosed Shipping
Enclosed vehicle transportation offers more protection by shipping your vehicle in a fully enclosed container. Enclosed car shipping shields your car from extreme weather conditions and road debris, making it ideal for rare, classic, or luxury vehicles. While more expensive than open transport, it provides added security and peace of mind.
Door-to-Door Delivery
In this method, the carrier picks up and delivers your vehicle from/to any business or residential location of your choice. Although this method is the most convenient, it is often more expensive because the carrier may have to travel farther to meet your transportation needs in remote or rural areas with less highway connectivity.
Terminal-to-Terminal Delivery
A cheaper delivery method is terminal-to-terminal transportation. In this method, you drive or transport your vehicle to the nearest terminal, which the carrier uses as a hub to transport and deliver vehicles.
This method costs less because the carrier has to cover less distance and, therefore, spends less time picking up and dropping off your vehicle.
While this method is cheaper, you will need to spend more time taking and picking up your car to/ from the nearest terminal, and depending on where you’re transporting the car from, the nearest terminal could be far away.
Drive Away Services
Another method for vehicle transportation is drive-away service, in which a professional driver personally drives your vehicle to its destination. While this is often cheaper than shipping your car and more convenient than driving it yourself, it still exposes your vehicle to accidental damage during transit. It also adds extra mileage to your vehicle, which means you risk damage to the engine, the transmission or other parts of the car.
DIY Transport
DIY transport involves tailgating or towing your vehicle with a truck or a pick-up and driving it to your preferred destination. This might be a good option for a broken-down or inoperable vehicle that you do not want to ship but can’t be driven away. However, your vehicle is always at a higher risk when you’re transporting it yourself rather than shipping it with a professional.
How Much Does Vehicle Shipping Cost?
The cost of vehicle transportation depends on the following factors:
The make, model, size and weight of your vehicle
The preferred transportation and delivery method
The distance to your preferred destination
The prevailing fuel prices
The season in which you’re shipping your vehicle
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the benefits of shipping a vehicle instead of driving it?
While driving your vehicle exposes it to the elements of nature and consumes your precious time, transporting it ensures that it reaches its destination safely, frees up your time, helps you cover long distances in a shorter time, and doesn’t put wear on your vehicle.
How do I choose the right vehicle transport company?
To choose the right vehicle transport company, compare the shipping costs that different shipping companies provide based on the services they cover, the transit times they offer, the shipping method they use, and whether they insure your vehicle during its transit. This will help you choose the most suitable carrier that caters to your preferences.
What factors affect the cost of vehicle shipping?
The factors that affect the cost of vehicle shipping include the distance to destination, the make, model, size, weight, and condition of your vehicle, the prevailing fuel costs, the method of transportation and delivery, the preferred transit time, and the season in which you are transporting your vehicle.
How long does vehicle shipping usually take?
The time it takes to transport your vehicle depends on the distance to the destination and the prevailing weather conditions. The average carrier will cover 350-500 miles a day. For in-state transportation, you can expect your vehicle to be delivered within 2-3 days. Shipping to nearby states can take 4-5 days. Cross-country shipping may take 6-7 days.
What’s the difference between open and enclosed transport?
While in open transportation, vehicles travel aboard an open trailer on a fixed route, in enclosed transportation, your vehicle travels in an enclosed container to its destination. Open carrier transportation costs less but also takes more time, whereas enclosed transportation costs more but ensures that your car is protected from the threats of weather events, heat, rain, hail, and snow.
How should I prepare my vehicle for shipping?
To prepare your vehicle for shipping, follow five simple steps. First, wash the vehicle from within and without. Next, inspect it for paint chips, scratches, or other signs of damage. Document these signs by taking pictures. Third, remove all personal belongings to avoid unnecessary financial loss. Fourth, remove or secure any loose parts on the car (such as an antenna). Lastly, give the vehicle a maintenance check to ensure it’s ready for transit. Check the mileage, ensure there are no leaks, inform the driver of mechanical leaks, and verify that the vehicle’s battery is charged and the tires are inflated.
How Long Does Vehicle Shipping Usually Take?
While we strive to deliver your vehicle within the time frame specified during booking, exigent circumstances might result in delayed deliveries. Such circumstances include extreme weather, diversions, truck breakdowns, and more. We will be able to provide you with a more accurate timeline for your vehicle’s delivery once a driver has been assigned to your shipment.
What should I do if my vehicle is damaged during shipping?
If you notice any damage to your vehicle when it’s being delivered, take pictures showing the damage. Additionally, ensure the damage is noted on the Bill of Lading. You can use both the pictures and the Bill of Lading to file an insurance claim with the insurance company or the carrier, depending on who you have trusted to insure your car.
