How Long Does It Take To Ship A Car?

First of all, the vehicle shipping company will propose the most accurate estimate with the time taken for shipping your car. You must be prepared that the shipping time depends on several factors such as the distance your car is going to travel. Usually it takes from 1 week to 2 weeks to ship a car. Add traffic, road conditions and driver’s time on the road to your delivery time. One more important criteria is the number of cars that are shipping in the same direction. Do not underestimate the power of a car shipping checklist to help prepare your car before the car shipper arrives.

What to look for in a Car Shipping Company?

As we have already mentioned you should be reputable and trustworthy so make sure to:

• Verify their address, licensing and insurance records with the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA).
• Check the Shipping company reviews on reliable sources like google or Moving-me.
• Check out the company with the BBB for complaints.

The Best 5 Car Shipping and Auto Transport Companies of 2021

The research was made among 150 Car Shipping Companies and Top 5 was created according to positive customer reviews and such factors as competitive prices, fast delivery, and excellent customer service.

Company	Classification	Rating	Advantages
Easy Auto Ship Moving Company	Best Overall	4.5 stars	$840 avg. shipping cost Discounts available.
Sherpa Auto Transport Moving Company	Locked-In Prices	4.2 stars	$1,040 avg. shipping cost Discounts available.
Montway Auto Transport Moving Company	Best Availability	4.0 stars	$850 avg. shipping cost Discounts available.
Bargain Auto Transport Moving Company	Lowest Prices	4.5 stars	$790 avg. shipping cost Discounts available.
AmeriFreight Moving Company	Great for Discounts	4.1 stars	$1,060 avg. shipping cost Discounts available.

What is the Difference Between Open and Enclosed Transport?

Open and enclosed transport are two possible ways to perform transportation. Open variant is gaining its popularity being cheap and available. Open transport means your car is going to face weather and road debris. Closed variant means your car is protected and secured.

What Car Shipping Options are Available?

Car Shipping Options include shipping :

• by Trailer
• by Rail
• by Plane Driveaway

Are There any DIY Options?

Yes, drive or tow it yourself option is one of the cost-effective, but time-consuming. You can certainly drive or tow the car yourself instead of paying for a car shipping company service. But be prepared that it is not always cheaper than it seems to be. The total cost to drive or tow the vehicle yourself varies due to the plan you are going to stick to. It will likely cost between $650 and $1,250 if the trip is more than 1,500 miles, plus your time.

What are the Delivery Options?

There are two possible variant of delivery service:

• Door-to-Door: The variant when a shipping company picks up the vehicle at your house and drops it off at your new location.
• Terminal-to-Terminal: According to this variant you drop off the vehicle at a point and pick it up at the place the shipper tells you.

Can You Ship Your Car With Things In It?

Shipping companies usually don’t allow leaving anything in the car. Believe our years of experience in moving this idea will lead to broken or damaged, stolen or lost belongings. We do not recommend shipping anything with the car itself.

How Much Does it Cost to Ship a Car?

Don’t forget to ask a car shipping company for a free quote. Every car shipping company will give you an initial quote. But if your budget is limited a guaranteed quote means your final auto transport cost won’t budge from your initial quote. Consider purchasing additional insurance coverage to avoid unexpected expenses. The car shipping cost will depend on the following factors:

• Distance of shipment: The longer the car is moved, the more you pay.
• Getting discounts: You can save money by getting discounts.
• Date/Season: Because of higher demand shipping during the summer is more expensive .
• Delivery Date: The faster you need, the more you pay.

How Much Does it Cost to Ship A Car Cross Country?

As we have already mentioned the cost to ship a car across the United States depends on the factors. However, when talking about a long-distance shipment the cost per mile actually goes down the further the distance. Shipping a car from Los Angeles, CA to Miami, FL would cost about $1,350. Your cross country shipping costs can be estimated directly by the shipping company if you contact them as soon as possible.

Can I Get An Auto Transport Discount?

There are discounts some car shipping companies propose:

• First Responders
• Return Customer
• First-Time Shippers
• Military
• Student
• Early Bird
• Senior Citizens
• Multiple vehicles

What Is The Cheapest Way to Ship A Car?

The cheapest way to ship a car is usually open transport with terminal-to-terminal delivery. There are some ways to cut costs so if you’re using a car shipping company consider the following:

• Use open transport
• Ship during off-peak season
• Get a car shipping discount
• Be flexible with the delivery date

Car Shipping Checklist

If you haven’t made the final decision of choosing the reliable car auto shipper we propose to look through 5 best car shipping companies before you proceed to the car shipping checklist for getting your car ready, the only thing you need to do is to choose the one that meets your needs and budget.

• Research Shipping Companies
• Examine Reviews
• Get Multiple Car Shipping Quotes
• Call Your Insurance Company

Our Car Shipping Checklist for Preparing Your Vehicle

We also recommend you as an owner to prepare your car for shipping beforehand. Our team of professionals made a thorough checklist to follow.

• Clean and wash your vehicle. Clean out your car (including the trunk) before you ship it. Do not transport anything inside, remove all personal belongings from the car. If your car is clean, it’s easier to notice scratches and damage.
• Check, document and take photos of all damage. Make sure your pictures include a date and time record. Also take pictures of the inside and outside of the vehicle. Make sure you get pictures of the undercarriage, as well.
• Remove exterior Items. Things like a bike rack, ski rack, or luggage rack, radio antennas and other items must be removed. Fold in your side mirrors.
• Disable your alarm. If the alarm goes off during transport, it may annoy the driver.
• Charge the battery. Your battery needs to have a full charge and fixed securely.
• Deactivate your electronic toll pass (if applicable). If an auto transport truck goes through a toll and your electronic pass is on, you will be charged as if you were the one driving.
• Check tires. All tires should be inflated to the manufacturer’s recommended tire pressure.
• Look for leaks or other issues. If you find any fluid leaks or mechanical issues you should let you shipper know.
• Document your mileage. This step is needed to be sure nobody used your car.
• Get a spare key. Sometimes it happens that the delivery driver may lose the keys.
• Verify details and sign your bill of lading. Make sure the company representative hasn’t made any mistakes when listing existing scratches and dents on your car. Don’t be shy to ask questions if something is not clear and sign the document only if everything is correct.
• Don’t forget to inspect your car after arrival.