The first question most people ask when they are looking for auto transport companies is how much does it cost to ship a car. Auto transport quotes vary from company to company. Are they an auto transport broker or a car delivery service? Is the quote for terminal-to-terminal service or door-to-door service?
How to save money on car haulers in four steps
There are a lot of factors that determine the cost to ship a car, but if you follow these four steps, you will be able to find a reputable transport service that will ship your car door to door without it costing you an arm and a leg.
4 steps to save money on car haulers
- Get quotes from several auto transport companies: Get online and get quotes from multiple auto transport companies. Shop around. This is the best way to find a reasonable auto shipping cost.
- Open or enclosed trailer options: Whether you choose an open or enclosed trailer to ship your car affects your auto transport quote. Open transport is less expensive than enclosed transport, and unless you’re shipping a classic or rare car, is the best option.
- Book auto transport as early as possible: Book your auto transport order as far in advance as possible. The more time you give the auto hauler to coordinate pickup and delivery of your vehicle can affect your vehicle hauling cost. Booking at the last minute can add up to your transportation cost. By planning you can save when you ship your car.
- Use door-to-door shipping: Door-to-door delivery is often more economical, convenient, and cheaper than terminal-to-terminal when using a car transport service. Choosing this option will save you money. With door-to-door service, your vehicle will be picked up at your address and delivered to your destination address. With terminal-to-terminal shipping, if you do not synchronize with the pickup and delivery time it can get expensive because terminal yards charge daily storage fees. Also, the nearest terminal may be hundreds of miles away from you, which will add travel costs to the total if you have to drive the car to the terminal and make your way back home.
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Tips when you ship a car
- While saving money when you use a car transport service is a good idea, don’t automatically go with the cheapest quote. A cheap vehicle hauling quote can result in a number of headaches and end up costing more in the long run.
- Beware of car transporters that say your vehicle will be picked up within the standard 1-7 days despite a quote which is $200-$400 lower than everyone else. Ninety-nine percent of the time this will not be the case.
- While a couple of hundred dollars in savings is nothing to sneeze at, in the long run the cheap car shipping quote may end up costing you way more in time, unneeded stress and hidden charges. Not to mention the impact on your life if you have to be without your car for an extended period of time. If you need to rent a car while you wait for your car to be delivered, that will cost you extra money as well.
- Research the car movers you want to hire to ship your car. Read customer reviews, look them up on ratings agencies and check out their safety records with the FMCSA. Remember, forewarned is forearmed.