In arranging for the transport of a car, one vital step is the car shipping quote. A car shipping quote is an estimate given by car transportation companies on how much they will charge to transport your vehicle. Being able to understand the factors affecting this price for example distance, type of the vehicle, and whether you choose services like door to door car shipping will help you in decision-making.
This guide is intended to explain all concepts linking with the car shipping services quotes, general cost parameters when shipping and available tools, e.g., car shipping costs calculator to ease the process.
What Is Car Shipping Quote
A car shipping quote is a price estimate for shipping as provided by auto transport companies using such factors like distance or geographic location. Quotes can either be requested free of charge and obtained through the internet or a phone call. This way, you can receive quite a few quotes and it is easier to choose the most suitable option considering both price and services offered.
Why You Need a Car Shipping Quote A car transport service quote is required in advance in particular for these reasons:
Budget Planning: With the quote, you are able to know to what amount you can spend for shipping your car thus making it easy to arrange for your budget.
Price Comparison: Because you will have several quotes of a transport service from different companies, you will be in the position of analyzing the services to know that which saves you more.
Avoiding Hidden Costs: A good quote will give insight into what other extra charges which may be incurred during the shipping that would normally not be seen.
Key Factors That Affect Car Shipping Quotes
Distance of Shipment When it comes to cost, the distance between the pick-up and delivery points is one of the most critical variables affecting the vehicle shipping quote. The longer the distance, the higher will be the costs.
It will take a much higher amount of shipping a vehicle from one coast of the country to the other than would if one were to move it from one area of a state to another. This is because auto shipping companies charge accordingly per mile and more fuel, time and other resources is required with longer distances.
Vehicle Size and Type
In very much the same way as the distance that separates the shipping point and the destination, the size and type of the vehicle being transported also affects the cost of the transportation. Larger vehicles like vans and huge SUVs cost more than minivans since it all comes down to the amount of weight and space occupied by the automobile on the transport last. Special care for high-end and classic cars can also add pointedly to the expenses.
Transport Method: Open vs. Enclosed Transport
When you are requesting a quote for the car shipping you will be usually requested to choose a transport option among the open and enclosed transport options:
Open Transport: This is very common and cheapest mobile auto shipping option. Vehicle movement involves the use of an open carrier to which their automobile is carefully loaded. Although it may not cover a lot of vehicles, the majority of them are safe and it is typically the cheapest.
Enclosed Transport: While using this type of transport, the owner’s vehicle is placed in a closed trailer which offers no adverse elements. Closed transport is also favorable in that it is meant for expensive, luxurious, or classic cars. This service does offer additional benefits, but an additional 30-50% on top of what you would pay for open transport should be expected.
Door-to-Door Car Shipping
A door-to-door car shipping is quite a convenient service as its service provider goes to the prescribed place to collect the automobile and afterwards proceeds with taking it to another location as per the instructions given by the customer. Without picking up or dropping off the car at any of the terminals, people save the hassle of effort and more importantly, time.
A better experience comes with door to door services. Unfortunately, it is usually more costly than terminal-to terminal ship mileage whereby the clients must truck their car to and from set terminals.
Time of Year
The price quoted may not be the same although the customer intending to ship his vehicle avails a picture of the same vehicle taken earlier in a different month. Availability of vehicles to be transported by auto transport companies is limited during certain periods of the year for instance peak summer or the holiday season. It is possible to raise prices due to high demand during those times.
However, if you decide to ship the vehicle during non-peak seasons for example the winter, such an expense may be avoided. In addition, if you have an acute need for the delivery where shipping is very urgent, it can also heighten the cost.
How to Calculate Shipping Costs of a Car
A car shipping cost calculator helps you know approximately how much you are likely to pay for shipping your car. Many auto transport companies have such tools on their websites for customers to get that instant quote by just entering a few details.
Instead of making ten inquiries over the phone seeking quotes from as many companies, one can seek calculators within the websites. This strategy will enable you to obtain a range of prices and compare them without having to call every single as every price providing entity.
Steps to Utilize a Car Shipping Cost Calculator
Fill in Vehicle Information: Enter the make, model and year among other details of the vehicle you want to be shipped with a help of the calculator. This aids the calculator in understanding how big and heavy your car will be which is a factor affecting the shipping cost.
Enter Pick-Up and Drop-Off Addresses: Please enter the exact address or zip code for the pick-up and drop-off points. This and the other point (the drop-off point) are the most defining points since they will determine the fever distances which are also one of the major concern in calculating the shipping cost.
Select Shipping Method: Choose either open or enclosed transport. Open transport, as noted earlier is cheap, while enclosed transport however guarantees safety of the goods during transportation which comes at a higher price than their virtues.
Select Additional Services: If you require any additional services which include but not limited to expedited delivery or door-to-door car shipping, do not hesitate to mention in your request. The more extra services you will want to be included, the higher will the overall cost be.
Review Your Estimate: Upon entering the required data, the calculator will display the approximate cost of transport services intended for moving your vehicle from your specified place. Realistic because it serves as the baseline of what you should expect, it allows you to scrutinize the charges given by different operators.
Tips for Reducing the Cost to Ship a Car
There are, however, factors with solutions that will hinder the high cost of shipping a vehicle. Sharing with you is not easy when looking for cheap car shipping but here are a few tips to consider:
Book Early
In order to get cheaper rates on the chronological order car shipping, make the transportation arrangements in good time. It is very common to experience high prices for last minute orders especially in busy seasons when everybody is looking for such services.
Be Flexible with Dates
You may get lower rates if you can adjust your pick-up and delivery dates as required. Some auto transport companies provide these discounts on the basis of flexible shipping timelines to the customers.
Make Use of Terminal-to-Terminal Shipping
Even though door to door car shipping is the most convenient option, door to door car transportation service comes at a high cost. For terminal to terminal shipment, it’s ideal for you within the budget and don’t mind dropping off and picking up the vehicle at particular terminals.
Request and Review Many Estimates
Never take the first auto shipping quote that you are given. As much as possible, do not just accept one quote from one company. Inquire for a range of quotes as provided by a number of different auto transport companies and scrutinize the rates for the services offered. In this way, you will be able to get a deal that best fits your shipping requirements and budget.
Conclusion
This is an important advice when intending to transport a vehicle quote on car shipping is necessary. When you identify the important ways of determining the cost to ship a vehicle such as distance, size of the vehicle and the means to be used, you will be able to make logical decisions on your shipment.
If you want to make contact with several auto transport companies and find out how much their car shipping services cost, using a car shipping cost calculator is straightforward. One can extend the flexibility of car shipping by looking through additional service such as door to door car shipping. With much attention to detail and proper planning, everything will turn out right when shipping a car thereby making it a cost effective process.