Everything You Need To Know About
Auto Transport Pricing
Your guide to the car shipping process.
Your guide to the car shipping process.
TransportPricing.com is your resource for finding licensed, bonded, and reliable auto transport companies! We can help you find the services you are looking for at a price you can afford. Just to get us started, here is some insight on how the process works:
Though this is generally how the car shipping process works, it may vary slightly depending on your vehicle transport company's policies and procedures.
Are you trying to decide between an open or enclosed when shipping your vehicle? Here are a few points to consider about open carrier auto transport:
There are fewer enclosed auto carriers on the road than open carriers. Additionally, open carriers can haul up to ten vehicles at once while even the largest of enclosed carriers can only fit six. Most vehicles are carried from the factories where they are produced to the dealerships where they are sold on an open carrier. Open shipping is fairly safe and certainly the most affordable option.
Unlike immediate pickup services, an expedited service will get your vehicle on its way faster. Most drivers do not work directly for any auto transport company; they are owner-operators of their own trucks. This means that they also determine their own routes, schedules, and most importantly which vehicles they are going to put on their truck for transport. As you can imagine, the term "expedited" simply means that the transport company is going to post your vehicle on the trucking board with a high payout so drivers will be more likely to pick it up ahead of the other cars posted.
If you're wanting to save some money on an expedited move, here are a couple suggestions:
Immediate pickup services do not necessarily get your vehicle on its way any sooner than it would otherwise be picked up. This service is only meant to ensure that your vehicle is picked up by a certain date. Your auto transport company will usually arrange to have a towing company pickup the vehicle and hold it at their business until a transporter truck can be dispatched to pick it up.
Not wanting to incur these additional costs? Here are a few suggestions that may keep your transport within your budget.
Are you getting ready for moving day? TransportPricing.com is right here to help! We work with several moving companies in your area to ensure that you quality service at affordable rates. Here is an overview of how the process works:
Though this is how the process generally works, you should always consult your moving company for their procedures and regulations.
Moving is a great time to get rid of junk that you no longer have any use for. Remember, everything you pack into a moving truck is one more thing that you will have to unpack at your new home. If you have belongings that you know you do not need, have a moving sale or donate them to charity.
You will need to packing materials to protect your pictures, dishes, and other breakables. You can save money by using your bath towels, dish towels and, bedding to wrap around your valuables to protect them. Be sure to label your boxes with breakables in them so they will not be broken. Large blankets are great for throwing over dressers, televisions, and other large pieces of furniture.
It's amazing how much help you can recruit by advertising free lunch! Be prepared to order a few pizzas on moving day along with some cold drinks. Remember, your friends will want your help when they move, so most of them are willing to help you out on your big day. Be a good host and show your appreciation by satisfying their appetite.
There are many things that you can take care of ahead of time. By tackling what you can early, you will make your life less hectic around moving day. Even the DMV will allow you renew your license a month before your birthday. Taking care of things upfront such as opening a new checking account, transferring medical records, and submitting your change of will give you the time to focus on your move.
When moving, things are often shuffled into boxes and packed away before we realize it. It’s a good idea to create a safe place for documents and other miscellaneous items that you will need prior to moving day. This will save you from looking through packed boxes and having to re-tape or even re-pack them. Having a safe place will save you from counter-productivity.
You can greatly reduce loading times on moving day by using your garage or front room as a staging area for packed boxes. It only takes a few moments to grab a box from the garage and walk it onto the truck, but rounding up boxes takes more time and encourages your helpers to take more breaks.
Ignore this rule when you get to the new house! When you move into your new home, make sure that every box goes to its respective room. Boxes that are place in the garage of your new home will likely still be sitting there six months to a year later. Seeing boxes that need to be unpacked is good motivation for unpacking them.
Ever wonder why so many things get "lost in the move?" Many of us love to wait until the last minute to do everything. Moving is not something to be taken lightly - especially if you are moving out of your current city.
Getting a head start on moving is easier than you may think. You can save time, money, and a few plastic bags by asking for boxes when you go to the grocery store. You will need plenty of boxes anyways, you might as well carry your food home in them. Many stores receive their eggs in large boxes that are great for moving.
Be sure to ask you movers about their experience and how long they have been in business. You want experienced movers to move your precious belongings. It's also a great idea to check with the Better Business Bureau to see how creditable the company is and how they have handled past complaints.
Without researching multiple companies, there is no way of knowing what the median price is in the market. It is important to price shop so you can tell a great price from a company that is trying to overcharge you.
The lowest price is not always the best value. Know what you are getting for your money. Compare the services offered by each moving company. You may find that you can save money by going with a higher quote if they are including a service you would otherwise have to pay extra for such as storage.
Auto transport carriers are entities that own and operate their own fleet of semi trucks. Auto transport brokers are entities that setup the transaction between the customer and the auto transport carriers.
Many auto transport drivers own their own trucks and live their lives out on the open road. Because they are an independent business, they need someone to setup and manage their transactions for them. Auto transport brokers are stationary, they are available when customers need to reach them and therefore cut down on the customer service obligations.
Some auto transport brokerages often purchase their own trucks to operate. Though they may claim to be a carrier, chances are they will still be brokering your job out to an independent driver. There are simply too many vehicles being transported throughout the country on a daily basis for any one trucking company to meet the demand by themselves. You can make sure you are protected by finding out exactly which company will be transporting your vehicle and verifying that they have transport insurance and proper running authority. Every carrier is required by law to have both.
Law prohibits any household items from being shipped inside of your vehicle. The department of transportation often checks vehicles for items being shipped inside. Any items found inside your vehicle could be confiscated.
Additionally, putting items inside your vehicle makes it heavier. Most drivers do not want to carry the additional weight because it lowers their fuel mileage. It is always best to ship your belongings separately.
This depends on your car. Vehicles are pretty well protected on a transport carrier. If you think about it, most cars are shipped to the dealership on an open carrier when they are brand new. If you don't mind your vehicle being exposed to the rain and snow, an open carrier will be the most cost-effective option.
If you are especially particular about your car or if you only drive it on nice days, then an enclosed carrier will offer the most protection. Most cars that are shipped on an open carrier are very dirty when they arrive at their destination. Shipping your car inside of an enclosed carrier is just like letting it sit in your garage. It is completely closed off from the outside world.
You should usually try to schedule your transport three to four weeks in advance. It takes most auto transport companies 7-10 days to assign a truck and up to another week for pickup.
By scheduling your pickup in advance, you will give your auto transport company adequate time to dispatch a driver to pickup your vehicle. If you are under tight time constraints, ask your transportation company how pricing affects dispatch times for your particular move.