Purchasing any vehicle, including classic cars or the latest models, might be exciting, but figuring out how to ship the car home can be a problem. Each state has its own regulations, meaning buying a car from a different state comes with new hurdles to navigate. Choosing a transport method is one of the initial procedures one must go through, but it often only scratches the surface of the actual work involved. This article aims to discuss the various methods through which you might transport your car, alongside the probable expenses and time needed for each method.
Methods for Shipping Cars Outside the State
When buying a vehicle from dealerships or private sellers, customers do have the option to drive the vehicle back home. While these cross-country trips might be enticing, they are however, incredibly costly and time-consuming. In these situations, the transport option usually falls in the middle of the time vs. cost equation. Given the vast distances involved, driving long distances is no longer a feasible option, so let’s explore how you can ship the car in a more reasonable way.
Open vs. Enclosed Auto Transport – Making The Choice
Choosing between open and enclosed auto transport is one of the matters you will face during your initial vehicle purchase. Each choice has its pros and cons depending on your financial capability, the nature of your vehicle, and the time frame of delivery.
Open Auto Transport
Open auto transport is the recommended method of transporting vehicles because it is cost-free. As you probably guessed, the car will be placed on an open trailer with other cars for shipment to the same location. Subsequently, the entire shipment will be driven to the destination without intermediate stops. If you are trying to reduce expenditures, this method goes best with common vehicles including sedans, SUVs and trucks. This is also the shipping option that most car dealers use in their operations because it is quicker.
There is, however, a way the car gets contaminated during the trip, but this is not a worry for most cars. The main disadvantage of open transport is the exposure to wind, rain, dirt and even pond silt. While a vehicle can get polluted on the move, the majority of cars won’t be detrimentally impacted.
Enclosed Car Shipping
Enclosed auto transport has greater safeguards. It is more expensive than open auto transport as it utilizes a fully enclosed trailer to contain your vehicle, shielding it from harmful external elements. This option is suitable for high-value cars, luxury cars, or classic cars requiring special handling during transport.
Should your vehicle be a collector’s piece or hold substantial value, spending a bit extra on enclosed is justifiable. The extra measures will ensure added protective care giving you peace of mind during the transportation period.
Factors Affecting the Price of Transporting A Purchased Vehicle from Another State
With great convenience comes spending borders to shipping vehicles. Having an out of state vehicle increases the budget and division estimating shipment. Described below are the main cost drivers of transport shipping expenses:
Distance
For domestic moves, the price for relocating a vehicle depends on the distance from the origin to the destination place – the further the distance, the pricier it gets. Take for illustration transporting a vehicle from one region of the country to another, this is costlier than doing so within a state or region closer to the origin. On the other hand, many transport companies do offer flat-rate shipping for long distance travel which can save money compared to distance-based billing
Vehicle Profile and Size Specifications
The type and amount of weight and the size of the vehicle also affect cost. A sedan is less expensive to ship than a truck, SUV, or luxury vehicle. Also, if a vehicle is difficult to load oversized, lowered, or dwarf vehicles may incur additional costs.
Transport Type Details
As stated before, open transport is less costly while enclosed transports are more costly. On the other hand, accepting the risk with open transport will help save money. Additionally, less safety precautions for excessive advanced or rare vehicles are also another reason why open transport is needed which is more costly due to the measures taken.
Costs in Relation to Vehicle Pickup and Drop Off Locations
Remote areas are generally more difficult to service. Such rural areas are problematic in the context where urban areas is not an issue. With terminal-to-terminal shipping, customers are offered a simple method of selecting the vehicle fetch location and the drop-off location, but this may incur extra costs.
The Steps of Auto Shipping
Each time in the calendar comes with its own pros and cons with regards to scheduling a vehicle shipment, including what pricing will be incurred during the process. During winter months, fall, and other off peak months for vehicle transport services, tenders are most likely to be lower. As for summer and holiday months, this time tends to get busy, which increases demand and prices.
The date when servicing is to be conducted, the specific task set to be done, method to be used while covering the distance, pricing structure along with season and geographical area all combine to conclude the level of effort involved in vehicle transport services. As per approximation, it takes about a week or two to carry out a vehicle’s shipment across the country.
These Factors Influence Auto Transport Service Timeline:
– Pickup and drop area
– Seasonal Demand: Spending more time traveling is associated with an increase in demand, and as such will require even more time during peak windows.
– Weather Conditions: Heavy snow, floods, and other forms of adverse weather delay auto transport service for a considerable amount of time.
Confirm the expected schedule with your auto transport company regarding the timeline for the shipment. In the event there is a strict deadline, it may be possible to alter the order to expedited shipping at an additional cost.
Preparation for Out of State Vehicle Transport
Once a vehicle is purchased from another state, the following steps need to be completed in order for it to be ready for transport. Below is a checklist worth following:
– Wash the Vehicle: Ensure that the vehicle is scrubbed down to remove any existing dirt or residues. This helps clean the car and make it easier for a person to check the damages.
– Take Out Your Belongings: Storing personal effects in a transport vehicle is not advisable because most companies do not provide insurance for these items of belongings. Ensure that you try for valuables and actively remove them.
– Damage Assessment: Take pictures as you walk around the vehicle documenting the injuries to create evidence for possible claims related to damages that the vehicle incurred during transport. This will help you in resolving claims that could arise regarding damages during transport.
– Confirm the Car is Functioning Mechanically: In any circumstance confirm that the automobile is operational, and if it is functional ensure to check its parts and functionality. If not operational, notify the transport company concerning their outlined procedures for non-operational-vehicles transport.
Conclusion
In another state, the logistics that are connected with car shipping can be quite complicated initially. However, with experience, logistics get easier. Whether you choose open or enclosed auto transport, obtaining a car shipping quote, shipment period, and the service contract terms are crucial steps before the cashless border customs.
Car Transport 24 offers auto shipping services within borders of the country. Whether you have sedans or luxury cars, schedule a delivery time, and a free estimate is waiting for your call. Let us plan the entire vehicle transport logistics for you.