Car shipping companies that allow you to pack your car

Summary: Best Car Shipping Companies

How Much Does It Cost To Ship A Car?

The average cost to ship a car across the country is $1,650. However, numerous variables affect pricing.

• Location: Where the vehicle is being picked up, delivered to and the distance between is the most significant factor that affects the shipping price. Besides the distance alone, some cities are more popular destinations for shipping, meaning they may be priced lower than going to or from an out-of-the-way rural community.
• Transportation Options: You’ll have several choices to make about your vehicle’s delivery, including door-to-door or terminal-to-terminal service options, open or enclosed shipping and other custom provisions. Shipping prices increase as you add more options to your service.
• Vehicle Size and Modifications: Larger vehicles such as heavy trucks are more expensive to ship than smaller, sedan-style vehicles. Also, if modifications like having a raised or lowered suspension make loading and transporting more complicated, the price will increase. The same is true of any other modifications that require extra accommodations.
• Timing: You can save some money on shipping your vehicle if your schedule is flexible and delivery speed isn’t as important as cost. The faster and more precise the delivery timing requirements are, the more it will cost to perform.
• Season: The time of year you choose to ship your car will have a modest effect on the price, especially if you’re competing with “snowbirds” during the spring and fall.

What To Know About Using Car Transport Companies

Shipping a vehicle isn’t a common occurrence for most people. The car-shipping process involves numerous variables and can quickly become confusing even if you’re familiar with how it works. Here are some essential things to know about using a car transport company.

Quotes Can Change

Most quotes from shipping companies are simple estimates. In many situations, the final cost isn’t determined until after the vehicle is shipped, which could cause unpleasant surprises. The best defense is to ensure that you provide accurate information to the shipper and receive a binding quote if possible.

Timing Is Approximate

Unless otherwise specified, the date you give your shipping company is merely the earliest time that the automobile needs to be ready for transport. The actual pick-up date can be variable. Shipping times can range from a few days to a couple of weeks and aren’t set in stone.

Understand the Bill of Lading

Your shipping company will provide you with a bill of lading with all the information about your vehicle and your shipment details. It acts as a receipt, an instruction sheet and a form of contract between you and the company. Be sure that the information on the BOL is accurate and includes everything you discussed with the shipper.

Know What Insurance Covers

Whether you use the shipping company’s standard insurance, buy extra protection from them or provide your own insurance, be sure to understand what’s covered in the policy before your shipper picks up your vehicle.

When to Choose Open or Enclosed Transport

Despite some misconceptions, open trailer vehicle shipping is a safe way to move your car at a lower cost than an enclosed trailer. However, if you’re shipping a high-value automobile, it may be worth the added protection and peace of mind to pay more for an enclosed shipment.

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How to Determine Which Car Shipping Company Is Best for You

Automobile transportation companies can all appear alike at first glance. Most of them can go to almost any location you need, and most are good at getting your car there in pristine condition. Following are some particular points to keep in mind while deciding which company is right for you.

Budget

With so many automobile transportation companies in the market, it’s essential to shop around for one that can do the job for a reasonable price. Many shippers offer lower rates if you forego door-to-door service or aren’t particular about scheduling.

Avoid Hidden Costs

Before signing anything, be sure that you clearly understand what you’re paying for. Look for companies who guarantee their quoted price or are upfront about possible extra charges. Hidden costs, such as delivery fees and extra fuel charges, are common among companies with questionable ethics. The lowest quotes are often not the best deal.

Customer Service Ratings

Customer service is really the business that transportation companies are in. Ratings and reviews are their real assets. Almost everything about each one of them is widely available online. Learning from others’ experiences by reading reviews and considering ratings may save you time and money while ensuring a positive experience.

Reasons to Ship Your Car vs. Buy New

Is it worth it to have my car shipped? Shipping a car costs real money. Cars, however, are quite expensive. For some, using trade-in money for a new car at the new location makes more sense. For most, saving money is just one reason to ship your car instead of buying a new one.

Cost

Time and money savings are perhaps the most significant reasons to ship your car rather than purchase a new one when you get to where you’re going. Many of us have long-term payment plans or leases that are difficult or expensive to get out of. Some consumers have collector automobiles that need to be shipped simply because they can’t be replaced.

Simplicity

The next best reason to ship your car is just for simplicity. By handing over the quoted price amount to a transport company, any concerns about how to get the job done are over. Many companies will pick up and drop off the car right to your door. Damage insurance options and the promise to take care of your vehicle take most of the worry away.

Safety

Driving long distances is hazardous from many angles. Car trouble, human error and weather can all affect your safety when operating a car for long distances. Having your car transported professionally removes the personal safety concerns involved.

Save Wear and Tear

It comes as no surprise that having your car hauled to a distant location on a truck will help maintain its current value. By eliminating the extreme mileage associated with driving it there, you’ll save your car the wear and tear of a long road trip. Leave it to the experts who have transportation vehicles designed to take the beating.

Inoperable Car

If your car isn’t in working condition and can’t be driven, it can still be shipped. In that case, it’s called long-distance towing, but it’s the same thing, and the cost is similar for transporting it. Other costs may apply regarding getting the car onto and off of the shipping vehicle. In severe cases, a forklift may have to be hired at the beginning and end of the trip.

Methodology

To determine the best car shipping company, the Forbes Home Improvement editorial team analyzed third-party data on major companies, with each product’s star rating determined by evaluating a variety of metrics, including:

• BBB Score (25%)
• National Coverage (20%)
• Customer Service (15%)
• Cancellation Policy (10%)
• International Car Shipping Option (10%)
• Insurance Coverage (10%)
• Multi-Car Transport Options (10%)

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How We Selected the Best Auto Transport Companies

Forbes’ editorial and review teams rounded up the 24 top ranking auto transport companies across the nation. Competitors were chosen based on information from the Better Business Bureau and top consumer review platforms such as Trustpilot, Consumer Affairs, Google Reviews and Facebook Reviews.

The top 24 companies were then subjected to further investigation. Company information was gathered from their websites and compared to consumers’ review contents and competitor review sites for accuracy and real-life effectiveness.

Finally, pricing estimates were compiled through a combination of mystery shopping and online price quotes using sample vehicles and approximate distances.

The top five companies were listed here based on their ability to provide consistently high customer satisfaction, availability and comprehensive service options.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

How do I find a reputable auto transport company?

To find reputable auto transport companies to work with, start your search on the Better Business Bureau website. You’ll find information about specific companies, along with customer satisfaction reviews. You’ll also find any information regarding complaints and how the company handled them.

What is the best way to ship a car?

The best way to ship a car depends largely on what you need to accomplish. For moving the family car inexpensively, you may simply consider having your moving company do the job. The least costly way to have an auto transport company do it, is to book a spot on an open trailer that’s shared with several other deliveries.

In many cases, people ship collector cars, or specialty cars, that require extra care. In these situations, saving money may take a backseat to personal attention. Hiring specialty automobile movers, dedicated to the cause, may be the best option.

What is the cheapest way to ship a car?

Car transport trailers that can haul many cars at once can offer the least expensive way to ship a car. Uncovered trailers are the cheapest available. Other ways to save money when shipping your car include having a flexible schedule and a flexible delivery location. This means that you may have to drive the car part of the way home, or have it delivered earlier, or later, than what’s ideal, to save cash.

How do I find a reputable auto transport company?

To find a reputable auto transport company, start your search on review sites and by asking acquaintances about their experiences using similar companies. You can make price comparisons online, but contacting each company can give you a better understanding of what services they provide and how upfront they are about pricing.

Avoid companies that are reluctant to offer pricing information and specific details. Also, ask about their insurance and licensing and how they insure your shipment.

Who is the best car transport company?

The best car transport company is the one that best fits your needs. Our top overall choice is Easy Auto Ship. The company scored the highest among the largest number of consumers in our review. However, seldom are circumstances the same for every customer and shipment.

Determine your needs and find a company that can meet them instead of trying to meet the demands of a company that isn’t right for you.

Can I put stuff in my car when I ship it?

There isn’t a law that says that you can’t put stuff in your car when you ship it. Most automobile transport companies would rather you didn’t, though. It’s very unlikely that you’ll find a company that will compensate you for any damage that occurs to the contents. You may even face extra charges based on the added weight or inconvenience to the shipper.

Do you need insurance to ship a car?

Although many car moving companies offer extra damage insurance for your vehicle while in transit, you aren’t required to purchase it. Personal automobile insurance is also not required. The shipping company is required to carry liability insurance that covers themselves and any damage your asset may cause on the trip.

How expensive is it to ship a car?

The cost to ship a car varies dramatically depending on where it’s going and how it’s getting there. For cross-country moves, the average cost hovers around $1,600. If it needs to be delivered over the ocean on a ship, the cost could run up to nearly $5,000.

Information provided on Forbes Home is for educational purposes only. The products and services we review may not be right for your individual circumstances.

Forbes Home adheres to strict editorial integrity standards. To the best of our knowledge, all content is accurate as of the date posted, though offers contained herein may no longer be available. The opinions expressed are the author’s alone and have not been provided, approved, or otherwise endorsed by our partners.

Deane is a 30+ year veteran in the contracting, remodeling, maintenance, and home repair industry. His experience ranges from licensed building contracting to property maintenance company ownership. Currently operating a home repair and DIY consulting service, he empowers his clients to be self-sufficient in their home repair and remodeling endeavors.

Samantha is an editor who covers all topics home-related including home improvement and repair. She edited home repair and design content at websites like The Spruce and HomeAdvisor. She also has hosted videos on DIY home tips and solutions and launched multiple home improvement review boards staffed with licensed pros.

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