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Shipping Your Vehicle in Style

The fine line on transporting your four-wheel treasure

The search is over and you've finally acquired that one vehicle you have longed for, whether you bought it at auction, either online or on-site, or you ordered it from a dealership out of town. Maybe some benevolent relative or friend has bestowed or bequeathed a vehicular gift upon you. Or, you're simply making a personal move, and your second or third car, or that collectible family heirloom, the '57 Nomad, needs to find a way to get there. Whatever the reason, now your vehicle must get to its new home.

The challenge is that the destination is on the other side of the country and you are not about to fly there and drive it home. This is because a) you don't have the time; b) you love the car, but a 3,000-mile journey is just not in your game plan; and c) you're confident the vehicle is a good one, but you're just not 100 percent sure the car can make the trek, and you don't feel like pushing the envelope.

The Solution

Ever notice those bright orange enclosed tractor-trailers, some with flames, rolling up and down the freeways? Or similar transporters, some with fabric covers that serve as wraps around the entire structure, and some with "open air" configurations, comparable to conventional car carriers that distribute new vehicles to dealerships? These are private auto transport companies and you can trust and depend on them to bring your treasure home.

But like other forms of competition, there are a wide range of prices and services available, and it is up to you to make sure you get the best value for your dollar.

Carriers

For starters, you can perform a search engine query under "car carriers." Select the ones you may be most familiar with. These are some of the larger companies, which also may have some sort of association, typically via sponsorship with a large online or nationwide auction house, or maybe active with your specific car club.

Virtually all auto transport companies offer a "free quote." This is a very quick and painless exercise in determining the cost of shipping your vehicle and can be done online. You risk very little and shouldn't be worried about providing your email address to them. This is necessary for the carrier in order to respond. Generally, quotes are delivered within 24 hours, 48 max. The actual process simply involves listing the zip codes: where the vehicle is currently and where it will end up. You include your name, if you want, but at least an email address and the dates when you want the vehicle transported. A proper, professional response quickly appears and you've got your first rate. Then do it again with several other shippers to compare fees.

Brokers

The first thing you have to take into consideration is that there are transportation companies and then there are brokers. Nothing wrong with either one, except that a broker typically is just that—he doesn't own his truck (or trucks), but negotiates with other companies that may need to fill a rig bound for a certain destination. The trucker is looking to fill that hole, so there is some "wiggle room" in his fee. You don't know that, but the broker does, and this is where he makes additional money. You can recognize a broker if he typically asks for a deposit up front (most of the time this is non-refundable), with the balance to be paid upon delivery of the vehicle. The advance is what the broker keeps; the balance is what the driver/shipper makes.

If you're evaluating all sources based upon price, you have to factor in several other key points:

Options

Ship open or enclosed? That depends on how valuable your vehicle is. Enclosed units protect your vehicle from all road hazards and weather throughout transport. That is a good thing. Your vehicle arrives, hopefully, without a knick or scratch, not to mention the noticeable lack of bugs on the grille or windshield. This is generally the most expensive option in auto transport.

The next level of shipping is an open multi-car unit that transports vehicles on upper and lower racks. This method of hauling is commonly used by automobile manufacturers to move vehicles from factories to dealers, but individual owners can utilize them if they are shipping unrestored collector vehicles or their everyday (leased, perhaps?) cars. This is obviously a less expensive transport option.

There are still more economical ways to go. In most instances, you will specify that your vehicle go "door-to-door." The transporter comes to the home or office of the person or company/auction house from whom you purchased the vehicle—assuming you have coordinated this in advance with said party—and will collect the vehicle. Then it will deliver your darling right to your home, garage or storage facility. This service is worked into the overall fee.

Savings

If you want to pay less, you can specify that the vehicle be delivered to a local terminal where you can claim the vehicle. It's a little more hassle, but if you live near a large urban center, chances are the bigger commercial carriers either own such a site, or have access to one. Just make sure you bring all appropriate paperwork in order to verify you're the owner.

One additional option is based on time. If you're not in a hurry for the vehicle, you can indicate that, and the shipper will price the transport accordingly, relying on a variety of its transporters to eventually get your vehicle to its final destination. This does not mean it will take a long period of time, but your car or truck won't go coast-to-coast in three or four days, and may be transferred to two or more trucks in the course of its journey.

Insurance

Make sure you also consider insurance when determining your rate and auto transporter. You may simply rely on your own insurance company, but check with them to make sure your vehicle is covered in such a situation. If the auto carrier does offer special insurance, make them specify exactly what it is and how it applies.

Finally, if a shipping company can track a package, they can surely follow your car. Satellite tracking services are also offered by some of the larger carriers, at no additional charge (they're already in touch with the driver in any event). It's a great way to see where your vehicle is going, and when you can anticipate its exact arrival. It builds the excitement!

Some carriers even offer climate-control transportation, ensuring that the "automotive contents" within are as snug and comfortable as they can be. Not a bad way to travel. Maybe even better than when you travel by airplane, find yourself in a middle row, with no food and a bumpy ride. Maybe next time you ship a vehicle, you can ride along—in the passenger seat, of course.