Shipping an automobile via truck is the most usual method for transporting it, and it is the most cost-effective. Carrying up to 10 automobiles at a time, these vehicle transport rigs may travel thousands of miles in a few days.
How much does it cost per mile to ship a car?
For an approximate cost estimate, multiply the anticipated journey distance by the estimated cost per mile. This is a wonderful starting point for your financial planning. To get an idea of how much it will cost to ship a car from coast to coast, check out the automobile shipping calculator below, which also covers the cost of cross-country shipping.
Cost To Ship A Car
The car shipping rates of shipping a vehicle more than 1,000 miles is around $0.60 per mile. Shorter distances equate to a higher cost per mile. It costs roughly $1 per mile for trips of 500 miles or less. The size of the vehicle, the distance, the season, and the mode of transportation all have an impact on the cost. The cost of shipping can vary greatly depending on the company and the distance to be traveled. Although alternative means of long-distance car transportation are effective, open transport is by far the most popular.
What influences the Cost to Ship A Car?
It’s difficult to get an accurate estimate of how much it will cost to ship a car because so many elements come into play.
Size of the Car
The cost of shipping an automobile depends on the weight and dimensions of the vehicle you’re sending. For example, our bids reveal that shipping a car from Montgomery to Kansas will cost between $800 and $925, whereas the same company may charge between $950 and $1,200 to ship an SUV, van, or pickup truck the same distance.
It is more expensive to ship these bigger automobiles because they take up more room on a trucking company’s truck. The lower the fee per vehicle, the more cars the carrier can haul.
Season
During the busiest times of the year, top car shipping companies have to charge extra because of the increased competition for available space on shipping trucks. During the warmer months, shipping a vehicle might cost up to $200 to $300 more every trip.
Winter shipping in places where bad weather is common can raise the cost of transporting vehicles. Carriers will certainly raise the cost of their services if they have to deal with blizzards and other weather delays.
Make sure to inquire about high rates and find out whether the transporter or broker offers off-season reductions that can minimize the average car transport cost. If you can, look around for one that does, as this can result in significant savings over time.
Distance Traveled
Expenses increase with the distance your vehicle has to drive. This is not a surprise. It’s possible that mileage costs will vary depending on the provider you choose, so shop around and compare prices based on distance. For long-distance highway travel, carriers frequently charge less money than they would for shorter distances. For example, if a plane is flying from Miami to Boston, it will have to travel via several major cities where severe traffic or other delays may occur. However, the largest bulk of the journey takes occurs at high speeds and without the complication of city congestion. It is more cost-effective per mile for a carrier to cover more ground in a day.
Enclosed shipping vs. open transportation
It is less expensive to ship your car on an open trailer since the carrier does not have to do as much to protect your car from the weather.
As a vintage or high-end car shipper, you might consider paying a premium for the protection of an enclosed carrier. Fewer vehicles are transported by these trucks, which are equipped with additional safeguards for high-priced or rare autos.
Expected Date of Arrival
If you want your automobile delivery to be expedited, you’ll pay extra in the long run, as you would with any other shipping service. Rush shipping can cost anything from $200 to $500 extra. If you are willing to be more versatile about when your automobile arrives at its final destination, you can save money.
Most of the time, you’ll be provided with a three-day pickup window and an approximate delivery date. You may be able to park your vehicle for an additional price if you need it picked up by a certain time.
The process of bidding on a car
Price variations are possible due to carriers bidding on car shipping rates. This is typically neither positive nor negative, but it’s something to keep an eye on anyhow.