
Choose Open Carrier ShippingĪn open trailer costs less than an enclosed carrier-usually by hundreds of dollars. Consider dropping off and picking up your vehicle at a shipping terminal instead. Last-minute booking will cost you extra, as will door-to-door shipping. If you have any flexibility with dropoff and pickup dates and locations, you can shop around for options with the lowest fees. You’re likely to pay less for the same car shipping details if your reservation is during a season of less demand. The busiest times to move are in January (around the New Year) and in the summer months.

To have the most options on pricing and to guarantee open spots on a transport trailer, we recommend comparing company quotes and booking your reservation as early as you are able. When you’ve narrowed down your top choices, you might be able to negotiate with a company that hopes to win your business.

Get multiple free quotes from auto transport carriers. Make your dollars go farther with these strategies to save on car shipping costs. The cost of shipping a vehicle will be less when it’s not mid-summer or at the turn of a new year.Ĭarrier Competition: Getting quotes from multiple car shipping companies will help you negotiate the lowest price for the best customer service. Time of Year: High-demand seasons for car transport will be more expensive. Vehicle Condition: If your car is in rough shape and/or requires a truck to winch it onto the trailer, the shipping company may adjust their price accordingly. However, if the value of your car could decrease with exposure to the elements, such as with luxury or specialty collectors’ cars, it may be worth the difference to pay for a closed carrier. You can expect to pay a lot more for enclosed car transport versus shipping in an open auto transport. Transport Carrier Type: There are two main types of auto transport carriers: those that are open to the elements, and those that are closed. You might need to pay more for an enclosed carrier.įuel Prices: Gasoline costs ebb and flow, and auto shipping companies will adjust their prices accordingly in order to cover operating costs. Vehicle Clearance: A car with low ground clearance may not fit on an open trailer. Choosing terminal-to-terminal shipping, meaning dropping off and/ or picking up your car at a shipping terminal instead of at your home, is a smart way to save on costs. The size of your car will affect how many other cars the carrier can ship, and therefore the price to transport it.ĭelivery Location: Door-to-door car shipping is the most convenient and popular option, but it’s not the most budget-friendly. Here are some variables that affect pricing the most.ĭistance: Shipping a car cross-country is going to cost a higher total than a shorter transport distance, but the price-per-mile will likely decrease with longer distances.Ĭar Size: Unless you book private transport, a car shipping company will need to arrange multiple cars on their trailer. The total cost is usually determined after a vehicle has shipped.

Note that quotes are not fixed unless you lock in a rate with the carrier, though this may not include additional or hidden fees that may apply. To get the most accurate quote from a potential auto transport carrier, provide them with as many specific details about your vehicle and your shipping needs as possible. While we work hard to provide accurate and up to date information that we think you will find relevant, Forbes Home does not and cannot guarantee that any information provided is complete and makes no representations or warranties in connection thereto, nor to the accuracy or applicability thereof. The compensation we receive from advertisers does not influence the recommendations or advice our editorial team provides in our articles or otherwise impact any of the editorial content on Forbes Home. Second, we also include links to advertisers’ offers in some of our articles these “affiliate links” may generate income for our site when you click on them. This site does not include all companies or products available within the market. The compensation we receive for those placements affects how and where advertisers’ offers appear on the site. First, we provide paid placements to advertisers to present their offers.

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