Auto Transport Tips: The Right Car Shipping Carrier for You
We talk a lot about carriers on our blog – as an integral part of the vehicle shipping industry, though, it’s really not all that surprising, is it? Without carriers on the road, hauling cars from city to city, the industry as we know it might not exist – and if it did, it would be vastly different from what we know, and likely more expensive and convoluted. As it stands, finding the right car shipping carrier for your needs has become easier than ever, thanks to the all-encompassing power of the internet. The industry today is mostly based online, and both brokers and carriers can find one another faster than ever before.
As you likely know, there are three main types of carriers – open transporters, which are the standard, expose the vehicles they ship to the elements and as such are cheaper and easier to find. Enclosed shipping is more expensive, but often worth it for expensive or exotic vehicles. Flatbed haulers ship things that the first two can’t. Knowing which carrier you will need is important, as choosing the wrong carrier can lead to unnecessary expenses, damage to a high-end vehicle, wasted time and wasted money. This is why it’s important to find the right car shipping carrier for your needs. If you’re shipping a minivan you drive every day, chances are open transportation will be the best for you. A Ferrari, though, probably should go enclosed.
If you are unsure about which type of car shipping carrier will work best, that’s okay – not only are there different types, but there are also a number of different carrier configurations, especially for open shippers. Open car haulers can ship anywhere from one to ten vehicles depending on the trailer, and prices are commensurate with their size, with the largest typically being cheaper, as a carrier can spread the price out among up to ten different customers. Enclosed transportation, though it is often used for high-end vehicles, can theoretically ship any vehicle that can fit on it, including a rusted-out hunk of junk. Flatbed haulers are harder to find as they deal mostly in specialized freight, and oftentimes are used on an as-needed basis and often closed to most customers.
If you are interested in shipping a vehicle, take a minute to fill out our free online auto shipping quote and get free prices emailed to you from top car shippers in the industry. We make sure that every company you get a quote from is fully licensed, bonded and insured, so you can spend more time comparing prices and services and less time worrying about who you’re getting quotes from. Finding the right car shipping carrier starts with a quote, and the more you get the more competitive your shippers will be, and thus they will usually be cheaper in the long run. You . can also speak to a live agent about finding the right car shipping carrier for you by calling us any time at 800-930-7417.
Since 2007 Dave has written all the content and blogs for American Auto Shipping and during this time added the duties of customer support and transport logistics.
He currently resides in Washington with his three kids and their mom and cat. A fan of Marvel movies and good stories, when not shipping cars Dave can be found working on his novel, enjoying a good book or playing some tournament HALO.
