About Auto Shipping Discounts
The car shipping industry is an expensive one for all parties involved. It takes a lot of time and effort and coordination to successfully ship a vehicle from one side of the country to another, particularly for carriers but especially for carriers. Between fuel, maintenance, food and lodging, and all the hoops they have to jump through to remain legitimate, car transporters have a hard time breaking even when they ship a car, which is a big reason why the operate the way they do today. Brokers have it easier – office expenses are typically less demanding and often more stable than a carrier’s expenses, and things such as fuel are not an issue, but their job is to get the freight in the hands of the carriers on the road while also juggling the demands of the customers. But it is the broker that often gives auto shipping discounts, which is what we are discussing today.
Brokers have a unique role – they are middlemen, yes, but they are important in that carriers don’t have the time or energy to find customers and make themselves known on the world wide web, which is where most customers find a shipper today. Many do not know, though, that the broker is usually the source of any and all auto shipping discounts, and the reason is fairly straightforward: they would rather ship a car and take a chunk out of their own profit than to lower the price to the truck and not get it shipped.
Seriously, whether you’re trying to get auto shipping discounts because you’re a military member, a senior citizen, a student or a frequent customer, the discounts that you are given are almost always taken out of the broker’s pay. A carrier doesn’t care about discounts; they can find other freight on popular routes and their profit margins are thin as a razor. Brokers, though, have more leeway – not a lot, but a bit. Discounts usually aren’t gamebreaking; usually they only amount to $25-75 off, depending on the discount and who is giving it. And no company is obligated to give any, though it’s always best to ask. Auto shipping discounts are generally given as a sales tactic, but it’s a good thing either way – you get some money off, the company does a customer a solid, and things run smoothly despite it.
If you are interested in shipping a vehicle, or want to learn more about auto shipping discounts, you can contact one of our live agents any time, toll-free, at 800-930-7417. Our representatives know the ins and outs of the industry and can help answer your questions, give advice and help point you in the right direction. If you’re searching for free shipping quotes, you can also get those here; simply take a minute and fill out our free online quote request form to get multiple free quotes emailed to you from quality auto transportation companies. We clear each company you get a quote from for both dependability and reliability, and that includes checking to make sure each is fully licensed, bonded, and work only with top carrier companies.
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.
- When to go with an Enclosed Transport - October 2, 2023
- Understanding California’s EV Mandate - August 1, 2023
- Top Reasons Auto Shippers Are Delayed - January 9, 2023
