How to Get a Car Shipping Quote 

To make getting a car shipping quote as easy and simple a process as possible, we have designed a handy and highly advanced Auto Transport Calculator. You will find it at the top of this page and every page of our website. The process involves 5 simple steps. 

Here is how to use it to get your car shipping quote in about 30 seconds or less:

Step #1: Visit any page on the American Auto Shipping website. 

Step #2: Enter the ZIP codes of both the location you want to have your car picked up and the end destination. 

Step #3: Choose either Open Transport or Enclosed Transport.

Step #4: Click on Vehicle Details and type in the required information. 

Step #5: Select the desired date of pickup then submit your quote request.

As soon as you send the form back to us, you will receive a BINDING car shipping quote in a few seconds. Our team of pricing experts is working non-stop to provide the lowest possible prices to move your car within the shortest possible time. For that reason, we consider factors like diesel fuel rates and supply and demand. 

Did you know that you could be eligible for a special car shipping discount? Get in touch via live chat, telephone, or online contact form to see if you qualify! 

How Distance Will Affect Your Car Shipping Quote

The first thing that car shipping companies use for giving an auto transport quote is the pickup and destination cities. Your car shipping quote depends heavily on where you’re shipping from and to – a car shipping quote from, say, California to New York, will always be more expensive than a car shipping quote from Texas to Arizona.

This is because the distance from California to New York is much higher, which means that the auto transport carrier has to travel further, which means more costs for fuel and boarding. Different auto transport companies have different prices per mile that they give in their auto transport quote, and as that forms the basis of your overall quote it will differ based on their rates.

From there, it depends on how much the auto shipping company takes for their deposit. Your quote should include the deposit, and does if you get one from us. But sometimes your auto transport quote won’t differentiate between the truck price and the broker’s deposit, so if you are unsure as to how much your car shipping quote is, you should always ask a representative.

How Vehicle Size Affects Car Shipping Costs

Many car shipping companies utilize a website called Central Dispatch to aid them in their accuracy; Central Dispatch is a website designed for brokers and carriers to find loads for one another, and many times a car shipping company will compare different prices for your route on Central Dispatch, so they can see average rates along your route, which will often help keep your prices lower.

if your vehicle is over-sized or not a common vehicle, your car shipping quote may be higher. This is because many car shipping trucks cannot fit something like a limousine or a lifted pickup truck onto their truck, so the car shipping company has to find a specialty truck to move your vehicle, which would increase your car shipping quote.

It is always important to have accurate dimensions for a large vehicle when finding a car shipping quote – this ensures that the car shipping quote you receive is accurate and will allow the car shipping company to give you the best car shipping quote they can.

There are other variables as well, but those are more selective, and depend much more on what you are shipping and when you are shipping and where you are shipping from and to as well. The ones listed here are the most common factors in determining your shipment, though, and you can discuss your shipment in more detail with an agent to understand more about that company’s quoting methods and the different services they provide.

Car Shipping Times and Seasonal Variations

Another major factor that goes into every car shipping quote is when you’re shipping your vehicle. Auto shipping is a seasonal industry, meaning that there are peak times and non-peak times.

For instance, the summer months are when the industry is booming. More people are shipping cars, more carriers are on the road, and the weather allows carriers to get just about anywhere. Winter tends to be the off-season; fewer people are shipping, which means fewer carriers, and the weather can shut down routes, particularly in the north.

During the summer months, prices on popular routes increase, while prices on non-popular routes decrease. Popular routes see a lot of freight, which means that brokers have to price their freight accordingly. Higher prices on popular routes get vehicles picked up more quickly than lower prices.

During the winter months, though, prices on popular routes decrease while prices on non-popular routes increase. This is because carriers huddle close to the major routes to get what loads they can.

Of course, this can change depending on a number of different factors. But this is the way it usually works.

Same Day Pickup and how you can get it

We offer same day and 24-hour pickup services with our Expedited shipping option. Expedited shipping works 90% of the time and is guaranteed to get your vehicle picked up when you need it picked up. Call us for more information about expedited shipping and same day pickup services and to get a price to ship your vehicle at an expedited rate.

 Get a guaranteed car shipping quote from American Auto Shipping today

If you’re looking for a car shipping company to ship your vehicle, look no further than American Auto Shipping. We know what it takes to get a vehicle priced at a rate that both you and the carrier will like. 

Take a minute to fill out our free online car shipping quote request form. If you do, you’ll get an instant price to ship your vehicle right away. Quotes are valid for 24 hours only, as prices can change quickly in this industry.

You can also contact one of our representatives any time at 800-930-7417. They can answer questions, give you a quote, and more. So no matter what you’re looking for in your shipment, trust American Auto Shipping to deliver.