The state of Alabama is located in the southeastern United States, bordering major auto transport hubs like Georgia and Florida. And yet, Alabama is not a very popular auto transport area, all things considered. Why is that?
We’re going to talk all about auto transport to and from Alabama in this article, because it’s important to understand it if you’re shipping a vehicle to or from the state. We’ll give you a brief overview of Alabama as a state, as well as some things that make it easier and harder to move vehicles into and out of Alabama. We’ll also discuss the ways carriers can get around Alabama and how it will affect prices and services, and we’ll also discuss the role weather and seasons play on auto transport and vehicle shipping services. So read on to learn more about auto transport to and from Alabama, and how American Auto Shipping can help you get it done.
A brief overview of Alabama
The entire state of Alabama is home to just over five million people. Its largest city, Huntsville, is home to just over 215,000 people. Its largest metro area, Greater Birmingham, is home to 1.1 million people. Considering the city of Los Angeles has more people than the entirety of Greater Birmingham, it’s safe to say that auto transport services to and from Alabama are not as popular as other, larger states.
That’s okay though! Auto shippers go where the customers are, and there’s always at least some demand for Alabama auto transport services. However, the smaller population size, and the lack of more than just a couple of bigger cities, makes it harder for carriers in general. This usually results in slightly higher prices per-mile than on more popular routes. If you’re shipping to or from Alabama on a budget, stick to major cities. Huntsville, Birmingham, and Montgomery are the three largest cities and, coincidentally, the three most popular places to ship a car to or from in the state.
How auto transporters get around Alabama
There are several major interstate highways that go through Alabama. The most important, perhaps, is I-20. I-20 runs from Charleston, South Carolina, west through Alabama and the rest of the south before connecting to I-10 in west Texas and terminating there. This interstate gives carriers a clear shot through the southern U.S.
There are several others, though, including I-65 and I-85. I-65 runs from Birmingham southwest to Mobile, and connects to I-10. This is another way carriers can get to I-10, making I-65 a rather important highway in the area. I-85 continues northeast into Atlanta and connects with both I-75 in Atlanta and I-95 in Richmond, Virginia. These interstates are the main ways carriers get around the region. So, if your route takes you along any of those interstates, it tends to help both transit times and prices. They also make it cheaper to ship to or from the major cities in Alabama. Since these tend to be the main shipping hubs people are shipping to and from anyway, it’s a win win.
The interstate highways are just one part of the puzzle, though. Let’s also talk about the cities they service and what you can expect when shipping to or from them next.
Auto transport to major Alabama cities
As we mentioned, Huntsville is the state’s largest city, but Birmingham anchors its largest metro area. And when it comes to auto transport prices and services, metro areas are better to talk about than individual cities. At least, when it comes to auto transport to and from Alabama.
The reason why is simple: Alabama is heavily rural. There’s only a handful of bigger cities, so carriers often look at surrounding suburbs of a major city for loads. This is true for many cities and states. Shipping to or from these metropolitan areas is almost always going to be cheaper and easier than shipping to or from rural areas. So, you should expect relatively similar rates shipping to Montgomery, Birmingham, Huntsville, and Mobile. However, it does depend on where you’re shipping from. Prices from the northwest tend to be the most expensive, while prices from the south tend to be the cheapest. Distance is an important part of the price you pay, after all.
So, when you’re shipping to or from Alabama, it’s important to understand where you’re shipping from and to. Bigger cities yield faster dispatches and lower prices than smaller, more rural areas. Being close to major interstate highways also helps keep prices and transit times lower. Keep that in mind when you’re deciding to ship a car to or from Alabama.
Auto transport to rural Alabama
Most of Alabama is rural. This is true for most U.S. states, actually, but Alabama, like much of the Deep South, is much more rural than not. Rural auto transport services are almost always more expensive on a per-mile basis than urban transport services. Rural auto transport prices are based heavily on their proximity to interstate and easily accessible state highways. While auto shippers want to stay on major interstate highways, they’ll use state highways if they need to. Alabama has a lot of these, which makes it easier for their residents to get around the state.
The role weather and seasons play
The auto shipping industry is a seasonal one. Winter shipping sees less demand and lower prices, and can see longer wait times from booking to dispatch. Summer shipping services are more expensive, as demand is higher, but if priced right, loads often move quickly. Even loads to and from rural Alabama!
That said, Alabama experiences quite a bit of crazy weather. It is known for its heavy rain and thunderstorms, and is one of the states with the highest number of tornado spawns per year. Alabama sees a lot of tornadoes particularly in the central and northern parts of the state. These can, of course, cause delays in pickups, deliveries, and transit times through the state.
Alabama also sees its fair share of hurricane weather, thanks to its proximity on the Gulf of Mexico. Though it doesn’t get battered as much as Louisiana and Florida, it does still get hit pretty hard, particularly Mobile. Hurricanes can cause serious disruptions in auto transportation services to and from Alabama. However, they usually aren’t as disruptive as in other parts of the southern U.S. But still, shipping during hurricane season can cause delays and cancellations from carriers due to conditions on the road. Overall, though, the weather is nice enough that most shipments are handled without any issue.
Ship today with American Auto Shipping
If you’re interested in transporting a vehicle to or from Alabama, we can help! Here at American Auto Shipping, we have over 20 years of experience helping our customers move their vehicles. We know what it takes to get a vehicle shipped to or from anywhere in the United States. Whether it’s a rural shipment, or from one major city to another, we can help you get it done.
You can take a minute or two and get a quote right here on our website via our online quote form if you’d like. You can also read more about shipping to or from other areas of the U.S. as well. Or, you can contact us any time over the phone at 800-930-7417 to speak to a representative.
Either way, you can get a quote to ship your vehicle and information about the process. Our representatives are happy to answer any questions you may have, give you a quote, book your shipment, and much more. So no matter what you’re shipping, or where it’s coming from or to, we can help you get it done.
Helpful Links for the State of Alabama
- Alabama’s Official State Website
- State of Alabama on Wikipedia, the Free Encyclopedia
- Alabama State Guide Courtesy of the Library of Congress
- Alabama State Facts from USDA
More Information About Cities in Alabama by Metropolitan Area
Birmingham Metropolitan Area
Birmingham | Hoover | Talladega | Alabaster | Bessemer | Calera | Center Point | Cullman | Fairfield | Fairhope | Gainesville | Gardendale | Homewood | Helena | Hueytown | Irondale | Jasper | Leeds | Mountain Brook | Pelham | Pell City | Pleasant Grove | Sylacauga | Trussville | Vestavia Hills
Huntsville Metropolitan Area
Huntsville | Ardmore | Athens | Brownsboro | Decatur | Elkmont | Gurley | Harvest | Hazel Green | Madison | Meridianville | Monrovia | Moores Hill | New Hope | New Market | Owens Cross Roads | Redstone Arsenal | Toney | Triana
Mobile Metropolitan Area
Mobile | Prichard | Saraland | Tillmans Corner | Daphne | Fairhope | Bay Minette | Bayou La Batre | Chickasaw | Citronelle | Creola | Dauphin Island | Foley | Grand Bay | Gulf Shores | Orange Beach | Robertsdale | Satsuma | Semmes | Spanish Fort | Theodore
Montgomery Metropolitan Area
Montgomery | Alexander City | Dothan | Enterprise | Millbrook | Prattville | Coosada | Eclectic | Fort Deposit | Hayneville | Mosses | Ozark | Tallassee | Wetumpka | White Hall | Pike Road
Tuscaloosa Metropolitan Area
Tuscaloosa | Northport | Brookwood | Coaling | Eutaw | Greensboro | Lake View | Moundville
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.
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