Auto Shipping Blog
Expert tips, guides, and industry insights to help you navigate vehicle shipping with confidence. Browse 783 articles from our team.
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Stay informed with our latest auto transport guides and tips
August 3, 2026
Spot Rates Just Passed Contract Rates for the First Time Since 2021 -- What That Means for Your Quote
Open-market truckload rates have climbed above locked-in contract rates for the first time since 2021, tender rejections are at multi-year highs, and the tightening is expected to run through August. Car hauling rides the same capacity -- here is what that actually does to the number on your quote.
July 30, 2026
The EV Weight Penalty: Why Shipping an Electric Car Costs More in 2026
Quotes for electric vehicles keep coming back higher than the gas version of the same car, and customers assume it is a surcharge for special handling. It is not. It is a federal weight limit written in the 1970s meeting a battery pack built in 2026 -- and it costs the carrier slots on the trailer.
July 27, 2026
Shipping a Car to Alaska: What It Really Costs, and Why It Is Two Trips Not One
Alaska is the route people underestimate most. There is no continuous road a standard car carrier can drive, so nearly every vehicle sails out of the Port of Tacoma -- which means you are booking two legs, not one. Here is what each costs and how long the whole thing really takes.
July 23, 2026
Wildfire Season 2026: Move Your Vehicles Before the Evacuation Order, Not After
Fire agencies are calling for above-normal wildfire activity across California and the West this season. If you've got a second car, a classic, an RV, or a boat sitting at a property in fire country, the time to move it is before the evacuation order -- because once one drops, no carrier can come get it.
July 20, 2026
Long-Haul Car Shipping Is Up 42% — What's Driving America's Cross-Country Moves
Cross-country auto transport is the fastest-growing segment of the industry -- long-haul shipments are running about 42% ahead of where they were. Here's what's behind the surge, what it does to pricing, and how to book a 2,000-mile move without overpaying.
July 16, 2026
Repossessions Just Hit a 16-Year High — and Smart Buyers Are Shipping Home the Deals
Vehicle repossessions are running at their highest pace since 2009-2010, and all that inventory lands at auctions -- often several states from the buyers who want it. Here's how the repo wave is reshaping where Americans buy cars, and how to get an auction win home without storage fees eating the deal.
July 13, 2026
The 2026 Diesel Shock: Why Carriers Are Parking Their Trucks — and What It Means for Your Shipment
Diesel has spiked toward $5.60 a gallon -- up nearly 60% from a year ago -- and it's forcing thousands of small auto transport operators off the road. Here's what a shrinking carrier pool means for capacity, pricing, and how you should book for the rest of 2026.
July 10, 2026
Buying a Car Out of State From a Private Seller? Here's How to Get It Home
Buying a used car from a private seller a few states away can be a great deal -- until you realize that the second the money changes hands, getting it home is your problem. Here's how we help customers line up title, payment, and door-to-door transport so a long-distance private-party purchase actually goes smoothly.
July 6, 2026
How Much Does It Cost to Ship a Motorcycle? Open, Enclosed, and Crated Explained
Shipping a motorcycle isn't the same as shipping a car -- the method matters as much as the miles. Here's what open, enclosed, and crated transport actually cost, when each is worth it, and how to make sure your bike shows up the way it left.
July 2, 2026
First-Time Car Shipper's Checklist: Exactly How to Prep Your Vehicle for Pickup
Shipping a car for the first time? A few minutes of prep prevents most of the problems we see. Here's the exact pre-pickup checklist -- fuel level, personal items, that spare key, and the photos that protect you -- so pickup day goes off without a hitch.
June 29, 2026
Why Auto Transport Quotes Vary So Much -- and How a Marketplace Beats One Broker's Number
Get five car shipping quotes and you'll get five different prices -- sometimes $400 apart for the exact same move. Here's what actually drives that spread, why a single broker's quote is rarely your best deal, and how real carrier bidding gets you the true market rate.
June 26, 2026
How to Verify Your Auto Transport Carrier Before Booking
Every year thousands of customers get burned by unlicensed or underinsured auto transport companies. Here's exactly how to verify any carrier's authority, insurance, and safety record before you hand over your keys -- and what our new carrier directory does for you automatically.
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