Interested in shipping a race car? If so, we can help! Shipping a race car can bring with it interesting challenges when compared to shipping standard vehicles. For one, race cars are typically lighter than standard vehicles, and they are of course more expensive.
This can result in different methods of transport, depending on your race car. And there are different types of race cars, too! Stock cars, stock trucks, motorcycles, drag racers, penny cars, and much and more. There are lots of race cars out there, so knowing what you’re shipping will help as well.
Most race cars are owned and operated by racing teams. Many independent racers are out there too, but they typically handle their own transportation as well. But not everyone races race cars; some just collect them. Or, perhaps they are buying one to restore it. There’s lots of reasons for shipping a race car, but it’s important to understand the basics.
Knowing what to expect when you ship yours is important as it helps you make better decisions about who you book your transport with. That’s why we have this article – to help you make an informed decision about shipping your race car. So read on to learn all about it and how you can get great rates to ship yours!
How shipping a race car works?
If your race car is running and driving, it’ll probably be shipped like any other vehicle. Most vehicles are transported on open ten-car haulers. High-end vehicles tend to be shipped in enclosed trailers, and really big ones – like, construction equipment – go on flatbeds. So if your race car is no bigger than a standard car or truck, you can probably ship it on an open hauler.
Most race cars, though, tend to want enclosed transportation services. This is because enclosed transport protects vehicles better from the every day wear and tear of driving on the highways. They’re protected from road debris, dirt and rocks, and against accidents. Most race cars that are transported privately by race teams are moved enclosed, after all.
Commercial enclosed trailers tend to haul 4-6 vehicles, though some go as low as 2 and as high as 8. So if your race car is the same size as a typical car, it can fit on an enclosed trailer, too. Enclosed trailers are more expensive than open trailers, but they protect better than open trailers. So really, it’s up to you whether it’s worth it or not (but it usually is).
If your race car is longer, though, like a drag racer, it may require a flatbed. Flatbeds are the most expensive, as they are used on an as-needed basis and aren’t as common as open or enclosed trailers. But we’ll talk about that in a minute.
About shipping non-stock race cars
There are lots of race cars (and trucks) out there that are not stock cars. In fact, most race cars are modified in some way, such as slick track cars or dirt track racers. Drag cars, for instance, are really long – much longer than most cars on the road today.
This length is difficult for standard enclosed and open haulers to accommodate. Oftentimes it will take up at least two spaces on a regular transport truck due to its length. So, if a carrier can do it, it’ll cost twice at least twice as much as a standard car on the same route. The same goes for dirt track racers, or other race cars with large spoilers. You know, the ones that have them on the top of the car – those can be hard to fit on a standard open or enclosed trailer.
So, flatbed transport may be required. Or, at least, a single-car or dual-car hauler that is a single deck. Many transport trucks have multiple decks – one on top, one on bottom. This is true for both open and enclosed trailers (but certainly not all). Either way, these methods tend to be more expensive because they move fewer vehicles in a full load.
Consider this: if a truck can move ten cars at a time, that’s ten customers that share the cost of transport (fuel, food, lodging for the driver, maintenance, etc). If a truck can move two cars at a time, that’s only two customers that share that burden. So, the price goes up a lot for the two-car hauler if they want to make a profit on the route. Most of the time, customers can’t just choose which truck their vehicles go on. You can usually choose open or enclosed – that’s common. But the actual carrier configuration depends on what is available on the route.
How to prep a race car for shipment?
Something that you should do before shipping a race car is prepare it for transport. It’s the same as most other vehicles that are being shipped, but there may be a few things that you can do for a race car that you can’t do for a regular car.
You should only have a quarter of a tank of fuel in it maximum. This is a standard thing for auto transporters, as extra fuel results in extra weight. As car haulers have to keep under specific weight limits, this is an easy way for them to do that. Secure the inside of the vehicle. Many race cars have interiors that are vastly different to a standard vehicle. So, you should make sure that everything is bolted down or otherwise secure. No loose parts or personal items in the vehicle!
Make sure it runs and drives. If your race car is operable, be sure that it is. Check the battery, check the spark plugs, the starter – just make sure it runs and drives. If it does not, an inoperable vehicle fee may be added to your total price. If it is inoperable, or if it is already damaged, make sure to let your shipper know. This can affect the price you pay and the available carriers. For instance, if your race car doesn’t roll, it may need to be forklifted onto and off of the truck. This will affect carrier availability and how fast your race car will be shipped. If you have further questions about preparing for shipping a race car, give us a call!
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For race car transport, contact American Auto Shipping.
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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