“Cheap” when used to describe car shipping services is kind of a misnomer. While car owners hope to find the greatest value for the least expense, it’s important to avoid choosing the cheapest services on the market.
Usually, when an auto transport company is able to offer comparable services to everyone else for drastically less than the competitive rates everyone else is charging, the quality is forfeited. It’s always better to invest a little bit more to ensure the protection of what is a valuable asset.
In that vein, numerous tips will show how to achieve a more affordable price point while maintaining quality. We’ll examine these, so you become informed and more capable of making the best choice for your needs and purposes. Visit https://todayshomeowner.com/moving/guides/5-cheap-ways-to-ship-car-cross-country for tips on shipping a car cross-country on a budget.
Car Shipping on a Budget
When moving a car or receiving a new vehicle from another location over roughly 500 miles, many variables play into the cost if you decide to drive the auto to its new destination. You must consider safety when driving a long distance, breaks for food and lodging, and fuel costs.
That doesn’t speak to the wear and tear on the vehicle and the extra miles. Whether this is a new vehicle or isn’t, depreciation can be considerable the more miles you accumulate.
Driving on your own puts the car at risk for road debris damage, potential extreme weather conditions, the possibility of an accident, and on.
Researching auto transport services is much more cost-efficient for most people and provides the safest transition. Here are tips on finding an affordable, quality service.
Compare services
Comparing this car shipping company against the next and gathering quotes is suggested, roughly three or more quotes to find the most competitive rates with the greatest value. Many auto transport providers offer free quotes on their websites. You will need basic auto details to generate the quotes with no obligation.
When seeing the average rate among the different carriers, you can avoid a service with a drastically reduced price point or those with excessively high costs.
Many car owners might deal with a more restricted budget. However, they prefer to find an average market price that allows reliable, secure transport with a qualified company.
The open transport method vs enclosed carrier
The vast range of trailers hauling cars for transport services are open transport. Some car shipping services don’t have enclosed carriers, often reserved for classic or exotic cars and luxury autos.
The difference between the two is that the open trailer is exposed to outside elements and the possibility of intrusion while the enclosed trailer is full closed on all sides. The open carrier is considerably less expensive but also a safe, secure method of shipping cars to their new location.
Reports of damages or loss are minimal with these carriers. Upon delivery, a car owner’s only real issue is having the vehicle washed from its journey.
Flexibility with scheduling
Car shipping providers charge a higher rate when the vehicle is located in a remote area away from major cities. The most affordable way to transport a car in this scenario is to offer a degree of flexibility by agreeing to drive to meet the carrier at a convenient location.
The flexibility with pick-up and drop-off saves time and effort for the driver and can ultimately save you costs in the long run.
Avoid peak times or seasons
Summer is the peak season for auto transport between the months of June and August. The slowest season fall between December and February. If you prefer to find the most affordable rates during the year, arranging your schedule is beneficial so moving the car can be done in the off-peak times.
The rates calculated for car shipping services in July are considerably higher than they will be in January. You might be unable to correlate your schedule with the low peak times. In those cases, booking as far ahead as possible is wise to still take advantage of a discount for booking in advance.
The suggestion is to book roughly a month, four weeks before you intend to depart. Click for tips on stress-free interstate car shipping.
Expedited or specified dates/times will cost more
A car shipping service generally charges a premium rate if you need a specified date or even time for your pick-up or delivery. Sometimes a car owner must move in a hurry whether related to a job transfer or a sudden family health concern where you’re needed immediately.
In these instances, you’ll need to book services at the last minute but instead of waiting until a carrier is available you can opt for expedited transport. This will ensure your vehicle is picked up and delivered on the schedule you need.
Otherwise, if your moving circumstances are not dire, it’s beneficial to arrange pick-up and delivery at the discretion of the carrier, when they can fit the car in while still falling within a desired time period.
