Numerous factors influence the duration of car shipping, including the vehicle type, shipping route, and time of year. Generally, shipping a car cross-country takes approximately a week, while shorter routes may take just a few days.

Car shipping can be time-consuming due to factors like long distances, adverse weather conditions, traffic congestion, and high demand. To expedite the process, it’s advisable to book your delivery several weeks in advance when the most efficient providers are still available.

What is the Lead Time for Car Shipping?

Typically, it takes between a few days and two weeks for your car to reach its pickup point once it begins transport.
This wide timeframe is due to the varying durations of individual shipments.

For short distances of a few hundred miles, your car could arrive within a day. Long-distance transports, such as from California to New York or Florida, usually take about a week. For destinations like Hawaii, Alaska, or international locations, expect the transport to take a week or more.

What Factors Affect Car Shipment?

Calculating an average shipment time frame without specific details about your transport is challenging. However, several factors consistently influence the varying durations of car shipments.

Vehicle Type

Shipping a specialty vehicle such as a motorcycle, all-terrain vehicle (ATV), or recreational vehicle (RV) may require more time to find a willing driver. These specialized drivers are not as common as typical auto transport carriers, which can result in delays.

Opting for luxury or classic car transport services with enclosed shipping can result in limited availability. Open transport is the more commonly used vehicle transport service, so choosing enclosed shipping may increase both the time and costs involved in the process.

Shipping Route

The shipping route’s distance and popularity greatly affect how long it takes to ship a car. Longer distances between the drop-off and pickup locations naturally extend the timeline, and routes that pass through remote towns can also cause delays.

Opting for door-to-door transport can increase both the cost and timeline of the shipment. The roads to your house may not be as suitable for large haulers as the highways around major cities. Requiring truckers to deliver vehicles to rural areas can cause similar issues, potentially making your car one of the last to be delivered.

Season

The duration of car shipping is also influenced by the timing of the vehicle’s transportation. Truckers might not be able to travel at normal speeds during snowy or stormy conditions, impacting the delivery timeframe.

Owners looking to transport vehicles during peak seasons may encounter delays due to backlog. Summer months and January are particularly busy for car shipping, leading to longer wait times as haulers contend with high demand.

How Does Car Shipment Work?

Although the duration of car shipping can vary greatly, the process generally follows a standard procedure. While some providers may have slight variations, here are the typical steps you can expect during the car shipping process:

1. Selecting a Car Shipping Provider

When selecting an auto transport company, ensure it is fully licensed by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) and offers ample cargo insurance coverage. While this shouldn’t be an issue with reputable providers, it’s essential to conduct research, especially when using a marketplace like uShip.

The most effective approach to finding competitive rates and a prompt delivery timeframe is to compare car shipping quotes online from multiple companies. While one provider may offer the best rates for a specific shipment, their prices may be higher-than-average for a different route.

2. Choose a Transportation Method

Car shipping companies typically offer a range of transportation services to suit your needs. Here are a few options you may encounter when selecting auto transport services:

Open Transport

Your vehicle will be transported on an open trailer instead of a sealed container. Open shipping is generally more cost-effective than enclosed transport but exposes your car to potential damage from adverse weather conditions and road debris.

Enclosed Transport

Your car is transported inside an enclosed trailer, providing enhanced protection against damages. This service is typically more expensive and is commonly utilized for classic or luxury vehicles.

Expedited Shipping

Car owners can choose this option for a rush delivery of their vehicle to a new location. As it’s a last-minute service, costs are typically high.

Terminal-to-Terminal Shipping

Vehicles are picked up from a central terminal and delivered to another terminal. This option generally costs less and is quicker than door-to-door transport since it creates a more direct route for the carrier.

Door-to-Door Shipping

In this method, an auto carrier transports the vehicle directly from your old residence to the new destination or delivery location. While convenient, this option tends to be more expensive and potentially slower than terminal-to-terminal transport.

3. Get a Shipping Quote Online

Getting instant quotes online is usually a free and straightforward process. You will usually be required to provide the following information:

• Pickup and drop-off points
• The vehicle’s make, model, age, and operational condition
• Preferred shipment dates
• Contact name, number, and email address

Once you provide this information, the provider will offer you a free quote. Keep in mind that final prices may slightly exceed the initial quote due to service fees and any additional charges that may arise during the shipment process.

4. Schedule Your Shipment

After you’ve chosen a vehicle shipping service, transport date, pickup window, and destination, it’s time to schedule the shipment. Most car shipping companies typically require you to pay a portion of the balance upfront and the remaining amount after the vehicle has been delivered. However, some may require full payment before the auto transport begins.

While you may receive a time estimate, it’s important to note that factors such as poor weather conditions, traffic delays, and road conditions can potentially alter the timeframe. Although it’s easier to estimate the duration of car shipping once the company has your transport details, external factors can still influence the process.

5. Prepare Your Vehicle

Before the pickup day, ensure your car is ready for shipment. Remove all personal items from inside the vehicle to reduce its weight and safeguard your valuables against potential break-ins. Additionally, leave only a quarter tank of gas in the vehicle.

6. Hand Over Your Car

On the scheduled pickup date, meet your assigned auto carrier at the agreed-upon location. Before they take your car, the truck driver will ask you to inspect the vehicle for any pre-existing damages and take photos of them. Additionally, you’ll need to sign a bill of lading, which outlines the basic service agreement between you and the car carrier.

7. Stay Informed

While your car is in transit, periodically check the carrier’s location to stay updated on any potential delays that could impact the delivery date. Some companies offer GPS tracking, while others may require you to contact their 24/7 customer service line for updates. Regardless of the method, this practice should provide peace of mind and a reliable estimate of the remaining time until your car is delivered.

8. Collect Your Car

Upon arrival at the final destination, meet the carrier at the designated drop-off location. Inspect your car for any damages that may have occurred during the shipping process. If everything is in order, re-sign the bill of lading. At this point, you’ll need to settle the remaining balance if you only paid a portion of the car shipping cost upfront.

Tips for Faster Car Shipping

Once your car has been hauled away, you can’t change the shipping process. However, there are several tips you can implement before the auto transport commences to potentially expedite the shipment.

Plan Ahead

When arranging to ship your vehicle, make a reservation several weeks in advance. This gives car shippers ample time to secure the right carrier for your needs. Since many auto transport providers act as brokers connecting you with truckers, early booking allows them to find the most efficient options. Waiting until the last minute may result in your car being assigned to any available hauler, potentially affecting the speed of delivery.

Opt for Terminal-to-Terminal Shipping

Choosing terminal-to-terminal shipping provides carriers with a streamlined method for transporting your vehicle. Delivering cars to a central location, like a city terminal, is safer and more efficient than navigating through back roads or subdivisions.

Although some providers, like Montway Auto Transport, exclusively offer door-to-door shipping, it’s beneficial to explore terminal-to-terminal options if they’re accessible to you.

Opt for Open Transport

Open car shipping services are significantly more widespread than enclosed shipping. Open car haulers dominate the shipping industry, making them more readily available and potentially reducing the time required to find a carrier.

Although open transport tends to be more cost-effective, it exposes your vehicle to potential damages. For drivers with valuable or rare models, we suggest sticking with the longer time frames associated with enclosed car shipping for added protection.

Think About Expedited Shipping

Expedited shipping services come with a hefty price tag, but they offer the quickest way to reduce the shipping time for your car. Given the increased cost, it’s advisable to view expedited delivery as a last resort, particularly if you require immediate vehicle delivery.

Final Thoughts

Every car shipment varies in duration due to numerous factors affecting the shipping process. To prevent delays, it’s crucial to plan ahead and compare multiple options to select the carrier that best fits your timeline and budget requirements.