Transporting Your Vehicle To Another State
Whether you are moving your vehicle to the next state over, across the country, or all the way to Hawaii, car shipping companies can streamline the process for you. We’ve crafted this step-by-step guide to explain how to ship a car to another state.
When it comes to transporting your vehicle, you have various options regarding how your car gets shipped and which type of company handles the process. Here are the fundamental steps for shipping a car to another state, along with other important details you should be aware of.
Choose Your Auto Transport Provider
There are various types of companies that can ship a car to another state, each with its limitations and drawbacks. When selecting auto transport services, it’s essential to understand how different providers compare. The primary distinction lies between brokers and online marketplaces. Brokers are responsible for finding and assigning carriers for you, while marketplaces enable you to select a carrier yourself. You can usually base your selection on carriers’ profiles and the bids they submit for your shipment requests.
- Brokers: These companies connect transport carriers and drivers with customers and oversee the entire shipping process.
- Auto Carriers: These are companies that either own the shipping trucks themselves or are comprised of professional drivers who operate their own trucks for transporting vehicles.
- Moving Companies: These companies offer customers the option to have their vehicles towed on trailers attached to moving trucks.
- Online Shipping Marketplaces: These are websites where customers post shipping jobs and have the flexibility to select carriers themselves from available options.
- Air Freight Company: This method involves shipping vehicles via air transport, a solution whose shipping costs can often surpass the value of many vehicles.
Opting to find a carrier directly without utilizing a broker or marketplace means you won’t incur additional broker fees, but you may have fewer options available. While a broker or marketplace typically has a wide network of carriers to assign to shipments, a single carrier company may have fewer trucks and drivers at their disposal. Additionally, you might need to reach out to multiple carriers individually to obtain free quotes and other necessary information.
Determine Your Car Shipping Needs
Reviewing providers’ websites is an excellent method to discover the types of car transport services offered, but your choices ultimately depend on your car’s requirements and your budget. Here are common options for shipping methods:
- Open Transport: Your car is transported on an open trailer, which is the most cost-effective option because this type of trailer is readily available and can accommodate multiple vehicles simultaneously. However, your car will be more exposed to weather and road debris during transit.
- Enclosed Transport: Your car is transported in an enclosed carrier, providing protection from external hazards. This is a preferable option if you’re shipping a more expensive vehicle or a classic car. However, it may cost 30% to 40% more than using an open carrier.
- Expedited Shipping: Expedited shipping is available if you need to transport your car quickly, but it typically comes at a higher cost.
Here are the most common delivery services provided by many auto transport companies:
- This service ensures your vehicle is delivered as close as possible to your desired destination, whether it’s your home or workplace.
- Terminal-to-Terminal Shipping: With this option, you are required to drive to a terminal to both deliver and pick up your vehicle. While shipments may take longer, this is typically a more economical choice than door-to-door transport.
- Port-to-Port Shipping: This service is used when shipping a car to Alaska, Hawaii, or overseas. You bring your car to a port, where it is either driven onto a cargo ship or loaded into an enclosed trailer and then onto the ship. It is then delivered to another port.
Compare Quotes and Select a Company
Numerous auto transport companies provide free, instant quotes online. Obtaining quotes can give you an understanding of how much you would pay for the same car shipment with various shipping providers. To receive a car shipping quote, you will generally need to provide the following information:
- Car make, model, and age
- Operational status of your car
- Pickup and delivery address
- Shipping preferences
- Desired timeframe for shipment
- Contact information
Quotes obtained directly from carrier companies tend to be more accurate reflections of actual shipping costs. Conversely, online quotes from brokers and marketplaces are usually rough estimates. This is because these companies may need to increase the rate to secure a driver willing to undertake the shipment.
Book and Pay for Your Shipment
Booking transport can vary depending on the type of company you choose. If you’re using a broker, the company will post your shipping request and notify you when carriers bid on it. You’ll then collaborate with the broker to finalize your shipment booking.
With an online marketplace, you’ll post your shipment yourself and receive bids directly from carriers. Then, you can review the carriers’ information and prices and select one to book with. Regardless of the type of shipping company you choose, it’s advisable to book at least two weeks in advance of your desired pickup date.
Some providers offer the option to pay part or all of your shipping cost when you book. If you don’t pay in full upfront, you’ll settle the remaining balance with the carrier when your vehicle is delivered. Drivers typically prefer cash, but some may accept money orders, checks, or other forms of payment.
Get the Car Transport-Ready
Preparing your car for transport not only helps reduce shipping costs but also enables you to assess whether you need to file a claim for any damage incurred during transport.
Here are the main steps to take before the carrier picks up your vehicle:
1. Wash the car: This will help you identify any preexisting damages or issues to report to your carrier. Also, check fluids and tire pressure.
2. Remove personal effects: Taking out personal belongings reduces your car’s weight, thereby lowering shipping costs. Additionally, some carriers may not permit shipping belongings in your car, or their insurance might not cover these items in case of theft or damage.
3. Leave a bit of gas: This reduces your car’s weight while ensuring there’s enough fuel if you’re picking it up from a terminal.
Sign the Bill of Lading
When meeting your carrier at the pickup location, whether it’s your home or a terminal, you’ll typically do two things:
Inspect the Vehicle: Before loading the car onto the trailer, both you and the carrier will carefully examine it for any damage, such as scratches or dents. It’s recommended to take clear pictures of the car during this inspection.
Sign the Bill of Lading: The bill of lading serves as the official report on your car and acts as the receipt for your shipment. You’ll receive a copy of this document for your records.
Keep up-to-date with the Shipment
Auto transport companies vary in the tracking services they provide, but the following are the most common ways to stay updated on your shipment are through email and text updates, tracking apps, and phone calls.
Carriers may experience delays with shipments, which is why companies typically do not offer guaranteed pickup and delivery dates. A carrier can typically travel between 300 and 500 miles per day, but delays can occur due to severe weather, heavy traffic, or other unforeseen issues.
Pick Up the Vehicle
You should expect to receive an update from the driver or a company representative either the day before or a few hours before the carrier reaches its destination. During this communication, you and the driver or representative will clarify the estimated arrival time and the specific location. Upon meeting the carrier, both parties will conduct a final inspection of your vehicle.
If you observe any new damages, be sure to report them on the bill of lading and take pictures immediately. These will be necessary for filing a claim if needed. Additionally, settle any outstanding payment with the driver if you did not do so when booking your shipment. Finally, sign the bill of lading to acknowledge the completion of the delivery process.
If you opted for door-to-door shipping, it’s important to understand that this means the carrier will make every effort to get as close to your doorstep as legally and safely as possible. However, if you anticipate that you won’t be able to reach your shipping destination on time, it’s crucial to inform your carrier immediately. This allows them to make necessary arrangements and adjustments to ensure a smooth delivery process.
What are the Costs of Shipping a Car Across the US?
The price of shipping a car to another state typically varies between just under $400 to a little over $2,000, with distance being the primary determining factor. To obtain estimates, we utilized the online quote tools from Montway Auto Transport and Easy Auto Ship for door-to-door shipping of a functional 2018 Honda Civic. Both quotes provided insurance coverage with no deductible, along with a cash payment discount.
Route Estimated Cost Estimated Shipping Time Type Of Transport Shipping Company
Reno, Nevada, to Kansas City, Missouri $1,399 5–7 days Open Montway Auto Transport
Reno, Nevada, to Kansas City, Missouri $1,494 1–5 days Open Easy Auto Ship
Reno, Nevada, to Kansas City, Missouri $1,709 5–7 days Enclosed Montway Auto Transport
Reno, Nevada, to Kansas City, Missouri $1,994 1–5 days Enclosed Easy Auto Ship
Philadelphia to San Francisco $1,629 7–9 days Open Montway Auto Transport
Philadelphia to San Francisco $1,699 1–5 days Open Easy Auto Ship
Factors that Influence Shipping Rates
Several factors can influence car shipping costs, including:
• Distance: The distance between the pickup and delivery locations plays a crucial role, as longer distances generally lead to higher shipping costs.
• Car size and weight are important factors: Larger and heavier vehicles need more space on the carrier, which can result in higher shipping costs.
• Vehicle condition: Non-operational vehicles may require special equipment for loading and unloading, leading to additional charges.
• Time of year: Shipping costs may vary seasonally, with higher demand during peak moving seasons potentially leading to increased prices.
• Fuel Prices: When gas prices are elevated, shipping rates are likely to increase accordingly.
• Urban vs. Rural: Shipping costs tend to be higher for rural destinations compared to urban areas. Rural locations are often farther from main highways and feature roads with lower speed limits, resulting in increased shipping expenses.
Additional Considerations Before Shipping to Another State
While shipping companies can be found throughout the country, it’s important to note that local companies may not offer services to all areas within the United States.
A U.S. Department of Transportation number and a motor carrier number indicate that a carrier is registered with the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration and adheres to relevant shipping and insurance regulations. These numbers should be prominently displayed to customers.
Most shipping companies do not typically require your driver’s license or proof of insurance, title, or registration. It’s often possible to ship an uninsured car.
