Has the time finally arrived to begin planning your big move? No one looks forward to planning a move, because everything that goes into it is tough work and a lot of rigorous planning.
You have to figure out when you’d like to move, you have to find the right moving company for the job, and then you have to figure out if you’d like to use any of their special services or not.
Of course, your stuff isn’t the only thing you’re going to have to think about when the time comes to calculate moving costs. You’re also going to have to think about the cost of moving supplies (if you need any) as well as a factor in the time of year that you are planning your move, since that small detail can also greatly impact your final cost, depending on which moving company you select.
It’s still not over yet, though. That’s because once you have all that straightened out, you still have another important question to answer: Are you going to be able to drive your car to your new location right away, or will you need to have it shipped to your new home? If you’re driving it there yourself, then nothing else is needed, just pack up and head out! If you’re planning to ship your car, though, you’re going to have one final cost to calculate.
What Factors Affect the Price to Transport a Car?
Several factors can influence what you end up paying to have your car shipped. While the biggest factor here will be the vehicle transportation you end up choosing, several smaller factors could also go into the final price tag.
Here are some of the main things you should be thinking about when choosing how you’d like to ship your car.
1. The location
The location your car is being shipped to is going to be a major factor in how much it is going to cost to have it shipped to your new home. If your new location is on a main and popular route of travel, you’re going to pay quite a bit less. If, however, your new home is off the beaten path, you might have to pay quite a bit more.
2. The time of year
If the car shipping company you chose is experiencing its peak time of year, then you might notice that your final price estimate is going to be a bit more than normal. If at all possible, try to ship your car during a time of year when the vehicle transportation companies are out of season. You might end up saving quite a bit of money this way.
3. How big is your vehicle is
The size and weight of your car is another major factor in how much it is going to cost to have it shipped to your new home. The less it weighs, the more you save. If it is a very heavy vehicle, then expect to see a higher price tag than if it were a smaller car.
4. How your car ends up being transported
Are you transporting your car in an open-air or enclosed transportation style? Enclosed provides a lot more protection for your vehicle, but open-air transportation saves quite a bit of money while potentially risking a little peace of mind.
Think about each of these factors when you are considering how much it is going to cost to ship your vehicle to your new home.
What Are the Different Transportation Styles?
For most vehicle transportation companies, there are two main methods of transport to get your car safely from your old location to your new home. This is how they work:
Enclosed transportation
This is the better option for people who have to ship their cars. In an enclosed transportation setup, your car will be protected from the elements and from the weather thanks to being enclosed in a trailer. While this is the safest option for people shipping their cars, it is not the most cost effective.
Open-air transportation
This is where vehicles are kept on the back of an open-air trailer for transportation. This style of transport is much cheaper than enclosed transportation, but this mode of transport bears a bit more risk than its enclosed transport counterpart. With open-air transportation, your vehicle is at risk of being exposed to the elements, which could lead to potential damage.
Depending on your vehicle and your budget, think about what you would like to do for your car. If you want to pay a little extra for some added protection, then consider opting for the enclosed transportation option.
If you think your car will be okay in an open air transport situation, then you will find that you will be able to save quite a bit of money by choosing that option over the more expensive enclosed transport option.
Whichever option you choose, you will be able to know that your vehicle is on its way to your new home, and should arrive there safely and quickly.
What’s the Usual Price Tag for Vehicle Transportation?
Since every move is different, with each move having a different budget and different circumstances, there is no concrete price on shipping your car. There are, however, average prices that we can assess and make accurate price predictions on.
When it comes to working with virtually any car shipping company, the further you plan to ship it, the less you will end up paying per mile. On average, you can expect to pay roughly this much per mile with the biggest majority of car shipping companies:
- If you’re moving between 1 and 500 miles: $1.00 per mile.
- If you’re moving between 500 and 1000 miles: $0.75 per mile.
- If you’re moving between 1000 and 2000 miles: $0.60 per mile.
- If you’re moving between 2000 and 2500 miles: $0.50 per mile.
- If you’re moving more than 2500 miles: $0.40 per mile.
These can add up to some decent savings, but keep in mind these estimates don’t include the mode of transportation you choose. If you opt for open-air transportation, you can expect to not pay as much.
If you’d like to go the extra mile and pay an additional premium to ensure that your vehicle is as protected as it can possibly be, then you are going to want to choose enclosed transportation.
How Can I Make Vehicle Transportation Even Cheaper?
Apply some of the same hacks you can use for saving money with moving companies. You will find that both of these businesses are almost the same thing. If you do it right, you can save money in a lot of the same ways.
One of the biggest ways you can save as much money as possible on having your car shipped to your new home is to get at least three estimates from different shipping companies. If you’ve done the same thing with moving companies, then you’ll remember that doing this gives you a lot more wiggle room with your overall budget.
Having more than one estimate means you can compare prices from various vehicle shipping companies and choose the one with the lowest price, if you’d like. This is one great and surefire way to save a decent amount of money on having your car shipped to your new home.
Frequently Asked Questions
It wouldn’t come as a shock to learn that you might still have questions about shipping your car, even after reading all of the information presented above. If you do still have questions about this process, see if yours has already been answered by checking out some of the most common car shipping inquiries:
Can I have my car shipped overseas?
Yes, there are vehicle shipping companies that offer transportation internationally. However, you should seriously consider this, as the prices stack up fast when dealing with overseas transportation.
You may end up paying up to $4000 for this service, so think about it carefully. If it is a brand new car and in great condition, then you probably want to go ahead and have it shipped.
What is the cheapest way to ship my car?
Usually, the cheapest method to have your vehicle shipped is almost always going to be choosing open-air shipping options, which might not protect your car to the extent that enclosed shipping will, but it is much cheaper. If you’re really looking to save money, open-air shipping is going to be the way to go.
Can FedEx ship a car?
Probably unsurprisingly, FedEx does offer a shipping service to cover things their normal services don’t, and you might like learning that car shipping is one of them.
Ship Your Car With Peace of Mind
When you’re paying to have your car shipped, you’re probably hoping for some peace of mind, knowing that your car is going to be completely safe during the shipping process.
Most shipping companies are thoroughly professional and do everything in their power to take good care of your car during the shipping process.
Whether you chose open-air or enclosed shipping, you should be able to be confident that your car is going to reach your new home in one piece, ready for you to hop back in the driver’s seat once it arrives on your new driveway.
