The vehicle type, size and condition affects the price. Generally, a larger vehicle is heavier and consumes more space. Example: a full size truck costs more to transport than a compact car. If the vehicle won’t start or won’t steer, your cost is higher due to manual intervention by the carrier. Also, if the vehicle is custom made or has customizations, added costs may very well apply to your overall price.
The distance between your pickup location to your delivery location plays a major role in determining your cost. Distance is probably the largest determining factor when determining the price of shipping your car. This is due to the amount of time on the road and the amount of fuel needed. Example: it takes more time, fuel and expenses to transport your vehicle across the entire country, that within the same state.
The lead time also plays a factor when determining your cost. Example: if you need your vehicle shipped tomorrow; it can require some major juggling of existing routes & schedules. Therefore, it is generally best to allow five or more days for scheduling your vehicle to be picked up.
Should an economic downturn happen, in which diesel fuel prices increase; this may cause auto transport carriers to increase their transport rates. In the United States from 2005 to 2008, we saw steady increases in diesel fuel prices. The diesel fuel went from roughly $2.25 per gallon to over $3.80 per gallon. Along with this diesel fuel increase, services prices increased on everything from concrete mixers to long haul freight carriers. The auto transport industry was no exception. Companies had to increase their rates due to increasing diesel fuel costs.
There are several other considerations that you need to keep in mind. If you want your classic, antique or expensive car transported in an enclosed carrier, it will cost more than an open-air carrier. Another consideration may be if you want your car transported as a carrier top load, your cost may be higher. If your pickup location or delivery location is in a remote area, your cost may increase. Special requests such as pickup or delivery on holidays can have an added cost to the overall price. Please keep all of these factors in mind when wanting to know the cost of shipping your car. Planning ahead can definitely save you money.
You might have questions about the advantages of shipping your car versus driving it. Once you have decided to ship your car, you may still have questions regarding how to ship your car. Check out our "Articles" section right here on our website. We have articles documenting answers to all of your questions.
SMB Auto Transport can help you now by completing our FREE “No Contact Information Required” estimate. Then, if you’re ready to ship your car, please complete the remaining three fields of contact information so we can provide you with up to ten quotes for you to choose from. We strive to make it simple for you! SMB Auto Transport will surpass your expectation regarding what to expect from a car shipping company! We won’t be satisfied until you are. Let us earn your business!