Auto Transport - Buyers Guide

Economical Auto Transport Options

Moving long distances requires the services of professionals to transport your belongings safely and securely. Oftentimes that also means shipping your vehicles – this is especially true if you are moving overseas. Given the high cost of auto transportation, it is only natural for people to seek out more economical solutions to their moving needs.

Your first option is to drive the car down either yourself or have a representative from the auto transport company do it for you. While definitely the cheapest option, it will add mileage to your car and result is wear-and-tear that would otherwise be avoided.

If you are not inclined to either drive or have your car driven to its new home, consider which kind of auto transport service you really need. Most transport companies offer four kinds of service: economy, open, enclosed and full service. As its name suggests, economy is the least expensive option, but choosing it will mean waiting until there is space on one of the transport trucks for your car. Priority will be given to customers who choose a costlier transport option. The open transport option is what most people choose as it is moderately priced. However, if you have a very valuable car then this is not the best option for you since your car will be placed in an open truck and, therefore, will be exposed to the elements.

People who own a unique, rare or expensive car will want to look into the enclosed service since the car will be placed in a closed container for greater protection. Enclosed transport generally costs about $1000 more than an open service. Full service is the top-end auto transport option. It is the only option whereby a shipper will guarantee your pick-up and delivery date and where you can expect door-to-door service. If unable to meet the pick-up and delivery dates the shipper will generally reimburse a portion of your costs.

A good way to save some money with auto transport is to opt for the terminal to terminal service. All this means is that instead of an agent picking up your car at your home and delivering it to your door at the new destination, you will be responsible for dropping the vehicle off at a terminal and arranging for it to be picked up again at the other end. Opting for this service is much easier on your wallet than door-to-door service. If you do choose this service, make sure that the car is covered by insurance while at the terminal.

Another way of cutting down the cost of auto transportation services is to have your own insurance cover your car during shipping. Insurance is required for shipping your car anywhere, however, most people assume that they must take the coverage offered by their shipper’s company – this is not true. In many cases, your own private insurance will cover your car and offer a much wider coverage at a far lower cost. Always call to find out what your insurer offers before accepting the insurance offered by your auto transportation company.

Lastly, auto transportation companies will automatically tack on a surcharge if your car fails to start or becomes inoperable during the shipping process. So, before it is picked-up always make sure that it is in proper working order and that all of its fluids have been topped off.

There is no magic way of making auto transportation costs dramatically less than today’s going rates, although there are ways to economize and to prevent extra charges from being added to your bill.

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I immediately got a call from a moving company who was very professional. We've had good communication, the survey was punctual and they returned a quotation the following day as promised. So far, so good!

Kate, Buyer
Adelaide, Australia