Getting the cheapest option is not the same as getting the best deal out of any purchase. The key to finding the best deal is to start with the most economical option then work your way up, questioning along the way if the added feature is worth the higher price. This applies to a shortlisted set of vehicle shipping quotes that will help you choose the best value deal when transporting your car to your specified destination.
Know your Options
For many people, driving their car over long distances is not an option. The aggravation and stress as well as the wear and tear of your car being driven on the road for hours on end can justify the added cost for getting it shipped.
Start with the basic.
Visit any shipping company with a price quote calculator (almost all of them have one) and input the most basic information: origin and destination (or their corresponding zip codes) and your car model and make. Some cites will give you an indicative quote. But many more will ask for your preferred date of transfer. This may not be basic but because shipping firms face lean and peak market seasonality, the information helps to fine tune their vehicle shipping quotes. You may want to verify this by inputting different dates in the calculator and see how the quotes vary.
Consider mode of shipment.
The cheapest in the market is an open multi-car 18-wheeler double deck transporter that can carry 8-14 cars in one trip. Used by local car makers to bring their ex-factory vehicles to showrooms and dealers, this option will bring vehicle shipping costs to their cheapest point during the lean season, but you need to allow a longer delivery lead time. The shipper will need to get the transporter fully booked to start rolling down the road. Unfortunately, this option, along with a more expensive single car open flatbed trailer, exposes your car to road elements and over long road stretches, you can expect paint chips, glass cracks or even body dents to appear on the body of your car. Needless to say, a fully enclosed container van is the safest way to transport your car, even if it is the also the most expensive. This is why it is important to check if the added cost is worth the car protection you can have.
What about door-to-door transfer?
A door-to-door transfer is a convenient option for anyone, but it will also increase vehicle shipping costs compared to the standard port-to-port or terminal-to-terminal option. In addition, there are certain communities that will not allow large trucks to pass. Make sure to check your village or residential zoning restrictions since many will not allow or accommodate large trucks to pick up or deliver your car. In this case, a terminal-to-terminal option is not only cheaper but is also the only option.
Lastly, you need to check out what insurance coverage you can expect from those vehicle shipping costs. Most are basic types, covering only damages to your car resulting from an in-transit accident. But it may not cover dents, scratches, windshield cracks, or falling exhaust pipes and side skirts. You may need to upgrade your insurance to cover these and shippers of luxury, exotic and vintage cars are known to do just that. Make sure to check if the added insurance cost is worth the peace of mind that goes with covering all bases.