Average Costs for Transporting Automobiles
Posted By admin on October 10, 2011
Auto transport does not need to be expensive or costly as long as you know how it should be done. The average cost for car shipping within the United States is about $600 to $1000 from coast to coast. This is the average estimate, but car shippers could end up giving a different price due to different pricing factors.
One factor is timing. Shipping in winter, when there are not many people shipping their cars, typically costs $600 across the country, while summer is the peak season when rates could reach as much as a thousand dollars. If you’re not tight on schedule, it is best to avoid the summer months.
To have a better idea on pricing, the following are average rates when shipping within the country: from California to New York is $800 to $1,070; from New York to Florida from $800 to $1,000, but a bit more expensive at about $900 to $1,100 when shipping SUVs; Hawaii to the west coast is $800 to $1,360; and Seattle to Alaska is about $1,010. Again these are averages. It is best to check with specific car shippers for actual rates.
In most cases, there are add-on costs involved, especially when shipping expensive, classic or sports cars. Such vehicles need special protection and handling, and so typically an additional $800 to $3,000 is necessary to pay for containers, lift gates, exclusive shipping, and so on. There are also additional costs for door-to-door pickup and delivery, about $180 more, and when a car is not running properly.
Another factor in determining the final shipping cost is distance. The above mentioned averages cover car transportation from coast to coast, and so shipping to a nearer state costs less than $600. On the other hand, shipping to another country could easily go beyond $1,000.
When shipping a regular sedan, it is an unnecessary to pay for close shipping, which is about 75% more expensive. The most common, practical and inexpensive mode of auto transportation is the multi-car open shipping method in which vehicles are transported overland by a carrier truck or overseas on board a RoRo (roll-on, roll-off) vessel. Another inexpensive way of shipping is by rail.
Rail shipping is inexpensive, convenient and eco-friendly. There are two downsides to this method , though. One, car shipments can only go to where there are railroad tracks, and two, the car owner must take the train ride along with the car.
Also, many car owners would think that self driving is the most inexpensive way of transporting the family car, but this is not always true. Car driving involves gasoline, food, motel, car passes, and other incidental costs, not to mention road and weather hazards. It is also very tiring, which is why self driving is only for experienced drivers.
Finally, cut down some costs by preparing your car for the shipment. Shipping rates are also determined by the weight of your car, and so it is helpful the cut some weight. Remove add-ons and drain the fuel to a fourth of the tank.
Auto transport doesn’t need to be complicated or expensive. You just need to know how it is done. However, if you still find the process complicated or you simply don’t have the time, hire a car shipping broker to assist you, if you have additional money to spare.
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