Auto shipping companies - What are they? And how to choose one for your shipping needs?

In today’s day and age, switching states for your profession is way too common. On top of that, selling your beloved car to buy one in another state isn’t that easy either. Therefore, most Americans take their car with them to their new location. However, in most cases, driving all the way isn’t that easy either. Not only is it tiring, time taking, and cost-consuming, but it can also be dangerous. 

That’s where car shipping companies come into play. If you don’t know what they are, how they can help you ship your car and how to choose the best one for your needs, this is the article you need to read. So without further ado, let’s get right in. 

What are car shipping companies?

Car shipping companies, also called auto shipping companies or car transport companies, ship cars for customers from one place to another using specially designed car hauling trucks. To optimize cost and time management, these trucks carry multiple cars at a time for different customers along the same route.  

How car shipping works?

While the auto shipping industry has been around for over half a century, its early customers were mostly automakers, dealerships and the military. Back then, the service was heavily dependent on a lot of paperwork and was availed mostly by going to the company’s premises.

However, recently this industry has gone through a lot of changes, mainly influenced by the Internet. Today, availing of the service is as easy as visiting a website or contacting the company through a phone. 

Car shipping companies today have sales agents catering to leads through Internet and telecommunication channels. These agents find the right routes, and car-hauling trucks driving along these routes on given dates to meet the needs of the customers. 

By ensuring a maximum number of cars are provided on a truck to reduce the cost of shipping on each car, these sales agents benefit both parties and hence make a cut for their company as well. 

Different types of car shipping companies?

The car shipping industry is divided into different segments such as door-to-door transportation, terminal-to-terminal, and open and enclosed shipping. While there are many other types of auto shipping, let’s focus on these four for ease of understanding. 

Let’s go through a brief description of these four, one by one.

Door-to-door transportation

In this type of auto shipping, a car is picked up right from the customer’s given location and dropped right at the drop-off location. 

Terminal to terminal

In this type of auto shipping, the car can only be picked up from a terminal closest to the customer’s location and unloaded at the terminal closes to the customer’s drop-off location. 

Open auto shipping

Open auto shipping is carried out on specifically designed car-hauling trucks that can load up to nine trucks on a trailer. In open auto shipping, the cars are exposed to the open air and therefore, are perceived to be more vulnerable. 

Enclosed shipping

Enclosed auto shipping is carried out on container trucks to ensure the protection of all kinds. An enclosed truck cannot carry more than three cars at a time and is, therefore, the more expensive option. 

Difference between an auto shipping company and a tow trucking company?

One of the most commonly asked questions is “What is the difference between tow trucking companies and auto shipping companies?”

Well, the answer is very simple. While tow trucking companies can carry cars from one place to another, they can’t carry them for longer distances. Since a tow truck can only tow one car on its back, the cost of the service is also a lot higher than a car-hauling truck. 

Also, tow truck drivers are neither ready nor willing to drive long distances. Their usual work revolves around the city of its peripheries. On the other hand, car hauling trucks are habitual of long distances.

Lastly, a car tied to a tow truck needs its rear tires on the road, which causes wear and tear and therefore, it’s not recommended for long distances. 

How to choose the right auto shipping company for your shipping needs?

With growing competition in the market, it is becoming more and more difficult to choose the right interstate car transport for your shipping needs. However, we have compiled three factors that will help you in selecting the right shipping company for your needs. 

Experience and Reputation

How long the company has been in the industry and how well-reputed they are, shows a company’s professionalism. Today knowing these things is a lot easier. Search the company’s name on Google, and you’ll come across an average of ratings previous customers will have left them.

If a company has an overall good rating, head over to individual reviews, especially the negative ones, and see how the company has responded to them. Good companies try their best to resolve their issues with unsatisfied customers, and if they can’t, they at least own their mistakes and improve that particular area being criticized by the customer. 

Moreover, you can head over to Better Business Bureau (BBB) to further look at the company’s rating. 

For finding the number of years of experience of a company, search the company’s website. If you’re not sure if the company’s stated age is true or not, compare it to the number of reviews they have on Google or BBB. 

Insurance Coverage

Having insurance coverage is crucial when transporting your vehicle. Before selecting an auto shipping company, it is important to confirm their insurance coverage. Request a copy of their insurance policy and ensure that it adequately covers potential damages, theft, and accidents during transit. If the provided insurance coverage falls short, it is advisable to explore the option of purchasing additional insurance from a third-party provider.

Get Price Estimates from several companies

To secure the most favorable arrangement for shipping your vehicle, it is advisable to compare quotes from various companies. Reach out to at least three to five car shipping companies and request a quote by providing them with specific details regarding your shipping requirements, such as the make and model of your car, the distance of transportation, and the desired timeframe. Assess and compare the quotes and services offered by each company to determine the most suitable option that aligns with your budget and specific needs.

Conclusion

That is all you need to know about nationwide car shipping companies, and how to choose the right one for a great shipping experience. We hope we’ve answered all your queries, but in case we’ve missed something out, let us know and we would love to answer it for you.