Factors that Determine your Car Shipping Costs
Distance
Miles are a key factor, but shorter distances require the same effort in pick-up & drop-off by drivers --even though they spend less time on the road. So long-distance can actually be cheaper per mile, just as an airline ticket from Detroit to Los Angeles can cost the same as one from NY to LA.
Open or Enclosed
75% of customers find open trailer transport with 3 – 10 cars the best value. Enclosed transport trailers are much smaller, with just 2-6 cars. Driving the same miles, same # of days with fewer vehicles costs more per car, but enclosed trailers are recommended for classics, exotics and others valued at $70,000+.
Vehicle Type & Size
Trucks have maximum loads for safety. A larger or longer vehicle may take up more than 1 space on the transport trailer. A heavier one uses up more of the maximum allowable weight load – which means the trailer may be limited on the other vehicles it could carry.
Running or Not
We transport all vehicles – running or not. A car that is inoperable – one that does not start or run on its own – requires extra time, effort and equipment from the driver, which is more costly.
Popularity of the Route
Pickup and/or dropoff in a rural location typically costs more than to and from major metro areas. Larger cities have more truckers driving through, and are served by more major highways that are easier for truckers. Just as there are fewer flights from Detroit to Atlanta each day than from NY to LA, there are fewer trucks available in some rural areas which can affect pricing.
Dates / Season of Year
High demand during some seasons can cause prices to spike on some routes, and even truckers take holidays. So shipping before Thanksgiving or Christmas for example can be challenging, and times of flooding or hurricanes in a region can affect availability and cost. Direction of travel can impact prices.
