Customer Reviews

Benefits of Shipping a Car

Posted on 07/19/2017

Jump to section:
Shipping your car
The benefits of shipping a car
Tips for getting the most out of your car shipment
Conclusion

 


 

Shipping your car

Shipping your car can be a huge benefit to you in any situation where you are moving or even re-locating to for an extended period. The issue is usually that most people do not have a lot of experience with shipping their cars so, they are weary of jumping into a new experience without being more informed about it.
Driving your car can be a huge hassle. It is a huge investment in terms of money, time and energy. It can even impede your ability to complete the rest of your move in any sort of timely fashion.
All of that is not an issue when you choose to ship your car instead. In fact, you barely have any work to do when you ship your car. All you need to do is book your shipment and do a few things to prepare your car for shipping. Other than that your auto transport company will take care of the rest of the process for you. So, you already have the added bonus of peace of mind.
You can think of it this way. When you order something online, you do so because it is more convenient than making a trip to the store, even if the store is a short drive away. When you have the option of having something delivered to you, you
generally tend to take that option. So, why would that inclination be any different for your car?

 

The benefits of shipping a car

Specifically, there are actually several very large benefits to shipping your car rather than driving it yourself. They are:

You will save time by shipping your car

One of the main reasons that shipping a vehicle makes your life easier is how much time you save. It can take a week to drive across the country if you are allowing yourself the necessary rest.Even if you are not driving entirely across the country, it could still take a few days to get where you are going. At the very least, if its several hundred miles that you are traveling expect it to take the majority of at least a full day.
When you ship your car, you won’t have to worry about any of this. You will just need to focus on getting your car ready for shipping as well as arranging transportation for during your car shipment.

There will be less wear and tear on your car

Mileage plays an important role in the resale value of any vehicle, and the more miles you put on a car, the less value it’s going to have once you want to sell it. If you drive a vehicle for any length of time (say from New York to Miami) this not only puts on a lot of mileage but also wear and tear on the engine, body and wheels.
That will add up to more service and repair fees as well as the depreciation we just mentioned which you cannot fix or rollback, even if you do get the car regularly serviced. All of this can add up to thousands of dollars you will not be able to recover.
Avoiding putting hundreds or even thousands of miles on your vehicle by shipping it is a great step in the right direction.

You will save money by shipping your car

You will save a lot of time and money when shipping your vehicle instead of driving it. Consider the expenses of driving across country. The cost of gas alone is pricey then factor in food and hotel expenses.
What most people do not realize is they will likely need to take at least several days off from work in order to drive their car to its destination themselves. This could potentially cost someone hundreds, if not over a thousand, dollars in wages you end up not being able to learn.
People often make the mistake of thinking they are saving by driving their car rather than shipping it and that is simply not the case when you take a critical look at all the factors at play.

Save the stress and energy of driving yourself

Although it might not cost you any money or time, the stress and energy that driving your car instead of shipping it costs you is an experience that you will want to avoid at all costs. Driving for several days at a time can adversely affect your normal sleeping routine, lead to slight weight gain, cause temporary issues with eyesight and more.
 

Tips for getting the most out of your car shipment

  • Plan ahead – The further in advanced that you are able to schedule and book your shipment, the more likely it is that you will get the pick-up and delivery windows that you want.
  • Try to ship during a less busy season – If you ship during a less busy season such as the winter rather than the spring or the summer, you will likely end up spending moderately less to ship your car.
  • Ask your auto transport company if they will allow you to ship any personal items – Sometimes, car shipping companies will allow you to ship personal items in your vehicle. This will help “lighten the load” if you happen to be moving. Please note, if they do allow this it is likely that they will require that these personal items weigh less than seventy pounds, are below the window lines and do not include items such as firearms.
  • Always choose door-to-door transport – Sometimes, there will be an option to ship your car door-to-door or to drop your car off at a central hub somewhere fairly close. In the end, you will not end up saving that much money by foregoing door-to-door transport. So, we recommend that you choose door-to-door transport because the convenience is worth it.
  • Research any company that you are considering using – Any company that you might be considering for your car shipment should be researched first. That includes checking online reviews on websites like Google as well as looking through the companies’ website to see if they can meet your particular auto transport needs.

 

Conclusion

There are clear and obvious benefits to shipping your car over driving it yourself. You save time, money, energy, stress as well as avoid putting unnecessary wear and tear on your vehicle. Plus, you can focus on other, much more important things, like moving.
If you have any questions about car shipping you can always call us at (888)777-2123.

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Benefits of Shipping a Car

Posted on 07/19/2017

Jump to section:
Shipping your car
The benefits of shipping a car
Tips for getting the most out of your car shipment
Conclusion

 


 

Shipping your car

Shipping your car can be a huge benefit to you in any situation where you are moving or even re-locating to for an extended period. The issue is usually that most people do not have a lot of experience with shipping their cars so, they are weary of jumping into a new experience without being more informed about it.
Driving your car can be a huge hassle. It is a huge investment in terms of money, time and energy. It can even impede your ability to complete the rest of your move in any sort of timely fashion.
All of that is not an issue when you choose to ship your car instead. In fact, you barely have any work to do when you ship your car. All you need to do is book your shipment and do a few things to prepare your car for shipping. Other than that your auto transport company will take care of the rest of the process for you. So, you already have the added bonus of peace of mind.
You can think of it this way. When you order something online, you do so because it is more convenient than making a trip to the store, even if the store is a short drive away. When you have the option of having something delivered to you, you
generally tend to take that option. So, why would that inclination be any different for your car?

 

The benefits of shipping a car

Specifically, there are actually several very large benefits to shipping your car rather than driving it yourself. They are:

You will save time by shipping your car

One of the main reasons that shipping a vehicle makes your life easier is how much time you save. It can take a week to drive across the country if you are allowing yourself the necessary rest.Even if you are not driving entirely across the country, it could still take a few days to get where you are going. At the very least, if its several hundred miles that you are traveling expect it to take the majority of at least a full day.
When you ship your car, you won’t have to worry about any of this. You will just need to focus on getting your car ready for shipping as well as arranging transportation for during your car shipment.

There will be less wear and tear on your car

Mileage plays an important role in the resale value of any vehicle, and the more miles you put on a car, the less value it’s going to have once you want to sell it. If you drive a vehicle for any length of time (say from New York to Miami) this not only puts on a lot of mileage but also wear and tear on the engine, body and wheels.
That will add up to more service and repair fees as well as the depreciation we just mentioned which you cannot fix or rollback, even if you do get the car regularly serviced. All of this can add up to thousands of dollars you will not be able to recover.
Avoiding putting hundreds or even thousands of miles on your vehicle by shipping it is a great step in the right direction.

You will save money by shipping your car

You will save a lot of time and money when shipping your vehicle instead of driving it. Consider the expenses of driving across country. The cost of gas alone is pricey then factor in food and hotel expenses.
What most people do not realize is they will likely need to take at least several days off from work in order to drive their car to its destination themselves. This could potentially cost someone hundreds, if not over a thousand, dollars in wages you end up not being able to learn.
People often make the mistake of thinking they are saving by driving their car rather than shipping it and that is simply not the case when you take a critical look at all the factors at play.

Save the stress and energy of driving yourself

Although it might not cost you any money or time, the stress and energy that driving your car instead of shipping it costs you is an experience that you will want to avoid at all costs. Driving for several days at a time can adversely affect your normal sleeping routine, lead to slight weight gain, cause temporary issues with eyesight and more.
 

Tips for getting the most out of your car shipment

  • Plan ahead – The further in advanced that you are able to schedule and book your shipment, the more likely it is that you will get the pick-up and delivery windows that you want.
  • Try to ship during a less busy season – If you ship during a less busy season such as the winter rather than the spring or the summer, you will likely end up spending moderately less to ship your car.
  • Ask your auto transport company if they will allow you to ship any personal items – Sometimes, car shipping companies will allow you to ship personal items in your vehicle. This will help “lighten the load” if you happen to be moving. Please note, if they do allow this it is likely that they will require that these personal items weigh less than seventy pounds, are below the window lines and do not include items such as firearms.
  • Always choose door-to-door transport – Sometimes, there will be an option to ship your car door-to-door or to drop your car off at a central hub somewhere fairly close. In the end, you will not end up saving that much money by foregoing door-to-door transport. So, we recommend that you choose door-to-door transport because the convenience is worth it.
  • Research any company that you are considering using – Any company that you might be considering for your car shipment should be researched first. That includes checking online reviews on websites like Google as well as looking through the companies’ website to see if they can meet your particular auto transport needs.

 

Conclusion

There are clear and obvious benefits to shipping your car over driving it yourself. You save time, money, energy, stress as well as avoid putting unnecessary wear and tear on your vehicle. Plus, you can focus on other, much more important things, like moving.
If you have any questions about car shipping you can always call us at (888)777-2123.

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"The driver was professional and courteous. Very pleased with my entire experience with RoadRunner Auto Transport."

Sally D.

Atlanta, GA

5 stars
google reviews

"When I bought a car out of state I was unsure what to expect with the shipping. RoadRunner made everything so easy!"

Jenna D.

Lufkin, TX

5 stars
shopper approved reviews

"RoadRunner gave us a fair price and was able to pick up when we needed. Very professional from start to finish."

Sean T.

Brooklyn, NY

5 stars
transport reviews

"My car arrived in mint condition. The service was great and the personnel very courteous. Great job guys!"

Victor B.

Fresno, CA

5 stars
better business bureau reviews

Frequently Asked Questions

Get answers to some of the most commonly asked questions about the vehicle shipping process.


When determining your car shipping cost, there are a few factors that we take into account in order to provide you with an accurate price quote. The mileage between the origin and destination is the biggest factor that contributes to your total rate. In addition to the distance of your relocation, another factor is the type and condition of the vehicle being shipped. The final factor is the date that your vehicle will be ready for transport. There are also additional options, such as enclosed carrier and top-load service that can be added to your shipment at the time of booking for a higher level of service. Read more about how much it costs to ship a car.

To get a quote for shipping your vehicle, you can either use our instant online car shipping quote calculator or you can call (888) 422-7584 to receive a quote from one of our car transport pricing specialists. In order for us to calculate your quote we will need to know the location you are shipping from and to, the type of vehicle you would like to ship, and the date your vehicle will be ready.

The transit time for your shipment is based mostly on the mileage between the pickup and delivery location. Generally, every five hundred miles will add one day to the transit time - so for a 1,000 mile transport, the transit time would be 2-3 days. Check out our estimated transit times for a detailed view of approximate delivery times.

Yes, online tracking is available to you 24 hours a day and is updated in real time. Upon scheduling your shipment, you will receive a unique booking number that will allow you to track the status of your shipment online. Your tracking portal will also give you the ability to live chat with a shipping agent that can answer any questions you may have regarding the status of your shipment.

All shipments include basic liability coverage during transit. Comprehensive insurance options are available for an elevated level of shipment coverage during transit. You will be able to select a level of coverage during the booking process. If you have further questions regarding insurance options give us a call.

We accept all major credit cards, electronic transfer, postal money order, and bank/certified check for the deposit or full pre-payment of your shipment. If a balance is due upon delivery, it can be paid directly to the driver and can be paid in either cash, bank/certified check, or postal money order.

Yes, there must be someone present to release and accept the vehicle, provide keys to the driver and sign the initial and final inspection reports. This person can be anyone over the age of 18 that you trust with releasing or accepting your vehicle.

You may transport personal belongings in your car, as long as their total weight does not exceed 100 pounds and they are stored in the trunk or back seat (below the window line). Please keep in mind that personal belongings are not covered by insurance if they are reported as damaged or missing.

To get a quote for shipping your vehicle, you can either use our instant online car shipping quote calculator above or you can call (888) 422-7584 to receive a quote from one of our car transport pricing specialists. In order for us to calculate your quote we will need to know the location you are shipping from and to, the type of vehicle you would like to ship, and the date your vehicle will be ready.

The further in advance you schedule your shipment, the more likely we will be able to meet the time requirements you desire. For best results, we suggest scheduling your transport at least 2 to 3 weeks in advance. Expedited shipping options are available in order to accomodate shipments that require . You can always give us a call and ask one of our car shipping experts what your options are in terms of the schedule for your car transport.

The driver will get the car transporter as close to your door as he can legally and safely get. In most cases, the driver will be able to pickup and deliver directly at your door. Some cities may have restrictions on large trucks that prohibit them from driving into residential areas. Auto transport trucks are large and need lots of room to maneuver and turn around, so if access to the pickup or delivery location is restricted by narrow streets, low-hanging trees or tight turns, the driver may ask that you meet at a location nearby with a large parking lot, such as a grocery store.

Open transport is the most common car shipping method. There are two types of open-air transporters. The Majority of shipments are be made with 8-10 car carriers. Smaller carriers which hold 2-3 cars are used for shorter more local moves. There is broader network of carrier availability for open-air carriers since they are used more often. We suggest choosing enclosed shipping methods when shipping classic, luxury or exotic vehicles. Enclosed transporters guarantee maximum protection from exposure to any open-air elements on the road. We suggest booking your enclosed transport in advance since there is limited carrier availability. Read more about the difference between open and enclosed transport

RoadRunner Auto Transport specializes in shipping all types of vehicles such as sedans, SUVs, pickup trucks, minivans, oversized vehicles, antiques, classic cars, motorcycles, construction vehicles, inoperable cars and boats. If you are not sure whether or not we can ship your vehicle, you can give us a call to find out what we can do for you.

You should have about a quarter of a tank of gas in your car at the time of shipment. This leaves enough for the car to be loaded and unloaded but doesn't add much additional weight.

The Bill of Lading is a very important document used by car shipping companies that documents any pre-existing damage on the vehicle during the time of pickup. It also serves as a record of your contact info and the official agreement for transport. If you want to file any insurance claim regarding your shipment you will need the Bill of Lading.

Top load service is when your car is placed on the higher deck or level of an open auto transport trailer. This is considered to be preferable to the bottom load because the cars on the lower deck are at risk of possibly having fluid from the cars above leak on them.

Make sure your car has been completely cleaned, both inside and outside. This is particularly important because this will help the driver conduct their inspection in order to assess any pre-existing damage on your vehicle. You will also want to make there are no additional personal items in the vehicle unless you intend to ship those with the vehicle (remember those items must total less than 100 pounds combined and be kept below the window-line of the vehicle). Be sure to inform the driver of any special circumstances concerning the vehicle. Finally, make sure there is a quarter tank of gas in the car at the time it is picked up for shipment. Visit our car shipping checklist to make sure you are prepared for your vehicle shipment.

Yes, we can ship vehicles that are in non-running/inoperable condition. When inoperable cars are shipped, a special auto carrier is required that makes use of a winch which is connected to your car and slowly and safely pulls your vehicle onto the carrier. There is an additional fee for inpoerable vehicles because of the special equipment and extra work involved with securing the vehicle onto the transporter. You can select the inoperable option on the online booking form or inform your shipping agent if you make your reservation by phone so that the proper arrangements can be made to accomodate a non-running vehicle.

We offer open car shipping and enclosed car shipping services. Open car shipping is used much more frequently and is the type of auto transport that you see on the highway where carriers are hauling vehicles on two decks that are exposed. Enclosed car shipping is when your vehicle is shipped in a trailer which has walls and a roof, they look like a larger version of a regular eighteen-wheeler. This method is recommended for luxury, exotic or classic cars.

Door-to-door car transport is the full service delivery of your vehicle directly from the door at the pickup location to the door at the delivery location. Our drivers do their best to get as close as physically and legally possible to the pickup and delivery locations, but in certain instances there may be restrictions preventing them from being able to safely reach your door. Our transporters need ample space to maneuver and load/unload your vehicle. If your street is too narrow, or if there are hazards such as low lining trees or power lines, drivers may ask that you meet them at a location nearby where they can safely load or unload your vehicle, such as a large parking lot or shopping center nearby.