Moving to a different state or a new country can present many hidden expenses that you may not be able to budget for properly. For many, giving up their car isn’t an option, be it for sentimental reasons or for the simple fact that they’ve already made all the payments on a vehicle they love, and it would be too expensive to buy a new one. Of course, moving big pieces of furniture, let alone a car, will cost a pretty penny.
However, in the same way that you can save money on shipping your belongings from one location to the next, there are a few smart ways that can help you ship a car without spending too much. The following are a few quick tips to keep in mind in case you absolutely cannot part with your beloved vehicle.
1. Obtain More Than One Quote to ship your car
For starters, don’t make the rookie mistake of settling on the first quote you receive. You need to take your time and shop around before securing a vendor to help you. The cost of ship your car does not only vary from company to company but also day-to-day. In fact, you shouldn’t always bank on the fact that the costs will remain the same even after you’ve booked, and each company has its own set of specific policies regarding a percentage increase depending on different factors, such as extreme weather. In fact, if you don’t read between the lines, you may soon realize that the company you book is in reality working with a third party. In any case, the quote you receive from one company will vary wildly to the next, so it pays to do your research and reach out to different businesses. The standard is to receive a minimum of three quotes, possibly even five since that will give you a better idea of how much to pay.
2. Book Early
Doing your research early on and making a reservation for the car to be shipped sooner rather than later is a smart decision. In fact, the cheapest method to ship your car without spending a small fortune is by simply being diligent about the timing. Checking in and getting quotes early forces companies to offer you the most competitive rates since they are in a bidding war to get the job done. However, if you wait until the last minute, the companies will probably know that you’re in a tough spot and have little to no incentive to offer you a decent rate. Planning ahead will make a world difference, and will save you hundreds of dollars in the end.
3. Consider Open Transport to ship your car
Shipping cars is a particularly strange job. Maybe shipping a grand piano or an organ is a bit comparable in that the movers are essentially taking care of a very delicate piece of machinery. Therefore, specific options are made available to those shipping vehicles. One mode of shipment that comes highly recommended for not only being extremely safe but also cost-effective is big semi-trailers. You’ve probably seen an iteration of this while driving along a highway at some point. These are semi-open trailers that ship your car from pretty much anywhere around the country and are much cheaper than shipping inside a fully enclosed container. In fact, the latter option is usually completely unnecessary and will cost an arm and a leg. It pays to save money by looking into this option, which will work efficiently and safely for most car models.
4. Terminal to Terminal Shipment
If you feel that the door-to-door method of shipping in a semi-trailer is still beyond reach, then you could look into shipping the car from one terminal to the next. Most cities have a car terminal, and if you don’t mind the extra drive – not to mention the wait time – then this could be the option for you.
Simply drop off your car at one terminal, and then pick it up at the next, with a company doing the work in between. This can be a bit risky since there is a bit of wait time during which you’re not entirely sure where your car will be, but it is very cheap.
Whether you’re shipping a luxury car, a newly rehabbed vintage model, or your beloved Volkswagen, there’s bound to be a method of shipment that works for you. The most important step to take is to do the research early on and get as many quotes as you can to help you make the right decision.
