Shipping your car is an important decision. There are many reasons why you’d want to transport it instead of driving yourself. It could be that you’re moving with a lot of stuff and don’t want to drive, or you’ve purchased a new car, or you’re taking it somewhere else for repairs. Of course, no matter your reason for shipping it, you want your vehicle to arrive scratch-free and in one piece.
Different vehicle types require varying transport considerations. Check out this list that explains the ideal method for each.
Lifted Trucks
Lifted trucks are enormous, beautiful monsters. While their size is something to admire, it also makes it a challenge to ship them. That said, the best way to transport yours is probably by open trailer. An enclosed trailer sounds nice, but, likely, the truck won’t fit inside. Besides, lifted trucks aren’t incredibly fragile, so you shouldn’t worry too much about yours getting exposed to external factors during transit. Note that you might have to spend more on the extra space your truck consumes. And besides the tire modifications, you should remove other detachable and custom materials from your vehicle.
Lowriders
As opposed to lifted trucks with high ground clearance, lowriders prefer to lay low, as the name implies. While space makes it challenging to transport lifted trucks, getting a lowrider inside a trailer is the real challenge. If you’re not careful, you can damage your wheels’ underbelly trying to load the car via a ramp. That’s why the best way to ship this car type is to find an enclosed trailer with a liftgate. This way, you won’t have to risk driving your auto up into the carrier. But as you might already expect, enclosed trailers are a more expensive mode of transport.
Classic Hot Rods
A hot rod is elegant and valuable, and you likely won’t tolerate a single tiny scratch. There’s only one way to safely haul such a precious gem – in a single enclosed trailer. As the name suggests, this carrier will transport only your vehicle. You won’t have to worry about sharing space with other cars and risk possible damage to yours. Will it be expensive? Definitely, but if you can afford a hot rod, it’s unlikely you won’t be able to pay a premium to ship your prized vehicle safely.
Race Cars
While it’s tempting to cruise your race car down the interstate, you should refrain from doing so if you don’t want to risk damage to your vehicle. Remember, your baby is meant best for a race track, not a highway. Instead, you should find an auto transport company that will ship your car inside an enclosed trailer. Race cars might be resilient, but you’ll want yours to always be in peak condition before any race. Hauling it in an enclosed trailer guarantees its safety and performance.
Pickup Truck
Similar to lifted trucks, pickup trucks require an open-air trailer. Try to find a flatbed type if you can. Make sure to measure the dimensions of your truck beforehand so you can give the shipper an idea of its size. Remember to ask them questions and warn them of existing issues with your truck. Remember, the more information you can share with them, the more accurate the quote they can give you.
Luxury Cars
If you’re going to ask any expert, the best way to ship a luxury car will always be by air freight. Not only does it arrive faster so you can hit the road sooner, but it’s also more secure with less paperwork and preparation involved. That said, it’s also an expensive way to ship something that you can transport on land. However, if you think about it, why wouldn’t you be willing to spend more if it means your precious wheels will come home without a single scratch? But if you wish to save money, the next safest option is to transport your auto via an enclosed trailer.
Regular Cars
Most cars above are either expensive or mechanically unique, requiring special handling. For those that drive the regular breeds of hatchbacks, coupes, SUVs, and sedans, the best option for shipping your vehicle is via open trailer transport. For most cars, an open trailer strikes the balance of convenience and affordability. While open carriers leave vehicles more susceptible to road debris and weather conditions, it is much cheaper than the alternatives of closed carrier transport or air freight.
Conclusion
Although there are different auto transport options out there, they all serve the same purpose: to deliver your vehicle. The final decision on shipping your vehicle depends on your budget and how much protection you want your car to have.
