Shipping Your Auto Can Save You Money

By Tom Kearns

Nowadays it becomes more and more of a necessity for any adult to own a car. While in big bustling cities it may be increasingly more convenient to get by on foot or by means of public transport, many prosperous towns have wretched bus service and are generally so planned that without a car it is near impossible to do even your essential shopping. As a result the average family owns at least two cars.

If you or a member of your family is planning to relocate, driving your car(s) yourself to your far off new home may seem convenient, but oh my, what a hassle. Think auto transport company. These companies exist to transport many vehicles at once over long distances, saving stress on both you and your car as well as being economical. Your car will be provided with some protection against bad weather, bad road conditions, and vandalism or theft. Auto shipping companies offer many services for any type of vehicle and are specialists in what they do.

If you are not naturally a planner, this is the time you need to change that. You need to make careful preparations based on your circumstances. Figure the cost of driving those vehicles yourself including fuel, wear and tear on the car and you (and quite possibly other drivers in other vehicles) and the cost of food and lodging on the road, especially over long distances. Compare this total with an estimate from a reliable auto shipper and you will undoubtedly hire the carrier.

There are further considerations that affect the pricing. The date you want your car(s) to be delivered as well as condition and type of vehicle all play into the charges. However, if the destination is far, far away, whether your car is an old clunker or a sleek, sexy new one, hiring a professional, reliable auto shipper is the wise and budget-friendly way to go.

Standard transport companies will offer various plans of shipment services at various prices. The cheapest being the "economy guide". This is something of a crap shoot, though, because your vehicle will only be loaded if there is enough room for it on the carrier - first come first served. To get your car into a priority shipping time slot, you will have to pay more. The "economy guide" plan is only for the truly financially strapped and/or those who really don't give a hoot when their vehicle arrives at its destination.

Next to "economy guide" in price is shipment by open carrier, which leaves the car open to inclement weather conditions, road conditions, flying debris, and possible damage by other vehicles on the carrier. A safer choice and more expensive one is the closed carrier which avoids the aforementioned hazards. There is also "Full Service" available with both open and closed shipment that guarantees door-to-door service of pick up and delivery on specific dates. You can minimize costs somewhat by reducing the weight of the vehicle. Remove any objects that can be removed from the car, do not load any personal belongings and make sure the tank is as low as is reasonable -these are some ways to lower the car's weight and thereby the price. - 30242

About the Author:

Sign Up for our Free Newsletter

Enter email address here