Thankfully, with the internet, it is now easier than ever to get an accurate quote to determine just how much it will cost to transport a car. We can actually provide you with a free no-obligation quote anytime 24/7. And while getting quotes is the easy part, it can often become an overwhelming process trying to determine which car transport company will be reliable enough to safely deliver your car. Once your search begins, you’ll encounter two types of companies: auto transport brokers and auto carriers.
The Two Kinds Of Car Shipping Companies
Auto carriers and car transport brokers are the two main types of vehicle transport companies available to help you ship your car. You will encounter pros and cons to each type, however, with a little research; you should be able to find what best suits your needs.
Car Transport Brokers
A car transport broker typically serves as a middleman between you and the carriers. While they don’t own their own fleet of trucks, they don’t physically transport the vehicle themselves. They rely primarily on their large network of carriers in order to get your vehicle shipped. One of the benefits of using a car transport broker is that they offer you a wide selection of carriers and options to choose from while basically doing all the difficult legwork for you.
Car transport brokers are able to deliver you quotes and information on many carriers within a matter of minutes. Since these transport brokers are experienced professionals, they will know which carrier will be best suited for your shipment. The majority of consumers will have neither the time nor the interest to thoroughly vet each transport company.
The final thing worth mentioning about car transport brokers is making sure your quote is for door-to-door delivery. It will always be cheaper if the vehicle is shipped to a terminal and many times the quotes provided are based on the terminal to terminal delivery. While this may be perfect if you live relatively close to one of these terminals, oftentimes, depending on your location, you may have to travel hundreds of miles in order to reach one of these terminal yards. You may also face storage fees if the vehicle needs to stay in the yard for any period of time.
Door-to-door shipping is the most convenient option as your vehicle can be picked up and delivered to any specified home or business. Terminal to terminal is a more affordable option in which the vehicle is shipped from and to another carrier’s terminal. While door to door tends to be a little more expensive it’s also the most popular car shipping option available due to the convenience.
Auto Transport Carriers
Auto transport carriers actually own their own fleet of vehicles. These companies may also be comprised of independent truck drivers that own their own trucks. One of the main benefits, when you work directly with a carrier, is that you’ll be dealing with only one company throughout the entire transport and won’t need to worry about a middleman.
The Benefits Of Shipping Your Car With A Car Transport Company
There are several reasons why a person may need to transport a vehicle. Perhaps you’re relocating due to employment or you’re simply a snowbird looking to make your annual migration down south. Thankfully with the internet and sites like CarMax and Carvana, consumers are looking to buy their cars that may be located a long distance away from their homes.
Unless you are planning on making a road trip of it yourself, the smarter option often is to use a car transport company to haul your vehicle for you. Using a reliable transport company will ultimately cost you less and be a much less stressful experience than if you were to drive your vehicle yourself.
Listed below are just some of the many benefits of employing a car transport company to help you ship your car as opposed to driving it yourself.
- Cost Savings. Transporting your vehicle is usually less expensive than making the trip yourself. When you factor in the cost of gas, food, tolls, and lodging the cost can quickly add up.
- Save Time: Why waste time at work or with your family traveling on a road trip to pick up your car?
- Wear and Tear: Don’t add extra wear and tear on your vehicle by driving hundreds of miles when you don’t need to.
- Breakdowns: You don’t need the hassle of a potential car breakdown on the road someplace foreign. Imagine having to find a tow truck or some random mechanic and the possibility of having to stay someplace overnight in a distant city or town.
- Energy Efficiency: Can you imagine the amount of fuel burned and carbon footprint if everyone decided to drive their cars themselves instead of using a transport company?
When you take into account the thousands of automobiles that are transported every year, you can see the added benefits of using a car transport company to haul your vehicle rather than you making the long road trip on your own.
