Auto Shipping Cost Saving Tips to Remember
The short list: book one to four weeks ahead, stay flexible on dates, choose open transport unless the vehicle warrants enclosed, ship multiple vehicles together, and give accurate details so the quote does not get revised later. Those five moves do almost all of the saving. Below is how each one works, and one thing that is not worth chasing.
Use an Open Carrier In Place of an Enclosed One
You can ship a car in an enclosed carrier or an open carrier. The difference between the two is easy to understand. Due to the extra protection they give to the vehicle and everything inside, enclosed carriers cost more. No matter what the weather is or what time of year it is, the enclosed trailer can deliver the car as-is.
If you wish to ship something like a classic collectible or a high-end sports car, an enclosed trailer is the best choice, even though it costs more. But if your car is just something you drive every day and has no special features or accessories, you should consider getting an open carrier.
Open carriers are the industry standard: roughly nine out of ten vehicles ship this way, including most new cars traveling from factory to dealership. Your car rides exposed to weather the same way it would parked in a driveway, and carrier insurance covers it either way. For a daily driver, open transport is the sensible default and the single largest line item you can control.
Terminal-to-Terminal Transportation
Most people have no idea that you are not required to have your vehicle picked up or dropped off at your address when using a transportation company like Ship A Car, Inc. They simply choose to transport their vehicles this way, but another way can save you a lot of money.
With terminal-to-terminal service, you drive your car to a storage terminal near you, and collect it from a terminal near your destination. It can shave something off the price on lanes where terminals are convenient to both ends. Weigh it honestly, though: you take on two drives, terminals often charge storage if the vehicle sits, and door-to-door is included in Ship A Car quotes at no extra cost. For most moves the savings do not survive the inconvenience.
Compare Quotes, and Treat Outliers as a Warning
Getting quotes from a few reputable companies is smart. Just be careful how you read them. A number far below everything else usually is not a better deal; it is a placeholder that gets revised upward once no carrier accepts the load, or a shipment that sits unassigned while your dates pass. The quote worth taking is the one that already includes door-to-door service, carrier insurance, and taxes, so the figure you approve is the figure you pay.
Ship A Car, Inc. has moved vehicles for customers across the United States since 2012, and quotes are built the same way every time: your real route, your actual vehicle, and no charges added after booking.
Be Flexible with Transportation Dates
Many auto transport businesses will allow you to select the pick-up and delivery dates that work best for your schedule; however, this service might cost you a little bit extra. You’ll spend less overall money if you work with the transport company’s preferred dates. This might result in you being without a vehicle for a few longer days than anticipated. However, it’s frequently a smart way to save money to let the transportation provider choose the pick-up and drop-off dates.
Ship All Cars at Once
If you need to relocate more than one car, you shouldn’t ship each vehicle separately or delay shipping the second vehicle until later. You will receive a discount from the auto shipping service when you ship numerous cars simultaneously. This reduction might be for each additional car that is transported, or it could be in the form of a bulk rate. Either way, you will save money.
Understand the Insurance You Already Have
Every licensed carrier is required to carry cargo insurance, and that coverage is included in your transport price. You are not buying it separately, which means the money-saving move here is not shopping for a policy: it is knowing what the carrier’s coverage limit is before you book, and whether it comfortably exceeds your vehicle’s value.
Ask your transport coordinator for the carrier’s insurance certificate and coverage limit. If your vehicle is worth more than that limit, which happens with classics and high-end models, that is the moment to consider supplemental coverage or an enclosed carrier, not an add-on package sold on top of the shipment. Check your own auto policy too, since some cover a vehicle in transit and you may already be protected for the gap.
Book One to Four Weeks Ahead
This is the biggest saver on the list and the one most people skip. Booking early lets your shipment be matched to a carrier already scheduled to run your route, rather than requiring one to be pulled onto it. Last-minute and expedited requests price at a premium because they ask a driver to change plans. A week or more of lead time, paired with flexible pickup dates, consistently produces the best rate on any given lane.
Final Thoughts
Shipping a car costs what the lane, the vehicle, and the calendar say it costs, but the levers above are real and they compound. Book ahead, keep your dates flexible, ship open unless the car warrants otherwise, and give accurate vehicle details up front. Do those four things and you will pay near the bottom of the honest range for your route. For a quote built that way, call Ship A Car at (866) 821-4555 or use the instant calculator.
