Every year, around 400 million Americans move at least once. Are you one of them who’s making a huge relocation this year? Then you might be having some trouble figuring out how to move all your belongings with you.
Of course, there are always movers for your home furnishings, clothes, and more. But what about your vehicle? For that, there are car moving companies.
If you’re wondering about car moving services and quotes, then you’re in the right place. In this article, we’ll give you all the information you need so you can allocate enough of your budget for long-distance car moving.
Factors That Affect Car Moving Costs
Of course, the quote that you receive will differ vastly from the quote another customer receives. This is because every customer has their own car shipping needs, and those factors will affect how much a company will quote you.
Let’s take a look at the important factors that’ll affect pricing for your coast-to-coast car shipping.
YOUR SPECIFIC VEHICLE
As you may already know, not all cars are created the same. Not only do vehicles come in different sizes, but they also have varying shapes. For example, there’s a big difference between transporting a small hatchback and a large Hummer SUV.
The make and model of your car will factor into the quote you receive from an auto shipping company. In general, larger and heavier cars will cost more to ship than smaller, lighter ones.
You’ll also need to consider what modifications you have on your car, as they can change your vehicle size and weight. For example, it may have larger tires or some aftermarket parts. So auto transport companies will also need to take those into account to give you an accurate quote.
WHAT CONDITION YOUR CAR’S IN
Another thing that will play a part in your car shipping quote is what condition your car’s in. More specifically, the company will want to know if your vehicle is in working order or not.
If your car isn’t operable, then it’ll take more effort for the driver to get your car on and off their hauler. For instance, they’ll need to bring a forklift to do so.
Not only will this take more resources, but it’ll also take more time and effort to transport your car. For this reason, you’ll have to pay more to transport a non-working vehicle than a working one.
THE TYPE OF AUTO HAULER YOU CHOOSE
When you have a company transport your vehicle, you have 2 main choices: open carrier and enclosed auto shipping.
With open car hauling, your vehicle is loaded onto a truck with other ones. The hauler is basically a wire frame; it’s like the ones you see bringing cars to and from dealerships.
Open car haulers leave your vehicle open to the elements, which means it can be susceptible to things like rain or wind. However, there are many more truckers who drive open haulers. This means 2 things: it’ll be easier to find a driver who can drive on your desired time slots and it’ll also be cheaper.
On the other hand, there’s enclosed auto shipping. It’ll keep your vehicle better protected, as it’ll be inside a completely covered hauler with other cars. However, this is more expensive and there are fewer truckers available. It may be a good idea if you have a more expensive or brand new vehicle though.
THE TYPE OF SERVICE YOU CHOOSE
In addition to the type of hauler you choose, the price you pay will also depend on the type of service you want. For example, with Nexus Auto Transport, we have 3 tiers of service: economy, standard, and expedited.
With economy, you’ll pay the least amount, but it’ll take the longest for your vehicle to get from one place to another. Standard is a bit quicker, which means it’ll cost more.
At the very top is expedited car shipping. In this case, you can get your car picked up within 24 hours, which can save you in a pinch if another auto transport company has canceled on you suddenly. However, you’ll have to pay a premium for this convenience; expedited car shipping won’t come cheap.
THE PRICE OF FUEL
The distance your car needs to travel will matter a lot in what the auto transport company quotes you. but of course, the current price of fuel will be factored in as well.
If you’re getting car shipping services soon, then you’ll want to take a look at what the gas prices are like. If they’re higher or lower than normal, then you should expect the same trend for the auto shipping quote you get.
One week, gas might be just $2.50. But the next, it may jump to over $3.00. If you notice this significant difference while getting gas, then chances are, the auto transport company you choose will have this huge difference in price due to the current price of fuel as well.
WHAT SEASON YOU WANT TRANSPORT IN
Believe it or not, but the season you want to transport your vehicle in will make a big difference in the price you’ll have to pay.
For example, snowbirds will want to travel during winter from colder places to warmer areas, such as Florida. So if you’re planning on traveling the same route as them, it’ll be more in demand. As a result, it’ll cost more, plus it’ll be harder to find a driver who’s willing to drive in the prime time slots you want.
Also, many people want to relocate during spring and summer. So if you’re planning on getting auto shipping services during those seasons, expect to pay more than in fall or winter.
THE DISTANCE
Last, but not least, the pricing will also depend on how far you want your car to be transported. Even though you’ll be shipping your car across the country like many other customers, you’ll still get a unique quote since the distances will vary.
The specific starting and ending locations will matter too. Your pickup and dropoff areas might be much more accessible than another customer’s, which will put your quote at a lower price.
The same goes for rural versus metropolitan areas. If the places the driver has to go are in remote cities rather than easy-to-access large cities, then that’ll cost extra since it’ll most likely be more trouble and will take more time.
THE DIRECTION YOU’RE GOING IN
The direction you’re having your car shipped is important too. Usually, shipping from west to east is cheaper than east to west.
For example, if you’re shipping a regular sedan from the west to the east coast, it should cost you around $750. However, if you’re doing it the other way around (east to west), then expect that to go up to over $1,000.
This is because it depends on the demand of customers, especially during different seasons. As we’ve mentioned above, the time you want to transport your vehicle can matter significantly, as demand will chance in certain directions, depending on the time of the year.
Of course, this will depend on the current availability of truckers as well. So make sure you always request a quote before committing to any auto transport company.
Other Important Details
Regardless of which type of auto shipping service you choose, you should expect transit time to take anywhere between 7 to 10 days. However, if you’re able to get team drivers, this transit time can shorten to 4 to 6 days if the journey is over 2,500 miles.
In addition, you’ll want to make sure the auto transport company you choose has drivers with up-to-date cargo insurance policies. This means that if anything happens to your car while it’s in transport, not only will their policy cover the repairs, but also, it won’t affect your current car insurance policy’s premium.
Have a Reliable Company Ship Your Car Across the Country
Now that you know more about car moving, perhaps you’re on the hunt for a reliable and trustworthy company to transport your precious vehicle across the nation.
In that case, know that you can turn to Nexus Auto Transport. We have many years of experience helping customers like you get their cars wherever they need in the US.
We’ll always be transparent about everything. From the shipping price to the current location of your vehicle, our staff and drivers will be there for you, every step of the way, so you can get peace of mind.
Get started on auto shipping services by requesting a quote from us now. We’ll give you one that’s based on real-time market pricing!
