Car shipping services are on the rise. Dealerships use car transport to get cars to the dealership, buyers ship cars from out of state, and car owners who are relocating transport their vehicles to their destination.
Hiring a car shipping company has a lot of benefits. Shipping protects your car, keeps your odometer low, and saves you the hassle of driving long distances.
However, knowing the best time – and the cheapest time – to ship a car can make a big difference in your experience. Here’s everything you need to know.
When Is the Best Time to Transport a Car?
There is no universal “best time” to transport a car. It depends on your goals. If you want the cheapest shipping rate possible, shipping during the offseason when demand is low typically offers the lowest prices.
However, if your main priority is protecting your car from the elements and wear and tear, shipping during the warm summer months in an enclosed trailer – which is the busiest season and most expensive shipping option – is the best time.
Similarly, if you are in a rush and need your car delivered by a certain date, the best time to ship is in the early fall. The weather is still mild, reducing winter weather concerns, and the demand is lower than the peak season. This time also gives you the balance of affordable prices with fewer delays from traffic and weather.
What Months Are Best for Shipping Cars?
Generally, the spring and summer months are the busiest and most expensive shipping months, but they’re also the ideal months for vehicles to be on the road. The weather is more favorable, eliminating issues with ice, snow, and exposure to the elements for open-air transport.
However, like travel, the most popular months of June, July, and August tend to be the most expensive because of the increased demand.
The Christmas and New Year's holidays are also busy times for the shipping industry. Shipping can have high demand for a short period during this time, so prices may spike.
What Month Is the Cheapest to Ship a Car?
The off-season months are slower and cheaper for shipping cars. February is the cheapest month to ship a car because the holiday rush is over, snowbirds are settled, and fewer shipments are on the road with cold and icy weather. Drivers are more available and car haulers are looking for work.
September and March are also inexpensive shipping months. There is no holiday or snowbird rush, the weather is good, and drivers are available.
If you have the flexibility to choose the best and cheapest time to ship your car, patience is an asset. Rush shipping and fast turnaround times are always more expensive than slower deliveries made in off-peak months. Planning shipments well ahead will almost always save you money!
Tips for Timing Your Car Shipping Purchase
Sometimes finding the cheapest time to ship your car is a matter of timing. If you have the luxury of early planning, here are some tips to help you get the best deal possible.
Keep an Eye on the Prices
Start looking at prices well before your expected shipment date. Keep an eye on online price calculators and take note of any fluctuations throughout the year.
Getting the right deal may come down to luck. Like getting a great price on a last-minute plane ticket or hotel room, you may get lucky with a last-minute vacancy on a trailer. Shipping companies need to fill trailers as they come in, and coordinating a large fleet of trucks is a complicated process. You may be able to snag a vacant spot that a carrier wants to book for a full load.
It’s best to proceed with caution, however. Be wary if you find a huge discount during a busy month. Car shipments are pretty much universally more expensive during high-demand months, and searching too hard for a big discount could get you scammed.
Get a Quote from Multiple Car Transport Companies
When you're ready to schedule a car shipment, you can reserve a shipment time with your shipping company of choice. Depending on their current shipping load, the availability of drivers, and other factors, they'll give you a quote.
You don’t have to take the first quote you get. Check out multiple shipping companies and compare quotes. You might find a better deal after a little searching, but keep in mind that the lowest price isn’t the only consideration. Your car is an asset, after all, so evaluate car shipping companies based on reputation, reviews, value-added services, customer service, and more, to ensure your vehicle is in good hands.
Avoid Rush Delivery if You Can
Expedited car delivery can be convenient, but this service comes at a cost. If you need your car rush delivered, expect to pay top dollar.
Even when you order a rush delivery, your date of delivery can't be 100% guaranteed, however. There may be weather delays, driver shortages, mechanical issues, road construction, or other obstacles that can affect your shipping and delivery time.
Avoid Peak Seasons
If you have flexibility in when you ship your vehicle, you can benefit from waiting until the off-season. Schedule your shipment in advance and aim for the slower winter months – not the holidays – or February. However, keep in mind that savings may be offset by longer routes or delays in areas with extreme winter weather.
Another option is early fall, which is before the snowbird season and holiday rush and after the busy summer months. The demand isn’t high and the weather isn’t severe, so you may get lucky with a great deal.
Let Us Take the Hassle Out of Shipping
Shipping your car doesn't have to be a headache. Once you understand the factors that affect the best and cheapest times to ship your car, you can make an informed decision about your priorities.
Whether you’re working on a tight timeline, trying to stay under budget for your move, or looking for door-to-door shipping for a luxury or antique car, Nexus Auto Transport has you covered. Our online cost calculator can help you estimate how much shipping will cost, including variables like the location, date, the size of your car, and any extra services you need.
When you're ready to transport a car, we'll pick it up right from your front door. It's all part of our commitment to providing the best shipping services at the best rates. Contact us today to schedule your shipment!
Getting a Quote
When you're ready to schedule a car shipment, you should reserve a shipment time with your shipping company of choice. Depending on their current shipping load, the availability of drivers, and other factors, they'll give you a quote.
If you're not happy with the quote, shop around! You might find a better deal after a little searching.
Beyond finding the best time to transport your car, you should also think about how far you are shipping the car, how quickly you need it, and what kind of insurance is included. These are all important factors that play into the final price of the shipment.
Location and Distance
The further you ship a car the more expensive it will be. An online price calculator can help you estimate how much you will pay for the specific distance that you require.
As you might expect, some of the most expensive car shipments are for cars being shipped cross country or to Hawaii. For cars headed to Hawaii, the shipping cost will also include the cost of an ocean freighter to the islands!
If you live near a popular truck route, a major highway, or a big city, your shipping costs will be cheaper than if you live in a remote area. If you live in a rural area, try driving to the nearest city to have your car picked up by your shipping company. This might be a small inconvenience, but it will probably save you money.
If you live in the northern U.S., winter weather will also play a factor in your shipping costs. Depending on where you live, local shipping routes might become unusable when winter storms roll in. This leads to cost increases and slower shipping times.
Insurance
Shipping insurance is a must-have for people who are having their vehicles transported. It protects you against any unforeseen damage and provides peace of mind. It is not legally required that you buy shipping insurance, but it's strongly advised by shipping companies.
When your vehicle is put on a truck, it faces the same dangers that anyone faces on the road. Bad weather, poor road conditions, collisions, and even theft are possible.
Auto transporters must carry their own liability insurance, which protects them against these risks. But for an added layer of security, it's never a bad idea to buy insurance for your individual car.
Before you send your car off with a shipping company, ask them about their insurance policy. What kind of damage is covered? Does their coverage have a limit?
This will help you decide if you need to buy extra insurance.
Rush Delivery
Expedited car delivery can be convenient, but this service comes at a cost. If you need your car rush delivered, expect to pay top dollar.
Even when you order a rush delivery, your date of delivery can't be 100% guaranteed. Like everyone else, truck drivers get sick, deal with mechanical issues, and have to deal with road construction and challenging weather conditions. All of these have an impact on your delivery time.
Timing and weather can also have an impact on delivery times. In general, winter deliveries are slower than summer deliveries. This is because of road conditions and inclement weather.
Paying for rush delivery in the summer will get you your car a lot faster, but it will cost you more than a slower winter delivery would.
Truck Driver Availability
The truck driver who transports your car, whether in a personal trailer or on a larger car trailer, is a seasoned professional. In addition to driving, they are usually also responsible for loading and unloading cars.
Drivers are in especially high demand this year, which puts a lot of strain on transportation companies. Driver shortages could increase your wait time and make your total shipping cost more expensive.
As you plan for your 2021 car shipment, expect to pay a little more than in previous years. The increase in price reflects the current shortage of qualified drivers and the high demand for shipping services.
How to Prepare Your Car for Transportation
Before you ship your car you should clean it and remove any valuables that you normally keep in it. That means that you can't fill your car with personal belongings or items you need moved. You'll have to rent a separate moving van if you have additional moving needs!
Cleaning your car before shipping it is a good idea because it means you can take the car out looking as good as new when it is delivered to you. You don't have to worry about washing it after delivery, which might be complicated and inconvenient if the car is being returned to a cold and snowy climate.
On a similar note, take your car for an inspection before you ship it. You don't want it to arrive at its destination with mechanical issues.
You should take pictures of the exterior and interior of your car. If you can, include a date and time stamp on the photos. If any dents or scratches show up during the shipping process you can prove that they were not there before your car was loaded onto the shipping trailer.
You might also want to take a picture of your car's dashboard to show the pre-shipping mileage. This provides peace of mind and can assure you that no extra miles were put on the car during its shipment.
Make a note of your tire pressure, too. If you are shipping your car from a hot climate to a cold one (or vice versa) your tire pressure will likely change.
Let Us Help
Shipping your car doesn't have to be a headache. Once you understand seasonal shipping fluctuations, you can make an educated decision about when to transport your car.
And when you use our online price calculator, you don't have to worry about being blindsided by the price. You can estimate exactly how much shipping will cost for you. We factor in variables like location, date, and the size of your car to give you an accurate quote.
When you're ready to transport a car, we'll pick it up right from your front door. It's all part of our commitment to providing the best shipping services at the best rates.
At Nexus Auto Transport, we want our customers to make an educated decision that's right for their specific situation. To find out more or to schedule your shipment, contact us today!
