How to Calculate Car Shipping Rates with an Elite Car Shipping Company
There are many different variables one must consider when calculating car shipping rates. The cost of shipping a vehicle or multiple vehicles is not as cut and dry as most people think. There are many different aspects of the shipping process that must be considered when determining the price of shipping your car from one location to another.
Car Make and Model
A shipping company will always ask you to provide your vehicle’s make, model, year, weight, length, width, and height. That is because the size of your vehicle plays a part in how we calculate car shipping rates. For example, if we are transporting our car in an open-air carrier, the size of your car plays a role in how many other cars we can fit on the transport. This influences shipping costs.
Also, some trucks and SUVs cannot be shipped on an open carrier. That is another reason why companies always check make and model.
Distance
The distance your car travels determines how much fuel needs to be used to transport your vehicle. The more fuel needed, the higher the cost. Also, the distance your car needs to go also determines the number of man-hours needed to ship it. This is also included in the shipping price.
It should also be noted that diesel fuel prices will have an impact on your car shipping rate.
Accessibility
Car transport vehicles commonly travel on major highways or freeways. When transporting a car door to door, the car transport driver must leave the highway to travel to your drop-off location. This adds to the cost of shipping your car because of the extra miles traveled and the time it takes to get your car to your specific drop-off location. If either your pick-up or drop-off location is far from common routes of travel, it will add to the overall cost of shipping.
There is the possibility of having your car dropped off at a terminal, but there are extra terminal fees included in such a drop-off. Elite Car Shipping Company will be able to help you find the best way to ship your car.
Flexibility
Your timeline for delivery plays a large role in how we calculate car shipping rates. If you have a more flexible car transportation timeline, we will have a larger pool of car transports we can pick from to move your car. This allows for a lower price because there is a bigger pool to pick from. However, if you have a very tight deadline, we are restricted to only a few shipping choices for your car. Basically, the more flexible the timeline, the more likely you are to get a lower rate.
Shipping Method
There are three methods of car transport that can be used for your vehicle. There is an open-air carrier, enclosed carrier, and oversized. If you have a large SUV or truck, your vehicle may be too large for an open-air carrier. This would mean that it may need to be shipped on a trailer made for oversized vehicles. There is also the option of a drive away in the case of a slightly oversized vehicle. A professional driver would drive your vehicle to the drop-off location instead of transporting it on a truck.
If your vehicle is worth more than $100,000, most shipping companies will suggest enclosed transport. Vehicles transported on open-air carriers are only insured for up to $100,000. Vehicles shipped in enclosed containers are insured for up to $1,000,000. Enclosed transport is more expensive than open-air transport, but it is a good option if you are shipping a more expensive vehicle.
Time of the Year
In the car shipping business, there tends to be more demand for moving vehicles between the months of May and September. At this time of the year, shipping costs tend to be high. If you can ship your vehicle between the months of November and February, you may be able to secure a lower price.
If you are looking to ship your car and want someone to help you calculate car shipping rates, contact us at We Will Transport It. We will gladly offer you a free shipping quote and answer any of your questions.
