Logo

We take a bottom-line approach to each project. Our clients consistently, enhanced brand loyalty and new leads thanks to our work.

ShipA1 Jan 10, 2020

As you explore more into car shipping business, you will discover that there are few hard and fast rules to choosing a time to transport your vehicle. If you are flexible with shipping your vehicle across the country, then you may be able to get an affordable deal. The best time is never the next day, like any other industry auto transport industry has its high and low. Booking your car transport at the last minute is possible, but it’s never going to be cheap.


In order to get a reasonable price for your car shipping, you need to book your car shipping service as far in advance as possible. In this guide, we will dive deeper into what factors affect the car transport.

Distance And Location

The car shipping companies factor in fuel charges, taxes, and labor costs involved in long distance car shipping. Moreover, your pick up location and delivery destination plays an important role when booking your shipping. For example, if you are going to ship your vehicle to a major city, the car transport company can reduce shipping quote, due to large infrastructure the trailers can easily maneuver. If you transport your vehicle to a rural area, where the carrier have to stir away from their main route, they may ask for more fare. In short, if more carriers are going where your vehicle needs  to go means it will deliver sooner. But if you are delivering your car to a remote area, finding a carrier will take longer.

Season Is Part Of The Equation

Season can play a big role in how much your car shipping cost. Auto carriers charge higher in summer as compared to winter. In summer, there is more demand for transport, and loads are picked up faster. Since the demand is higher than supply, prices increase. Therefore, some people are willing to pay premium prices to get their vehicles haul first. Vehicle transport companies make capital out on this fact to compensate for the slower winter season.


Winter season can be cheaper due to less auto shipping demand, but can be costly for different reasons. Factors like low visibility and snow forces truck drivers to slow down as a safety precaution, making car shipping costly and slow. If you are shipping your vehicle in harsh winter conditions, you may not ship your vehicle on an open carrier. You can transport your vehicle across the state on an enclosed carrier, but this will cost more. Winter season is famous for snow bird shipping, during winter season some auto transport companies raise their rates because there is increased demand as snowbirds schedule their shipments.

Time Is Money

Many car transport companies require customers to have some flexibility when they hire a car transport company to transport their vehicle. Car transport companies do not provide a delivery time window, even if your pick up and delivery location are mentioned correctly. Because every stretch of road between point A to point B is not going to be perfect. The variables during transport are high, due to traffic jams, road blockages, weather, issues related to the health of drivers, mechanical problems, and other delays and changes that are unforeseen. Predicting a delivery date with absolute accuracy weeks before a vehicle even ships is difficult.

Expedited Delivery Cost Top Dollar

Shipping your vehicle within the standard time window is going to cost you more money. Car transport companies transport their vehicles by coordinating pickups and deliveries which increases efficiency and driver safety. You can ship your vehicle by hiring expedited service, which can provide you fast delivery. You have to pay more for this service for all the extra effort.

Car Shipping Option

Primarily, these are the famous auto shipping services provided by car transport companies, and the services you choose will determine the vehicle quotes.

Enclosed Carrier 

Your vehicle under enclosed carrier is protected from weather and road debris, providing an added level of vehicle protection. Enclosed carrier is a premium service with drivers having experience in the care for the high-end vehicles. Due to the enclosed carrier, fewer cars can be shipped, which makes it expensive. People prefer this service because it comes with added features like constant communication and updates and more excellent insurance protection.

Open Carrier

As the standard shipping method of an entire industry, it is cheaper and faster than the major alternative. These open carriers are lighter and consume less fuel, and they make about 90 percent of all auto carriers in the United States. Their availability makes them faster to schedule and also your automobile will be transported faster. However, your car will be not protected against road debris and adverse weather conditions.

Terminal to Terminal Service

You have to take your vehicle to a terminal for pickup. After delivery, you have to collect it from the terminal. This service is cost-effective, as you do not need to pay extra money to the shipping company for delivering the vehicle to your doorstep. If you are in a rural area, this service is an optimal choice for you.

Door to Door Service

This is a premium car transport service providing you the leisure that your car would be picked and delivered at your preferred location. The price would be higher than compared to terminal to terminal pick up. To make the most out of this service, you must live in a major city because this service would cost you extra in rural areas.