When facing a long-distance travel due to moving, the first question most people ask is whether they should drive or choose a car shipping company and wait for the vehicle on the other side. Although driving may seem like a more affordable process, you should understand that it comes with specific costs including:
- Accommodation – You must sleep somewhere, which is why you must prepare money, unless you wish to sleep in your car. The latter would be a bad decision, since sleeping in a car can hurt your health. We recommend you to check here to learn more about shipping cars.
- Fuel – Even if you drive the most economic car on the market, you must spend dollars into filling tank at least a few times, which directly increases the overall cost.
- Meals – Eating is another thing you must think about, especially if you are not alone. You cannot live on fast food and snacks, meaning you must pay for regular meals while pausing and refreshing yourself.
- Time – Finally, driving interstate can be tedious and require plenty of time, which is the important factor to remember when deciding whether you should choose a shipping company or drive yourself.
Shipping your car is a less stressful endeavor because it allows you to focus on other aspect of your moving process. Since moving is one of the most stressful events, you do not wish to drive afterward for long time, because the stress will only increase.
Besides, if you wish to move an antique, luxury, or classic car, in that case, shipping will make sure that it remains in perfect condition. It is vital to check out more about Arkansas vehicle transport, which will help you choose the best option available on the market.
Driving for hundreds of miles can lead to wear and tear and other issues as well. Therefore, shipping a car is not just a convenient thing to do, but it can save you money and time throughout the process.
How Does It Work?
As when you wish to arrange a road trip, you must think about a few steps that will allow you to handle each step along the way.
- Choose Reputable Company – Start by researching online for the best and most reliable transport company on the market. You can find a wide array of options that will meet your budget and requirements.
- Shipping Quotes – When checking out with different carriers, we recommend you call a few of them and ask for quotes. Some will have automated estimate calculators on their official sites, where you can input the point A and point B, car model and different shipping options, which will offer you the estimate.
- Transport Method – You can choose either enclosed or open transport based on your budget, car type and personal preferences. Generally, open transport is more affordable, but your car will be affected by elements, birds and other potential issues that may happen. Enclosed ones are more expensive, and you will get greater coverage and protection.
- Arrange Pick-Up and Delivery – You should be as precise as possible regarding dates when they should take your car and deliver it to another location. Of course, you must set realistic expectations, because you cannot ship a vehicle from one coast to another in twenty-four hours, unless you choose plane shipping.
- Preparation – It is vital to remove personal items, clean your car and handle each step along the way.
- Bill of Lading – We are talking about a document that records the condition of your car at pickup and delivery. Therefore, it is essential part for claiming potential damage or addressing an issue that happened during transportation.
- Tracking – You can take advantage of the latest technologies to use tracking services from the native app or official website, which will help you monitor your car’s travel and prepare yourself thoroughly. You should avoid companies that do not offer such features.
Most Common Options
We can differentiate a few ways you can ship a car by using transportation companies. They feature door-to-door service, while you can also handle vehicle with care from point A to point B.
As mentioned above, you can choose enclosed or open transportation options. Enter this site: https://www.investopedia.com/terms/m/movingaverage.asp to learn more about moving expenses.
On the other hand, you can choose a more affordable and eco-friendlier alternative, which is shipping a car by using a train. However, the main problem lies in the idea that you will reduce flexibility regarding pickup and delivery. It means you must drive your car to the train station and pick it up when it arrives.
You can also choose the port-to-port option, which is perfect for shipping your car overseas. It means you can drive your vehicle onto a ship, and you can remove it when it reaches the desired country. Still, you must handle the car by yourself, which is a completely different approach compared with door-to-door options.
Finally, if you deal with luxurious and high-value vehicle, you can choose air-freight, which is premium option and most expensive. It is the fastest solution for international shipping, but you must have money to do it. Still, your car will reach the destination securely and quickly compared with the port-to-port option.
