One of the most important things that crosses our mind about car transportation is how much time it will take. There are certain timeframes already informed by the best car shipping companies in the market, like a journey of less than 500 miles, takes 1 to 2 days, a 1000 miles trip will take 2 to 3 days and so on. But this is applicable in an ideal scenario. To know the exact transit time, you need to consider the impacting factors like distance, weather, loading and delivery locations, season, and road conditions. Further, you need to be properly informed about how to plan the shipment. If you want to know how long it may precisely take your vehicle to move, read this blog till the end.
Best car shipping services take all the impacting factors into consideration before they make an estimate of the precise transit time. Below we discuss each impacting factor in detail:
The first and most significant impacting factor is the distance. The longer the trip, the more it will take you to deliver at the destination. While most services may offer expedited auto transport, it is not for everyone as it is too expensive. It is also not possible for a 1500+ route to be covered in a day or two. While the provider will make a realistic estimate; more than a 1000 mile trip will take about 3 to 4 days, adding up the loading and dispatch window of 1 to 2 days, the total delivery time will be around 5-6 days. That is why you must know your route well.
Pick-up and delivery location can determine a lot about your shipment. Because when a pickup or drop off location is not easily accessible will waste your time, and will require more resources. If you are in a big city, the provider will not face problems, while in smaller cities and suburbs they may face narrow streets, and hard to drive roads. In such cases, it is better to plan ahead of the time, and consult with the best company for shipping a car. Additionally, the pickup and loading window is something that takes about 1-2 days in normal conditions, harder to reach locations may also add a day or two. This is why careful planning is highly recommended.
What time of the year you ship your car will impact your car shipping experience in positive and negative ways. If you ship a car cross country in the peak summer season, you will face delayed shipments, and high costs. But if you choose spring or fall, you will probably get fast shipping services at standard costs.
In peak summer the demand is high, the spots are limited, and reserved quickly. If you are in a hurry, you may be forced to get expedited auto transport services. That is why if it is not urgent, keep your dates flexible and avoid moving in peak seasons for better shipping experience.
Weather conditions have the ability to destroy your plans if you plan to ship car to another state. Therefore, a good carrier keeps track of the climate and weather of all the states. It is good for you to know about the general weather conditions of the destination to take protective measures, and prepare for any conditions like storms, tornados, summer heat, or heavy snowing.
There can be various conditions which can halt the shipment. Construction on roads can delay your vehicle’s movement. Another reason is big vehicle accidents can also cause roads to block. Normally your auto shipping has a plan which may include such incidents and situations. If you are in contact with them, you will feel more relaxed.
Extra stops is a significant factor in delaying car shipments. When an auto shipping company carries vehicles of different drop off locations, it will have to stop at those locations. It is rather better to carry vehicles that fall on the same route. Operational issues can also increase the number of stops like vehicle breakdown, or equipment malfunction.
According to the US Department of Transportation rules, the drivers need to complete certain hours of driving on road, after that they have to take rest. If a car transport company does not have drivers who must take turns, this situation will force the company to stay along the way and eventually the shipment will be delayed. If you want to avoid such a scenario, you must ask the providers whether they have many drivers or not.
Open car transport is known to be the fastest shipping method of all. It is also the most preferred and reasonable in price. If your car is not luxury or very high in value, you can consider open shipment, there may be many stops on the way but despite that it will reach fast.
Enclosed car shipping services are the most protected form of shipments. Your expensive vehicle is protected from debris, scratches and dents. This shipment type is considered to be slower than the open shipment, as there are very few cars on the trailer.
Lastly, air freights are the fastest. They are also the most expensive, people normally get air shipment services when cars cannot be risked on land shipments, there is no time left, or the destination is not accessible by road or sea.
Best car shipping services have a defined process in place to offer best auto transport services.
If you wish to reach on time along with your vehicle, always plan ahead of the time. First research online companies and generate instant quotations using their online car shipping calculator tools. Compare those prices, and after choosing the best one make a booking.
It is important to do the homework on the company you request quotations from, and the one you finalize for shipment. You need to check how good their genuine reviews are on their online profiles, what is their expertise and experience, do they complete the legal criteria to be professional car movers. Knowing all this will ensure your car shipping is smooth.
In normal conditions you must choose an open transport service. It is to make sure your vehicle will reach on time, safe and secure, and will save on money as other shipment types are costly, while enclosed shipping type is also the slower one.
You can always opt for express car shipping or guaranteed pick up with choosing door to door car shipping service. Express car shipping is either air shipment or land shipment with a dedicated service. You must remember to choose it when you really need it, otherwise you can end up losing money.
To simply conclude, you must plan your shipment ahead of time and choose a suitable transport service. It is important to consider the factors that impact your car shipping the most. If you don’t really know the distance, weather, road, season, pick and drop locations you cannot really find how much time it will take you to ship a car. It is best to consult the best car shipping company in town.
Shipping a car across the country usually takes around 7 to 10 days. The exact time depends on distance, route, weather, and the company’s schedule. Shorter routes might take only a few days.
Several things affect shipping time; the distance, route popularity, weather, traffic, and the carrier’s schedule. Pickup and drop-off locations, rural or urban also make a difference, along with the type of service you choose.
Yes, you can choose expedited shipping. It costs more, but your car gets picked up and delivered sooner. Some companies also offer enclosed trailers or priority loading for faster delivery.
The fastest way is by using expedited or enclosed transport with a direct route. These services give your car top priority and use fewer stops, which helps cut delivery time significantly.
Car shipping takes longer in winter due to snow, icy roads, and storms. In summer, traffic and demand can also cause delays. The best times for faster delivery are spring and fall when the weather is mild.
