Peak season can increase your car shipping costs by up to 50% according to credible car shipping experts. The reason is that people travel during summer holidays to tourist destinations, move across the states, or spend time with family at Christmas. Travelling in peak seasons can significantly affect your auto transport rates. In this blog, we will discuss each reason why seasons affect transport rates; such as how winters and summers impact your budget and shipping rates in the market, what are key differences that you can use in your benefit, some smart tips on how to save money on car shipping, and long term benefits of shipping during off-peak months.
Auto transport rates are subject to different factors that determine what will be the exact cost of your car shipping venture. For efficient and affordable transportation it is important to understand those factors.
The factors that can significantly impact and determine auto transport rates are distance, fuel cost, transport type, and mode of transportation.
When the distance to your delivery location is 1000+ miles which is considered more, so the cost of transport will directly increase. Door to Door Car Shipping service will add up to the extra costs.
The cost of fuel per mile is also important, for longer distances, the costs decrease, while for shorter routes they are lower. However, if the fuel prices increase you will have to pay more for longer routes despite the long distance leverage.
Transport type which is Open Car Transport or enclosed shipping are key in shipments. Open shipment type is standard services with normal costs, while enclosed shipping is far more expensive.
Moreover, if you choose air shipments for Expedited Auto Transport services, the cost will be super high, while sea shipment is the cheapest, trucking has normal cost for standard services.
Most people ship a car cross country to spend time with families in winter and Christmas holidays, but the prices will be high.
In winter every car transport company increases the prices because it is the snowbird season, and especially enclosed car shipping costs rise by a big margin.
When you ship car to another state, the route and weather will affect the shipment. A bad road that passes through rough terrain, and frequently experiences torrential rains, storms, or tornados requires carriers to take extra measures which result in higher rates.
Open car shipping service is typically available but in peak winter the demand for enclosed shipping services rises, and that forces the shipping companies to reduce open trailer shipments.
Apart from season auto transport rates, every region or state has different market dynamics. Such as, a state's economic and social status cause an increase or decrease in costs. Therefore, in one city or state the price may be lower, while in another it will be otherwise.
In peak summer millions of people move for holidays across the states, it again increases demand, causes congestion, with many other reasons summer seasons affect auto transport rates.
In the months of June, July, and August people travel towards coastal cities to spend time on beaches. Due to this high demand, most spots are reserved on priority basis causing an abrupt hike in prices.
In summers the weather is sunny, no rains, and storms, everyone is on the move, prices are badly affected.
People take off from work during the tourism season, move to beaches and nature filled cities to spend time with family and friends. This huge demand for temporary relocation makes the prices surge.
Every city’s car shipping market runs on different dynamics like demand, season, and delivery location. Due to this a tourism region may have higher prices than the one that is not a tourist attraction.
In summer due to a huge demand for car shipping, the supply of carriers gets limited, the prices increase by $200-300. Big cities and long routes get the highest increases. In winter demands drop, so companies have to offer more discounts which go up to %30. However, in an exception, southern snowbird states see higher demand in car shipping services.
Season auto transport prices are determined by booking patterns. For example, in winter people do not book for states that have freezing cold weather because the roads get blocked, weather is bad, and a very few carriers are available.
On the contrary, in summers, the majority of people book spots in advance to go to their favourite places. They tend to spend more money on travelling and car moving.
You must reserve your spot weeks in advance to avoid the high winter snowbird rush and the busy summer moving season. Plus, always use a Car Shipping Cost Calculator to check prices.
Always choose months like September, April, or early October when demand is low and prices drop.
If you keep flexible dates, giving the company more time helps them find cheaper routes and prevents extra fees from weather delays.
Use open transport for normal cars because it costs less than enclosed shipping. Try to choose the suitable option.
Do seasonal checks like antifreeze in winter and fluid checks in summer to prevent damage and repair bills.
When you choose off-peak season months for car shipping, there are several long-term benefits. First, you save money because prices are lower when fewer people are shipping their cars. Over the years, these savings add up. Second, it becomes easier to find a reliable carrier since they are less busy and can give your car more attention. This means fewer delays and less stress. Third, your car is handled more safely because drivers face less pressure during slow seasons. Finally, planning in off-peak times helps you avoid rush-hour problems every year, making your future moves smoother and more predictable.
Winter and summer both seasons affect auto transport prices for the good. Choosing to move in off-peak seasons saves you a considerable amount of money, while shipping in peak summer and winter seasons will cost you extra 40-50% depending on carrier availability, road, and weather conditions. Therefore, it is important to consult car shipping experts and do your homework before booking a shipment.
Rates go up in winter because bad weather slows drivers, and many people move their cars south. Higher demand and tougher driving conditions make shipping more expensive.
Snow, ice, and storms make transport risky and slow. Carriers may take longer routes, use chains, or drive slower, which increases the total cost of the trip.
Yes, open transport is cheaper than enclosed carriers. It is the most common option, and because more trucks are available, the overall price is more affordable.
Sometimes, but not always. Winter routes to the South get very busy because many people move there, so prices can rise unless you book early.
Not all the time. Summer is a busy season because people move for school, jobs, and vacations. More demand means prices often increase during these months.
