corsia logo

Shipping a car with local companies vs national auto transporters

Shipping a car with local companies vs national auto transporters

The business of car shipping can be a confusing sometimes. Being one of the fastest growing industries, there are a lot of companies sharing information online. So, what should you choose – the big name in the industry or the small company around the block? The answer may not be as straightforward as you think!

One thing is certain – when you are comparing and making choices you need information. But you should not just look at what the companies have to say. You need to know the real pros and cons behind your options.

Today we are going to dig deeper into the topic of local vs national companies. Our goal is to figure out which service will better suit you and why. By knowing that you will be able to pick the right company based on your needs, not on the tricks of advertising. Does this sound interesting?

The evolution of the car shipping industry

Modern-day car shipping has little to do with how things were handled in the past. As an industry it has blown out quite a lot with no signs of stopping. Knowing how and why this happened will help us understand why picking the right service is crucial.

With a quick glance at the history of auto transport, we can see that the service emerged shortly after automobiles became available to the masses. We can safely say that the business of car sales has been built on the shoulders of the car shipping industry. After all, if you cannot get the product to the customers, you do not make a profit.

This matters greatly because it points to what auto transport was in the past – a primarily business-to-business service on a large scale. Handling the needs of single customers was simply not lucrative, and there was no demand for it. Or so they thought.

The emergence of client-focused auto transport

The rise of the automobile also gave us something else – mobility. People realized that cars presented them with the opportunity to work at a more distant place. Then job market competition grew. Professionals were no longer tied to where they lived. However, that soon brought a different kind of change.

With more severe competition some people were forced to move. Naturally, they had to take their cars with them. But driving them across the country was not always an option. So the previously large-scale auto transport service seized the opportunity to evolve. Small scale companies began emerging, taking care of the needs of single customers.

This was largely helped by the fact that with time people began appreciating cars as pieces of art. Collecting them became a thing, as well as car exhibits. That also increased the need for small scale auto transport. For example, collectors might have wanted to ship a car from Florida to California for a show. But as with many other industries, big B2B companies saw that they can also enter the small, yet growing niche. This leads us to today!

Local companies vs market giants

We have all heard the slogans that people should support local businesses. We know that small companies are the backbone of the country. But do we believe it? Sadly, the market is not driven by “feel-good” information. Customers want a company that can treat them well and deliver on its promises. The penny goes to the one who accomplishes that.

So now we have David vs Goliath – the perfect illustration of the ultimate showdown between big and small companies. It has been a staple since the dawn of time… or at least the dawn of capitalism.

However, unlike the Biblical story, the conclusion in our case is far from certain. And dare I say that our “Goliaths” are not necessarily the bad guys. They just operate on a different scale. Sure, auto transport monopoly is bad for you, but not all big names are guilty of it.

Furthermore, it is perfectly understandable that one would pick the big company if it offers better services. Does it though? And what would that even mean? Perhaps it is not about being “better”, but being “different”. So let’s take a look at that difference!

The benefits of going with a big company

For starters, I have to note that just because a company operates nationally does not make it big. In the auto transport industry, we have car carriers and brokers, which work together to transport your car. Therefore, it is entirely possible for a company to be local, but to work with carriers all over the country.

On the other hand, big auto transport companies often have carriers of their own, even if they work partly as brokers. That can be either positive or negative, depending on the case. Here are some benefits you can get with national auto transport:

  • The quote may be lower. Sometimes big companies can offer lower rates for certain routes that they do regularly. If you happen to need a carrier along such a route, you can score a great deal that way.
  • They can take your car anywhere. Pretty much all big companies can take your car wherever you want in the States. They always have a large network of contacts, which is helpful. However, this is not reserved strictly for big companies, and many local ones can help you too.
  • Constant customer care. Most large companies will offer 24/7 support. That should give you some peace of mind. The bad part is single clients are not always at the head of the line. Their regular clients (such as car dealerships) often have priority. That means your issue may not be resolved that speedily, despite the constant support.

Obviously, you can get good service if you go with a big company. There is nothing wrong with it. However, you may want to look at the benefits of local companies before you decide. Shall we check them out?

Does a local company make sense for you?

As I have already said, many people just feel good when they go with a local company. For the big guy, you are simply a client. With the local auto transport companies, however, you are much more significant. Or so it feels.

Indeed, a local company often spends more time on a single client than a big one. And it is much more likely for one to go the extra mile when helping you with an issue.

It is a misconception that local auto transport companies cannot help you with shipping your car across the country. In fact, they may be able to provide you with an even better quote for that service.

Why? Because they operate as brokers and try to get the best price from a carrier for you.

The bad side of local companies is that some are unreliable. Some would not skip on using tricky advertising with low prices. Only later it turns out the low price is for a very particular route that you most likely will not pick. Obviously, that is unacceptable. Which leads me to my final point on the subject.

Why the size of the company is not the issue

So far I have introduced you to some benefits and concerns of big and small companies. However, I believe that we may be looking at the issue through the wrong lens. May it be the case that there is something we have not considered so far?

I believe that the most important thing you have to look at is company reputation. Yet I have a different spin on it. Instead of simply considering how many reviews there are online, you also have to take other things into account. How does a company treat individual clients? Are the consultants knowledgeable and careful enough to give you appropriate advice? Will it specifically tailor the service according to your needs?

For example, we from Corsia Logistics have helped clients in many situations. Plenty of reviews online reflect that. We manage to do it because we believe every client deserves the best service possible. That includes everything – from handling the quote request to dropping off the vehicle at your desired destination.

So if you need your car shipped remember that it is not the size of the company that matters, but its principles. And Corsia Logistics stand firmly by them! Are you ready to start the auto transport process? We are always here to give you a free car shipping quote – no strings attached!

Share our experience:
Are you ready to ship a car?
Recent posts
Rusty Slammington shipping

Shipping a custom vehicle

Shipping a custom vehicle The auto transport industry is small in comparison to other sectors of logistics, but it is still a vital element in

Read more

Corsia Logistics team works hard every day to ensure reliable expedited car shipping service. Our customer reviews prove that.

5-Star Rated Car Shipping Company

5/5
5/5
5/5

they trusted us

and here's what they say

Simon Moore
Great company
Read More
Looking for a logistics company, to ship my car, from California to Illinois,my first search, then Corsia showed up, skeptical. Call and a very friendly secretary: Elena. She guided me through, I scheduled and as she explained, all when smooth as scheduled Very happy I did the right choice. I'll recommend this great Company to anyone that is thinking to relocate a vehicle. Thanks Corsia logistics for your honesty and professionalism!
Elizabeth Woodward
High five's all around!
Read More
Corsia was highly recommended by a friend in the automobile industry. We needed to transport a cargo van from Seattle to Florida. We contacted Corsia who quickly arranged transport within just a few days. Communication was outstanding! Just a few email confirmations and we were all set. Mike was great and arrived right on time and delivered to Florida on schedule. Tip-avoid the hornets nest of auto brokers on line and just contact Corsia for a truly great experience!
Carrol Tiffany
Amazing
Read More
Corsia has been amazing. Their prices are really competitive but more importantly their customer service has been 5-Star. Elena followed up with me every step of the way, making sure there was no miscommunication between me & the driver. We are using them to ship a 2nd vehicle & would not hesitate to use them again!
Tony Boyd
Definitely recommend
Read More
I have recently used Corsia for long time family car with sentimental value that was moved I have recently used Corsia for shipment of my vehicle from Oregon to Arizona by recommendation from other family member who also used Corsia in the past. I am very pleased on the service and the communication throughout shipment. Ken was my direct contact and kept me informed along the move The car was picked up and delivered as communicated. I did use a enclosed mover and the driver was also clean cut professional and treated car as his own. I would definitely recommend Corsia again with the experience I have had. Thank you. T
JW
Top notch
Read More
Top notch Transport - Porsche 997 Top notch! As easy and efficient as one could possibly imagine. Great customer service.. thank you Luke. Great prices. Check. Timely communications. Check. Clean transport trailer. Check. Supremely careful driver. Check. Timely arrival. Check. Don't mess around elsewhere, just call Corsica and feel confident your transports needs are going to be exceeded. My Porsche 911 rode like a Queen in her enclosed chariot. I've never needed a transport company before, and I surely will use them every time. Do yourself a favor, seriously. Call now.
Geet Mp Haryana
Reliable, efficient
Read More
Corsia rep (Elena) was very proactive. Helped ship a car from CA to GA. She checked in with me via email quote and several phone calls to find me the best possible quote for the fastest available service. After several communications, Corsia was able to schedule a vehicle pickup the next day. The driver communicated well, and the vehicle arrived in final destination faster than we expected in perfect condition. I highly recommend using Corsia's reliable, efficient service.
Cay Liptak
Clean, efficient, wonderful
Read More
Thanks, Corsia! Pickup was so clean, efficient, and wonderful -- my only recommendation is to make sure you schedule it during the day so you can fully review the car in the daylight. Drop off was equally wonderful, and the whole trip went down without a hitch (pun intended!). Seriously, Corsia delivered my Jeep from CT to California with no issues or bumps in the road!
Csaba Kovesdy
Truly positive experience
Read More
Corsia Memphis to LA, mid-size SUV. I looked at 4 different companies amd Corsia was the most responsive of them. While being responsive, they were not unduly aggressive: when I indicated that I need to wait a month before making a decision they stopped contacting me and only came back with a reminder when I really needed it. Once I decided to engage Corsia they found me a transport within two days and the car was delivered (from Memphis to LA) in another two days. I had a truly positive experience.
Kelly Torres
Highly recommend
Read More
Working with Corsia Logistics was a great experience. Working with Corsia Logistics was wonderful. They were able to find a driver right away to transport our car. They were in constant communication as to when the car was getting picked up and dropped off. The driver also communicated with me as to when he would arrive. I would highly recommend Corsia Logistics.
Amy Nelson
Excellent Organization
Read More
Corsia was an excellent company to work with while I transferred my car across the US. A friend of mine suggested I use them as they had been very organized and trustworthy with her own car. I researched a few different place but decided to go with Corsia and I'm so glad I did! Any questions I had throughout the process they answered quickly and clearly. I would definitely use them again in the future and recommend them for others to use.
Previous
Next