Tips for shipping your car on a budget

Shipping your car on a budget does not necessarily mean going with the auto transport company that offers the least expensive quotes. There are more factors to consider when hiring auto transport services than the price alone.

In this short guide, we will answer some of the key questions you may have regarding car shipping and give you several tips on how you can ship your car safely and save money at the same time.

But first things first, let’s answer one of the most common questions when it comes to car shipping:

How much does it cost to ship a car?

Since several factors come into play when shipping a car, it is practically impossible to pinpoint the exact price right away. Besides, prices vary between companies. That is why it is important to call several auto transporters and ask for quotes, providing as much detail as possible about your car shipping needs.

What factors affect the car shipping cost?

The main factors that affect the cost of shipping a car are:

– Vehicle make and model

– Transport type – open or enclosed

– Distance

– Location

– Vehicle condition

– Supply & demand

Some additional factors may affect the shipping cost — for example, expedited shipping. If you need the auto transport company to pick up your vehicle or deliver it on or by the exact date, you should expect to pay more.

Now that you have an idea about the factors affecting the cost of auto transport, it is time to look at some of the ways you can reduce the cost of shipping your car.

How to ship your car on a budget?

1. Get multiple quotes

Requesting multiple quotes is one of the first things that you should consider when trying to reduce the costs as much as possible. It does not mean that you should hire the company that offers the cheapest quote.

We recommend getting multiple quotes from several reliable companies and picking a company that offers realistic prices and has excellent customer reviews.

2. Choose an open transport carrier over an enclosed transport carrier

If you are looking to reduce the shipping costs, choose open auto transport over enclosed. Car dealerships and private customers alike hire open transport carriers on daily basis due to high availability and faster shipping times. The only case when we recommend you choose an enclosed transport carrier is when you are shipping a luxury car or any type of high value vehicle.

3. Be flexible with pick up and delivery dates and locations

If you want to save even further and are not in a rush to ship your car or from a precise location, you can simply be flexible when scheduling a car shipment. Giving the auto transport company the flexibility to fit your car shipping into their carriers schedule, will reduce the shipping costs more than you think. Being willing to drive your car to a convenient destination for the driver may help save some money as well.

4. Plan in advance and ship off-season

Planning your car shipping well in advance will come with several perks. You will be less stressed and will save money at the same time. Choosing to ship your car during the slow months of the year, such as December, January, and February, instead of the summer season, which is the busiest, is also one way to reduce costs.  Moreover, try not to ship your car during the holiday season or any national holidays since car shipping quotes may be more expensive than usual during those dates.

5. Choose a door-to-door service

Contrary to popular opinion, door-to-door car shipping is usually less expensive than terminal-to-terminal service in the long run. Why is that? Due to storage fees and added travel time, terminal-to-terminal option might end up as the more expensive option.

So there you have it! These are some of the best ways to reduce the car shipping cost, regardless of the car shipping factors mentioned in the beginning.

We would also like to emphasize that when trying to ship your car on a budget, you should always keep in mind that the quality of service is crucial. While we understand that you don’t want to overpay for the car shipping services, it is essential to find the golden mean instead of going for the cheapest quote you can get. You and your vehicle deserve to work with a reliable and trustworthy company that will offer you realistic prices and a five star service.

To ship your car with Corsia, request a car shipping quote online or call our team now. Thank you!