Winter vs. summer car shipping

Our responsibilities care little about what time of the year it is. And since the cold months are always right around the corner, it is wise to learn a thing or two about shipping your car in winter vs. shipping in summer.

In this post, we will explore the unique challenges each type of weather holds and share how each season may affect car shipping, so you can make educated choices. Who knows, maybe the season will not matter that much after all? Let’s find out!

What to expect when shipping a car in winter?

For most people, winter does not seem that suitable for any kind of move. Even if the summer heat gets uncomfortably intense, people still prefer it over snowstorms.

When it comes to car shipping specifically, winter definitely presents some trouble.

For example, heavy snowstorms can be concerning for the majority of car carriers on the market. They would err on the side of safety and wait until the roads get cleared. That would often slow down the entire shipping process.

Even light snow is not ideal. In such weather, you cannot expect your car to arrive clean if you have booked open car transport. Fortunately, you can remedy that by going with an enclosed car carrier especially if you are shipping a high-value car.

On the other hand, shipping your car in the winter instead of driving is often a smart move. With a car shipping company, you will have peace of mind. There will be no chance of getting stuck in the middle of nowhere with snow all around you.

Depending on which route your car needs to travel, the cost of shipping in the winter may be lower. Winter is usually low season in the auto logistics industry in the US. That is why it would be a smart move to check prices and consider shipping your car during the colder months.

Is shipping a car in summer better?

It is true that many car shipping aspects are just smoother during the warmer months. Carriers are usually not slowed down by weather, or at least not as much. That makes the entire process faster, which is better for all parties involved.

We cannot neglect the factor of convenience either. People are generally more relaxed during summer. If you need to take some time off for moving and car shipping, June, July, and August are definitely the months to do it. Not to mention how important that actually is for people with kids in school.

However, depending on the state cars may not be able to escape the need for a wash after transport. This time around, the warmer states are the problem. For instance, Florida sees quite a lot of rain, while Texas and California can get super dusty. This is not a real issue for the car per se, but some people see it as a hassle.

All in all, it is easy to assume that summer has the upper hand in the whole deal. Faster transport, no snow, and plain convenience – you could not want more than that. It may even sound a bit too good to be true. There has to be a catch, right?

How do seasons affect car shipping prices?

Depending on which auto transport service you prefer, the price will vary. So, it’s important to understand what goes into the final quote to ship a car. Many factors that affect auto transport costs remain the same. Vehicle make and model, modifications, vehicle condition, distance and location, and the type of transport all affect the cost.

However, a decisive factor is always supply and demand situation. The current market price depends on supply and demand fluctuations, which vary significantly in different months. For the same distance and the same car, you can see a shocking difference in prices because of supply or demand hikes and drops.

The price depends a lot on how many people need auto transport at any given moment. Now consider which season people usually prefer for relocation. That is right – summer! During that time the demand rises, so the prices shift accordingly.

While this view of the matter is somewhat simplified, it still does a good job of explaining certain fluctuations in costs. However, even if you expect prices to drop as winter approaches, there are some routes that can actually get more expensive.

The snowbird phenomenon

Some people dislike the cold climate so much that they do their best to escape it. Every fall they get ready to move down south, where winter does not have that much of a hold. Because of their seasonal relocations, these people are known as snowbirds.

And when spring comes we see a demand for relocations in the opposite directions. Such regular moves often spike up the demand for car shipping along those routes. Naturally, that would drive the fees up during these seasons, due to limited carrier supply.

You should keep all that in mind if you are planning to book a carrier for some of the snowbirds auto transport routes.

Do not get tricked by low prices coming from little-known shipping companies, auction, or lead generation sites. Such rates would be unrealistic and would probably come at the expense of vehicle safety, timeliness, or other important shipping factors.

We are always looking to stay on top by providing comprehensive car shipping services to all of our clients – rain or shine. If you need help with transporting a car, our team of logistics professionals will handle all the aspects of transportation and will walk you through the process. Request a quote online, chat with us, or call. Thanks!