How to Ship A Car to Another State: Ultimate Guide
Moving to another state is stressful enough without having to ship your car. Transporting your vehicle is one of the most challenging tasks. “How to ship a car to another state” is the question you may ask yourself and the first answer that comes to your mind is driving.
But is driving really an option? It might be, if you’re moving from Florida to Georgia. But what if you are moving from California to Pennsylvania? Driving only makes sense up to a point. When the miles switch from hundreds to thousands, you should consider a car transportation company. In this article, our experts will show you how to ship a car to another state the best way possible.
Step-by-Step Guide on How to Ship a Car to Another State
Shipping your car to another state may seem complicated, especially if you’ve never done it. The process is ‘quite easy’ and all you need to do is find a trustworthy auto transporter with years of experience in the industry.
However, this is not your first step! Let’s see exactly what you need to do to ship your car to another state.
Auto Shipping Companies vs. DIY
Before you start looking for professional car shipping companies, you need to choose whether you want to drive your car or not. We’ve already said that driving makes sense if you have a well-maintained vehicle and if your new home is in a neighboring state.
However, if you need to drive thousands of miles, you can save a lot of time and money if you hire professional movers. Before you even start looking for companies, you need to choose your path here.
If you opt to drive, there’s not much we can discuss. Plan your route, fill up your gas tank, take a break every two hours and plan where you will sleep if it takes more than one day to get to your destination.
But if you choose to ship your car with movers…
Look for Professional Car Shipping Companies
The first step here is to start looking for professional car shipping companies. Some movers have the option to ship your car as well, but there are also specialized car shipping companies like Apex Auto Ship that put all their resources and knowledge into shipping cars.
When to Start Looking for Car Transportation Companies
It takes some time to find and book a professional car transportation company, especially in the summer when it’s moving season. Even if you find a company you like, they may be busy with another transportation deal.
Therefore, starting to look for companies on time is essential to finding the best one for the job. Ideally, you want to schedule your auto shipping company 2-4 weeks before the actual moving day. That leaves you some time to prepare your car for shipping and handle everything else regarding your move.
There is an option to book your car transportation company last minute, but for such deals, all shipping businesses will charge more. They need to organize everything quickly and that costs more money.
How to Find the Right Company?
There are several things you need to do to find the right car shipping company to transport your vehicle. The reason why you want to put in the time is to entrust your car to someone who will treat it as their own vehicle. There’s been many instances where irresponsible shippers had late deliveries when people needed their cars or even worse – damaged the vehicles.
To ensure you sign a deal with the right car shipping company, you need to do a thorough research.
Step 1: When You Are Moving
First of all select a date or a several days when you plan to transport your car. One of the first things you will tell a car shipping company is when you plan to move and when you will need your car.
Just by setting a date, you will narrow down your choice of companies as some transporters may be busy.
Step 2: Ask Friends for Recommendations
One of the best ways to select a reliable car shipping company is to ask around. You may have friends or colleagues who transported their cars with professional movers you can ask questions.
Sharing their experience with a certain company will help you prepare for the shipping process and you will already know that you’ve entrusted your car to a good company. However, hearing one or two positive comments may not be enough even though they are coming from reliable sources.
You need to back this up and check the validity of such comments by reading reviews online.
Step 3: Read Online Reviews
When you are deciding how to ship a car across the country and you’re looking for a company to help you do it, it’s best to check other people’s experiences. Reviews on Google, Yelp, Trustpilot or any other page can help you make a decision and create a shortlist of companies.
Keep in mind that some reviews can be fake, generated by the people who are working in the company or by the competitors. Although online reviews are definitely helpful when it comes to hiring a car shipping company, you shouldn’t trust each review blindly.
Also, there’s nothing stopping you from talking with the company representatives about one or two bad reviews they received to hear their side of the story as well.
Step 4: Create Shortlist of Companies
At this point, you’ve gone through a large number of companies, asked around and read reviews, but now it is time to create a shortlist. These are the companies that you will contact by phone or email to get more detailed information about their offer, available dates and potential discounts.
This is where you’re narrowing down your search and quickly, you’ll have a final company you’ll book.
Step 5: Make Calls
It is time to call car shipping companies and let them know about your plans to transport your car to another state. Here’s where you ask them everything you want to know. You can get a free moving estimate by providing several details about your car and when you want to ship it.
This will give you the idea about the price you’ll have to pay to have your car shipped. Also, don’t hesitate to ask companies about the process of shipping, if they have their own drivers or hire independent truckers and other questions related to your situation. Perhaps you want to ship multiple cars and see if that’s available. Maybe you want to check how much to ship a motorcycle and if this is something they can do.
Whatever it is, you want to be prepared for the calls. Make sure you ask them about insurance they provide for your vehicle and what happens in case of damage.
At our homepage, we answered some of the most common questions people have about car shipping with Apex Auto Ship and you can get some of the answers before you even call us!
Step 6: Decide on a Company
The last thing you have to do is settle for one car shipping company you believe has the best service. Unfortunately, this is something you will need to determine yourself. People who ship cars have different needs and they look for companies that can either tailor their services and offer fair prices or simply specialize in the service they need.
For instance, a person who wants to transport three vintage cars will go to an auto transport company with the track record of shipping vintage cars in enclosed trailers instead of hiring a company that only offers open auto transport but is really efficient.
Make Final Arrangements With the Car Shipping Company
During your talk with the selected company, you’ll need to make some decisions for your move. This includes settling on the exact pickup and delivery date, whether you want the car shipped door-to-door or terminal-to-terminal and if you want to choose open or enclosed auto transport.
Not all of these options are available with each company you contact. You can see how this works if you decide to ship your car with Apex Auto Ship by reading more about our services.
The biggest decision here is between open and enclosed auto transport. In a nutshell, open auto transport will satisfy 90% of your needs. Most of the cars in the US are shipped in open carriers as this is the cheapest way to ship a car cross-country.
Although your car is exposed to elements, shipping your vehicle in an open carrier is quick and easy and suitable for a majority of cars. Unless you have an expensive new sports car, luxury car or a vintage vehicle you want to protect from elements and potential theft, enclosed transport is not something you need to consider.
How Does Shipping a Car to Another State Work?
Now you’ve gone through the entire process of finding a car shipping company. As your shipping day approaches, you want to ensure that you understand how everything works and prepare your car for shipping.
Whether you choose door-to-door or terminal-to-terminal service, you will get notified when the truck will arrive to pick up your vehicle.
Both you and the truck driver will document the existing damage on the vehicle (if any) and add it to the bill of lading – “a document accompanying freight that states the agreement between the shipper and the carrier and governs their relationship when goods are transported.”
After that, they will put the car to the carrier along with other cars and secure it for the transport. With most companies, you will be able to track where your car is and when it should arrive. You will be notified on time when you can expect your vehicle to arrive at your destination.
Once you and the trucker examine it again, you can take your vehicle and that ends the entire car shipping process.
Prepare a Car for Shipping
There are some things you need to do to prepare your car for the pickup. These are the small tasks, but they will help the car shipping company and ensure ultimate safety of your vehicle. What should you do to prepare your car before you ship it to another state?
Clean Your Vehicle
Thoroughly clean both the interior and exterior of your car before the shipping date. Despite the fact that your car will be exposed to the elements, it is best to clean your vehicle before and after shipment.
The reason for it is that it will be much easier to state the condition of the car and see any existing dents or scratches.
Remove Personal Items
Remove all personal belongings from your car, including items in the glove compartment, trunk, and storage compartments. Remove any aftermarket accessories or removable parts that could be damaged or stolen during transit.
This is the rule with most car shipping companies, but most companies will allow you to pack some of your personal possessions inside your car. This can involve some clothes, for instance, but nothing of too much value.
Document the Condition
Document the current condition of your vehicle by taking clear photos or videos from various angles. This will help you and the shipping company identify any damage that may occur during transit. Note any existing dents, scratches, or other imperfections on a vehicle condition report or Bill of Lading provided by the shipping company.
Is Your Car Operable?
Ensure that your vehicle is in good working condition. If there are any mechanical problems, address them before shipping.
Check for leaks, and make sure the tires are properly inflated. It is highly likely that you’ll have to drive the car to the terminal or to the truck (if it can’t access your street) and drive it after the delivery. If something’s wrong with the vehicle, you might be stuck, needing a mechanic. Also, make sure that the battery is replaced.
Reduce Fuel Level
Keep the fuel level in your vehicle to around a quarter tank or less. This reduces the overall weight and minimizes the risk of fuel leaks during transit. Yet, it leaves you enough for the short trip before the pickup and after the delivery.
Fold in Mirrors and Retract Antennas:
Fold in your side mirrors and retract or remove any external antennas to prevent them from getting damaged during transport.
How Long Does It Take to Ship a Car to Another State?
Obviously, distance is the determining factor in shipping vehicles from one state to another. The bigger the distance, the more time it takes for a shipping company to complete the job.
Keep in mind that truckers always pick multiple vehicles, as transporters can house 5-11 cars. They don’t just make a beeline for your destination.
On average, it can take one-two days for 200 miles and up to two weeks for 2,000 or more miles. No matter where you ship your car in the US, it usually doesn’t take longer than 14 days, but you will get the estimated time of arrival from your car shipping company.
Is Professional Car Transportation the Cheapest Way to Ship a Car Cross Country?
Having your car transported by a professional car shipping company isn’t the cheapest way of shipping your car to another country. The cheapest would be to drive your car as you only cover gas.
Some other options include hiring a driver or an amateur towing or shipping company. While the prices are lower initially, the risk of something going wrong are much larger than with the professional car shipping company.
What you get with shippers is peace of mind and efficiency. You know that you will get your car in just a few days and your car is insured against any damage that is highly unlikely to happen.
How Much Does It Cost to Ship a Car to Another State?
If having the car shipped professionally isn’t the cheapest option, how much does it cost to have your vehicle shipped? Shipping a car to another state can cost about $400 to $2,000, depending on the distance, the type of the vehicle and some other factors.
Ship Your Car to Any State in the US With Apex Auto Ship
Now that you know how to ship your vehicle to another state, it’s time to find a company and initiate the process. Apex Auto Ship will save you time and provide you the peace of mind you need when you move your car! Just get in touch with our professionals and let us know when you plan to ship the vehicle and we’ll send you our offer.