Auto Transport: Thinking about shipping your car to California? Whether you live across the country and need to bring it here or are looking to buy a car from another state, or that hot rod you finally found online… There’s bound to come a time when you’ll need reliable auto transport services.
But with so many companies out there, how do you know which one to choose? Without doing your research, you could end up:
- Overspending by hundreds of dollars
- Hiring an unlicensed carrier
- Shipping your car only to have it returned damaged
Yikes. Let’s make sure that doesn’t happen to you.
In this guide:
- Why Professional Auto Transport Is Important
- Types Of Auto Transport
- How To Choose The Right Carrier For You
- Factors That Affect Shipping Rates
Why Professional Auto Transport Is Important?
Needless to say, but your car isn’t a pizza. You can’t just open the phone book and call someone to ship it across the country. Fingers crossed it arrives safely… Sold!
Professional auto transport companies serve millions of customers each year. There are 4,848 auto transport businesses spread out nationwide. The auto transport industry will be worth $11.5 billion in 2025 when you consider just how many people move every year.
Not all carriers are created equally. Some focus on transporting standard vehicles, others pride themselves on luxury & standard auto transport services for your high-dollar vehicles and classics.
These companies have tons of experience transporting your vehicle. They know the safest routes to take and have accounted for every possible problem on the road. Shipping your car professionally gives you peace of mind that experts are handling your vehicle.
Types Of Auto Transport
When it comes time to ship your vehicle, you have options on how you’d like that transport to happen. There are different methods, and here are the most common:
Open
You’ve seen these passing through towns while driving. Your vehicle rides on an open trailer with other people’s vehicles. Weather and road debris are your enemy here. However, that’s also the most inexpensive way to ship your car and by far the most accessible.
If your car can handle your daily commute, it can handle an open transport.
Enclosed
Shipping your vehicle inside a trailer? That’s enclosed auto transport. This is reserved for high-dollar vehicles and classic cars. Providing maximum protection from the elements.
Expect to pay double what open carriers charge you. Shipping your brand new Ferrari across the country may cost $1,300 with an open carrier but $2,000+ with an enclosed company.
Only you can judge if your car needs the extra protection.
Door-To-Door vs Terminal-To-Terminal
Door-to-door service means they pick up your vehicle from you and drop it off at your destination. Terminal-to-terminal is where you drop off/pick up your vehicle at their location.
Most people choose door-to-door when it comes to auto transport. You pay a bit more but think about how convenient that is.
How To Choose The Right Carrier For You?
This is where people typically go wrong. They look for the cheapest rate online, then call to set up transport. Before you know it, your car shows up damaged, and the “cheap” company you chose isn’t responding to your calls.
Finding a reputable company takes a little bit of work. Here’s what you should look for:
Verify Their USDOT Number & Insurance
All professional auto carriers will have a USDOT number, FMCSA registration, and insurance. Verify their DOT number on the FMCSA website. Look up their insurance to ensure they have the proper liability coverage.
If they give you a hard time or take too long to provide you with this information, walk away.
Customer Reviews
Don’t just look at the 5-star rating these companies have. Read the reviews. Learn about how they handle customer issues, communicate, and deliver on promised ship dates.
Is your eye catching tons of complaints about damaged vehicles? How about undisclosed fees? Yeah, run far away from these companies. Find a company with a large majority of 4 or 5 stars, but pay attention to the reviews.
Get Quotes In Writing
This can not be stressed enough. You call a company, and they give you a great price. Too good to be true? YES. Get that quote in writing.
Your verbal conversation means nothing if they change the price later on and try to charge you more.
Written = Fact.
Factors That Affect Shipping Rates
Ever wonder why you got one quote that was $700 but another one came back at $1700?
Here’s the deal. Several things play into how much your vehicle costs to ship. Let’s go over those…
Distance And Route Popularity
Miles traveled equals more money. But if you’re shipping to or from a highly requested state or city the cost per mile goes down.
Since California auto transport services are in such high demand, we benefit from that. Los Angeles to Miami is a popular route. So are San Diego and San Francisco.
Depending on the company, you talk to rates can range anywhere from $0.53 to over $2.30 per mile.
Vehicle Size And If It Runs Or Not
Smaller vehicles cost less to ship because they take up less room on a trailer. Think about it. Your neighbor’s SUV takes up way more space than your compact sedan.
Dimensions play a factor here, but weight is huge as well. If your car doesn’t run, they need extra equipment to load it up.
Time Of Year
Auto transport likes to follow trends just like anything else. Summer is the busiest time of year for us. So are the fall and spring months when snowbirds head north.
If you can avoid these times, chances are carriers are going to be cheaper because they need to fill their trucks.
Current Market Conditions
Like any industry, there are always problems we face.
Driver shortage is huge. By 2025, they’re saying it will be over 100,000 drivers short. That leads to delivery times and rates going up.
Fuel prices are another factor that plays into how much we pay. Companies can’t just eat that cost, so they’re inevitably passed on to you.
Prepping Your Vehicle For Transport
Before your vehicle gets loaded onto a carrier, there are certain steps you should follow. Clear everything out of your car. If it’s in your car when they pick it up, it’s your fault when it’s gone.
Take pics of all angles of your vehicle. Tires, fluid levels, and all should be checked before handing your baby over to strangers.
Gas should be at a quarter tank to reduce weight on the trailer. Alarms should be turned off, and if you have toll tags on your license plate, remove them.
Insurance, Always a Question
Like previously stated, every carrier provides insurance. But do you know if it’s enough? Most standard insurance policies cover $100,000 – $250,000 per trailer load.
You want to know exactly how much they cover and what you’re liable for if the unthinkable happens.
Take photos of your vehicle before shipping it. Meet the driver before they leave with your car. Inspect the entire vehicle with them and write down any scratches/dings on the Bill of Lading.
What Happens During Transport?
You’ve picked your company, prepped your car, and now it’s time to ship. Once your vehicle is loaded, you should be able to access a portal they provide with tracking information.
Transport times vary depending on distance, but usually are 7-10 days across the country. 2-5 days for regional transport. Bear in mind, these are estimates. Not guaranteed dates. Don’t hesitate to contact your carrier if you haven’t heard from them in a few days.
Wrapping This Blog Post Up
Sending your car across the country isn’t rocket science. As long as you do your research and pick a company you trust, transporting your vehicle is easy. Verify their credentials, know the different types of carriers, read reviews, and get everything in writing!
There are tons of companies just like California auto transport services that ship millions of vehicles each year.