What’s the Cheapest Way to Ship a Car?

When you’re deciding between car shipping options, price is one of the most important factors to consider. The cost of transporting your vehicle can be significant, which is why many consumers look for the cheapest way to ship a car.

Choosing the right transporter to move your car long distance can be an overwhelming experience. The quotes you receive from transporters can vary widely; you may be surprised to find there’s so much discrepancy. There are a lot of reasons for this, but mainly it’s because not all haulers offer the same type of service, have the same type of equipment, or have the same level of experience. There’s a lot to add to the basic service of shipping a car.

So what’s the cheapest way to ship a car and still get a high level of service? Are there conveniences and extra services you’re prepared to sacrifice? And is it really a wise decision to choose the cheapest option possible? We’ll break down the cost-benefit of selecting the absolute cheapest way to ship a car so you can make an informed decision.

Saving on the Method of Transport

When it comes to car transport, there are typically two options: enclosed vehicle transportation and open vehicle transportation. There are advantages and disadvantages to both of these approaches.

Enclosed Car Shipping

Enclosed shipping is a more discreet, protected way to transport a vehicle. This is a better option for car owners that need to transport an exotic, rare or vintage car or any other high-value vehicle. With enclosed transport, your vehicle is out of sight, protected from rainfall, road debris and even dust. Plus, the car is fully protected within an enclosed trailer, making the risk of theft or damage nearly zero.

Open Car Transport

Anyone who has spent time on our nation’s interstate freeways will know about open car transport: vehicles stacked atop a long double-deck trailer. These trailers can typically carry between six and nine vehicles, making them the most efficient option. This efficiency leads to lower transportation costs. The downside? Your vehicle is exposed to the elements like weather, dust and debris, and in very rare cases, theft.  And the difference in pricing? Well, on average, open carrier quotes are reportedly 60% lower than enclosed ones. 

Saving on Time Constraints

They say that timing is everything, and to a certain extent, this is true in car shipping. Most haulers operate on a sliding schedule, making multiple pickups and deliveries along the same route. When giving their customer an estimated time of arrival, there are many potential delays they need to account for. They often give you a range of delivery dates, something along the lines of “within 3-5 days.”

Car transporters do their best to honor these ETAs, and you shouldn’t consider timely delivery to be a luxury. Still, some shipments end up prioritized by necessity. If you want a guarantee that your car arrives in sooner than later, you should pay more for priority transport.

The cheapest way to ship a car isn’t necessarily the slowest, but you shouldn’t count on it being the fastest either. The amount of money you can save by opting out of “express delivery” deals is difficult to estimate. We always advise car owners to talk to each potential transporter before hiring one. Once you hear what kind of time scale they’re offering, you’ll have a better sense of what you’re paying for.

Saving On Delivery Options

Another factor contributing to the cost of car shipping is where you choose to have it delivered. Some transportation companies offer door-to-door service, but most deliver to and from terminals. Why? 

It’s more cost-effective for them compared to shipping vehicles to home addresses. Still, both of these options are commonly available.

What is Terminal to Terminal Shipping?

Terminal shipping is favored by customers living in high-density urban areas. This involves the hauler dropping off your car at a terminal (for example, at a dealership) and you going there to pick it up. It costs significantly less because it’s easier for them to drop off all the cars in one spot.

Door-to-Door Shipping

Door-to-door shipping, on the other hand, is exactly what it sounds like. The transporter takes each car to its owner’s home address. It’s more convenient, especially for people living away from urban centers and major motorways. But it costs more, of course — sometimes quite a lot more.

The cost of these last-mile deliveries is estimated to be as high as 53% of the total shipping cost! So, going with door-to-door shipping is rarely the cheapest way to ship a car. If and when possible, consider terminal shipping instead.

The Cheapest Way To Ship a Car Isn’t Always the Best

All right, so we’ve outlined some of the ways to try and bring down those car shipping costs. Now let’s try and convince you that doing so might not be in your best interest after all!

The quotes you receive from car haulers aren’t the be-all-end-all of your decision-making process. At the CitizenShipper online marketplace, we encourage car owners to carefully consider all the options available to them. Sure, you might go with the transporter that sends in the lowest quote. But you might also pick the one that has more experience, even if he wants a little more money. Or you could go with the one that’ll get your car to its destination the quickest! People have different priorities when it comes to shipping — no one else can tell you what you need.

So by all means, go ahead and look for the cheapest way to ship a car. We’re just saying, don’t neglect everything else that comes into the equation! Think about the speed, the safety, the convenience. Think about what you need, and how much you’re willing to pay. Make sure the decision you make is an informed one — we’ve every confidence that it’ll be the correct one!