If you want to ship your car from place to place, it is not enough to choose the cheapest method. As with all things in life, what you pay for is what you get. And this is especially important if you are transporting a high-value car.
There are many ways to transport a car: you can ship it on a closed or open carrier, you can hire a driver or ask a friend or family member to do you a favor. In some cases, you can even hitchhike or transport the car by boat or plane.
The cheapest and probably the safest method of transporting a car is the open carrier, as it usually costs much less than a closed carrier, and there are plenty of them. Hiring a specialized transport company with designated terminals near your area is probably the best way to transport your car.
You can also ask your family members and friends if they can transport the car for you if they are traveling in the same direction. Whichever you choose, be sure to get plenty of quotes from different companies and make sure your car is ready to transport.
Transport by open carrier
Probably the most common method of transporting cars is open-air transport. Open top carriers have many advantages and disadvantages over closed carriers, and the choice of one or the other is highly dependent on the car in question and the distance to be travelled.
Open car carriers are readily available and there are many companies that offer this type of service. A typical modern car carrier can usually accommodate up to 12 cars on two levels, which are securely tied down for long distances.
These vehicles are relatively cheap compared to a closed vehicle, but they also have many disadvantages. An obvious drawback is the fact that the car is exposed to the elements throughout the trip. If the trip is long, you may end up with a dirty car at the end of the trip.
Also, since these types of transporters transport a lot of cars, they can often change routes and load/unload other cars. This means that the delivery date is very often pushed back, which is a huge problem if you are not able to wait an extra day or two if necessary.
Carriers closed
You would think that most shipments are made using an enclosed carrier, as this type of vehicle is much safer. But this is not always the case, as this type of carrier can cost $0.25 to $0.50 more per kilometer than an open carrier.
This is mainly due to the fact that these types of transporters are equipped to transport 1 to 3 or sometimes even 5-6 cars maximum. This means that if you opt for a single-car transporter, you pay for the whole process, whereas if you choose a 3-car transporter, the costs are shared between several parties.
These types of vehicles are more useful, however, if you are transporting a high-value luxury or classic car. You don’t want your Ferrari or Porsche on display at every motorway rest area, do you? Another obvious advantage of a closed carrier is the fact that these types of carriers usually arrive on time.
