Why Use Car Moving Companies When You Relocate
Moving is quite a time-consuming process that takes a lot of effort, especially for larger households. It takes a lot of thinking, organization, and decision-making, which can lead to decision fatigue. But there are ways to help your future self, and one of them is to hire car movers. Professionals get to help you relocate your vehicle while you are dealing with finding a new house, setting all of the movers in motion, figuring out what to bring and what to leave.
When Driving Yourself Doesn’t Make Sense
Driving your car yourself makes the most sense if you are moving to the next state over or with a small number of personal belongings. But if you are relocating a large home, then it makes far more sense to have movers do the majority of the work, or have some hybrid form of movers and personal operations. Having your car moved frees a lot of your effort and time, especially if you are moving over a long distance, because the travel alone requires planning and is oftentimes the same cost as car shipping services.
Coordinating a Car Move With a House Move
A lot of readers without experience are probably wondering how the coordination between moving house and relocating the vehicle with auto moving companies works – it’s pretty simple, really. As long as there’s a starting and delivery address, the shipment can be arranged. It is also possible to opt for a terminal-to-terminal shipment, as it includes some storage capabilities for the vehicle. This works when the moving dates for the house and the vehicle are close, and it gives people more space to actually plan.
A lot of customers prefer to schedule the shipment of their vehicle after they’ve finalized packing and are ready to transport their belongings. This is the cleanest possible way, but it does require some tight coordination with the company they have hired to transport a car.
How Car Moving Services Work
Booking Around Your Moving Date
Car moving services will ask for your preferred pickup date, allowing you to select the very first date the vehicle is available for transportation. You can pick a date that corresponds with the date of your relocation or as close to it as possible. Generally, carriers will arrive within 1-2 days of that date at most, but it’s also possible to get additional services that allow for a specific pickup date, which makes arranging the move and the car shipment a lot easier. This does add to the cost of the service, but the convenience really outweighs the added cost.
Door-to-Door Pickup and Delivery
The standard way of transporting a vehicle is through the door-to-door method, which gives customers a convenient alternative to terminal-to-terminal shipping. When the door-to-door shipping method is selected, customers can specify the exact address for pickup and the corresponding address for delivery. This makes price estimations and delivery time estimations a lot easier for both the company and the customer. Customers can request a specific date and location for the collection of their vehicle, and carriers have to collect the vehicle within 24 hours of that window.
Choosing Between Car Moving Companies
Comparing Quotes
It’s always a good idea to get multiple quotes when shopping around for a company that provides a car moving service. This gives customers far more leverage and a clear understanding of the current market rates, and it makes it easier to pick the better price. Of course, the number of the quote is not the only important factor when comparing quotes; it’s also vital to take into account what the quote actually is – what it contains, what sort of services, insurances, add-ons, and discounts are applied. Sometimes companies will add discounts as a one-time bonus, which expires the moment the quote is rejected.
Checking Reviews and Credentials
Aside from comparing quotes, it’s also a smart idea to look around and see what others are saying about the several car shipping companies that will come across a customer’s search. There are plenty of services that give you access to dedicated car shipping communities of people who have personal experience with each company of choice. Customers will often look through reviews and search for the company’s credentials, like their license number and specific USDOT Number and MC Number. These are indications of dedicated and professionally minded service operators who have fully invested their capital, time, and effort into providing a solid, reliable service.
What It Costs to Move a Car
Distance and Vehicle Type
One of the major factors that affect the cost of car shipping is the distance and the type of vehicle. Larger and heavier vehicles will generally cost more to transport than smaller, lighter ones. This is especially true for EV’s, which are quickly becoming one of the most shipped cars on the market. The reason the type of vehicle matters is because there’s a limited space available on a trailer, and a longer vehicle will potentially take up the space of two other smaller ones. The same goes for the weight; each trailer has a preferred, optimal weight limit, and the heavier the vehicle, the quicker that limit is reached and exhausted. The distance matters because it is directly correlated to the price of fuel – after all, diesel-operated vehicles, as efficient as they are, still have to be refueled.
Ways to Save
There are several smart and free ways to save on car shipping prices – one of them is to book away from the peak season. This peak season starts from March and ends in September, when most people are returning from holidays. It is a smart idea to avoid booking during the peak season, as demand can be as high as 30% more than the regular period. This results in higher prices and fewer available spaces on trailers going your way. You can also benefit massively from searching for discounts and deals that car shipping companies frequently give to their customers or publish on their website or social media pages.
Preparing Your Car for the Movers
Cleaning and Documenting
When preparing your car for the day of the move, it’s frequently recommended to have it washed thoroughly. This helps detect any damage as a result of transportation, which allows you to quickly issue an insurance claim with the carrier’s insurance provider. It is also important to take detailed photos of the pre-transit state of the car, take as many as you need, and make sure they are in good lighting and clearly showcase the car’s condition. Take photos of the windshield, the side mirrors, the bumpers, side skirts, headlights, doors, wheels, rear bumper, etc. Save these photos as you will be using them for comparison upon delivery.
What to Remove
Some car shipping companies will instruct their customers on removing some things from the car to reduce the cost of transportation and to also reduce the risk of damage. It is often advised to remove any personal items from the interior and passenger compartment of the car. Check the door pockets, the console, and the cup holders for coins and other items. If you need to transport these belongings with the car, then place them in a secure container and place it inside the trunk of the car. It is also a good idea to remove any toll transponders, because they are not required and will only charge you for toll usage you are not actually utilizing.
Coordinating Your Car Move With Your Relocation
The first thing that is paramount for the proper coordination of the move of your car with your household relocation is clear communication at all levels. Communicate when you are moving out of your old home, the exact date and the preferred date for vehicle pickup. If at all possible, have the car picked up before you actually move out or are about to move out. The transit time for longer-distance shipping will range from 4 to 8 days, which is plenty of time for you to start moving in at your new location.
If there are discrepancies between the shipment of your car and the relocation of your home, then request a later date for the delivery, and most carriers will try to accommodate you. If the opposite is true and you need to quickly remove the car from the property, then request a Guaranteed Pickup service; this will cost extra, but it will give you far more control over the scheduling.
Car carrier services can, sometimes, be notoriously bad at timing, with unfortunate circumstances occurring along the route, causing pickup and delivery delays. While it can happen, it is not advisable to cut the delivery time of your car and home relocations so close, simply to leave space for things to go wrong and for delays to occur at any end.
Final Thoughts on Relocating With a Car
Relocating with a car can be tough, especially if you have a lot on your plate; that’s why many people prefer to use professional assistance for true car movers. This not only saves you time and effort, but it is oftentimes a lot safer both for you and your car. Getting the right service setup can differ from service to service, so it’s important to pick the best car shipping company for your specific needs. Always keep a clean line of communication open and be sure to specify your scheduling needs. If you prefer to get the best rates, it is advisable to avoid booking during the summer, as car shipping rates are at an all-time high during that period, often being as high as 30% more than regular rates.
