Cheapest Way to Ship A Car

September 28, 2023

What is the most cost-effective way to ship a car? The most affordable method of shipping an automobile is open car transport. This is due to the fact that vehicle transport companies have 10 automobiles on one truck with one driver. Furthermore, because there are more open car movers on the road than any other type, they can transport practically any vehicle. If you require car shipping services for a vehicle that you use on a regular basis, open car transportation is the way to go and is always the cheapest option to move an automobile. However, the cheapest way to move a car can also be determined by the type of auto shipping truck required for your individual vehicle. Are you looking to ship a car that is exotic, or perhaps is a collectible? If so, the cheapest way to ship a car like that would likely be enclosed auto transport. While more expensive than open car transport, it protects your vehicle from the elements, which is great if your car is rare or valuable.

That breaks down the car transport trucks, but what other methods of shipping a car are available?

Cheapest Way to Ship A Car: Terminal-to-Terminal Car Shipping

Terminal-to-terminal vehicle shipping is, by far, the most affordable way to send an automobile. This is even less expensive than door-to-door auto transport! However, we do not advocate this low-cost auto travel alternative unless absolutely required. automobile shippers who provide these services are frequently slower and less convenient than door-to-door automobile shipping services. Nonetheless, it is a convenient way to move autos, especially because virtually all big cities have at least one (reasonably safe) car transportation terminal where you may drop off your vehicle. This means that you have to leave your car there for days or even weeks, waiting for your car mover to show. This always comes with a risk. We recommend you ship your car across the country via door-to-door car shipping on an open auto transport truck. We should also point out that all transporters are insured for at least $750,000, which is the lowest amount of truck insurance required by federal law.

For more details and information about the best ways of shipping cars depending on your individual budget, use our online car shipping calculator and get an instant price quote. We bet you will be excited about the quote you will receive for our auto transportation services. we have managed to provide the most competitive vehicle shipping prices for our top-rated vehicle shipping services.

Or you may call us at (844)-436-6700 for your cheap auto transport quote. Rest assured, our friendly operators will do their best to answer your questions and address your concerns.

Cheapest Way to Ship My Car: Door-To-Door

In today's business, door-to-door shipment on an open transport truck is the conventional technique of transporting a car. It is the greatest technique to identify low-cost auto shipping services and will result in the lowest price for transporting a car. For anyone transporting a car they use on a daily basis, we offer door-to-door auto shipment. All carriers are covered at a legally mandated minimum of $750,000, with many just increasing their truck insurance to $1 million. We believe that open transport auto shipping is the most cost-effective solution to transfer a car safely and securely.

If you are interested in shipping your vehicle, whether you need terminal shipping or door-to-door transportation services, fill out our free car shipping cost calculator. It shouldn’t take you more than a minute or two from start to finish and will get you a free, no-obligation, cheap auto transport quote from Budget Auto Transporter. We are fully licensed and bonded and only work with top-rated carrier companies. We will be the cheapest car shipping company that moves your vehicle in a reasonable period. This way, you know you’ll be in good hands no matter what. If you have questions or concerns, don’t hesitate to contact us at any time at 844-436-6700.

Cheapest Way to Ship a Luxury or Vintage Car

Open vehicle transportation services are the most cost-effective way to export an antique or premium car. However, open shipping is not the most secure way to ship an automobile. Enclosed car movers are far more secure than open car movers. Roll-on/roll-off auto transport services with an enclosed automobile transport trailer are preferred if exporting from the port.

The majority of customers would probably prefer enclosed auto shipping over open auto transport. Why? It's simple: enclosed car movers give their vehicles the maximum security and protection from the weather. Enclosed auto transport costs approximately 60% more than open car transport, but it protects vehicles much better and is highly recommended for luxury or vintage vehicles. While it may not be the cheapest method of transporting cars available, it is a lot safer.

One of the benefits of enclosed car shipping services in comparison to open auto transport is the different ways enclosed auto transport trucks can load vehicles. Most have extra-long ramps or lift gates, which means your driver won’t have to drive your vehicle onto the truck (as they do with open auto transport trucks). Depending on which vehicle shipping company you choose, you may get to choose enclosed auto transport services that have a specific type of configuration (i.e., extra-long ramps, soft side, lift gate, hard side, etc.).

Modern enclosed auto shipping trailers also come with luxuries such as air-cushioned suspension and smooth ride suspension for the least disturbance to the luxury or vintage cars they carry. These extras also help protect vehicles in their care from damage, considering that it is far less likely for a vintage or luxury car to get dents or scratches when using liftgate elevators than ramps.

If you are after full protection for your luxury vehicle from pick up to drop off, you will probably like door-to-door car shipping services on an enclosed vehicle shipping truck. It may be more expensive than open transportation options, but it can save you from serious headaches later on.

Cheapest Way to Ship a Car That Does Not Run

Non-operational vehicles cannot be driven onto the auto transport carrier. This implies that your auto shipper must utilize alternative methods to put your vehicle into the car shipping truck. These approaches will differ depending on the sort of automobile transport provider you choose. As an example:

Open auto transport – A winch (hand-cranked or manual) is used to load the car onto an open carrier. Then, the carrier uses the attached chain to pull the car onto it. Some open car shipping carriers may be able to load and unload non-operational vehicles so long as there is a forklift at both pickup and delivery. As cheap auto transport services are typically provided by open car transportation carriers, the vast majority of non-operational vehicles are shipped via open car transport trucks.

Enclosed auto transport – Enclosed car shipping carriers usually use a liftgate to load nonoperational cars onto the carrier. Some enclosed car shipping carriers may have a winch, but they are not as common on enclosed car transport trucks as they are on open car transport trucks. A liftgate, however, is better for most vehicles, especially running ones and they are particularly handy for low clearance cars as they protect them from damage during loading and unloading.

Of the two methods, open auto transport services are significantly cheaper than enclosed auto transport. If you’re interested in cheap car transport services, open car transport is typically the way to go.

How to Save Money When You Ship a Car

To begin with, automobile shipping is all about scheduling your car shipping services. You may save money on car shipping services if you are not in a rush to have your vehicle delivered and can wait for the busiest car shipping season to pass. The busiest months for coast-to-coast auto transport companies are May and September. Car transport carriers that travel north-south routes, on the other hand, have the greatest activity in the fall and spring.

Other ways to make your car transport services as cost-effective as possible include:

Select terminal-to-terminal car shipping services – Nearly all car transporters will come and get your car from its current location and deliver it to the end destination. This is door-to-door service, and so far – at least, as far as cheap auto transport services go – it’s pretty cheap. It’s not as cheap as terminal-to-terminal car shipping, but cheap auto transport services are relative. If you do opt for cheap terminal-to-terminal car shipping services, be aware that leaving a vehicle at a car shipping terminal for too long can result in daily charges. Terminal car transportation services, however, are not as common as they used to be, so make sure to speak to one of our car shipping representatives to learn more.

Be flexible with car shipping drop-off and pick-up dates – Most car transport carriers will let you select the dates that work best for you (both regarding the pickup and drop-off of the car). Do not hesitate to ask for less expensive options, especially if you are not eager to get the car picked up and delivered on particular dates. You may also qualify for a discount. Some auto transport carriers offer price discounts for allowing them to schedule the pickup and drop-off in a way that makes more sense to them logistically.

Go with open car transport – As already discussed, open car shipping on a door-to-door auto transport route is cheaper than enclosed shipping by around 50%-60%.

Compare price with reputation – While it may be tempting to go with the lowest car shipping price you find, that auto transport company will not always be your best shot. Cheap auto transport services are rarely the best, as the car shipping industry is a “you get what you pay for” type of industry. This is why it is best to do as much research as possible before choosing your car shipping company. In addition to avoiding “cheap” auto transport prices, you should also read online reviews of the different car shipping companies you’re looking at. What are other customers saying about them? Did their vehicle get moved on time? How was the price? Do they have a lot of good auto transport reviews? Some car shipping companies give off a “too good to be true” vibe, so if you feel that, then your gut feeling is probably right. We recommend choosing an auto transport company with a long-standing reputation first and then discussing any discounts or offers you could benefit from.

Conclusion

In conclusion, finding the most cost-effective way to ship your car depends on your specific needs and budget. Open car transport is typically the most affordable option, ideal for everyday vehicles. If you're transporting luxury or vintage cars, enclosed transport offers better protection despite a higher cost. For non-operational vehicles, open transport is often more budget-friendly.

To save on car shipping, consider scheduling during non-peak seasons, opt for terminal-to-terminal service if it suits your situation, and be flexible with pickup and delivery dates. Remember, reputation matters in the auto transport industry, so research and read reviews before making your choice. At Budget Auto Transporter, we provide top-rated vehicle shipping services tailored to your needs. Contact us today for a competitive quote at 844-436-6700.