After deciding that you want to ship your vehicle through a car shipping company instead of driving it, now is the time to look in to the factors that play into the cost of your hauling service. The time of the year and weather has a significant impact on how much car shipping costs. However, chances are you do not have the luxury of waiting until next season to transport your vehicle. Knowing early on how seasons will impact your shipment is going to help you plan and budget for your vehicle's journey.
There’s a lot that goes into shipping a vehicle, and at the end of the day the best thing that you can possibly do to help yourself is to get some auto transportation prices and talk to a representative who can really let you know what the situation out there in the auto transport industry is right now.
Shipping During Summer Season
Many people prefer to travel during the summer. Summer season is ideal for traveling with children because they are on their summer vacation, and your holiday plan does not hinder their education. In general, there is a high demand for shipping, and as a result, loads are picked up faster, so you may get your car transported earlier than anticipated.
Shipping During Winter Season
Due to the low demand for shipping during the winter season, the cost of shipping typically will cost less than it would in the summer. During cold months, the roads are dangerous and snowy to operate, these conditions require carrier drivers to slow down as a safety precaution. The severe road conditions are unsafe for inexperienced drivers. This lack of transporters makes the industry slow. This naturally causes shipping to take a longer time because loads are picked up at a slower pace.
Which is Cheaper Winter or Summer Shipping
It is a perception among people that shipping during winter months is more expensive as compared to summer in the shipping industry. However, due to adverse weather conditions and road blockages winter season is costly, on the report of the research conducted by consumer affairs, shipping prices increase by 200$ to 300$.
Shipping your vehicle during winter months is going to cost less than it would in summer as it tends to be a slower month for car shipping companies. That is why it is smart for financially conscious customers to ship their vehicles during the winter season. However, during the winter season, some regions experience extreme snowfall. This severe weather can slow down traffic and even close roads, so carriers charge more to go to these regions. Typically in shipping, the variable is high due to traffic and road blockage. This intensifies during the winter season, so expect longer wait times as well as due to these winter delays.
Not many people ship during winter as compared to the summer season. Despite the fact that the temperature during summer is high, the vehicles are still able to be transported without disturbance. Due to high demand and low supply during the summer season, some people are willing to spend extra payment to get there to haul swiftly. Therefore, auto transport companies make a profit out of this fact to reimburse for the slower winter season.
However, do not let these facts fool you into choosing to ship your car by yourself. Shipping your vehicle using an auto mover is the best option available for you and your vehicle. Truckers are trained drivers to deal with rough winter road conditions and alternative routes.
What Can you do
Now that you have some idea of how your shipment will be affected by the weather. The next thing is to prepare your vehicle before shipping.
How to Prepare your Car for Shipping
The most crucial step before shipping your vehicle is to clean it. Once your car is clean, inspect it entirely for any preexisting scratches, dents, and paint chips. Take a high-quality picture of these minor defects, these photos are for your written document, so any new dents or scratches cannot be argued by your company.
According to law, car shipping companies are not allowed to transport any personal items in the vehicle during shipping. Though some companies allow items confined in trunk space. However, placing personal items in the car increase the chances of theft when transporting a vehicle across the states.
Shipping companies charge extra for non-operable vehicles, so make sure to mention non-operable cars at the time of booking. For operable cars, make sure to check any mechanical issues or leaks. Mechanical problems can create many delays, and above all, can cause you extra charges from shipping companies. So it is always better to get your vehicle prepared before shipping.
In the end, make sure that your battery is charged. Do make sure that your gas tank is 1/4 filled, or else it would only increase the weight of your vehicle. It is of utmost importance to inform your shipping company about any unusual things about your vehicle.
