Whether you’re shipping a company car or shipping a vehicle to sell, there are ways to lower the cost of this extremely helpful service. It will take some planning and may require you to do a bit of driving, but you may find that shipping a vehicle can provide value to your business.
Empty and Check the Vehicle
The more your car weighs, the more it will cost to ship. Many car shippers will not move a car that is overloaded, such as with a full trunk of luggage or other goods. You will also want to avoid overloading the fuel tank. Filling up the vehicle at your destination will cost less than shipping it full of fuel.
Take the vehicle out and warm it up. Before you park it, put down a clean tarp or sheet. When the car has cooled down, carefully check the tarp or sheet for any drips, puddles, or stains. A major decision that will help to keep your car shipping cost manageable is to only ship vehicles that will not leave drips and drops on the shipper’s floor. If you’ve got a car that has a leak that is prohibitively costly to repair, it may make more sense to sell the vehicle or have someone drive it to the new location.
Stay Flexible
It is possible to get your shipped vehicle picked up by the shipping company and taken to the loading point. There may indeed be times when this additional expense is worth it. However, if you’re trying to keep costs down, staying flexible in your transport choices can be a better choice.
Be Willing to Drive a Bit
Transportation from major cities will be cheaper than transportation from a smaller hub. This may require you to rent a vehicle to get your employee doing the drop-off back to your location, or it may make more sense to send two vehicles out with one driver each and bring back one vehicle with both drivers.
If you can pair this transportation expense with other businesses, such as a product pick-up or drop-off, you may be able to spread the cost of driving time and vehicle wear and tear.
Be Open to Long Hours
If your schedule is very tight, it may be possible to drop off the vehicle to be shipped in a holding lot as long as it is drivable. If you’re shipping something that has to be towed onto the transport vehicle, you will need to be prepared to pay more.
This drop-off option generally includes a secured lot and will certainly include a secured key drop-off. The first time you ship from this lot, try to get there when security is still able to take you around and show you the safety features. If you end up shipping a lot of cars, you will want to be certain of the protections around the vehicle.
Agree to Open Shipping
Depending on how far the vehicle has to go and whether it needs to cross open water, it is possible to get covered shipping. Of course, if you’re shipping a class car to Hawaii, covered shipping is a better choice. However, if you’re shipping a company car across the land, open shipping will cost quite a bit less.
When learning the ins and outs of car shipping for your company, you will be presented with several options that could increase or decrease your costs. You can get an even better open shipping fee by being willing to ship your car via train. of course, that will further limit your drop-off points and may increase the limits on when and where you can drop it off.
Time Your Shipments
If you must have a car shipped by a certain point in time, you’re likely going to have to pay the quoted price. However, if you can possibly adjust the timing of your shipments, you can save quite a bit of cash. Space on car shipment vehicles and train cars is finite; because summers are quite a busy time, if you can ship in April or October, you can probably save some cash.
While you’re adjusting the timing of your shipments, try to also adjust the number of vehicles you’re shipping. Shipping multiple cars during the slow season may be a combination that can greatly lower the cost of the whole enterprise.
A final adjustment: Go further whenever possible. If you ship a vehicle under 500 miles you will pay almost $2.00 per mile. From 500 to 1500 miles, you’ll pay just under $1.00 per mile. If you ship further than 1500 miles, the per-mile fee is just under $.60 cents.
Because weight can impact the cost of shipping and shorter distances are more costly, you may find that it’s actually cheaper to drive a large vehicle to a new destination within 500 miles. This information can help you when you’re choosing what vehicles to transport, sell, or drive in the future.
Ask for Discounts
It never hurts to ask for a discount. If you’re a veteran relocating to a new posting or starting your own car sales business, you may qualify for a break. You can also lower the overall cost of your car shipping process by booking your car shipment early and paying the fees with a cash back business card.
The less flexibility you have with your reservations and booking, the more you will pay for your vehicle shipment. If you can possibly reserve your shipping spot a few months early, avoid the busy season, and be willing to drop a drivable vehicle off for loading by your car shipper, you can enjoy terrific rates.
Do you know when to go ahead and pay extra? For example, you can choose a single car-only covered shipment with pickup and delivery, which is about as high as you can go with regard to fees. However, in the event that you’re moving a classic or rare vehicle, you could be making the best choice for your business.
Every business owner needs to keep costs as low as possible. If you have an employee who needs to ship a car to a family member and you have vehicles that have to go at the same time, you can actually lower your costs and help out a loyal employee. Do your best to plan your shipments into the future to avoid any expediting or cancellation fees.
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