February 10, 2022

How Car Shipping Companies Calculate Vehicle Shipping Cost

Have you been checking out car shipping companies, looking to get the best rate on your vehicle shipping needs? While collecting and comparing quotes, have you ever stopped to wonder how exactly car shipping companies determine vehicle shipping rates? Live in confusion no longer; here is a breakdown of how shipping costs are calculated and tips on saving money on your vehicle shipping.

Breakdown of Factors that Will Affect Your Vehicle Shipping Rate

• Vehicle size – the bigger and heavier your vehicle, the more space it needs and the more it will cost to ship. Cars with low clearance are more difficult to ship and might also rack up additional charges.

• Vehicle Condition – if your car can roll, steer, and brake, it will cost less to ship than a car that needs to be forklifted or winched onto a truck.

• Shipping distance – vehicle shipping rates are typically calculated based on a per-kilometre rate. However, it’s a sliding scale, with the per-kilometre rate decreasing the further you are shipping.

• Pickup and drop-off location – the closer your pickup and drop off points are to urban centers, the less you’ll pay for vehicle shipping.

• Carrier type – you have two options for vehicle shipping, an open carrier or an enclosed trailer. Open carriers can transport more vehicles and are less expensive than enclosed vehicle shipping.

• High/low seasons – vehicle shipping at certain times of the year when demand is high is more expensive than at other times when there is more availability.

• Fuel prices – the cost of fuel will have a significant impact on your vehicle shipping rate. When car shipping companies face climbing fuel costs, some of that will be passed on to the consumer.

• Optional services – if you choose service options like door-to-door shipping, expedited shipping, or single-vehicle shipping, your rates will be higher than if you opted for shipping to a terminal, flexible delivery dates, and a larger open-air carrier.

How You Can Reduce Your Vehicle Shipping Cost

There isn’t a ton of flexibility for many factors determining your vehicle shipping costs; you can’t transform an SUV into a compact vehicle, and you can’t control gas prices. However, there are a few steps you can take to ensure you get the best possible rate.

Reserving early can equal cost savings, as you’ll have time to collect more quotes from various carriers. However, there are deals to be had on last-minute shipping for car shipping companies looking to fill empty spots. Being flexible with your dates can help ensure you get the best rate.

If you live near a large shipping terminal, you can save on vehicle shipping by choosing terminal to terminal vehicle shipping over door-to-door service.

Open-air transportation is significantly less expensive than enclosed trailers. You can save as much as half the vehicle shipping cost simply by choosing a larger, multi-car open-air carrier over a smaller enclosed trailer.