Customer Reviews

Advice for Scheduling Your Car Shipment

Posted on 09/01/2021

Jump to section:
How far in advance to book your auto transport
Some seasons are busier than others
Coordinating your car shipment with your move or trip
Conclusion
 
advice-car-shipment-schedule

 
Scheduling your car shipment is arguably the most important part of the auto transport process which is within your control. It will dictate the pickup and delivery dates of your vehicle which can be crucial to the success of a move. Thankfully, scheduling the transportation of your car is easy but there are a few things to be aware of before you schedule your shipment.
 

How far in advance to book your auto transport

 
In an ideal world, everyone would get the exact pickup and drop-off dates they wanted one hundred percent of the time. This is unfortunately not the case. However, getting the shipping dates you desire is heavily influenced by you.
 
The reason the vast majority of the time that someone does not get the shipping dates they prefer is because they waited too long to schedule their shipment in the first place. Car shipping availability is based on demand. So, the closer you get to your preferred shipping dates, the less availability there will be. At a certain point, there might not be any availability left at all. This is why it is always a good idea to book your shipment in advance.
 
Typically, you really should book your shipment at least a month in advance of the date that you would like your vehicle to be picked up. However, the further in advance you book your shipment, the better. Not only do you have a much better chance of getting your preferred shipping dates, but you might even be able to save a few dollars on the shipment as a result. Scheduling your car shipment six to eight weeks in advance is the move to make if it is possible for you.
 

Some seasons are busier than others

 
As we have mentioned, the availability of particular car shipping dates is based entirely on the demand for auto transport at that particular time. During busier times of the year, you would be wise to make sure you book your shipment at least six weeks in advance even though that is always something to consider.
 
The typical “busy season” for shipping a car is from the late spring through the end of the summer. So, consider the highest demand for car shipping usually occurs from May through the beginning of September. If you plan on shipping during this time, two or three weeks’ notice might not get you the exact dates you want.
 

Coordinating your car shipment with your move or trip

 
If you are moving or taking an extended trip, it will likely be quite important to have your car delivered soon after you arrive at your destination. You should start by planning your move or trip first. The recommendation from many moving companies is that you do so three or four months in advance of the actual moving date. Once you finalize all the details of your move, you can then schedule your car shipment. If you want to schedule your car shipment further than eight weeks in advance, that will obviously be no issue.
 
You will have to be present for the pickup of your vehicle. So, this means you cannot depart for your destination until your car is picked up. When it is picked up you will need to turn over the keys to your auto transport driver and sign off on the fact that the car has been picked up.
 
The same goes for delivery of your car. You will need to arrive at your destination before your car does. This is due to the fact that you will need to be there when the car is delivered to sign off on the completion of the delivery as well as receive the keys. You do have the option of having someone else that you trust receive the vehicle and keys as long as they are eighteen or older with a valid ID. If you choose to go that route, you will need to discuss it with your car shipping company prior to booking.
 

Conclusion

 
Scheduling your car shipment is as simple as calling a vehicle transport company and doing so over the phone or by visiting their website and doing so online. If you have any questions or have a circumstance that you might consider special, then you should consider calling and speaking to a company representative. The most critical part of scheduling your car shipment is when you do it. You should always do so at least one month in advance if the pickup and delivery dates matter to you. During busy season from May through September, do your best to book your shipment at least six to eight weeks in advance.
 
If you are in a situation where you cannot book that far in advance, you should still give your car shipping company a call and see what they can do. Odds are you can still get your preferred dates or dates close to it, but the risk of that not being the case is much higher than if you had booked four plus weeks in advance.

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Advice for Scheduling Your Car Shipment

Posted on 09/01/2021

Jump to section:
How far in advance to book your auto transport
Some seasons are busier than others
Coordinating your car shipment with your move or trip
Conclusion
 
advice-car-shipment-schedule

 
Scheduling your car shipment is arguably the most important part of the auto transport process which is within your control. It will dictate the pickup and delivery dates of your vehicle which can be crucial to the success of a move. Thankfully, scheduling the transportation of your car is easy but there are a few things to be aware of before you schedule your shipment.
 

How far in advance to book your auto transport

 
In an ideal world, everyone would get the exact pickup and drop-off dates they wanted one hundred percent of the time. This is unfortunately not the case. However, getting the shipping dates you desire is heavily influenced by you.
 
The reason the vast majority of the time that someone does not get the shipping dates they prefer is because they waited too long to schedule their shipment in the first place. Car shipping availability is based on demand. So, the closer you get to your preferred shipping dates, the less availability there will be. At a certain point, there might not be any availability left at all. This is why it is always a good idea to book your shipment in advance.
 
Typically, you really should book your shipment at least a month in advance of the date that you would like your vehicle to be picked up. However, the further in advance you book your shipment, the better. Not only do you have a much better chance of getting your preferred shipping dates, but you might even be able to save a few dollars on the shipment as a result. Scheduling your car shipment six to eight weeks in advance is the move to make if it is possible for you.
 

Some seasons are busier than others

 
As we have mentioned, the availability of particular car shipping dates is based entirely on the demand for auto transport at that particular time. During busier times of the year, you would be wise to make sure you book your shipment at least six weeks in advance even though that is always something to consider.
 
The typical “busy season” for shipping a car is from the late spring through the end of the summer. So, consider the highest demand for car shipping usually occurs from May through the beginning of September. If you plan on shipping during this time, two or three weeks’ notice might not get you the exact dates you want.
 

Coordinating your car shipment with your move or trip

 
If you are moving or taking an extended trip, it will likely be quite important to have your car delivered soon after you arrive at your destination. You should start by planning your move or trip first. The recommendation from many moving companies is that you do so three or four months in advance of the actual moving date. Once you finalize all the details of your move, you can then schedule your car shipment. If you want to schedule your car shipment further than eight weeks in advance, that will obviously be no issue.
 
You will have to be present for the pickup of your vehicle. So, this means you cannot depart for your destination until your car is picked up. When it is picked up you will need to turn over the keys to your auto transport driver and sign off on the fact that the car has been picked up.
 
The same goes for delivery of your car. You will need to arrive at your destination before your car does. This is due to the fact that you will need to be there when the car is delivered to sign off on the completion of the delivery as well as receive the keys. You do have the option of having someone else that you trust receive the vehicle and keys as long as they are eighteen or older with a valid ID. If you choose to go that route, you will need to discuss it with your car shipping company prior to booking.
 

Conclusion

 
Scheduling your car shipment is as simple as calling a vehicle transport company and doing so over the phone or by visiting their website and doing so online. If you have any questions or have a circumstance that you might consider special, then you should consider calling and speaking to a company representative. The most critical part of scheduling your car shipment is when you do it. You should always do so at least one month in advance if the pickup and delivery dates matter to you. During busy season from May through September, do your best to book your shipment at least six to eight weeks in advance.
 
If you are in a situation where you cannot book that far in advance, you should still give your car shipping company a call and see what they can do. Odds are you can still get your preferred dates or dates close to it, but the risk of that not being the case is much higher than if you had booked four plus weeks in advance.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Get answers to some of the most commonly asked questions about the vehicle transportation process.


When determining your car shipping cost, there are a few factors that we take into account in order to provide you with an accurate price quote. The mileage between the origin and destination is the biggest factor that contributes to your total rate. In addition to the distance of your relocation, another factor is the type and condition of the vehicle being shipped. The final factor is the date that your vehicle will be ready for transport. There are also additional options, such as enclosed carrier and top-load service that can be added to your shipment at the time of booking for a higher level of service. Read more about how much it costs to ship a car.

To get a quote for shipping your vehicle, you can either use our instant online car shipping quote calculator or you can call (888) 422-7584 to receive a quote from one of our car transport pricing specialists. To calculate your quote we will need to know the location you are shipping from and to, the type of vehicle you would like to ship, and the date your vehicle will be ready.

The transit time for your shipment is based mostly on the mileage between the pickup and delivery location. Generally, every five hundred miles will add one day to the transit time - so for a 1,000 mile transport, the transit time would be 2-3 days. Check out our estimated transit times for a detailed view of approximate delivery times.

Yes, online tracking is available to you 24 hours a day and is updated in real time. Upon scheduling your shipment, you will receive a unique booking number that will allow you to track the status of your shipment online. Your tracking portal will also give you the ability to live chat with a shipping agent that can answer any questions you may have regarding the status of your shipment.

All shipments include basic liability coverage during transit. Comprehensive insurance options are available for an elevated level of shipment coverage during transit. You will be able to select a level of coverage during the booking process. If you have further questions regarding insurance options give us a call.

We accept all major credit cards, electronic transfer, postal money order, and bank/certified check for the deposit or full pre-payment of your shipment. If a balance is due upon delivery, it can be paid directly to the driver and can be paid in either cash, bank/certified check, or postal money order.

Yes, there must be someone present to release and accept the vehicle, provide keys to the driver and sign the initial and final inspection reports. This person can be anyone over the age of 18 that you trust with releasing or accepting your vehicle.

You may transport personal belongings in your car, as long as their total weight does not exceed 100 pounds and they are stored in the trunk or back seat (below the window line). Please keep in mind that personal belongings are not covered by insurance if they are reported as damaged or missing.

To get a quote for shipping your vehicle, you can either use our instant online car shipping quote calculator above or you can call (888) 422-7584 to receive a quote from one of our car transport pricing specialists. In order for us to calculate your quote we will need to know the location you are shipping from and to, the type of vehicle you would like to ship, and the date your vehicle will be ready.

The further in advance you schedule your shipment, the more likely we will be able to meet the time requirements you desire. For best results, we suggest scheduling your transport at least 2 to 3 weeks in advance. Expedited shipping options are available to accomodate shipments that require . You can always give us a call and ask one of our car shipping experts what your options are in terms of the schedule for your car transport.

The driver will get the car transporter as close to your door as he can legally and safely get. In most cases, the driver will be able to pickup and deliver directly to your door. Some cities may have restrictions on large trucks that prohibit them from driving into residential areas. Auto transport trucks are large and need lots of room to maneuver and turn around, so if access to the pickup or delivery location is restricted by narrow streets, low-hanging trees or tight turns, the driver may ask that you meet at a location nearby with a large parking lot, such as a grocery store.

Open transport is the most common car shipping method. There are two types of open-air transporters. The Majority of shipments are be made with 8-10 car carriers. Smaller carriers which hold 2-3 cars are used for shorter, local car moving. There is a broader network of carrier availability for open-air carriers since they are used more often. We suggest choosing enclosed car shipping methods when shipping classic, luxury or exotic vehicles. Enclosed vehicle transportation guarantees maximum protection from exposure to any open-air elements on the road. We suggest booking your enclosed transport in advance since carrier availability is limited. Read more about the difference between open and enclosed transport

RoadRunner Auto Transport specializes in shipping all types of vehicles including sedans, SUVs, pickup trucks, minivans, oversized vehicles, antiques, classic cars, motorcycles, construction vehicles, inoperable cars and boats. If you are not sure whether or not we can ship your vehicle, you can give us a call to find out what we can do for you.

You should have about a quarter of a tank of gas in your car at the time of shipment. This leaves enough for the car to be loaded and unloaded but doesn't add much additional weight.

The Bill of Lading is a very important document used by car shipping companies that documents any pre-existing damage on the vehicle during the time of pickup. It also serves as a record of your contact info and the official agreement for transport. If you want to file any insurance claim regarding your shipment you will need the Bill of Lading.

Top load service is when your car is placed on the higher deck or level of an open auto transport trailer. This is considered to be preferable to the bottom load because the cars on the lower deck are at risk of possibly having fluid from the cars above leak on them.

Make sure your car has been completely cleaned, both inside and outside. This is particularly important because this will help the driver conduct their inspection in order to assess any pre-existing damage on your vehicle. You will also want to make there are no additional personal items in the vehicle unless you intend to ship those with the vehicle (remember those items must total less than 100 pounds combined and be kept below the window-line of the vehicle). Be sure to inform the driver of any special circumstances concerning the vehicle. Finally, make sure there is a quarter tank of gas in the car at the time it is picked up for shipment. Visit our car shipping checklist to make sure you are prepared for your vehicle shipment.

Yes, we can ship vehicles that are in non-running/inoperable condition. When inoperable cars are shipped, a special auto carrier is required that makes use of a winch which is connected to your car and slowly and safely pulls your vehicle onto the carrier. There is an additional fee for inoperable vehicles because of the special equipment and extra work involved with securing the vehicle onto the transporter. You can select the inoperable option on the online booking form or inform your shipping agent if you make your reservation by phone so that the proper arrangements can be made to accommodate a non-running vehicle.

We offer open car shipping and enclosed transport services services. Open car shipping is used much more frequently and is the type of auto transport that you see on the highway where carriers are hauling vehicles on two decks that are exposed. Enclosed transport services are when your vehicle is shipped in a trailer which has walls and a roof, they look like a larger version of a regular eighteen-wheeler. This method is recommended for luxury, exotic or classic cars.

Door-to-door car transport is the full-service delivery of your vehicle directly from the door at the pickup location to the door at the delivery location. Our drivers do their best to get as close as physically and legally possible to the pickup and delivery locations, but in certain instances there may be restrictions preventing them from being able to reach your door safely. Our transporters need ample space to maneuver and load/unload your vehicle. If your street is too narrow, or if there are hazards such as low-lining trees or power lines, drivers may ask that you meet them at a location nearby where they can safely load or unload your vehicle, such as a large parking lot or shopping center nearby.