Open vs Enclosed Transport
The cheapest way to ship a car is open transport. FYI, almost all the quotes you get from any transporters and brokers will be for this method.
Open transport is the method of choice for most customers for a couple reasons. There are more open carriers on the road than enclosed trailers, and it’s the least expensive way to ship a car.
If the car you’re shipping is the vehicle you drive every day, open shipping is the way to go. If it’s a classic, vintage, or restored vehicle, you may opt for enclosed transport, but it is significantly more expensive than open transport.
As a rule, enclosed transport is about 60% to 2x as expensive as open transport.
Cheapest way to ship car not always the best idea
When you search for auto transport companies online, you will instantly realize that there are hundreds of car delivery services out there.
It can be a little overwhelming. Your first instinct may be to just go with the cheapest quote you receive and leave it at that.
However, take caution. A low-priced auto shipping quote is not always a good deal. There’s a high chance it will end up costing you more in the long run.
Saving money is important, but when it comes to the cheapest way to ship a car, going with the least expensive option usually isn’t your best bet.
It’s no secret that when it comes to shopping for any product or service; most people want the highest quality for the lowest price.
The same is true when they need to ship a car. In fact, car shipping cost is probably the most important factor people consider when looking for an auto shipping company.
J&S Transportation uses open carriers. We can arrange enclosed transport if you wish.
Car Shipping Red Flags
Many auto transport brokers entice customers with a low price.
What isn’t always advertised is they will then turn around and look for a carrier to move your car for an even lower price, hoping to maximize their profits.
There’s nothing wrong with a company trying to make money, but sometimes a broker can’t find a carrier who is either willing or able to move your vehicle for the lower price. They might come back to you asking for more money (since they usually have your deposit already).
Or, your transport can be severely delayed as they try to find a company who will do it for the price they are offering.
Most of the time when you come across bargains that seem too good to be true, they usually are just that.
When you go online looking for auto transporters, you’re going to come across a lot of auto transport brokers. When you get quotes online, some will be significantly lower than the others.
Naturally, many are attracted to the lowest prices, and end up booking their car transport order with an auto transport broker because of this. Be careful, as there are many disreputable carriers and brokers out there.
Do your research, and don’t forget to read reviews of the transport companies on third-party review sites like transportreviews.com, Yelp, or mymovingreviews.com! You might also want to check out their rating with the Better Business Bureau. It will be well worth the time spent.
Pay attention if a vehicle shipping company says your vehicle will be picked up within the standard 1-7 days, despite a quote that’s $200-$400 lower than everyone else. Ninety-nine percent of the time this won’t be followed through on.
Most of the time the auto transport broker collects your deposit, then takes weeks, or even months, to pickup up your vehicle. In the worst case scenarios, your vehicle may not be picked up at all.
The reason for this, is the broker’s trying to find an auto carrier that will ship your car for the price they quoted you. If they can’t find one, your car won’t ever be picked up.
Cheap vehicle hauling quotes can look good on the outside, but they can also be the biggest headaches.
J&S ships cars to all 50 states. Get your auto transport quote and book your order with J&S today.
How Soon Do You Need to Ship Your Car?
If you accept the low car shipping quote, the only possible way you’ll get your vehicle transported for a rate far below market value is if the carrier needs to fill a spot on their trailer and your vehicle is the only one in the area.
This is because auto transport companies would rather pick up your car for the low quote than travel with an empty spot on the car hauling trailer.
The obvious flaw of this, is the unpredictability of when an auto hauler will actually find itself in such a position. Cheap car delivery services completely depend on your ability to have a long time to move your vehicle.
Quality or Speed (Why not both?)
Cheap auto transport carriers sometimes trade quality for speed which can lead to damage to your vehicle during transport.
If the car shipping company you booked your transport with is less than reputable, they may be unwilling to accept responsibility for the damage and give you a difficult time filing a damage claim. Please choose wisely when selecting an auto hauling company.
J&S Transportation doesn’t do business this way.
We’re primarily a car transport with our own fleet of trucks, but we are also a licensed broker. We’ll try to get your vehicle on one of our own trucks first.
But if we can get your car to you faster, and safely, by brokering it to one of our partner businesses, we will.
We pride ourselves on our open and honest communication, so we’ll make that clear up front. In order to maintain our standards for communication, we’ll be your point of contact from beginning to end – even if one of our partners transports your vehicle.
Ship your car with J&S. We're not the cheapest, we're the best! Ask our customers!
Be Informed Before Choosing the Cheapest Way to Ship a Car
Remember, knowledge is power.
Ask questions, do research, and don’t just rely on the information you find on the auto transport company’s website. Check with consumer rating agencies such as the Better Business Bureau and other third party review sites.
We hope you found these tips informative, and that they help you make a wise and informed auto transport choice.
