You may be looking for the cheapest way to ship a car because you’re moving to another state, or maybe you bought a car from another state. Whatever the reason, we have 12 tips to help you find an affordable way to ship your vehicle.
You may also want to check out another article we wrote outlining the common factors that impact the cost of shipping a car. The tips we provide here will make more sense if you know what ultimately impacts the price of shipping a car.
Now let’s dive into how you can find the cheapest way to ship a car!
1. Get Multiple Quotes
Shopping around is the name of the game. Whether you work with an auto transport broker like us, or call carriers directly yourself, you should get at least 2-3 quotes. You can get started now by getting an instant quote from us! Getting multiple quotes will help you get an idea of the fair market price to ship your vehicle and will help you find the cheapest way to ship a car.
2. Choose an Open Transport Carrier
As mentioned earlier, most of the carriers today have open trailers. Our own fleet of trucks have open trailers. We are not an enclosed carrier, but as a licensed auto transport broker, we can find an enclosed carrier if you need one. However, you’ll pay approximately two times the cost of an open trailer if you go with an enclosed trailer so keep that in mind. If you want to ship a car cheap, then always go with an open transport carrier.
3. Have Flexible Pick Up and Delivery Locations
If the pick up and delivery locations are in remote locations far from major cities or interstates, you’ll pay a premium to ship your car. The cheapest way to ship a car in this scenario is to be flexible and be willing to drive the car to a more convenient location to meet the driver. If you’re 30 minutes away from a main interstate or bigger city, you can usually save a bundle by simply driving the car the 30-minute distance to meet the driver instead of making him come to you.
4. Ship in the Off Season
The busiest months of the year in the auto transport industry are June-August. The slowest months are December-February. If you want the cheapest way to ship a car, do it during the slow months of the year.
5. Be Your Own Broker
This isn’t the most convenient option, but it can save you a bundle if you have the time and energy to do it. Being your own broker means you get rid of the middleman, the auto transport broker, and you contact individual carriers yourself to get multiple quotes. You can do this by Googling car carriers or by using marketplaces such as uShip.com.
You’ll have to do more than just get quotes, however. You’ll also have to research them to make sure they have proper licensing and insurance and are reputable. And because you’re the broker, it will be your responsibility to coordinate the pick and delivery of your car. Often the minimal cost savings of removing a traditional broker isn’t worth the time and headache of vetting carriers out yourself but it will save you money if you’re up for it.
Bonus Tip: When calling trucking companies directly you’ll want to confirm you’re dealing with a carrier and not a broker. The first question to ask is: “Are you a broker or a carrier?” You’ll be surprised how many trucking companies are brokers. There is nothing wrong working with a broker but just know if you do, then you’re not really cutting out the middleman.
6. Be Flexible in Timing
If you have a tight delivery schedule, you’ll almost always pay a premium. The cheapest way to ship a car is to have time on your hands. If you are willing to wait as long as it takes to get a vehicle from point A to point B, then you can save a lot of money. Most people don’t want to wait that long but if you have any flexibility at all in the pick up and delivery times, you can still save money.
7. Hire a Tow Trucking Company
This option will typically only work if you’re shipping a vehicle no more than 300-500 miles as most towing companies won’t go any further than that but it can save you a lot of money. It can be a really convenient option too if you are in a situation where you have to have a car delivered both ways (i.e. you are shipping a car to a dealer to trade in and then you need the new car you’re buying shipped right back to you).
8. DIY Transport
This option isn’t for the faint of heart and will rarely save you money but for some people it can be the cheapest way to ship a car. Transporting your own vehicle will require renting a car dolly or trailer and having access to a truck that can tow a vehicle such as a moving truck or a heavy-duty pickup.
You’ll have to factor in the cost of renting the car dolly or trailer and possibly the truck too if you don’t have one. You’ll have to pay for gas and possibly lodging and food as well depending on the distance of your shipping route.
9. Drive the Car Yourself
You just got a sweet deal on a car a few states away but now what’s the cheapest way to ship the car to you? Shipping might not even be the cheapest option. If the stars align, getting a one-way plane ticket to where the vehicle is and driving the car home can be the cheapest way to ship a car.
I say “if the stars align” because a lot of things need to line up just right to save money. The cost of the flight, the time you may have to take off from work to make the trip, lodging, gas, food, etc. may negate any cost savings. And don’t forget to factor in the wear and tear on your car as well. But like I said, if “the stars align,” you may be able to save a lot of money bypassing shipping all together and just drive the car yourself.
10. Have a Family Member or Friend Drive the Car
Like the option I just outlined above, if you have a trusted friend or family member that can drive the car you may be able to save money. Of course you’ll have to pay for their return flight home and you’ll have gas expenses too, and there is wear and tear on the car, but this could be a cheap way to ship a car.
Bonus Tip: If driving the car to its destination by you, a family member, or a friend isn’t an option, there is another possibility. There are professional drivers you can hire to drive your car and there are marketplaces that connect vehicle owners with people willing to drive their vehicles to their destination.
11. Look for Terminal to Terminal Carriers
Some carriers have terminal yards throughout the country where cars can be shipped to and even stored temporarily. These terminal yards are usually off main interstates or near bigger cities. Because these carriers don’t have to ship the car to you directly and they can just ship them to their conveniently located terminal yards, they will usually charge you less than door-to-door transport carriers.
There are far fewer terminal to terminal carriers, however, so the process of finding one can take longer. Their terminal yards may not be close to you either so you may have to drive your car to or from the terminal yard. There may also be daily storage fees if you have to leave your vehicle in the terminal before it can be picked up or delivered. You’ll want to consider these things when trying to determine if this is the cheapest way to ship a car.
To get your business, some brokers may quote you a great deal but then may scramble to find a carrier to ship your car for the price they quoted you. In that situation they’ll come back to you for more money, or it may take weeks before a carrier can be found to ship your car at that price. And even if a carrier can be found for such a low price, you may end up working with a less-than reputable carrier.
12. Hire a Car Transport Broker
Auto transport brokers have access to hundreds of carriers throughout the country so they can network with them to get you the best price. Working with a broker can be the cheapest way to ship a car but you have to be careful if the quote is too good to be true.
To get your business, some brokers may quote you a great deal but then may scramble to find a carrier to ship your car for the price they quoted you. In that situation they’ll come back to you for more money, or it may take weeks before a carrier can be found to ship your car at that price. And even if a carrier can be found for such a low price, you may end up working with a less-than reputable carrier.
Like everything in life, you get what you pay for. The car shipping industry is no different. A cheap price usually means slower delivery.
Our Recommendation on How to Find the Cheapest Way to Ship a Car
We have 17+ years of experience in the auto transportation business and we’ve shipped over 250,000 vehicles and counting. Talking to our thousands of customers over the years we’ve heard many of them try to save money on shipping a car by implementing the tips in this article and yet in the end they turn to us. Why?
Because for most people these tips won’t save them a lot of money after the time and effort (and risks in some cases) are factored in. And some of the tips just aren’t practical for most people. If you’re moving in July you can’t really wait to ship your car in February can you?
We’re a little bias, but we believe hiring J&S Transportation is your best option if you want your car shipped safe and sound with very little time and effort on your part. We have experience, a long and successful track record, and an unbeatable reputation!
We know were not the cheapest way to ship a car, but there’s a reason. As you’ll see by browsing our reviews on various third-party sites such as transportreviews.com, Yelp, mymovingreviews.com, and the Better Business Bureau, our customers appreciate the incredible value we provide. They get convenient door-to-door shipping, constant communication throughout the process, and prompt delivery of their vehicles!
