Driving over long distances can be a very exhausting job, especially when you are moving out to a new or another home, on a long vacation, or may purchase a vehicle from a distant location. Why not ship your vehicle on a trailer with the terminal to terminal car shipping method and save your car from potential wear & tear and some money?
Terminal to Terminal Car Shipping
Shipping cars from terminal to terminal has become a common practice of moving vehicles across greater distances. You drop off your car at a particular shipping terminal which is then transported to another terminal near its destination. You may want to consider why terminal to terminal car shipping is the right choice for you, and here in this article, you will know benefits and costs of it.
Terminal To Terminal car shipping cost
The shipping from terminal to terminal is the cheapest way of shipping present in the market. The actual cost for this kind of shipping depends upon many factors, but just to give you a basic idea, here are a few estimated costs depending upon the distance.
| Distance | Estimated Time | Estimated Open Transport Cost | Estimated Enclosed Transport Cost |
| 0 to 500 Miles | 1 to 3 Days | $550 | $850 |
| 500 to 1500 Miles | 3 to 5 Days | $970 | $1370 |
| 1500 to 2500 Miles | 5 to 7 Days | $1270 | $1650 |
| 2500 Miles And Above | 7 to 9 Days or more | $1580 and above | $2150 and above |
Factors Affecting Vehicle Shipping Cost
The price of shipping a car depends on several factors. Being aware of these parameters can help you make an informed choice and possibly reduce the amount you spend on transportation. Some of the key factors that affect the cost of transporting your vehicle are mentioned below:
- Shipping Method: Sipping your car on an open trailer is cheaper than the enclosed trailer.
- Open car shipping is the most common and cheaper method available in the market, where your vehicle is shipped on an open-air trailer with several other cars fully exposed to elements. This method is suitable for ordinary daily commuter cars.
- Enclosed car shipping uses an enclosed trailer fully covered with solid walls and sealings, which provides the highest level of protection from elements. Enclosed tailor hauling capacity is lesser than an open trailer and also costs more.
- Shipping Distance: The longer the distance between shipping addresses, the more costlier transportation will be.
- Vehicle type: heavier and bigger vehicles occupy more space to ship in a tailor which is why they might cost more. Smaller vehicles need less space to ship and also cost less.
- Vehicle Condition: Movable vehicles are easier to load and unload onto a trailer, but if for some reason your vehicle is not movable or is broken, loading and unloading it requires more labor and costs more.
- Time of Season: Summers and winters are known as peak seasons in transport because most people ship their cars during this time of the year. Such times can also be costly to ship.
Benefits of Shipping Car with Terminal to Terminal Method
Shipping a car using the terminal-to-terminal method offers several advantages over other car shipping options. Some of the key benefits are mentioned here.
- Cost Effectiveness: Generally, terminal-to-terminal transportation is cheaper than door to door options because it reduces handling and delivery time. By eliminating direct pickup and delivery, you will avoid the additional costs that come with it.
- Flexibility and Convenience: Most terminals have more flexible working hours, allowing you to drop off or pick up your car when it suits you. With so many terminals available, you have a variety of options for dropping off or picking up your vehicle, making it easy to fit it into your planned schedule.
- Improved Safety: The majority of terminals possess secure facilities with camera observation and limited entrance thus aiding in vehicle protection during transport. Vehicles are usually handled by experts who understand how cars should be shipped properly.
- Streamlined Process: Compared to door to door services, this process is often less complicated as there are not as many stops, which reduces transit time and reduces the chance of unexpected delays during shipment.
How does Terminal to Terminal Auto Transport Work?
Terminal to terminal vehicle shipping is the movement of a motor vehicle from one terminal to another within a country. Below is a detailed outline of how this typically works.
- Get a quote from an auto transport company: First, in this process, you need to find a transport company and get a quote from it. The quote gives you an estimated or exact cost of vehicle shipping by calculating the details you enter such as location, vehicle details, and shipping method. After this, you can schedule your shipment.
- Prepare your vehicle for shipment: Preparing your vehicle assures you of the safety of your vehicle. Also, it makes transportation easier. Here are some tips to help you prepare your vehicle:
- Remove personal belongings from the vehicle.
- Remove the vehicle accessories or make them secure.
- Inspect any mechanical problems.
- In the case of EV, Charge the battery but not 100%.
- Check the tire pressure.
- Deactivate or remove the toll tags.
- Turn off the alarm system.
- Clean your vehicle from the inside.
- Wash your vehicle.
- Click a picture of your vehicle.
- Prepare the keys to be picked up.
- Pickup: Your vehicle is ready to go, now on the day of shipment drive or ship your vehicle to the designated terminal location where your vehicle will be inspected and then safely loaded onto the trailer.
- Transit: The trailer will leave the terminal to deliver your vehicle to another terminal that is closest to your location. Most transportation companies offer GPS tracking services so that customers can track their vehicles during transportation.
- Delivery: The final process is to drive your vehicle to the nearest terminal where you can receive the delivery, if for any reason you are not available to take the delivery, you can appoint someone else in your place. Upon the delivery, inspect the vehicle and ensure its condition; if you find any damage, document it and report to the shipping company.
