RoadRunner1970
Well-Known Member
Does anyone know of a safe, reputable shipper for getting a car shipped within the US? Thanks
Car Shipment Information
- Thread starter RoadRunner1970
- Start date
RustyRatRod
Well-Known Member
Yup. BenD over on The Hamb. http://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum/member.php?u=96
I don't know if you can see that link without joining. I had a truck that Ben brought to me very reasonably to Georgia from Oklahoma. He has delivered a LOT of vehicles for Hamb members and is very reliable and reasonable.
I don't know if you can see that link without joining. I had a truck that Ben brought to me very reasonably to Georgia from Oklahoma. He has delivered a LOT of vehicles for Hamb members and is very reliable and reasonable.
Dako
Well-Known Member
I don't know about current safe and reputable...I shipped 3 years ago, and companies can go from good to bad in that kind of timeframe.
I can pass on what I learned getting a car shipped from Kansas to Maryland in `09 though...and I would imagine much still holds true when shipping any significant distance (multiple states).
How it works:
Most shipping services you will find online are actually brokers ('middle men') who take the order, then post an online listing to find an independent carrier, or transporter. Transporters 'bid' on the listings they are willing to take.
Pricing:
Pricing depends on the car being operational, a non-op, oversized, if you want an open or closed container shipment, etc. Make sure they know what they are picking up...a driver, a non-runner, a runner with no brakes, runner with e-brake only, etc.
Hint: Tell them JUST what it is! If it's a `69 Roadrunner, it's a `69 Rodarunner. They don't need to know it's a big block, 4spd, A/C'd, bucket seat, fully optioned car. Additional info may have them asking for more money. They have books that give them length/ width/ weight specifications once you specify a make/ model.
Money:
In `09 when I shipped mine, there was no money transfered until a transporter had agreed to pickup the car. At that time, the shipping service charged my credit card half the fee. when the transporter delivered the car I paid the balance. The means of balance payment (credit, cashiers check, cash, etc) vary by transporter because you are paying it directly to them at time of delivery.
Side notes:
- Late spring to summer time is peak shipping season...Costs can be higher.
- Operational cars get shipped more quickly/ easily because they drive on and off.
- Non-op cars can take longer. Since they will need to be winched on and off, they get passed over in favor of the large amount of operating cars available. Depending where they are in the pick-up/ drop-off cycle a transporter might have to winch it more than once or 'restack their load'...not what they want to do, especially in the heat/ rain/ wind.
With my experience I got multiple quotes and did not take the cheapest. I was told it should take 3 weeks, but due to it being a non-op car, it being May(the beginning of the peak shipping season), and my unwillingness to go up in price it took 2 1/2 months. To get the car shipped quicker they WILL call you back and try to get you to: pay more; drop off or pick the car up closer to major interstates in order to make/ save themselves money. I didn't 'need' the car so I held to the original agreement...hence the 2 1/2 month wait. When mine showed up it was three guys who called themselves 'The Big Blue Transport'. the arched trailer had my `66 Belvedere all the way up front (had to be winched on/ off), a (running)50s Dodge pickup with no bed, a Lexus sedan, a Mercedez SUV, and a bike (Victory or Harley)...all on one big open trailer.
I factored in distance (1,500+ miles one-way in my case)/ gas/ food/ loding expenses and determined the transport was cheaper. If it would have been a days drive or less, I probably would have went and picked it up myself. If using some listed online, take the time to read their reviews.
I doubt I answered all questions, but hopefully eliminated some suprises.
I can pass on what I learned getting a car shipped from Kansas to Maryland in `09 though...and I would imagine much still holds true when shipping any significant distance (multiple states).
How it works:
Most shipping services you will find online are actually brokers ('middle men') who take the order, then post an online listing to find an independent carrier, or transporter. Transporters 'bid' on the listings they are willing to take.
Pricing:
Pricing depends on the car being operational, a non-op, oversized, if you want an open or closed container shipment, etc. Make sure they know what they are picking up...a driver, a non-runner, a runner with no brakes, runner with e-brake only, etc.
Hint: Tell them JUST what it is! If it's a `69 Roadrunner, it's a `69 Rodarunner. They don't need to know it's a big block, 4spd, A/C'd, bucket seat, fully optioned car. Additional info may have them asking for more money. They have books that give them length/ width/ weight specifications once you specify a make/ model.
Money:
In `09 when I shipped mine, there was no money transfered until a transporter had agreed to pickup the car. At that time, the shipping service charged my credit card half the fee. when the transporter delivered the car I paid the balance. The means of balance payment (credit, cashiers check, cash, etc) vary by transporter because you are paying it directly to them at time of delivery.
Side notes:
- Late spring to summer time is peak shipping season...Costs can be higher.
- Operational cars get shipped more quickly/ easily because they drive on and off.
- Non-op cars can take longer. Since they will need to be winched on and off, they get passed over in favor of the large amount of operating cars available. Depending where they are in the pick-up/ drop-off cycle a transporter might have to winch it more than once or 'restack their load'...not what they want to do, especially in the heat/ rain/ wind.
With my experience I got multiple quotes and did not take the cheapest. I was told it should take 3 weeks, but due to it being a non-op car, it being May(the beginning of the peak shipping season), and my unwillingness to go up in price it took 2 1/2 months. To get the car shipped quicker they WILL call you back and try to get you to: pay more; drop off or pick the car up closer to major interstates in order to make/ save themselves money. I didn't 'need' the car so I held to the original agreement...hence the 2 1/2 month wait. When mine showed up it was three guys who called themselves 'The Big Blue Transport'. the arched trailer had my `66 Belvedere all the way up front (had to be winched on/ off), a (running)50s Dodge pickup with no bed, a Lexus sedan, a Mercedez SUV, and a bike (Victory or Harley)...all on one big open trailer.
I factored in distance (1,500+ miles one-way in my case)/ gas/ food/ loding expenses and determined the transport was cheaper. If it would have been a days drive or less, I probably would have went and picked it up myself. If using some listed online, take the time to read their reviews.
I doubt I answered all questions, but hopefully eliminated some suprises.
sublimegtx
Well-Known Member
I used United Road... $575. from Mi to Ma 660 mi. Open trailer, no complaints. Running driving car.
Highly recommend Intercity Lines, Inc. Very professional, open or closed trailers, and reasonable. 3 cars coast to coast in the last 2 years with zero problems.
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Reliable Carriers Auto Transport, they're not the cheapest, but very good automotive shipping company to deal with, no suprizes, they treat a $500 POS just the same as some $100K car, they do allot of auctions & shows ,they have a large fleet & are like the name says Reliable Carriers... I haven't used them for a while now, but had great dealings with them in the past...
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usaroadrunner
Well-Known Member
x2 on intercity lines, they shipped my SRT and they were 1st class, babied that car.
nakabrd
Well-Known Member
I used Progressive Auto Relocation a few months ago. They are brokers that hire transport companies. The transport company they hired to ship my car loaded a car over mine that leaked oil. My car was covered from front to back with dirty, black oil. Neither Progressive nor the transport company made any attempt to make things right.
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