Ship Your Car with uShip
Ready to experience something different? uShip is an online car shipping marketplace that puts you in complete control. Obtain multiple vehicle shipping rates in a matter of minutes and easily compare quotes from some of the best auto transporters in the country. With absolutely no obligation to book a shipment, uShip is a risk-free option when you just need a ballpark estimate to transport your car.
Whether you’re purchasing a new car online, relocating, or an auto dealership moving inventory, transporting a vehicle is mostly exhausting, stressful, and expensive. Often, you’ll find yourself visiting numerous websites or making dozens of phone calls just to get a simple car transport quote, only to fall short. With uShip, you can get quotes from top auto transporters in just a few clicks.
Vehicle Shipping Cost
The average cost to ship a car ranges from $500 to $1,500+ based on how far your vehicle needs to be transported. For example, it’s about $2.92 per mile to ship a car less than 200 miles, but it costs $0.78 per mile to ship 1,000 miles or more.
Of course, the cost to ship a car also depends on a few other factors like distance, trailer type, and fuel prices. Car hauling rates also fluctuate based on seasonality and demand as well.
You can use our car shipping cost calculator below to find out how much it might cost to have your car shipped.
How to Transport a Car with uShip
Creating a shipment listing on uShip is quick and easy. Here’s how to do it:
1. Create a Shipment Listing
First, you’ll enter your vehicle’s pickup and delivery zip codes into the uShip car shipping cost calculator. Then, you’ll provide the year, make, and model of the vehicle you’re transporting. Lastly, you’ll need to enter just a few more bits of information, such as whether or not your vehicle is operable (runs and drives).
2. Select Your Auto Transporter
At this point, you can either choose an instant rate or try your luck on the uShip marketplace. If you decide to place your vehicle on the marketplace, you’ll want to wait about a full day to allow carriers to find your shipment and start bidding for the job. The longer you keep the listing active, the better the price should be. This is a great way to go if you aren’t in a hurry to ship.
Before accepting a car transport quote, click on any transporter’s name to be taken to their uShip profile. Once you’re there, you’ll discover more information about the company, how many successful shipments they’ve completed, how many loads they’ve canceled, photos, equipment lists, insurance information, and real customer-provided feedback from previous shipments performed on uShip.
3. Secure Your Booking
Once you’ve reviewed your potential car transport company and you’ve made your decision, it’s time to get things rolling. Go ahead and select the “accept” button located next to your carrier of choice. From there, you will be taken to the next part of the booking process.
Lastly, you’ll need to make payment. One of the best things about uShip is that payments are 100% safe and secure in more ways than one. For example, when you pay, your funds are kept by uShip and not released to your carrier until you say it’s okay.
Additionally, payments made on uShip are securely protected via a secure payment gateway. You can find additional payment information in the uShip payment help center.
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Get Quotes NowHow to Get the Best Vehicle Transport Rates
To get the best vehicle shipping rates, you’ll want to obtain multiple quotes. Obtaining numerous quotes ensures you are getting the very best price possible on vehicles shipping. That said, there are other things you can do to lock in great pricing as well, such as:
- Research: Research your options for car shipping and decide what your needs are.
- Match a Transporter to Your Needs: Once you understand what you need in an auto transporter, you’ll want to find one that matches your requirements.
- Open-Transport: Open-transport is hands down the cheapest way to ship a car.
The cheapest way to ship a car will greatly depend on how you choose to ship it; however, with a little research, you can get the best rates any day.
Types of Cars We Ship
Regardless of your vehicle’s condition, uShip carriers will transport just about anything within reason. The following are examples of the types of vehicles that uShip can transport:
- Standard Vehicles: SUVs, pickup trucks, minivans, sedans, coupes, and more
- Classic Cars: From a Ford Model T to a Packard 120, uShip can safely haul any classic car.
- Auction Cars: If you need a car shipped to or from a car auction, uShip will connect you to professional transporters for the job.
- Show Cars: Car show pickup and delivery requires careful planning. uShip carriers are experienced with getting vehicles to and from even the biggest car show events.
- Junk/Salvage Cars: If you need to haul a junk car off or transport a salvage vehicle for repairs, uShip is a great way to find a carrier.
- Project Vehicles: If you have a car project you’re working on, we can help get it where it needs to go for restoration.
- Car Parts: Shipping large car parts can be challenging. uShip makes it easy to ship any car part, anywhere.
Cross Country Car Shipping
Whether you’re going on vacation and want to take your vehicle or just bought a car on the other side of the nation, uShip can take the stress out of shipping a vehicle across the country.
It’s never been easier to ship a car cross country. By using the uShip car shipping cost calculator, you can compare dozens of quotes from top transporters all in one place.
That said, there are a few things to keep in mind as you review quotes from auto shipping companies. For example, you’ll want to know how they keep your car safe during transport, how experienced they are, and the transport type they are offering for the quote.
State-to-State Vehicle Transport
Maybe you’re moving for that dream job or possibly just changing your scenery; regardless of wherever the universe has taken you, uShip can help get your car there too.
In a perfect world, you would be able just to book a car transport company and call it a day. But shipping a car to another state is a little more complex than meets the eye. For example, you’ll want to make sure that your carrier is qualified for interstate moving.
To transport a vehicle to another state, car shipping companies must obtain a Motor Carrier (MC) number from the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA). It’s important to check the uShip transporter profile to see their MC number is listed.
International Car Shipping
If you’ve purchased a car in another country or have moved away and want to take your vehicle with you, it’s good to be familiar with the entire shipping process to avoid any complications. It takes more effort, coordination, and extreme preparation to transport a vehicle internationally than domestic car shipping.
There are two primary ways to ship a vehicle overseas: RORO and container transport. RORO is the cheapest method of international vehicle transportation; vehicles are driven into a watertight enclosed vessel and then transported to the destination port. Container transport is more involved; you must have your car delivered to a port terminal to be loaded into a container and placed on a vessel for its journey.
uShip connects you to carriers who are qualified to help you coordinate your overseas vehicle shipment. They will guide you through the entire process to ensure your car arrives safely to its final destination.
How to Ship a Car
While there are a few ways to find and compare transporters and car transport rates, the process can be time-consuming. Most vehicle transport sites take your information and then shop it out to brokers who then fill your inbox and voicemail. This also makes it complicated to compare who quoted what price while researching the carriers to ensure they can get the job done.
When shipping a car, the most important thing to do when shipping a car is to research auto transport companies and compare their services, history, and prices. Find out which carrier is best for your transportation needs and budget. Talk to them directly to get a feel for their communication styles and expertise in auto transport.
Prepare Your Car for Transport
Transforming your car into a “transport ready” vehicle takes a little work on your part but is well worth the effort. Don’t forget to check out our 4 auto transport safety tips. To prepare your vehicle for shipping, you’ll want to consider doing the following:
- Gather necessary documents such as insurance, the title, driver’s license, etc.
- Clean your car inside out and document any existing damage.
- Remove any valuables or personal items from the vehicle.
- Ensure gas tank is only ¼ full.
- Perform any necessary maintenance.
- Remove any exterior accessories such as luggage and bike racks.
By getting your car ready for transport, you significantly reduce the risk of any complications during transport or damage to your vehicle.
Choosing Between Open and Enclosed Transport
With any car shipment, there are two primary methods of trailer transport: open and enclosed. It’s very important to understand the differences between the two modes of transport so that you are able to make the best decision for your specific needs.
Open Transport
Open transport is the most popular option when it comes to shipping a car. With open transport, your vehicle is shipped on an open-air car carrier. While an economical option, this method of car transport leaves your vehicle exposed to road debris and unexpected weather conditions.
Enclosed Vehicle Shipping
Enclosed transport is fairly more expensive than open transport but offers complete protection from road debris, hail, rain, and other external hazards. This option is best if you’re transporting a valuable automobile such as a restored classic car or luxury vehicle.
Transport Trailer Types
Shipping companies use a variety of trailer types for both types of transport. For example, for open transport, an auto shipper would use either a single car or a multi-car carrier. A carrier may use a small cargo trailer or something larger that holds multiple vehicles with enclosed transport.
Transport Trailer Types
Shipping companies use a variety of trailer types for both types of transport. For example, for open transport, an auto shipper would use either a single car or a multi-car carrier. A carrier may use a small cargo trailer or something larger that holds multiple vehicles with enclosed transport.
Shipping a Car with Personal Items in It
Sometimes it might make sense to ship your car with personal items inside to save room in the moving van. However, while legal, not all carriers will allow personal items to be transported inside a vehicle.
Carriers often use multi-car trailers to transport your vehicle, and they must meet strict weight requirements. If everyone loaded their cars up with personal items, the transporter would risk being overweight on the scales. It’s a good idea to consult with your auto transporter to discuss their rules around adding items inside your vehicle.
Is Shipping a car safe?
Shipping your vehicle is very safe; however, it heavily depends on the auto transport company chosen for the job. Researching potential transporters is the best way to ensure you are choosing a safe and reliable option. You’ll want to look at reviews, photos of their equipment, protection options, other company information. When shipping something as valuable as your vehicle, you’ll want to take the proper steps to ensure you’re choosing the suitable carrier for your needs.
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Vehicle Shipping Protection
You are not required to purchase your own insurance policy when shipping a car. That said, auto transport companies are legally required to carry liability insurance by the Department of Transportation.
Always ask your carrier for proof of insurance before your vehicle is picked up. And, if you would like to add additional coverage, the uShip Protection Plan is available for purchase right at checkout.
What is a Car Transport BOL?
While not all transporters use a BOL (bill of lading), some do. It’s a legal document used in the transportation industry that provides specifics about the cargo being shipped. A car transport bill of lading includes information about the vehicle, pickup and delivery locations, and carrier obligations. Since a BOL essentially serves as a contract, all signing parties should be over the age of 18.
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Get Quotes NowAUTO TRANSPORT GUIDES
A COMMON QUESTION FROM OUR CUSTOMERS IS “CAN I SHIP PERSONAL ITEMS IN MY VEHICLE DURING TRANSIT?”
Ship wants to help you understand everything about the industry so you can make the best educated decision when choosing how, when, and with whom to ship your car.
Yes, you can ship a car by train. While at first, auto shipping by rail was used for cross country car shipping, more and more vehicle shipping companies are getting into the car transport by rail industry.