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What is the Best Time of Year for Auto Transport Services?

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Home  |  Car Transport   |   What is the Best Time of Year for Auto Transport Services?

People are finding out how convenient it is to have their car transported from one location to another, which is why the auto shipping industry is becoming increasingly popular. After all, they provide a super convenient and reliable service at an affordable price. You may be surprised to find,however, that car shipping costs vary greatly depending on the season. Like many other industries, there is also a peak season for auto shipping which can affect delivery times. With so much to consider, here is some insight to help you decide the best time of year to ship your vehicle. 

It’s Not Immediately

There are a few things to remember when it comes to finding the right time to ship your vehicle, and one those is that the right time is never “today.” Due to the number of variables surrounding the auto shipping industry, it requires planning ahead. Although it is sometimes possible to schedule an immediate delivery, that last minute service won’t come cheap. No matter what time of year you choose, try to schedule your auto shipment several weeks in advance.

Spring and Summer are Peak Season

One of the most common reasons people ship their cars is for long distance moves and since most people move in the spring and summer, this is also the busiest time of the year for auto shipment. High demand can impact pricing, so you might find that the rates are higher during the spring and summer months. Keep in mind, that the huge volume of shipment can also result in delivery delays. 

Winter Sees Less Demand

Auto shipment is in less demand during the winter months, which can have an impact on pricing. Because auto carriers struggle to get a full load, some companies offer specials and discounts on popular routes so you might be able to find a winter deal. Furthermore, icy road conditions and snowy weather can result in unexpected travel delays.

The Snowbird Effect

Many snowbirds have their cars shipped back and forth during the spring and fall which can lead to a significant increase in shipping demand during these months. In addition to having a harder time scheduling a shipment, this increase in volume can also drive the prices up. 

Frequently Asked Questions

Answers to Your Car Moving Questions

The hardest thing for people researching car moving companies to understand is that the prices they are getting are not hard and fast gaurantees, but rather ESTIMATES of what one company thinks it will take to get a vehicle moved promptly versus another company's opinion of what it will take. Don't be fooled, there are not carriers committed to take your vehicle at these quoted prices, the company you choose will still have to get to work getting a carrier to commit to move it at the price they quote you.

Your total price breaks down into two parts, the broker's fee (or 'deposit' as everyone calls it) and the carriers fee (your COD amount) Make no mistake about this, EVERYONE YOU ARE GETTING SALES CALLS FROM IS GOING TO BROKER YOUR MOVE. In this industry, there are brokers who try to fool you into thinking that they are the actual carriers and there are an equal amount of carriers who sell themselves on the fact that they have a truck or two but are not being honest about the fact that they broker out 90% of the orders they book. Here is a quick easy way to tell, if a company takes an up front fee, whether they call it a deposit or any other name, they are a broker. Carriers do not take any payment until the vehicle is delivered.

In our opinion, you are crazy to do so. Have you ever been paid up front for the work that you perform for your employer? Why would you pay a fee up front when there are reliable and trustworthy companies like ours that won't ask for it until we provide you with your carriers details?

The average transit time from pick up to delivery on any vehicle going coast to coast will be between one and two weeks. From there you can figure your transit time based on how far your vehicle is traveling, i.e. from either coast to the Midwest might average 3-7 days.

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