Believe it or not, shipping your vehicle doesn’t have to cost an arm and a leg. There are a number of things you can do to minimize the cost of auto shipment. If you are interested in shipping your vehicle to another state, consider the following tips to help you reduce your expenses.

Choose the Right Time
If you aren’t in a hurry to have your car transported, you could wait and have it shipped during an off-peak period. Interstate auto transport is usually busiest between the months of May-September so you could save some money by avoiding peak season.

Choose Open Transport
Many auto transport companies will give you the option to ship your vehicle in an open or enclosed carrier. Although enclosed carriers do provide additional protection, they also come at a higher cost. Enclosed transport usually isn’t necessary unless you are shipping a luxury or antique vehicle. You can save money by shipping your car in an open carrier.

Choose Terminal-to-Terminal Transporting
Although most carriers will give you the option of door-to-door pickup and delivery, this service is generally more expensive than terminal-to-terminal transport. Although you will have to drive to and from a designated terminal, you can save a great deal of money by choosing this method of transport.

Book in Advance
If you don’t have a hard deadline and can be more flexible on your shipping dates, you will likely save money. When giving a quick deadline there is less flexibility from the car shipping company to shop the best options for you thus increasing the costs. So book early!

Be Flexible with Pick Up and Drop Off Dates
Most car shipping companies will give you the option to choose pickup and drop-off dates that work best for your schedule but you could save money by being flexible on these dates. The carrier may be able to offer you a discount to have your vehicle dropped off or picked up on a day that is more logistically convenient for them.