Decisions such as mode of transport, total mileage, insurance and delivery options can increase or decrease your total auto transport quote. The staff at Any Auto Transport provides information on each service available and assists you in determining the options suited to your shipping needs.
Flexibility
Rather than choosing a specific date of delivery, allowing the driver a delivery window saves you and the company money. In order to fulfill a guaranteed date, drivers are not allowed the freedom to deviate off the direct route. This potentially prevents the transport company from picking up or dropping off additional vehicles.
The more efficient routes a driver can use to accommodate all customers, within a flexible window, results in fuller transports and decreased fuel costs. When a company operates more efficiently, finding points of savings and profits, they are able to offer customers better car shipping rates.
Dates
The days and dates of services also influence your auto transport quote. Some companies charge extra to deliver on a specific days/dates such as:
- Weekends – transport companies may give drivers a rest on Sunday
- Holidays – common holidays may require additional fees
- Federal holidays – a company may give employees a choice to work a federal holiday for overtime
- Off-season – during certain times of the year, most companies have a higher auto transport quote
When talking to a representative, ask about possible savings associated with choosing particular drop-off and delivery days/dates.
Plan Ahead
If possible, arrange the details of your auto transport one or more months in advance. Many companies reward you with lower costs for planning ahead; however, before signing any paperwork, ask if the company has a non-refundable policy should you need to cancel or make changes to the dates or drop-off/pick-up locations.
Modes of Transport
The most common means of domestic transport are open and enclosed trucks. Open transports are often double-decked large trucks, commonly seen delivering newly manufactured automobiles to car lots and retailers.
Open transports are more economical, but leave your car at risk for exterior damage from the elements such as rust from rain or snow, dents from hail, dings from road debris and scratches from people walking past a parked transport.
Enclosed transports are smaller, limiting the number of vehicles carried at a time. Often reserved for vehicles with high sentimental and monetary value, they provide protection against all the risks associated with an open transport.
Customers can also choose door-to-door delivery, as enclosed transports are small enough to navigate through most residential areas. Keep in mind that the length of your driveway, whether you live on a one-way or cul-de-sac, hills and sharp turns, and other characteristics of the area may prevent the driver from accessing your home. In these cases, the driver will contact you regarding alternative arrangements.
Type of Vehicle
Fundamental to calculating your starting auto transport quote is the make, model and year of your vehicle. Larger vehicles such as trucks and SUVs take up more room in the transport, possibly reducing the total number of cars that can be transported at a time. Companies can also approximate the weight of the car and, subsequently, weigh-station taxes. In addition, by estimating the difference between the maximum weight limit and the total transport weight, the company gains a sense of the number of additional vehicles it can legally move.
Insurance
Whether added insurance is appropriate to your transport depends on the worth and age of your car. Even with enclosed transports, owners of specialty, new, exotic or expensive cars often opt for the piece of mind that comes from added coverage.
Essential to your decision are policy details such as deductibles, monetary limitations and part exclusions. Many companies offer one or more options to extend coverage; in addition, you can consider extra coverage through your private insurance for the dates of the transport.
Total Cost
A variety of options factor into an auto transport quote. When you contact representatives at Any Auto Transport we strive to provide you with adequate information and no-pressure recommendations.
We want you to feel confident that all options are appropriate to your unique shipping needs. The experienced men and women at Any Auto Transport are dedicated to maintaining a reputation of excellence, affordability and consumer satisfaction.