Knowing the shipping cost of your vehicle may benefit you in your shipping plan. But you don’t have time to find and visit any transport company in person. Many transport companies now offer an online tool named car shipping calculator that calculates the cost of the shipment without any hassle. In this guide, you will know all about this cost calculator.
How to Calculate Cost with Car Shipping Calculator
A car shipping calculator provides the approximate cost of the shipment by calculating various factors and presets. Also, customers need to fill in some necessary information about the shipping. Here is how you can calculate your shipping cost, which is mentioned below.
Gather Necessary Information
Before using a shipping calculator, it’s important to gather all the necessary details about your vehicle and shipment. The details you require are mentioned below.
Vehicle Details:
- Make and model
- Year
- Weight (if available)
- Condition, if functional or not
Shipping Details:
- Pick-up location with ZIP code or city
- Delivery location with ZIP code or city
- Shipping method (Open transport or enclosed transport)
- Shipping date
Choose Reliable Car Shipping Calculator
There are various car shipping calculators online. However, you have to find one that is trustworthy and reputable. A reputable car shipping company usually has a more precise calculator on their website due to the specific models they work with.
Enter Your Information
Insert the information you have gathered with your chosen calculator. These normally will include the following information:
- Details about your Vehicle
- Pick-up and drop-off areas
- Ship type to be used
Be careful when filling in your details so that all the information you entered is accurate, as discrepancies in the details entered will lead to some estimate errors.
Review Your Estimate
After filling in your details, the calculator will generate an estimated shipping cost for your car. Your estimate will include the following:
- Base Shipping Cost: The initial cost to ship your car, calculated by distance and shipping method.
- Additional Charges: Some additional costs might be incurred; this might include fuel, insurance, or special packaging requirements.
- Discounts or Promos: Some quotes may include available discounts or seasonal promotions.
Benefits of Using a Shipping Calculator
Using a car shipping cost calculator will offer you various benefits and convenience in your car shipping planning and experience. It’s easier for vehicle owners to estimate the expenses and plan their shipping. More benefits are mentioned below.
- Accurate Quote: A cost calculator will provide a correct estimate of the car shipping quote based on various variables that include the distance, shipping methods, and size of the vehicle.
- Saves Time: Instead of seeking quotes from various shipping companies, you get to have a quick quote online without making any hassle of visiting physically, and you can save your valuable time and energy.
- Budgeting: Knowing the estimated cost in advance will go a long way in helping you plan for the shipping expenses within your budget.
- Transparency: Many calculators break down the components of cost for you to have an idea of what you pay for, like fuel, insurance, and handling charges.
- Convenience: It is available at any moment and from any part of the world, so you can fit it within your schedule as easily as possible.
How Much Does It Cost to Ship a Car?
A calculator is a tool for providing an approximate cost of the shipping, but the actual cost depends on various factors, such as shipping distance, vehicle model and condition, or many more. By knowing these factors, you can make better plans for your car shipping to ensure a smooth experience.
Shipping Methods
Shipping a car needs a trailer, and there are mainly two types of methods for car shipping, which are explained below.
- Open Car Shipping: Open car transport is the most budget-friendly car shipping method. In this shipping method, your vehicle will be transported on an open-air trailer, but because it is fully open to the environment, your vehicle will be exposed to the weather and road elements. This method is suitable for standard vehicles.
- Enclosed Car Shipping: Enclosed car shipping is the most secure car shipping method. Your vehicles will be transported on a fully closed trailer with solid walls and ceilings to protect the vehicle from external environmental elements. The cost is in addition higher than open transport, but the safety it offers justifies the price.
Distance
Further, the distance between shipping locations is longer than the route that needs to be traveled by the carrier to deliver the vehicles. Longer routes need to cover more fuel, and labor will be added to your expense and increase the shipping cost.
Vehicles Type
Bigger and heavier vehicles may cost you more compared to small and lighter vehicles. The bigger the vehicle, more space and load capacity are required for shipping, which also makes transportation more costlier.
Vehicles Condition
If the vehicle condition is operational or it is movable, it costs less compared to non-movable, non-operational vehicles. Non-moving vehicles require additional equipment and handling for shipping, which also increases the shipping cost.