When transporting a single vehicle or a fleet of cars, most auto transport companies will offer you a general estimate of how long it will take them to pick up your car and how long it will take them to get it to you.
These automobile shipment time estimates do not represent a guarantee unless otherwise stated. Especially with lengthier transportation like cross-country automobile shipment, it’s very likely that the estimates provided to you may change by a few days.
This is because climate, traffic, disruptions in cross-country pick-ups and drops, ill drivers, and breakdowns all affect these car transport vehicles' schedules, making it impossible to estimate their pick-up and shipment windows weeks in advance.
So, how long does it actually take to ship your car across the country?
How Are Cars Shipped Across the Country?
As with shipping, a single automobile, transporting numerous vehicles across the nation is normally done in an uncovered truck and trailer. Pickup, loading, and delivery of your vehicles are all taken care of by their team of professionals.
Essentially, using a car shipping company is the most dependable, convenient, and cost-effective method to transfer your vehicle across the nation. With door-to-door service, you may easily transport your vehicle from one end of the nation to the other.
What Determines the Car Shipping Time?
- Destination
- Shipping method
- Traffic
- Time of year
- The shipping company
While using car shipping services, you never know what to anticipate, particularly in terms of how long it will take to get the vehicle from the point of pickup to its final destination.
That being said, transport of a vehicle usually takes 2-7 days, with an anticipated delivery time based on typical driving times and distances.
However, there are other factors that could potentially increase or decrease the number of days it takes to ship your car (and affect the average cost):
The Destination Is a Factor
The more distance you have to go, the longer it will take to ship your classic car or vehicle, and the longer it will take to get it.
Even if you choose an expedited shipping option, keep in mind that the shipment time will still need to be reasonable given the distance involved.
For example, the 3000+ mile distance between New York and California means that you can't anticipate a two-day delivery if you would like to export your automobile from New York to California.
The Shipping Method Matters
The time it takes to send your automobile to the delivery location will also depend on the form of shipping you choose and the car shipping cost. When moving your automobile, you have three primary alternatives, and each of them has a somewhat different delivery time.
In order to carry numerous automobiles at once, open car carriers must make many stops to pick up more vehicles. Shipping your automobile this way might take a little longer, but it's still the quickest option and cheapest way.
Because there are fewer enclosed car carriers than open car carriers, it may take longer to move a smaller number of automobiles in an enclosed car carrier. As a bonus, it shields automobiles from the elements since the vehicle is encased in a protective shell.
Furthermore, high-end car shipping companies will offer expedited shipping services, using which you can expect a shorter delivery time. However, it’s important to note that you may have to spend more money using this method in comparison to the usual cost of shipping your car.
Traffic Affects the Shipping Time
While the driver of the carrier will strive to ensure that they are able to deliver your car on the delivery date promised, there are some unforeseeable events that could result in a delay. On-going road work, traffic, or other obstructions are common examples of this.
Time of Year Will Affect the Shipping Time
While the cost of shipping your automobile may go up during certain times, the good news is that the travel time is cut in half. There is a lot of demand for automobile transport services in the late spring through early autumn since it is the peak moving season. Due to so many trucks moving back and forth through the nation, your automobile may be picked up sooner.
However, since fewer people need automobile transportation services in the winter, it might take longer to organize pick-up and delivery during these seasons. Moreover, there is already a shortage of truck drivers due to the taxing schedule. Hence, the availability of drivers plays a huge role as well.
The Shipping Company You Work With Can Affect the Shipping Time
The type of car shipping company you choose can greatly impact the amount of time delivery takes. For instance, a highly reputable and experienced car shipping company like Carvaygo is more likely to deliver your car fast, and on the date promised.
On the other hand, certain companies promise to deliver fast but often fail to live up to that commitment. You should consider choosing a shipping company that is transparent with the amount of time required for shipping, instead of choosing a company that makes promises of early delivery dates, but doesn't deliver.
What Are the Benefits of Shipping Your Car Across the Country?
- You don’t need to determine your route
- You will save time
- You will save money on added costs
- You can ship anywhere in the country
- You can ship many cars at once
Transporting a vehicle with the help of a team of qualified professionals has several advantages. Though high prices and a long list of auto shipping providers may seem daunting for prospective clients, the benefits of car transport should put those fears at rest.
We'll go through five reasons why you should choose a professional automobile transport service.
1. You Don’t Need To Decide Your Own Route
If you decide to drive your own car from one location to the other, it may seem like a simple matter of driving your automobile from one location to the next. Now that we have Google Maps on our phones, this task might seem a lot easier.
However, the truth is that it isn't that easy. Some roads may be temporarily blocked, while others may be ideal for transporting your car depending on the season. If you're not acquainted with the region, you may have to spend several hours attempting to find out the safest and quickest route, which may turn out to be confusing. Moreover, before you set out on this journey, you’ll have to familiarize yourself with the different driving laws and regulations.
When you choose a competent vehicle shipping company, they'll take care of it for you. The only thing you have to do is hand over your car and wait for it to reach your intended location.
2. You Will Save On Time
Regardless of whether you're traveling across the state or across the nation, you'll have to give up some of your valuable time. If you've got a lot on your plate, it might be difficult to juggle transferring your car with everything else.
All the time you'd normally spend driving may be saved if you trust a door-to-door vehicle shipper to take care of everything. So you can take care of other crucial issues, such as preparing for a huge move. This will not only save you time, but it will also relieve you of a lot of tension.
3. Save Money On Added Costs
Fuel and time aren't the only aspects to consider while planning a cross-country road trip with your automobile. Consider other expenditures, such as refreshments, meals, plus hotel stays, as well. If you have to go a great distance, this might be a significant additional expense.
Moreover, if your automobile breaks down on the road, you'll have to spend more time and money to repair it. Even if you're in a time crunch, this might cause problems.
4. Ship Almost Anywhere In The Country
Your automobile may have to go from the southernmost point of California to the northernmost point of Maine in the worst-case scenario. This is not a task that you can take up yourself.
The good news is that car transporters are typically highly flexible and therefore can pick up and drop off vehicles nearly anywhere in the nation. In addition, there are many open vehicle transporters available, so if you have a certain timetable to follow, you can almost certainly find a driver who is willing to work around your requirements.
5. Ship Many Cars At Once
If you have the time and money, traveling across the nation in a vehicle may be possible. But, is it possible to send two, three, or ten at a time? If this is the case, finding a sufficient number of reliable individuals to drive your automobiles would be challenging.
You may send as many vehicles as you want with auto transport. Knowing that they'll all be taken care of by a professional auto transporter will give you peace of mind. They'll also be able to load all of them at once, so you won't have to schedule several pickups.
You can save a lot of time and worry if you can transport all of your vehicles at once, rather than having to sort out the logistics for each one individually.
What To Do Next
The time it takes for your cross-country automobile transportation depends on a lot of factors. If you're planning a journey across the nation, you should expect the procedure to take between ten and two weeks (three to five days for travel within your time zone).
If you want your car to arrive on time, you need to engage with a reputable auto shipping company. At Carvaygo, automobile transporting services are reasonably priced, dependable, and surprisingly simple to use.
Sources:
There Is A Massive Trucker Shortage Causing Supply Chain Disruptions And High Inflation
State Traffic Laws - FindLaw
How Much Does It Cost to Ship A Car? | Move.org
