What’s the easiest way to ship a car from California to New York? The process can seem complicated, but with careful planning, it can be quick and painless. We’ll go over everything you need to know in order to get your car from point A to point B safely and efficiently, including how much it costs, what paperwork you need, and the best way to handle transporting your vehicle. Let’s get started!
What you should know before shipping your car
There are several different ways to get your car shipped from California to New York. The first step is to find a reputable Car Shipping Company that provides transportation between both states. You can start by searching online for auto shipping followed by either CA or NY depending on where you live and where you plan on having your vehicle transported.
Not all shipping companies will allow you to transport a car from California to New York. If you do locate a company that does ship cars from CA to NY, confirm that they can provide door-to-door service for your vehicle, meaning that your car is picked up and delivered by professionals and does not require you or anyone else in your family to take time off work or out of their schedules for drop off and pick up. Also, be sure to ask about any hidden fees associated with shipping your car; some companies may charge extra for transporting vehicles larger than SUVs or trucks.
Shipping Your Car During Winter Months
Finally, if you’re planning on shipping your car during winter months (November through March), make sure to contact your shipper well ahead of time so they can ensure your vehicle arrives at its destination on schedule. Many shippers are unable to accommodate last minute requests due to weather conditions and other factors beyond their control.
It’s also important to remember that insurance coverage begins once your car leaves your driveway, so it is best to keep an eye on how much mileage you put on your vehicle before you begin looking into shipping options. This way, you can avoid potential issues with getting an accurate mileage estimate. Once you have decided on a shipping company, reserve your spot immediately as many vehicles are shipped daily.
When reserving your spot, give yourself plenty of time to prepare for delivery and follow up with customer service reps via phone or email when necessary. Once your vehicle has been picked up by professional drivers, there is little you need to do until it has been delivered safely to its final destination.
Get three quotes
The cost of shipping your car from state-to-state varies dramatically. According to AAA, Californians pay about $3,000 for a cross-country auto transport that takes about four days. To save money, you can shop around and get at least three quotes before choosing a company. It’s also important to make sure you’re dealing with an accredited company; check out its Better Business Bureau profile and other reviews online before making any commitments.
In addition, ask whether there are additional fees with things like drop-off or pick-up—some companies charge hundreds of dollars extra if you want them to take care of things like paperwork or transportation to/from a storage facility.
How much does it cost to ship a car across country
There isn’t just one answer because different businesses have different pricing models. The best way to find out how much something will cost is by contacting at least three different businesses. Each of them should be able to provide you with an accurate estimate based on your specific situation.
In addition, you can save money by getting quotes from several companies; if you do, be sure to ask about additional fees (like pick-up or drop-off charges) and hidden costs (like storage fees). Finally, if your vehicle has any rust or dents, consider using a business that offers discounts for such vehicles. What are some tips for saving money when shipping a car? You might learn that price isn’t necessarily the most important factor when choosing a company.
Get a recommendation
Sure, price matters—but so does customer service and experience. For example, choose a company with many years of experience in auto transport services and excellent reviews online. If possible, get a recommendation from someone who has used their services before. Also, compare prices but don’t forget to check into other factors like:
How long have they been in business? Do they specialize in cross-country auto transport? Do they offer 24/7 support during your move? Are there extra fees associated with certain things like paperwork or transportation to/from a storage facility? What happens if my car gets damaged during shipping? Your insurance policy should cover damage to your vehicle while it’s being transported as long as you have comprehensive coverage.
However, be aware that damage caused by inclement weather may not be covered. Is it better to hire a broker or go directly through a carrier? It depends on what kind of service you want and what kind of experience you want. A broker typically finds carriers for you and takes care of all aspects of arranging transportation; however, brokers often charge hefty fees for their services. On the other hand, going directly to a carrier means dealing with fewer people and more direct communication; however, you’ll have to take care of everything yourself.
Know what to expect at the end point
Do your research at both ends of your trip. If you’re shipping a car from California to New York, you want it arrive at its destination safely. The best way to ensure that is by doing your homework on what companies are available in both states and researching their reputations online.
It’s also important to know what kind of services they offer and how much they charge for them. For example, some companies may not offer insurance on their vehicles during transit; others might allow you to track where your vehicle is. You can find out which options are available by contacting multiple companies and asking about their offerings.
Another thing to keep in mind: make sure your auto carrier has an office or agent near where you’ll be dropping off or picking up your vehicle. That will make things easier if there are any issues with your shipment when it arrives at its final destination.
Have all relevant paperwork
Also, don’t forget to have all relevant paperwork (title documents, proof of ownership) ready so you can get your vehicle released as quickly as possible. Once you have all of that information, comparing prices and services should be easy.
Finally, remember to plan ahead! When scheduling your vehicle’s transport, be sure to give yourself enough time for drop-off and pick-up. You never know what could happen—traffic delays could lead to significant back-ups or even missed pickups—so schedule accordingly. Be sure to call ahead and confirm everything, too. Not only will you avoid stress and disappointment, but you’ll also protect yourself against claims of negligence if something goes wrong because you didn’t confirm details before getting started. Shipping a car is stressful enough without having to worry about hidden fees or other problems.
By following these tips, you can make sure your experience runs smoothly and you’re able to enjoy your vacation without worrying about anything else. And if you run into any trouble along the way, simply reach out to us here at our transportation company. We look forward to hearing from you soon!
Transportation – Drive or Roll?
Both options are viable, but shipping a car can be tricky. Many people do not have any experience with shipping cars, so they don’t realize that driving it is always an option. In fact, if you plan on making several shipments of household items in one go, it may save you time and money to drive your vehicle from point A to point B. However, there are some reasons why you might want to hire a professional auto transport company instead:
The biggest advantage of hiring a professional auto transport company is convenience. Shipping companies handle all aspects of shipping for you, including pick-up and delivery; they will even handle customs paperwork for international shipments. You also won’t need to worry about finding parking or making sure your vehicle doesn’t get damaged while en route.
Moving Multiple Vehicles
If you are planning on moving several vehicles at once, it may be more cost effective to hire a professional auto transport company. These businesses often have deals with trucking companies that allow them to offer lower rates than individuals can find on their own. Additionally, many companies offer special discounts for repeat customers.
If you decide to go with an individual shipper, make sure he has experience shipping cars. A good shipper should know how to properly pack a car for shipment so that it arrives safely in one piece. It’s important to note that some insurance policies don’t cover damages incurred during shipping.
When you ship a car yourself, there are no hidden fees—you pay only for gas and mileage costs. However, if something does happen to your vehicle during transit (for example, if it gets dented), you might not be covered by insurance. In addition, some states require drivers to obtain certain licenses before transporting vehicles over state lines; these requirements vary from state to state. Make sure you know what your legal obligations are before you start driving.
If you’re shipping a motorcycle or scooter, there is an additional factor to consider: size. Shipping companies typically have strict size limits on vehicles they can transport; if your bike doesn’t fit in their truck, they won’t take it. If you plan on moving several bikes at once, hire a professional auto transport company that specializes in motorcycles and scooters instead of trying to coordinate with multiple individual shippers.
Packing your vehicle for shipping
Once you’ve found an appropriate shipper, you’ll need to pack your vehicle properly for shipping. Different companies will have different guidelines for shipping vehicles, but here are some basic tips. Get all of your paperwork in order: You should receive instructions from your shipper on what documents you’ll need to ship your car.
You may be required to produce a title or bill of sale, and if so, make sure it is in good condition and legible (many people find that their original title has been lost or damaged over time). If you don’t have any proof of ownership, it can be helpful to contact your local DMV office and request a duplicate copy.
Make sure your driver’s license is up-to-date and that you have insurance information for both yourself and your vehicle. Also, check with your bank to see if there are any issues with taking money out of your account before you leave home—you may need authorization from them before you can transfer funds to pay for shipping.
Pack Everything Inside
When preparing to ship a car, start by gathering everything inside of it and packing it into boxes or crates. It’s best to use things like blankets, bubble wrap, or other soft materials when cushioning items; hard objects like books might not provide enough protection during transit.
In general, you want to avoid using Styrofoam as much as possible because it does not absorb shock well and tends to break apart easily. Do not forget about small items: It’s easy to overlook small items such as loose change or pens when packing your vehicle for shipping, but remember that these little things add up quickly!
Take five minutes to go through your vehicle and collect anything you’d like to keep before sending it off. Take pictures: Before getting ready to ship a car, take at least 10 pictures of every side of your vehicle, including close-ups of dents, scratches, and any unique features.
This will help ensure that your shipping company knows exactly what they are receiving and also provides documentation in case something goes wrong while they have possession of your vehicle.
What about insurance?
Before you do anything, talk to your insurance agent. Although an insurer will usually cover your car for shipment, it may not be at its full value. Plus, it could take weeks or months for your company’s underwriters to approve coverage. When calculating how much money you need for shipping and storage costs, include time lost while waiting for approval from your insurance company—that amount of time is nonrefundable.
Auto Insurance Policies
Also, keep in mind that there are two types of auto-insurance policies: actual cash value (ACV) and replacement cost (RC). ACV policies pay only what your vehicle was worth when it was new; RC policies pay what it would cost to replace your vehicle with one similar in make, model, year, and mileage. If you have an ACV policy, consider buying additional coverage before shipping your car.
Many companies offer gap coverage, which covers any difference between what your insurer pays and what you owe on your loan. You can also purchase temporary insurance through National Auto Shipping Association member companies. It typically costs $50 to $100 per month, but it provides immediate protection if you don’t have time to get an ACV policy.
I want my wheels back!: It might seem like a good idea to store your wheels separately from your car so they won’t get damaged during transit. But if something happens to them during transport, you might not be able to recover damages because they weren’t attached when they were damaged.
If possible, keep your wheels with your vehicle throughout storage and shipping. Or consider buying additional insurance coverage through National Auto Shipping Association member companies that offers all-risk protection for up to $2 million in value (the standard insurance limit is $1 million). These policies cover damage or loss of any part of your vehicle—including tires and rims—during storage or shipment. The policy also covers theft of parts from your vehicle while it’s being stored or transported.
Insure Multiple Cars
If you have more than one car: You can insure each car individually, but it could cost more than insuring them as a single unit. To find out how much it would cost to insure multiple cars, call an agent at your current insurer; ask about what kinds of discounts are available; then compare those rates with quotes from other insurers who specialize in multi-car policies.
Also, if you’re going to be storing and shipping several vehicles over time, look into business insurance through National Auto Shipping Association member companies. These carriers offer special rates for businesses that store and ship multiple vehicles on a regular basis. The price depends on how many vehicles you ship per year and where they’re going—but some companies offer up to 10% off storage and shipping costs when you ship 10 or more cars annually. Just remember that these policies cover only commercial shipments; they don’t cover personal use.
What are additional charges?
Depending on your situation, there may be some additional charges for using a broker. These include: carrier fees, import fees and taxes. If you’re shipping overseas, these costs will likely increase due to an increased cost of doing business in that area.
A moving company can help get you estimates on all of these fees as well as help guide you through other costs of shipping a car from California to New York. There are several ways to ship a car from California to New York including by truck or boat. Keep in mind if you plan on having it shipped by boat, it could take up to three months for delivery depending on where it is being shipped from and where it is being delivered.
This is not something most people would want to do with their vehicle because of how long it takes but if you have time, then choosing a boat transport method could save money over air or ground transport methods. Many people choose to drive their cars across country when they move rather than sell them before they move.
Driving Across Country
One thing to keep in mind is that driving across country comes with its own set of challenges such as making sure your car can make it across country without breaking down along the way. Be sure to check out our post about how much does it cost to drive a car across country? before you decide which option is best for you! Also, if you want to learn more about what steps to take after deciding to ship a car from California to New York read our post “How To Ship Your Car From CA To NY – The Ultimate Guide”.
You should also consider speaking with a professional who has experience transporting vehicles such as local auto shippers . Auto shippers often offer free quotes so you can compare different companies side-by-side. Once you find one that fits your needs, call them and ask any questions you might have regarding your upcoming move.
Is there anything I can do on my own?
If you’re not shipping an oversized vehicle or valuable contents, it may be possible to do everything on your own. In order to avoid extra fees and red tape, it’s important that you handle things correctly from start to finish. Here’s how: Plan ahead. It may seem obvious, but making sure that you have all of your documents together before calling up a broker is key. You don’t want to find out at 8am on a Saturday morning that you forgot something.
Call as soon as possible. As soon as you know when and where they will pickup your car, call around for quotes. Some companies require a deposit over the phone while others can give you estimates without any money down.
Get more than one quote
Get more than one quote so that you can compare prices and services offered. Decide what kind of service works best for you: Most auto shippers will offer two different types of services—door-to-door pickup/delivery or terminal-to-terminal delivery—and it’s up to you to decide which option is best for your situation.
Door-to-door pickup means that your car will be directly to its destination. However, if you choose door-to-door delivery, you’ll need to arrange transportation back home. Terminal-to-terminal delivery means that your car will stay in transit until it reaches its final destination; however, there are no storage fees if you choose terminal-to-terminal.
Choose a company with good reviews
Before choosing a company, check online reviews and ratings to make sure they’re reputable. Ask friends or family members who they use and why they chose them. Once you’ve narrowed down your options, take advantage of tools like Google Maps that allow you to track vehicles in real time (more on that below).
Choose a method of payment: Once you’ve chosen a company, discuss payment options with them. While some companies only accept cashier’s checks, many businesses also accept credit cards. Be aware that some carriers charge additional fees for credit card payments.
Prepare your car for transport: The day before you schedule your car to leave. Take it to a mechanic and ask him or her to inspect it thoroughly. Have them fill out a condition report detailing any damage and note whether anything needs immediate attention. This way, you won’t have any unpleasant surprises once you arrive at pick-up location!
Keep in touch with the company. Follow up. Get everything in writing
While moving your car might sound pretty simple, it’s easy for small mistakes or miscommunications to have big consequences. Don’t be shy about hounding your broker or company with questions; they should be as excited about getting you from point A to point B safely and cheaply as you are. Get all promises in writing, so there’s no confusion. If something seems off, ask more questions until you feel comfortable. And remember: if something doesn’t seem right, don’t ship your car!