Customer Reviews

Car Trailers Versus Tow Dollies Versus Auto Transport

Posted on 03/31/2023


car-trailers-tow-dollies-car-shipping
 

 

Car trailers

 
A car trailer is what you likely expect it to be, a trailer that allows a car or truck with enough towing capacity to haul another vehicle a long distance. A car trailer will have all four wheels of the vehicle being towed always secured up on the trailer off the road during transit. When it comes to a car trailer, you would need to haul it with a much heavier-duty vehicle, such as a pickup truck. A car trailer can be quite costly. Buying a car trailer will typically run between $4,000 and $15,000, depending on the trailer’s capabilities and condition. The average cost to rent a car trailer typically ranges from $300 to $400. These prices can be even higher for longer distance use of more than two hundred miles and rise even more when demand increases.
 
Gas is expensive enough as it is, but when there is more weight being moved by a car, the engine has to work harder and consequentially burns fuel at a faster rate. Also, consider that you will need to then haul the car several hundred or thousand miles yourself. When you tow an entirely separate vehicle, the gas cost will further add to your overall expense. When you also factor in the depreciation of the vehicle that you are towing with, your car transport via trailer can easily run $800 or more.
 

car-trailer-vehicle-transport

 

Tow dollies

 
Tow dollies are another device that you can use to tow your car. It is different from a car trailer in that it is much smaller, and the vehicle you are towing will need to be neutral with its rear two wheels on the pavement during transport. Tow dollies can generally be your cheapest option, but if you want to rent one, companies will frequently only rent one out if you also rent a moving truck from them to use the dolly with. So, the cost of renting a tow dolly which will typically run around $100, will be in addition to the cost of renting a truck. For example, if you need to rent a truck from U-Haul capable of towing a car and you are doing so long distance (over 250 miles), renting both can easily cost you over $1,000.
 
However, the weight of an entire other vehicle being towed by your vehicle on a dolly will undoubtedly put some wear and tear on the vehicle you are using to tow the other car. On top of that, if the vehicle you are towing is a new or a classic car, you will be exposing it to the outside elements. That means weather elements like rain and snow can affect the vehicle. This also means that your car could end up with scratches or chips in the paint from tiny road debris like small rocks.
 
Overall, tow dollies have much lower weight capacities than car trailers do. Tow dollies generally only support towing a vehicle of about 3,500 pounds maximum, whereas car trailers can support a car weighing about 5,000 pounds. This means that most tow dollies can only be used to tow smaller and lighter cars because the average car weighs about 4,000 pounds. The various kinds of car carriers that an auto transport company uses can support a vehicle of 50,000 pounds or more depending on the type of carrier. (Flatbed carriers are utilized for oversized vehicles).
 

tow-dolly-vehicle-transport

 

The effort on your part when towing a vehicle

 
If you choose to tow a car using a car trailer or tow dolly instead of shipping your car, you will need to transport the car the entire distance yourself. This will cost you several hours, possibly up to several days. You will also be completely responsible for properly and safely securing the vehicle in the car trailer or to the tow dolly. This can be complicated, especially for someone doing it for the first time.
 

Safety concerns while towing a car

 
If you are transporting a car using a tow dolly or trailer, be sure that the car has been correctly secured to either the dolly or trailer and that the tow dolly is secured to the car you will be driving. If not, you risk losing the car you are towing, which could also cause a major accident. Also, the ability to maneuver the vehicle you are driving while you tow another car will be at an absolute minimum.
 
When you tow something like another car, there will also be the issue of what is known as “sway.” Sway is when you drive too fast when towing, and your trailer or dolly starts to move side to side, which could lead to a disconnection or even a full turnover of both the trailer/dolly and the car you are driving. When you are towing, it is particularly important to always drive at decreased speeds but especially when inclement weather conditions and road conditions are slippery.
 
When you tow a car using either a trailer or tow dolly, you will likely need to drive under the speed limit, avoid passing, pull over if there are any strong crosswinds, and avoid any maneuvering such as a U-turn or parallel parking. Even if you are simply and slowly reversing, you should only do so with the aid of someone standing at the rear of your trailer or tow dolly. You should also avoid trying to tow a vehicle with a trailer or dolly if you have not had any previous experience towing something else lighter and more manageable.
 

Auto transport

 
Auto transport is when you choose to have your car shipped with a professional vehicle relocation company like RoadRunner Auto Transport. It will likely cost more than towing the car, but the advantages are numerous. Car shipping may take a bit longer than towing the vehicle yourself, but that is not likely.
 

Key advantages of auto transport

 
The following are the biggest advantages that shipping your car will offer you over towing it yourself:
 

  • The safety of the vehicle – Even if you ship on a traditional open-air carrier, it will offer way more protection than if you tow your vehicle with a simple tow dolly. When you ship your car, you can also opt for maximum protection by shipping on an enclosed car carrier which offers much more safety than a single car trailer.

  • Save a ton of time and effort – When you have your vehicle shipped for you, you will have to make a very minimal effort for the shipment. All you will need to do is prepare by washing the car’s exterior and removing all personal items from the car. What you will not need to do is to drive hundreds or even thousands of miles with the weight of an entire additional car slowing you down.

  • You can focus on the rest of your trip or move – If you happen to need to transport a vehicle because you are moving or taking an extended trip, you will likely have your hands full with other things you will need to do such as packing and unpacking. When you hire a vehicle shipping company, you will be shortening the long list of things you will need to accomplish significantly.

  • No wear and tear or mileage on your other car – We already mentioned the safety and preservation of the condition of the vehicle being towed, but the same goes for the vehicle doing the towing as well. If you choose to tow the vehicle on a tow dolly, you will be putting hundreds of miles on the vehicle, which contributes to overall depreciation. You could also end up with some scratches or chips on that vehicle the same way you could with the vehicle you towed.

 

car-shipping-advantages

 

Is shipping a car more expensive than towing it myself?

 
It is hard to say exactly what the extra cost of shipping your car will be compared to towing it yourself, either in a trailer or on a tow dolly. That is because of the unpredictable factors that help determine the price of shipping a car, such as fuel prices and overall demand for car shipping at the time of your shipment. Generally, you can expect an auto transport service to cost between $0.50 and $2.00 per mile, with the previously mentioned factors determining your price in that range.
 
Let’s look at the cost of transporting your car 1,000 miles with all three options in mind. We will assume demand and everything else are exactly average at the time of transport.
 

  • Transporting a car on a tow dolly – A tow dolly can cost between $2,000 and $5,000 to buy. The cost of renting a tow dolly will vary. Often it is required to rent a moving truck (large enough to tow a vehicle) along with a tow dolly from a service like U-Haul. You typically pay $1.00 or a bit more per mile in these cases. So, if you choose that specific method of transporting a vehicle via tow dolly, you will pay $1,000 – not including gas. With the current cost of gas and a vehicle with a large enough towing capacity in mind, the trip would cost you about $1,150 overall.

  • Transporting a car in a trailer – Renting a car trailer will cost about $400 for a long-distance trip of 1,000 miles. However, that does not factor in the trailer delivery and/or pickup cost. Many trailer companies require you to return the trailer yourself, which could mean a trip all the way back and another $400 charge. Overall, your cost to rent a trailer for transporting your car will be between $600 and $900, not including the cost of gas at about $150. So, the final cost would be between $750 and $1,050 . Purchasing a car trailer will cost at least $4,000.

  • Transporting a car with an auto transport companyIf you were to ship your car rather than moving it yourself, the cost would vary slightly from company to company. For RoadRunner Auto Transport, shipping an average-sized car about 1,000 miles on an open car carrier with four weeks’ notice during a less busy month of the year like February would cost approximately $1,135.

 

What is the best way to transport a car?

 
If your only concern is saving as much money as possible, you are extremely confident that you know what you are doing in terms of towing a vehicle a long distance, and you do not mind the possibility of scratches or chips on the paint of the car being towed, then towing the vehicle with a dolly or a trailer could be a viable option for you. This is assuming you are able to find a rental that does not require the additional rental of a moving truck.
 
Overall, you are likely only saving $100 to $300 maximum by going this route. If your car gets damaged while you are transporting it, whether it got scratched or something more serious occurred, the savings can quickly disappear.
 
However, having your car shipped with an auto transport company will always be the supreme option for most people. An auto transport company will keep the car you are transporting safe, preventing the need for involvement with your second car, sparing you costly depreciation, and saving you a ton of time and effort.
 

Conclusion

 
In the end, transporting your car yourself on a tow dolly or in a trailer only has one distinct advantage over having your car shipped with an auto transport company like RoadRunner. It can possibly save you some money. It likely will not even save you as much money as you think it will, if at all. Transporting a vehicle yourself will also take up a lot of your time, putting two of your vehicles at risk of being damaged simultaneously. When you ship a vehicle, your only involvement will be scheduling the shipment, preparing for the shipment and handing over/receiving the keys to your car shipping driver upon pickup/delivery. Your vehicle will also be at least several feet above the roadway, safely secured to an auto carrier at all times, which can prevent any potential scratches, chips, or dings.
 

Frequently asked questions

 

Can I drive full speed while towing a car?

 
Driving very fast when towing anything is not recommended, especially for another vehicle weighing several thousand pounds. As a rule of thumb, to maximize your safety and the safety of your vehicles, drive under 55 miles per hour at all times and avoid traveling in the left-most traffic lane.
 

Other than hooking the car up, what else do I need to do when I tow a car with a dolly?

 
You will also need to ensure that the vehicle being towed is in neutral and that its brake and taillights are connected to your car’s brake and taillights so that both will illuminate simultaneously. If that is not possible, you can buy a portable set of brake/taillights to hook up to the back of the car you are towing.
 

Will car shipping take much longer than towing my car myself?

 
The duration of a car shipment will depend on several things, including the number of other vehicles in your shipment, the amount of traffic along your shipment’s route, and the weather along your shipment’s route. Auto transport can take as long as towing a car or a bit longer, depending on your shipment’s pickup and drop-off locations.

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1Shipment Details

Car Trailers Versus Tow Dollies Versus Auto Transport

Posted on 03/31/2023


car-trailers-tow-dollies-car-shipping
 

 

Car trailers

 
A car trailer is what you likely expect it to be, a trailer that allows a car or truck with enough towing capacity to haul another vehicle a long distance. A car trailer will have all four wheels of the vehicle being towed always secured up on the trailer off the road during transit. When it comes to a car trailer, you would need to haul it with a much heavier-duty vehicle, such as a pickup truck. A car trailer can be quite costly. Buying a car trailer will typically run between $4,000 and $15,000, depending on the trailer’s capabilities and condition. The average cost to rent a car trailer typically ranges from $300 to $400. These prices can be even higher for longer distance use of more than two hundred miles and rise even more when demand increases.
 
Gas is expensive enough as it is, but when there is more weight being moved by a car, the engine has to work harder and consequentially burns fuel at a faster rate. Also, consider that you will need to then haul the car several hundred or thousand miles yourself. When you tow an entirely separate vehicle, the gas cost will further add to your overall expense. When you also factor in the depreciation of the vehicle that you are towing with, your car transport via trailer can easily run $800 or more.
 

car-trailer-vehicle-transport

 

Tow dollies

 
Tow dollies are another device that you can use to tow your car. It is different from a car trailer in that it is much smaller, and the vehicle you are towing will need to be neutral with its rear two wheels on the pavement during transport. Tow dollies can generally be your cheapest option, but if you want to rent one, companies will frequently only rent one out if you also rent a moving truck from them to use the dolly with. So, the cost of renting a tow dolly which will typically run around $100, will be in addition to the cost of renting a truck. For example, if you need to rent a truck from U-Haul capable of towing a car and you are doing so long distance (over 250 miles), renting both can easily cost you over $1,000.
 
However, the weight of an entire other vehicle being towed by your vehicle on a dolly will undoubtedly put some wear and tear on the vehicle you are using to tow the other car. On top of that, if the vehicle you are towing is a new or a classic car, you will be exposing it to the outside elements. That means weather elements like rain and snow can affect the vehicle. This also means that your car could end up with scratches or chips in the paint from tiny road debris like small rocks.
 
Overall, tow dollies have much lower weight capacities than car trailers do. Tow dollies generally only support towing a vehicle of about 3,500 pounds maximum, whereas car trailers can support a car weighing about 5,000 pounds. This means that most tow dollies can only be used to tow smaller and lighter cars because the average car weighs about 4,000 pounds. The various kinds of car carriers that an auto transport company uses can support a vehicle of 50,000 pounds or more depending on the type of carrier. (Flatbed carriers are utilized for oversized vehicles).
 

tow-dolly-vehicle-transport

 

The effort on your part when towing a vehicle

 
If you choose to tow a car using a car trailer or tow dolly instead of shipping your car, you will need to transport the car the entire distance yourself. This will cost you several hours, possibly up to several days. You will also be completely responsible for properly and safely securing the vehicle in the car trailer or to the tow dolly. This can be complicated, especially for someone doing it for the first time.
 

Safety concerns while towing a car

 
If you are transporting a car using a tow dolly or trailer, be sure that the car has been correctly secured to either the dolly or trailer and that the tow dolly is secured to the car you will be driving. If not, you risk losing the car you are towing, which could also cause a major accident. Also, the ability to maneuver the vehicle you are driving while you tow another car will be at an absolute minimum.
 
When you tow something like another car, there will also be the issue of what is known as “sway.” Sway is when you drive too fast when towing, and your trailer or dolly starts to move side to side, which could lead to a disconnection or even a full turnover of both the trailer/dolly and the car you are driving. When you are towing, it is particularly important to always drive at decreased speeds but especially when inclement weather conditions and road conditions are slippery.
 
When you tow a car using either a trailer or tow dolly, you will likely need to drive under the speed limit, avoid passing, pull over if there are any strong crosswinds, and avoid any maneuvering such as a U-turn or parallel parking. Even if you are simply and slowly reversing, you should only do so with the aid of someone standing at the rear of your trailer or tow dolly. You should also avoid trying to tow a vehicle with a trailer or dolly if you have not had any previous experience towing something else lighter and more manageable.
 

Auto transport

 
Auto transport is when you choose to have your car shipped with a professional vehicle relocation company like RoadRunner Auto Transport. It will likely cost more than towing the car, but the advantages are numerous. Car shipping may take a bit longer than towing the vehicle yourself, but that is not likely.
 

Key advantages of auto transport

 
The following are the biggest advantages that shipping your car will offer you over towing it yourself:
 

  • The safety of the vehicle – Even if you ship on a traditional open-air carrier, it will offer way more protection than if you tow your vehicle with a simple tow dolly. When you ship your car, you can also opt for maximum protection by shipping on an enclosed car carrier which offers much more safety than a single car trailer.

  • Save a ton of time and effort – When you have your vehicle shipped for you, you will have to make a very minimal effort for the shipment. All you will need to do is prepare by washing the car’s exterior and removing all personal items from the car. What you will not need to do is to drive hundreds or even thousands of miles with the weight of an entire additional car slowing you down.

  • You can focus on the rest of your trip or move – If you happen to need to transport a vehicle because you are moving or taking an extended trip, you will likely have your hands full with other things you will need to do such as packing and unpacking. When you hire a vehicle shipping company, you will be shortening the long list of things you will need to accomplish significantly.

  • No wear and tear or mileage on your other car – We already mentioned the safety and preservation of the condition of the vehicle being towed, but the same goes for the vehicle doing the towing as well. If you choose to tow the vehicle on a tow dolly, you will be putting hundreds of miles on the vehicle, which contributes to overall depreciation. You could also end up with some scratches or chips on that vehicle the same way you could with the vehicle you towed.

 

car-shipping-advantages

 

Is shipping a car more expensive than towing it myself?

 
It is hard to say exactly what the extra cost of shipping your car will be compared to towing it yourself, either in a trailer or on a tow dolly. That is because of the unpredictable factors that help determine the price of shipping a car, such as fuel prices and overall demand for car shipping at the time of your shipment. Generally, you can expect an auto transport service to cost between $0.50 and $2.00 per mile, with the previously mentioned factors determining your price in that range.
 
Let’s look at the cost of transporting your car 1,000 miles with all three options in mind. We will assume demand and everything else are exactly average at the time of transport.
 

  • Transporting a car on a tow dolly – A tow dolly can cost between $2,000 and $5,000 to buy. The cost of renting a tow dolly will vary. Often it is required to rent a moving truck (large enough to tow a vehicle) along with a tow dolly from a service like U-Haul. You typically pay $1.00 or a bit more per mile in these cases. So, if you choose that specific method of transporting a vehicle via tow dolly, you will pay $1,000 – not including gas. With the current cost of gas and a vehicle with a large enough towing capacity in mind, the trip would cost you about $1,150 overall.

  • Transporting a car in a trailer – Renting a car trailer will cost about $400 for a long-distance trip of 1,000 miles. However, that does not factor in the trailer delivery and/or pickup cost. Many trailer companies require you to return the trailer yourself, which could mean a trip all the way back and another $400 charge. Overall, your cost to rent a trailer for transporting your car will be between $600 and $900, not including the cost of gas at about $150. So, the final cost would be between $750 and $1,050 . Purchasing a car trailer will cost at least $4,000.

  • Transporting a car with an auto transport companyIf you were to ship your car rather than moving it yourself, the cost would vary slightly from company to company. For RoadRunner Auto Transport, shipping an average-sized car about 1,000 miles on an open car carrier with four weeks’ notice during a less busy month of the year like February would cost approximately $1,135.

 

What is the best way to transport a car?

 
If your only concern is saving as much money as possible, you are extremely confident that you know what you are doing in terms of towing a vehicle a long distance, and you do not mind the possibility of scratches or chips on the paint of the car being towed, then towing the vehicle with a dolly or a trailer could be a viable option for you. This is assuming you are able to find a rental that does not require the additional rental of a moving truck.
 
Overall, you are likely only saving $100 to $300 maximum by going this route. If your car gets damaged while you are transporting it, whether it got scratched or something more serious occurred, the savings can quickly disappear.
 
However, having your car shipped with an auto transport company will always be the supreme option for most people. An auto transport company will keep the car you are transporting safe, preventing the need for involvement with your second car, sparing you costly depreciation, and saving you a ton of time and effort.
 

Conclusion

 
In the end, transporting your car yourself on a tow dolly or in a trailer only has one distinct advantage over having your car shipped with an auto transport company like RoadRunner. It can possibly save you some money. It likely will not even save you as much money as you think it will, if at all. Transporting a vehicle yourself will also take up a lot of your time, putting two of your vehicles at risk of being damaged simultaneously. When you ship a vehicle, your only involvement will be scheduling the shipment, preparing for the shipment and handing over/receiving the keys to your car shipping driver upon pickup/delivery. Your vehicle will also be at least several feet above the roadway, safely secured to an auto carrier at all times, which can prevent any potential scratches, chips, or dings.
 

Frequently asked questions

 

Can I drive full speed while towing a car?

 
Driving very fast when towing anything is not recommended, especially for another vehicle weighing several thousand pounds. As a rule of thumb, to maximize your safety and the safety of your vehicles, drive under 55 miles per hour at all times and avoid traveling in the left-most traffic lane.
 

Other than hooking the car up, what else do I need to do when I tow a car with a dolly?

 
You will also need to ensure that the vehicle being towed is in neutral and that its brake and taillights are connected to your car’s brake and taillights so that both will illuminate simultaneously. If that is not possible, you can buy a portable set of brake/taillights to hook up to the back of the car you are towing.
 

Will car shipping take much longer than towing my car myself?

 
The duration of a car shipment will depend on several things, including the number of other vehicles in your shipment, the amount of traffic along your shipment’s route, and the weather along your shipment’s route. Auto transport can take as long as towing a car or a bit longer, depending on your shipment’s pickup and drop-off locations.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Get answers to some of the most commonly asked questions about the vehicle shipping process.


When determining your car shipping cost, there are a few factors that we take into account in order to provide you with an accurate price quote. The mileage between the origin and destination is the biggest factor that contributes to your total rate. In addition to the distance of your relocation, another factor is the type and condition of the vehicle being shipped. The final factor is the date that your vehicle will be ready for transport. There are also additional options, such as enclosed carrier and top-load service that can be added to your shipment at the time of booking for a higher level of service. Read more about how much it costs to ship a car.

To get a quote for shipping your vehicle, you can either use our instant online car shipping quote calculator or you can call (888) 422-7584 to receive a quote from one of our car transport pricing specialists. In order for us to calculate your quote we will need to know the location you are shipping from and to, the type of vehicle you would like to ship, and the date your vehicle will be ready.

The transit time for your shipment is based mostly on the mileage between the pickup and delivery location. Generally, every five hundred miles will add one day to the transit time - so for a 1,000 mile transport, the transit time would be 2-3 days. Check out our estimated transit times for a detailed view of approximate delivery times.

Yes, online tracking is available to you 24 hours a day and is updated in real time. Upon scheduling your shipment, you will receive a unique booking number that will allow you to track the status of your shipment online. Your tracking portal will also give you the ability to live chat with a shipping agent that can answer any questions you may have regarding the status of your shipment.

All shipments include basic liability coverage during transit. Comprehensive insurance options are available for an elevated level of shipment coverage during transit. You will be able to select a level of coverage during the booking process. If you have further questions regarding insurance options give us a call.

We accept all major credit cards, electronic transfer, postal money order, and bank/certified check for the deposit or full pre-payment of your shipment. If a balance is due upon delivery, it can be paid directly to the driver and can be paid in either cash, bank/certified check, or postal money order.

Yes, there must be someone present to release and accept the vehicle, provide keys to the driver and sign the initial and final inspection reports. This person can be anyone over the age of 18 that you trust with releasing or accepting your vehicle.

You may transport personal belongings in your car, as long as their total weight does not exceed 100 pounds and they are stored in the trunk or back seat (below the window line). Please keep in mind that personal belongings are not covered by insurance if they are reported as damaged or missing.

To get a quote for shipping your vehicle, you can either use our instant online car shipping quote calculator above or you can call (888) 422-7584 to receive a quote from one of our car transport pricing specialists. In order for us to calculate your quote we will need to know the location you are shipping from and to, the type of vehicle you would like to ship, and the date your vehicle will be ready.

The further in advance you schedule your shipment, the more likely we will be able to meet the time requirements you desire. For best results, we suggest scheduling your transport at least 2 to 3 weeks in advance. Expedited shipping options are available in order to accomodate shipments that require . You can always give us a call and ask one of our car shipping experts what your options are in terms of the schedule for your car transport.

The driver will get the car transporter as close to your door as he can legally and safely get. In most cases, the driver will be able to pickup and deliver directly at your door. Some cities may have restrictions on large trucks that prohibit them from driving into residential areas. Auto transport trucks are large and need lots of room to maneuver and turn around, so if access to the pickup or delivery location is restricted by narrow streets, low-hanging trees or tight turns, the driver may ask that you meet at a location nearby with a large parking lot, such as a grocery store.

Open transport is the most common car shipping method. There are two types of open-air transporters. The Majority of shipments are be made with 8-10 car carriers. Smaller carriers which hold 2-3 cars are used for shorter more local moves. There is broader network of carrier availability for open-air carriers since they are used more often. We suggest choosing enclosed shipping methods when shipping classic, luxury or exotic vehicles. Enclosed transporters guarantee maximum protection from exposure to any open-air elements on the road. We suggest booking your enclosed transport in advance since there is limited carrier availability. Read more about the difference between open and enclosed transport

RoadRunner Auto Transport specializes in shipping all types of vehicles such as sedans, SUVs, pickup trucks, minivans, oversized vehicles, antiques, classic cars, motorcycles, construction vehicles, inoperable cars and boats. If you are not sure whether or not we can ship your vehicle, you can give us a call to find out what we can do for you.

You should have about a quarter of a tank of gas in your car at the time of shipment. This leaves enough for the car to be loaded and unloaded but doesn't add much additional weight.

The Bill of Lading is a very important document used by car shipping companies that documents any pre-existing damage on the vehicle during the time of pickup. It also serves as a record of your contact info and the official agreement for transport. If you want to file any insurance claim regarding your shipment you will need the Bill of Lading.

Top load service is when your car is placed on the higher deck or level of an open auto transport trailer. This is considered to be preferable to the bottom load because the cars on the lower deck are at risk of possibly having fluid from the cars above leak on them.

Make sure your car has been completely cleaned, both inside and outside. This is particularly important because this will help the driver conduct their inspection in order to assess any pre-existing damage on your vehicle. You will also want to make there are no additional personal items in the vehicle unless you intend to ship those with the vehicle (remember those items must total less than 100 pounds combined and be kept below the window-line of the vehicle). Be sure to inform the driver of any special circumstances concerning the vehicle. Finally, make sure there is a quarter tank of gas in the car at the time it is picked up for shipment. Visit our car shipping checklist to make sure you are prepared for your vehicle shipment.

Yes, we can ship vehicles that are in non-running/inoperable condition. When inoperable cars are shipped, a special auto carrier is required that makes use of a winch which is connected to your car and slowly and safely pulls your vehicle onto the carrier. There is an additional fee for inpoerable vehicles because of the special equipment and extra work involved with securing the vehicle onto the transporter. You can select the inoperable option on the online booking form or inform your shipping agent if you make your reservation by phone so that the proper arrangements can be made to accomodate a non-running vehicle.

We offer open car shipping and enclosed car shipping services. Open car shipping is used much more frequently and is the type of auto transport that you see on the highway where carriers are hauling vehicles on two decks that are exposed. Enclosed car shipping is when your vehicle is shipped in a trailer which has walls and a roof, they look like a larger version of a regular eighteen-wheeler. This method is recommended for luxury, exotic or classic cars.

Door-to-door car transport is the full service delivery of your vehicle directly from the door at the pickup location to the door at the delivery location. Our drivers do their best to get as close as physically and legally possible to the pickup and delivery locations, but in certain instances there may be restrictions preventing them from being able to safely reach your door. Our transporters need ample space to maneuver and load/unload your vehicle. If your street is too narrow, or if there are hazards such as low lining trees or power lines, drivers may ask that you meet them at a location nearby where they can safely load or unload your vehicle, such as a large parking lot or shopping center nearby.