If you’re like most people, your car is arguably the asset that offers you the most convenience in your day-to-day life. However, on rare occasions like moving, going on vacation, or selling it, getting it from point A to B is a hassle.
Luckily for you, this is where National Transportation Services comes into play. We offer reliable open-car shipping solutions to suit your needs and budget. More importantly, our team of experts understands how much you value your car, so we’ll take good care of it.
Read on to learn more about open-car transportation and why it’s exactly what you need.
What Is Open-Car Shipping?
Open car shipping, often called open transport car shipping, refers to the transportation of vehicles on open-air carriers. This is the most popular and economical way to send an automobile nationwide.
Open car carriers are big trucks that can carry 6–10 automobiles. Usually, such carriers have two levels; top and bottom. Despite carrying many vehicles, they’re specifically designed to do so safely, even amidst wind, rain, and debris.
Benefits of Open-Car Shipping
Now that you know what open-car shipping is, you’re probably wondering if it’s worth it. To put it simply, it’s a resounding yes. Nonetheless, here are the benefits you’ll enjoy:
1. Cost-Effective
Cost is a significant factor in vehicle transportation. If you choose the wrong method, the costs will soar, and your vehicle will be at greater risk. But when it comes to car shipment, open carriers are cheaper than enclosed freight.
This is because open car transport allows you to share transportation costs with other customers. So, if you’re budget conscious, this is the ideal method.
2. Convenient
In fairness, you can drive your car to the destination or hire someone. However, you’ll have to deal with the stress of lengthy drives or worry about how safe your vehicle is in someone else’s hands.
With open-car shipping, you’ll relax and wait for your car to be picked up and delivered. Along with the safe means of transport, your vehicle is also insured, and there’s no risk of wear and tear along the way.
3. Easy to Book
Open automobile shipping’s ease of booking is a major benefit. Most respectable auto shipping firms offer instant online quotes and booking.
Simply submit your vehicle’s make, model, collection and delivery locations, and transit dates. From there, choose an open or enclosed cargo trailer and enter your details to get a free shipping quote. Therefore, you can book in just a few clicks and receive an email confirmation.
4. Real-Time Tracking
Arguably the most significant benefit of using open-vehicle shipping is transparency. With real-time tracking mechanisms, you’ll know where your car is at every moment of the journey.
Moreover, if there are delays with the delivery, you’ll get immediate updates. With these features, you’ll have peace of mind, and you can adjust plans beforehand depending on the situation.
6. Low Risk
The last thing you need when shipping your car is for it to arrive with dents or worse. This is why reliable open carrier providers such as National Transport Services prioritize safety. When the vehicle is loaded into the carrier, it will be firmly held using strong straps and other safety equipment.
So, unless when being offloaded, the car will remain fixed in one position for the whole journey. Doing so prevents scratches, dents, and other damage from long-distance driving. In addition, the most reliable auto shipping firms insure your vehicle during shipment, providing you peace of mind.
7. Environmentally Friendly
Beyond a carrier’s cost-efficiency, convenience, and safety, it’s also eco-friendly. Transporting multiple automobiles on one carrier minimizes traffic and carbon emissions. Furthermore, automobile transportation businesses employ fuel-efficient carriers and strategies, significantly reducing their environmental effect.
As such, open automobile shipment reduces carbon impact and securely delivers your vehicle.
Cost of Open-Car Shipping
Shipping costs are key when moving or buying an automobile from another state. Some of the factors that influence open-car shipping costs include:
1. Distance
As you can imagine, the distance you want to ferry your vehicle will significantly affect the cost. Shipping costs rise with distance as the carrier must traverse additional miles, which raises fuel, labor, and other expenses. Therefore, transporting a car cross-country costs more than transporting it locally.
2. Vehicle Size and Weight
Another critical cost factor when transporting cars is the size and weight. This is especially so if the distance needed to be covered is long.
Larger and heavier vehicles take more room on the carrier and may require specialized equipment to load and unload, increasing transportation expenses of open carrier car shipping. On the other hand, compact cars cost less to freight than SUVs and trucks.
3. Transport Type
Depending on your preference, the vehicle can be picked up from your place and delivered to the final destination. Alternatively, it can be picked up at a terminal and delivered at another terminal in the destination city.
With the latter, you’ll have to deliver the vehicle to the terminal at the point of origin, pick it up at the destination city origin, and deliver it to the final destination. This method will save you some money but also involves more work on your part.
Therefore, if you choose the convenience of door-to-door delivery and pickup, you’ll incur higher expenses.
4. Pickup and Delivery Locations
Some pickup and delivery locations can be hard to reach because of distance and other factors. If that’s the case, the cost may be higher than the delivery of the same vehicle in an urban metropolitan area.
5. Condition of the Car
Typically, vehicles are driven onto carriers. However, if your car is not in an ideal state, specialized equipment may need to load and unload it. Moreover, it may also require extra care during transit, necessitating customized modifications or features during shipping.
All these features and services will cost extra, increasing the total transportation cost.
6. Insurance Coverage
Regardless of how safe vehicle carriers are compared to other options, there are still risks. Even when working to reduce them, the best car transportation companies protect clients from such threats with insurance.
With insurance, you’ll have the peace of mind that should something happen along the way, you won’t be shouldering the total cost.
3-Steps to Getting a Quote
With National Transport Services, car shipment is made simple with three steps. They are as follows:
1. Book Your Order
Booking your order requires basic information like zip codes, vehicle info, and trailer type are needed. This information will help us choose the best carrier and provide you with an accurate price.
2. Pick up Your Vehicle
After ordering, prepare your car for travel. Wash your car and remove personal stuff. Make sure your car has adequate gas and is in good shape. In addition, check for damage when the carrier picks up your automobile.
3. Deliver Your Vehicle
When your vehicle arrives, you must meet the carrier and pay the remaining transport price. Recheck your car to ensure it’s in the same condition as when you picked it up.
FAQ
What is open-car shipping?
Open car shipping is a transportation service in which vehicles are transported on an open trailer. It is a cost-effective and popular method for shipping vehicles.
How long does it take to ship a car?
The duration it takes to deliver a vehicle depends on the distance between collection and delivery, mode of conveyance, and season. However, most shipments take 1-2 weeks.
Is my vehicle insured during transport?
When transporting your car with an open car carrier, it will be insured. National Transport Services insures vehicles up to $100,000.
How do I prepare my vehicle for transport?
To transport your vehicle, wash it, remove personal things, and identify any damage. You also need to disable car alarms and have a 1⁄4 tank of gas.
Can I track my vehicle during transport?
With National Transport Services, you can track your shipments in real time.
How much does open car shipping cost?
Distance, vehicle size and weight, type of transport, pickup and delivery locations, season and timing, vehicle condition, and insurance coverage affect open automobile transportation costs.
Do you offer any discounts or promotions?
Yes, National Transport Services has a referral program that pays $25 for each car booked. Military and elder discounts are available seasonally.
