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The Ideal Time To Ship A Car To Jacksonville, FL

Written by Mike Rupers on . Posted in Auto Transport Quote Calculator, Auto Transport Tips, Best Seasons To Ship A Car Advice, Car Shipping Advice, Car Shipping Quotes Calculator, Car Shipping Service, Seasonal Fluctuations, Vehicle Shipping Cost.

The Ideal Time To Ship A Car To Jacksonville, FL

Get Your Car Shipping Quote!

photo of Nightime Downtown Jacksonville FL skyline ship a car

The Ideal Time To Ship A Car To Jacksonville, FL

Get Your Car Shipping Quote!

Related Topic Resources

Seasonality greatly affects Jacksonville car shipping quotes, overall cost, and level of service. When is the ideal time to ship a car to Jacksonville, FL? Depending on the season, your approach to shipping your vehicle to Jacksonville should change.

We include in this blog tried and true tips and strategies that will help you have a successful experience. We know when best to ship a car to Jacksonville, FL in all four seasons.

OUR METHODOLOGY:

Direct Express Auto Transport has over twenty years of experience shipping cars to Jacksonville, Florida. We track daily the number of single-vehicle Sedans, SUVs, Pickup Trucks, and Vans system-wide that are available to ship on a popular auto transport load board. 

We omit in our study multiple vehicle orders, those that are anywhere from 2 to 10 vehicles on the car transport trailer because we are better able to assess market volume changes. The numbers tell a story and we share the past year in this blog. 

Key Takeaways: 

  • Car shipping to Jacksonville is affected by the seasons.
  • The highest vehicle shipping cost to Jacksonville is around the Christmas and New Year holidays during the snowbird Winter season.
  • The cheapest auto transport quotes to Jacksonville happen just four months later in the Spring season.
  • The late Summer season collides with college student auto shipping, and for a while, costs rise.
  • The Autumn season is an ideal time to ship your car to Jacksonville.

In This Blog Article:

Ship A Car To Jacksonville, FL In The Winter Season

Shipping a car to Jacksonville in the winter season is extremely difficult. Specifically, over the Christmas and New Year’s Day holidays. 

When we talk about seasonality in the vehicle transport industry, late December and early January are the big reasons. No other time is as hectic and stressful as that period. 

Here is what typically happens to the sheer number of vehicles shipping to Florida on any given day in the Winter Season from December to February. It is often called Snowbird season as well.

Do Not Book A Vehicle Shipment To Jacksonville Too Soon

The auto shipping industry is not first come, first served. Once Christmas arrives, the vehicle shipping cost rises incrementally almost daily for four weeks. If a customer booked too early, he will likely have too low a price when the time comes to ship his car. He will have to wait.

The carriers are not concerned with when any particular order was booked. They are only concerned with maximizing their profit, as anyone would be. The carriers quite naturally choose to haul the highest-paying vehicles available. For them, it is a feeding frenzy.

The car shipping carriers have a dilemma to contend with once in Jacksonville. There is very little freight leaving Jacksonville. Because there are so many competing car transport carriers swarming to Jacksonville, and elsewhere in Florida, in late December and all of January, chances are high that a carrier returns home with a half-empty trailer. That means he must make money on the trip to Jacksonville. He doesn’t have the luxury of transporting cheap orders. 

Book Your Car Shipment Order To Jacksonville About One Week Prior

A good rule of thumb is to book your vehicle shipment to Jacksonville about 7 days before availability. The overwhelming majority of auto transport carriers will not commit to picking up a car shipment more than three days in advance of the vehicle availability. 

So why book much earlier than that? It is almost always best to have current vehicle transport market pricing. If it’s high, then there’s no way around it, you will likely pay more. Because otherwise your car won’t ship and others will.

The Best Time To Ship A Car To Jacksonville, FL In The Winter

If at all possible, you should avoid the last two weeks of December and the first two weeks of January. It is hectic for everybody. Just look at the chart and see how the number of vehicles available to ship skyrockets fourfold around the holidays. It is more than the car transportation system can handle. 

During the Christmas and New Year’s Day holidays, the vehicle transport carriers and brokers, and most of all – the customers, are stressed.

Winter Season Auto Transport To Florida Avg. Daily Single Vehicles Avail. To FL Ratio Of Vehicles Shipping To/From FL Comments About Winter Season Car Shipping To Florida
1st Week of December 3288 1.3:1 Thanksgiving causes a mini-backlog
2nd Week of December 2056 1.6:1 Early December mirrors November volume
3rd Week of December 3306 1.5:1 The snowbird rush to FL begins in earnest
4th Week of December 4085 1.8:1 Carriers want to be home for Xmas too
1st Week of January 6785 2.1:1 And New Year’s … busiest week of the year
2nd Week of January 5400 2.2:1 Highest priced orders ship first
3rd Week of January 3770 1.6:1 2nd highest priced orders ship next
4th Week of January 3417 1.6:1 Eventually all the snowbirds ship a vehicle
1st Week of February 2153 1.3:1 It took a month for a return to normalcy
2nd Week of February 2311 1:1 February is so calm compared to January
3rd Week of February 1711 1:1 Crickets … nothing but crickets
4th Week of February 1627 1:1.3 Late February is a very good time to ship
End of February / Begin March 1791 1:1.5 An ideal time to ship a car to Florida

Ship A Car To Jacksonville, FL In The Spring Season

When the Jacksonville snowbirds return home in the Spring season, starting in late April, throughout all of May, and into early June, the above scenario works in reverse. 

The Spring Season is a fantastic time to ship a car to Jacksonville, Florida. There are far more vehicles leaving Jacksonville than are arriving. The tilted ratio effect of that pushes car shipping quotes down, while at the same time speeding up the timeframes for delivery. It is the best possible scenario imaginable if you are shipping a car to Jacksonville, FL.

Why May Is The Cheapest Time Of Year To Ship A Car To Jacksonville

And then there is May, which is ridiculously advantageous for shipping a vehicle to Florida. The cheapest Vehicle Transport pricing of the year to Jacksonville occurs in May. Why is that, you ask? In May, there are tens of thousands of snowbirds (retirees, college students, and many others) who hibernated in Jacksonville for the winter and are returning home to the north. With so many leaving Jacksonville, and so few coming, the reverse route to Jacksonville becomes incredibly cheap. Enjoy it while you can. 

In May, auto shipping quotes from Jacksonville usually skyrocket as demand for car transport carrier space is very high. Available carrier space is in short supply. The inverse is true. There is an overabundance of auto transport carrier space available to Jacksonville, which drives down the price. Therefore, May is the cheapest time of year to ship a car to Jacksonville.

Spring Season Auto Transport To Florida Avg. Daily Single Vehicles Avail. To FL Ratio Of Vehicles Shipping To/From FL Comments About Spring Season Car Shipping To Florida
1st Week of March 3593 1:1.3 March is generally calm
2nd Week of March 3708 1:1.4 Normal low activity in March to FL
3rd Week of March 3102 1:1.6 A great time to ship to Florida
4th Week of March 2226 1:2 Snowbirds leaving
1st Week of April 2716 1:2 Snowbirds leaving Florida
2nd Week of April 2228 1:2.5 The best time to ship a car to Florida
3rd Week of April 1950 1:3 Cheap car shipping period to Florida
4th Week of April 2659 1:2.7 Snowbirds leaving is great for the reverse
1st Week of May 3230 1:2.9 May is ideal for shipping to FL
2nd Week of May 2181 1:4.3 Vehicles ship to Florida quickly because …
3rd Week of May 2262 1:3.7 There are fourfold cars leaving Florida
4th Week of May 1886 1:3.4 May is cheapest month to ship to Florida
End of May / Begin June 3166 1:2.1 Memorial Day

Should You Ship A Car To Jacksonville, FL In The Summer Season?

Auto transport to Jacksonville, FL in the Summer Season is busier than the Spring or Autumn seasons, but not nearly as hectic as the Winter season. Vehicle Transport quotes are fairly stable throughout the summer but rise significantly in August. 

The snowbirds have finally returned home by the end of May, with a few stragglers in early June. 

Like the rest of the country in the Summer Season, auto shipping traffic tends to be families and individuals relocating from and to other states. There are more vehicle shipments than in the slower months of February, March, and April. And considerably more than September, October, and November. 

Avoid Shipping A Car To Jacksonville, FL Around The 4th of July

Car transport carrier drivers enjoy being home as much as you do for the 4th of July festivities. The hometown parade. The barbecue with family and friends. A mid-summer rest with the people you love. 

That means fewer vehicles are getting shipped right in the middle of the busy Summer Season. Orders get backlogged. When the carriers get back to work in early July, they transport to Jacksonville the highest-paying freight first with no regard to how long a customer has been waiting. For about two weeks thereafter, many customers find it both more expensive and frustrating.

The thing to do, and here is your tip, is to avoid vehicle shipping to Jacksonville the last week of June and the first two weeks of July. That is not a good time to ship a car.

College Students Create A Spike In Car Shipping Every August

There is a very discernible automobile shipping spike every year in the late Summer Season. Florida has many popular universities and colleges that attract students from all over America. For many, it is an ideal place to go to college. 

Those Florida colleges on the semester system create a mid-August boost in auto transport to Jacksonville that lasts until the end of the month. Of the nearly 800,000 Florida college students, roughly 17% are from out-of-state, which means tens of thousands suddenly require vehicle shipping services. 

Summer Season Auto Transport To Florida Avg. Daily Single Vehicles Avail. To FL Ratio Of Vehicles Shipping To/From FL Comments About Summer Season Car Shipping To Florida
1st Week of June 3228 1:1.9 Snowbird season FROM FL continues
2nd Week of June 2973 1:1.6 Early June is ideal car shipping TO FL
3rd Week of June 2483 1:1.5 It is cheap auto transport to Florida
4th Week of June 2834 1:1.2 A transition starts to happen in Florida
1st Week of July 2440 1:1.3 The 4th of July creates a mini backlog
2nd Week of July 3328 1:1.1 A week of parity shipping TO and FRO
3rd Week of July 2331 1.3:1 Suddenly it is more costly car shipping to FL
4th Week of July 2075 1.2:1 But only slightly more expensive TO Florida
1st Week of August 3287 1.4:1 August is not a good month shipping TO FL
2nd Week of August 3419 2.1:1 College kids shipping cars to Florida
3rd Week of August 3062 2.1:1 Families relocating to Florida before school
4th Week of August 2901 2.1:1 A horrible time to ship a car to Florida
End of August / Begin September 2610 2:1 Because more than twice the vehicles are shipping TO Florida than FROM Florida

Car Shipping Timeframes To Jacksonville, FL In The Autumn Season

Vehicle shipping to Jacksonville in the Autumn Season is easy. It is considered a slow time of year in the car shipping industry. Automobile shipping costs remain stable and affordable throughout most of the Fall or Autumn Season. 

Hurricanes and Thanksgiving Create Automobile Shipping Backlogs

The only blips on the screen when it comes to vehicle shipping to Jacksonville in the Autumn Season are hurricanes and Thanksgiving. And both are momentary. 

National weather forecasters can see hurricanes forming in the Caribbean or Gulf of Mexico days in advance. Car transport carriers know how long they have to get out of Florida, and they avoid entirely any route there. They wait it out, which usually takes but a few days, a week at most. 

September and October are the two most susceptible months for hurricanes, but of course, there are exceptions. Hurricanes create a backlog of vehicle shipments to Jacksonville that are usually overcome within a week after the event. 

At the end of November comes Thanksgiving. Like everybody else, Vehicle Transport carriers like to be home for Turkey Day too. Because Thanksgiving is always the fourth Thursday in November, drivers are usually home by the Wednesday before and don’t return to the road until the Monday after Thanksgiving. Essentially a five-day break for many. It takes about a week for the vehicle shipping freight system to recover and return to stable. 

Autumn Season Auto Transport To Florida Avg. Daily Single Vehicles Avail. To FL Ratio Of Vehicles Shipping To/From FL Comments About Autumn Season Car Shipping To Florida
1st Week of September 2302 1.9:1 Extremely high ratio of 2-1 car shipping to FL
2nd Week of September 2295 1.6:1 Shipping to FL is very high cost early Sept
3rd Week of September 3601 1.4:1 Higher than normal throughout September
4th Week of September 4005 1.4:1 The high ratio to FL continues
1st Week of October 2139 1.8:1 Pricing remains high due to the imbalance
2nd Week of October 3254 1.5:1 Car shipping cost to FL is still very high
3rd Week of October 2700 2.7:1 Ratios are way out of whack to Florida
4th Week of October 2568 2.9:1 Car shipping costs to Florida skyrocket
1st Week of November 2622 2.5:1 Pricing remains high due to the imbalance
2nd Week of November 2008 2.1:1 Early November is a bad time to ship to FL
3rd Week of November 1518 1.4:1 mid-November starts to calm down
4th Week of November 2243 1.3:1 Vehicle shipping interrupted by Turkey Day
End of November / Begin December 2422 1.7:1 Thanksgiving causes car shipment backlogs to Florida for a week or more

Bottom Line: The Ideal Time To Ship A Car To Jacksonville, FL

When is the ideal time to ship a car to Jacksonville, FL? Probably the Spring, Summer, and Autumn Seasons. Car shipping quotes tend to be lower and service faster. The Winter Season is far more costly.

As far as car shipping to Jacksonville goes, some seasons are much easier than others. The Winter season is by far the toughest, especially around the auto transport snowbird migration to Jacksonville in late December and January, as shipping costs soar. 

The Spring season is a good time to ship a car to Jacksonville, especially in May when snowbird backhaul prices plummet to Jacksonville. The Summer season is relatively fine. The Autumn season is ideal weather, and car transport quotes tend to be lower than average. 

The Original Car Shipping Quote Calculator To Jacksonville, Florida

Direct Express Auto Transport originated the instant car shipping quote calculator in 2004. It is still the best, most sophisticated, reliable tool available online. We offer three options that we call tiers of car shipping quote estimates to Jacksonville, FL.

The Standard rate is the cheapest car shipping quote. Use the Standard rate if you can be patient. 

The Expedited rate, or tier as we call them, is the most recommended and best auto transport quote. We have countless satisfied Expedited rate customers because the vehicle shipping process tends to go quicker. 

The Rush rate is our highest level of car transport quotes and service, and many customers are glad they went with that method too. If in a hurry, go Rush rate.

Direct Express Auto Transport Changed The Car Shipping Industry

Direct Express Auto Transport started doing business in 2004. We came into the car shipping industry with a novel idea. Before us, no company had an instant quote calculator on their website. It simply did not exist. 

Further, no car shipping company would even provide an auto shipping quote without first knowing the caller’s personal information, such as name, telephone number, email, and physical address. We were astounded by that. So we threw a monkey wrench of sorts into the industry. 

Direct Express Auto Transport installed on our website the car shipping industry’s first instant quote calculator. We did not ask then and do not ask now, for any personal information before giving a quote. 

Top Banner Photo By Rnl2294 – Own work, CC BY-SA 4.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=134272962

Car Transport Cost: FAQ

  • Should You Ship Your Car Open or Enclosed?

    About 97% of all vehicle shipments are shipped on an Open Trailer. It’s proven to be a very safe method with statistically very few problems. You may notice new cars being delivered to dealerships in an open trailer, and that’s because it’s safe. If you have a collector car or really expensive automobile, say around $75,000 or more, then we recommend shipping it in an Enclosed Trailer. Expect to pay about 33-50% more for an Enclosed transport. Our auto shipping costs calculator automatically adds the extra enclosed car transport estimate to your quote, so you can experiment with the quotes if you like.

  • How Long Will It Take To Pick Up My Vehicle?

    Over 90% of our orders ship inside of one week. That could be anywhere from 1 to 7 days. Most of the U.S. population lives in a major metropolitan area and is shipping to another well populated area, and that makes a big difference. Cars usually ship in a very regular manner, almost half within just a few days.

    If either your origination or destination locations are away from population centers, in other words, in a remote area, then you might consider meeting a driver in a nearby big city or town to increase your chances of shipping timely. Or adding money to the carrier fee may entice a carrier. Remember, anyone you choose can serve as your point of contact, which takes the stress out of shipping your vehicle.

  • How Do I Prepare My Vehicle For Shipment?

    Clean out your vehicle of all loose items as much as possible. Leave nothing of value in the vehicle. It’s very rare that any items are stolen during transport, but we recommend extra caution to prevent loss.

    Keep extra items as previously discussed to a minimum and place in the trunk or out of sight. Have only about a quarter tank of gasoline. Give the auto transport carrier a set of keys and advise them of any special instructions for your vehicle, like difficulty starting, steering, braking, etc.

    Driver Consideration: Being a truck driver can be a thankless job. They work long hours and are away from their families for weeks at a time. Please be friendly and considerate to our drivers, and they will treat you in the same manner.

  • How Are Car Shipping Quotes Calculated?

    The first factor used to calculate car shipping cost is the transport distance. Next are the length, height and weight of the vehicle, followed by running condition and type of trailer (Open or Enclosed). Finally, seasonal fluctuations may impact the overall cost.

  • Non-Running Vehicles Cost More

    Maneuvering non-operational vehicles on and off a car transport trailer is a big challenge. Car shipping companies much prefer operational (running) vehicles because it gives them an easier option to reposition their entire load. Non-running vehicles take considerably more time to get on and off the trailer. So the car shipping quote must reflect the higher cost. Many auto transporters don’t have a winch and cannot accommodate non-running vehicles. That is one reason it takes longer on average to ship non-operational vehicles. Fewer do it. If at all possible, fixing your vehicle before trying to ship it will save on the non-running car transport cost, and make the process go faster.

  • How Long Does It Take To Deliver My Vehicle?

    Delivering is final step in the process, and also the simplest part. Once your vehicle has been assigned and picked up, not too much can go wrong. Once the vehicle is picked up, you can estimate that it will take roughly 1 day of transit time for every 500 miles distance. Delivery Time Estimate Guide 100-500 miles takes 1 or 2 days 500-1000 miles takes 2 or 3 days 1000-1500 miles takes 3 or 4 days 1500-2000 miles takes 4 or 5 days 2000-2500 miles takes 5 or 6 days 2500-3000 miles takes 6 or 7 days Depending on the distance, weather conditions and population centers it could be a few days or weeks until a vehicle reaches its destination. The carriers usually estimate about 10 days on coast to coast trips, but they frequently arrive earlier.

  • Can I Put Stuff In My Car When I Ship It?

    Yes and no. The strict interpretation is no, you can’t ship items inside your vehicle. The reality is that almost all carriers look the other way on items that weigh less than 100 pounds, roughly the equivalent of 2 suitcases. We recommend placing any additional items in the trunk and out of sight. The U.S. Transportation Law states that a carrier can be fined $10,000 for hauling household items in the vehicle, but it’s rarely enforced. However, the drivers do estimate the weight of each vehicle that they carry and don’t want problems at weight scales. So they must keep the personal items to a minimum. Some drivers will accept a tip ($50-$250) for hauling extra stuff, but some won’t. Rule of thumb, don’t take advantage.

Related Articles

  • Open vs Enclosed Car Transport Service

    Read more

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photo of Downtown_Austin,_Texas_ ship a vehicle

When To Ship A Vehicle To Austin, TX

Written by Mike Rupers on . Posted in Auto Transport Logistics, Auto Transport Quote Calculator, Auto Transport Tips, Best Seasons To Ship A Car Advice, Car Shipping Advice, Car Shipping Service, Seasonal Fluctuations, Vehicle Shipping Cost.

When To Ship A Vehicle To Austin, TX

Get Your Car Shipping Quote!

photo of Downtown_Austin,_Texas_ ship a vehicle

When To Ship A Vehicle To Austin, TX

Get Your Car Shipping Quote!

Related Topic Resources

The change in seasons affects Austin car shipping quotes, carrier fees, and timeframes. When is it most ideal to ship a vehicle to Austin? Depending on the season, your approach to transporting a car to Austin should also change.

We include in this blog, great advice on what you should do to have a successful experience. We have learned the ideal time to ship a car to Austin, Texas in all the seasons and share our wisdom with you here in this article.

OUR RESEARCH METHODOLOGY:

Direct Express Auto Transport has over 20 years of expert experience in car shipping to Austin, Texas. For many years, we have logged the number of single-vehicle Sedans, SUVs, Pickup Trucks, and Vans system-wide (not just our orders) that are available to ship on the most widely used auto transport load board. 

To make it more informative in our study, we do not include multiple vehicle orders, which are anywhere from 2 to 10 vehicles on a vehicle transport trailer, because we are better able to assess market volume changes. Direct Express Auto Transport has been doing this kind of market analysis for the better part of twenty years. Our saved data is exhaustive and reveals a story of what to expect when you ship a vehicle to Austin, TX.

Key Takeaways: 

  • Car shipping to Austin is affected by the seasons.
  • The highest vehicle shipping cost to Austin is around the Christmas and New Year holidays during the Winter season.
  • The cheapest auto transport quotes to Austin are in the Autumn season, particularly in November and early December.
  • The car shipping cost to Austin is elevated, higher than most routes, for the Winter, Spring, and Summer seasons.
  • Year-round, vehicle shipping to Austin normally costs more than the reverse.

In This Blog Article:

Ship A Vehicle To Austin, TX In The Spring Season

In the Spring Season, the volume of orders to Austin is higher than normal. The Spring Season in Texas is nothing like the Spring Season in Florida. The ratios stay elevated car shipping to Austin, TX throughout the Spring. It is close to 2 to 1 the entire season.

The Toughest Time Of Year To Ship A Car To Austin

Other than the New Year’s holiday, the most prolonged and toughest time of year for auto transport pricing to Austin, Texas occurs in the Spring and Summer Seasons. 

With so many vehicles shipping to Austin, and so few leaving, the reverse route from Austin, TX becomes incredibly cheap. Enjoy it while you can. 

Do Not Book A Car Shipment To Austin Too Early

In the auto transport industry, as far as the carriers are concerned, it does not matter to them when an order is booked. In other words, it is not first come … first served. So nobody has reserved a spot, a space, on a transport trailer simply by booking their order weeks or even months in advance. 

What matters to vehicle transport carriers are their profits. To that end, they choose orders, which they call loads, that are the highest paying, or logistically make the most sense with an eye always on the bottom line. The carriers seek to maximize their profit, like everybody else.

Do not book an automobile shipment to Austin, TX too early. You might be priced too low, in which case, your car will likely be rejected by the carriers and won’t ship. Or if it does ship, it will be the last to do so, and probably far later than you had hoped. 

Conversely, booking too early might also mean you unwittingly committed to a higher-than-necessary price to ship your car in a timely fashion. The high price might have been the market rate at the time of booking, but in the interim, auto shipping rates may have come down and you won’t enjoy the savings. 

It is always best to have the current market pricing, which guards against both too low and too high a transport price. 

Book Your Car Shipment To Austin About One Week Before Availability

Direct Express Auto Transport has been in the car shipping industry for a long time. Over twenty years. We say a good rule of thumb is to book your car shipment to Austin, TX about 7 days before availability. 

Most auto transport carriers will not commit to a vehicle shipment more than three days in advance of availability. What has anyone gained, therefore, from booking weeks in advance? The answer is nothing, of course. 

So why book much earlier than one week before availability?

Spring Season Auto Transport To Texas Avg. Daily Single Vehicles Avail. To TX Ratio Of Vehicles Shipping To/From TX Comments About Spring Season Car Shipping To Texas
1st Week of March 3289 1.6:1 The ratio is nearly 2-1 cars shipping to TX
2nd Week of March 3730 1.6:1 It stays that way for several weeks
3rd Week of March 3339 1.6:1 College Spring Break in Texas
4th Week of March 4212 1.9:1 Spring Break to Texas creates demand
1st Week of April 4462 1.8:1 More Spring Break shipments
2nd Week of April 4117 1.9:1 The 2-1 ratio to TX elevates quote prices
3rd Week of April 3914 1.8:1 It is more expensive car shipping to TX …
4th Week of April 4213 1.7:1 Than shipping from Texas in the Spring
1st Week of May 4027 1.9:1 Car shipping is nearly twice as costly to TX
2nd Week of May 4193 1.5:1 There is not much let up in May
3rd Week of May 4513 1.3:1 There is also a spike in cars leaving TX
4th Week of May 4086 1.4:1 But there are still more coming than leaving
End of May / Begin June 4254 1.4:1 Memorial Day creates more backlog

Auto Transport To Austin, TX In The Summer Season

Auto transport prices to Austin in the Summer Season are just as busy as in the Spring. The auto-shipping ratio of vehicles available to ship to Austin, TX is still much higher. Which keeps vehicle shipping costs higher. 

The month of August becomes extremely busy shipping to Austin, as both the timeframe and cost rise significantly. If at all possible, avoid auto transport to Austin, TX in August. 

Conversely, you will win in August shipping from Austin.

Avoid Shipping A Vehicle To Austin, TX Around The 4th of July

Car transport carrier drivers enjoy being home as much as you do for the 4th of July festivities. The hometown parade. The barbecue with family and friends. A mid-summer rest with the people you love. 

That means fewer vehicles are getting shipped right in the middle of the busy Summer Season. Orders get backlogged. When the carriers get back to work in early July, they transport to Austin, TX the highest-paying freight first with no regard to how long a customer has been waiting. For about two weeks thereafter, many customers find it both more expensive and frustrating.

The thing to do, and here is your tip, is to avoid vehicle shipping to Austin the last week of June and the first two weeks of July. That is not a good time to ship a car.

College Students Create A Spike In Car Shipping Every August

There is a very discernible car shipping spike every year in the late Summer Season. Texas has many popular universities and colleges that attract students from all over America. For many, it is an ideal place to go to college. 

Texas colleges on the semester system create a mid-August boost in auto transport to Austin that lasts until the end of the month.

Summer Season Auto Transport To Texas Avg. Daily Single Vehicles Avail. To TX Ratio Of Vehicles Shipping To/From TX Comments About Summer Season Car Shipping To Texas
1st Week of June 4296 1.4:1 Summer is a busy time shipping to Texas
2nd Week of June 3384 1.4:1 Pricing stays stable & high in May, June, July
3rd Week of June 3629 1.3:1 It is much cheaper shipping FROM Texas
4th Week of June 3676 1.4:1 Because more are shipping cars to Texas …
1st Week of July 3193 1.5:1 Auto transport quotes remain higher to TX
2nd Week of July 3091 1.5:1 The 4th of July holiday created more pressure
3rd Week of July 2630 1.4:1 No break in pricing shipping to Texas
4th Week of July 2389 1.7:1 The imbalance shipping to TX gets worse
1st Week of August 3408 2:1 There are twice the cars shipping to TX
2nd Week of August 3751 1.9:1 College kids shipping cars to Texas
3rd Week of August 3378 2.2:1 Families relocating to Texas before school
4th Week of August 3402 2.4:1 A horrible time to ship a car to Texas
End of August / Begin September 3164 2.2:1 Because more than twice the vehicles are shipping TO Texas than FROM Texas

Ship A Car To Austin, TX In The Autumn Season

Vehicle shipping to Austin in the Autumn Season is easy. It is considered a slower time of year in the car shipping industry. Auto transport costs remain stable and more affordable throughout most of the Autumn Season. It is the cheapest and most ideal time of year to ship your car to Austin, TX. 

Hurricanes & Thanksgiving Can Cause Car Shipping Delays

National weather forecasters can see hurricanes forming in the Gulf of Mexico days in advance. Car transport carriers know how long they have to get out of Texas, and they avoid entirely any route there. They wait it out, which usually takes but a few days, a week at most. Those of us in the auto transport industry can tell you that climate change is real. 

September and October are the two most susceptible months for hurricanes, but of course, there are exceptions. Hurricanes create a backlog of vehicle shipments to Austin, TX that are usually overcome within a week after the event. 

At the end of November comes Thanksgiving. Like everybody else, auto transport carriers like to be home for Turkey Day too. 

Because Thanksgiving is always the fourth Thursday in November, drivers are usually home by the Wednesday before and don’t return to the road until the Monday after Thanksgiving. Essentially a five-day break for many. It takes about a week for the vehicle shipping freight system to recover and return to normal. 

Autumn Season Auto Transport To Texas Avg. Daily Single Vehicles Avail. To TX Ratio Of Vehicles Shipping To/From TX Comments About Autumn Season Car Shipping To Texas
1st Week of September 3165 2:1 Extremely high ratio of 2-1 car shipping to TX
2nd Week of September 2720 2.3:1 Shipping to TX is very high cost early Sept
3rd Week of September 2308 2:1 Higher than normal throughout September
4th Week of September 2260 1.7:1 The almost 2-1 ratio to Texas continues
1st Week of October 1817 1.8:1 Pricing remains high due to the imbalance
2nd Week of October 2372 1.4:1 Ratios are a big deal to car shipping quotes
3rd Week of October 2294 1.3:1 Car Shipping Quotes start to come down
4th Week of October 2593 1.2:1 There is almost parity in the market
1st Week of November 2461 1:1 Best time to ship a car to Texas is now
2nd Week of November 1893 1:1 Early November is a great time to ship a car
3rd Week of November 1565 1.2:1 November is okay for car shipping to Texas
4th Week of November 2514 1.1:1 Vehicle shipping interrupted by Turkey Day
End of November / Begin December 2832 1.1:1 Thanksgiving causes a minor backlog

Ship A Vehicle To Austin, TX In The Winter Season

When we talk about seasonality in the vehicle transport industry, late December and early January are the big reasons. It becomes hectic, expensive, and stressful during that period shipping a car to Austin, TX.

When Is The Ideal Time To Ship A Vehicle To Austin, TX In The Winter?

If at all possible, you should avoid shipping a car to Austin, TX in the last week of December and the first two weeks of January.

During the Christmas and New Year’s Day holidays, the auto transport carriers and brokers, and most of all the customers, are stressed.

But not all customers understand the auto transport industry, and why the order they placed weeks ago might still be waiting to ship.

Winter Season Auto Transport To Texas Avg. Daily Single Vehicles Avail. To TX Ratio Of Vehicles Shipping To/From TX Comments About Winter Season Car Shipping To Texas
1st Week of December 1890 1.1:1 The lull from November continues
2nd Week of December 1883 1.1:1 Early December is ideal to ship a car
3rd Week of December 2679 1.4:1 The snowbird rush to TX begins in earnest
4th Week of December 4189 1.2:1 Carriers want to be home for Xmas too
1st Week of January 4822 1.1:1 The busiest week of the year is New Year’s
2nd Week of January 3234 1.2:1 Highest priced orders ship first
3rd Week of January 3071 1.3:1 2nd highest priced orders ship next
4th Week of January 2232 1.3:1 The number winnows down
1st Week of February 1923 1.4:1 A period of stability takes over
2nd Week of February 2411 1.5:1 Car transport prices remain elevated …
3rd Week of February 2357 1.4:1 Because there are more car shipping to TX
4th Week of February 2946 1:4.1 It stays that way until October
End of February / Begin March 2901 1.8:1 Twice as many vehicles are shipping to TX

Bottom Line: When To Ship A Vehicle To Austin, TX

When is the ideal time to ship a car to Austin, TX? Probably only in November, and early December. The Winter, all of Spring, and as well the Summer months, are far more expensive shipping to Austin. Which makes the reverse route in each season the exact opposite. 

The Winter season is by far the toughest for car shipping to Austin, especially around the auto transport snowbird migration in late December and January, as shipping costs soar. 

The Autumn season is ideal weather, and car transport quotes tend to be lower than average. 

The Original Car Shipping Quote Calculator To Austin, Texas

Direct Express Auto Transport originated the instant car shipping quote calculator in 2004. It is still the best, most sophisticated, reliable tool available online. We offer three options that we call tiers of car shipping quote estimates to Austin, TX.

The Standard rate is the cheapest car shipping quote. Use the Standard rate if you can be patient. 

The Expedited rate, or tier as we call them, is the most recommended and best auto transport quote. We have countless satisfied Expedited rate customers because the vehicle shipping process tends to go quicker. 

The Rush rate is our highest level of car transport quotes and service, and many customers are glad they went with that method too. If in a hurry, go Rush rate.

Direct Express Auto Transport Changed The Car Shipping Industry

Direct Express Auto Transport started doing business in 2004. We came into the car shipping industry with a novel idea. Before us, no company had an instant quote calculator on their website. It simply did not exist. 

Further, no car shipping company would even provide an auto shipping quote without first knowing the caller’s personal information, such as name, telephone number, email, and physical address. We were astounded by that. So we threw a monkey wrench of sorts into the industry. 

Direct Express Auto Transport installed on our website the car shipping industry’s first instant quote calculator. We did not ask then and do not ask now, for any personal information before giving a quote. 

Top Banner Photo By Ryan Friesen – Downtown Austin, Texas from across the Colorado River, October 2022, CC BY-SA 4.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=133926838

Car Transport Cost: FAQ

  • Should You Ship Your Car Open or Enclosed?

    About 97% of all vehicle shipments are shipped on an Open Trailer. It’s proven to be a very safe method with statistically very few problems. You may notice new cars being delivered to dealerships in an open trailer, and that’s because it’s safe. If you have a collector car or really expensive automobile, say around $75,000 or more, then we recommend shipping it in an Enclosed Trailer. Expect to pay about 33-50% more for an Enclosed transport. Our auto shipping costs calculator automatically adds the extra enclosed car transport estimate to your quote, so you can experiment with the quotes if you like.

  • How Long Will It Take To Pick Up My Vehicle?

    Over 90% of our orders ship inside of one week. That could be anywhere from 1 to 7 days. Most of the U.S. population lives in a major metropolitan area and is shipping to another well populated area, and that makes a big difference. Cars usually ship in a very regular manner, almost half within just a few days.

    If either your origination or destination locations are away from population centers, in other words, in a remote area, then you might consider meeting a driver in a nearby big city or town to increase your chances of shipping timely. Or adding money to the carrier fee may entice a carrier. Remember, anyone you choose can serve as your point of contact, which takes the stress out of shipping your vehicle.

  • How Do I Prepare My Vehicle For Shipment?

    Clean out your vehicle of all loose items as much as possible. Leave nothing of value in the vehicle. It’s very rare that any items are stolen during transport, but we recommend extra caution to prevent loss.

    Keep extra items as previously discussed to a minimum and place in the trunk or out of sight. Have only about a quarter tank of gasoline. Give the auto transport carrier a set of keys and advise them of any special instructions for your vehicle, like difficulty starting, steering, braking, etc.

    Driver Consideration: Being a truck driver can be a thankless job. They work long hours and are away from their families for weeks at a time. Please be friendly and considerate to our drivers, and they will treat you in the same manner.

  • How Are Car Shipping Quotes Calculated?

    The first factor used to calculate car shipping cost is the transport distance. Next are the length, height and weight of the vehicle, followed by running condition and type of trailer (Open or Enclosed). Finally, seasonal fluctuations may impact the overall cost.

  • Non-Running Vehicles Cost More

    Maneuvering non-operational vehicles on and off a car transport trailer is a big challenge. Car shipping companies much prefer operational (running) vehicles because it gives them an easier option to reposition their entire load. Non-running vehicles take considerably more time to get on and off the trailer. So the car shipping quote must reflect the higher cost. Many auto transporters don’t have a winch and cannot accommodate non-running vehicles. That is one reason it takes longer on average to ship non-operational vehicles. Fewer do it. If at all possible, fixing your vehicle before trying to ship it will save on the non-running car transport cost, and make the process go faster.

  • How Long Does It Take To Deliver My Vehicle?

    Delivering is final step in the process, and also the simplest part. Once your vehicle has been assigned and picked up, not too much can go wrong. Once the vehicle is picked up, you can estimate that it will take roughly 1 day of transit time for every 500 miles distance. Delivery Time Estimate Guide 100-500 miles takes 1 or 2 days 500-1000 miles takes 2 or 3 days 1000-1500 miles takes 3 or 4 days 1500-2000 miles takes 4 or 5 days 2000-2500 miles takes 5 or 6 days 2500-3000 miles takes 6 or 7 days Depending on the distance, weather conditions and population centers it could be a few days or weeks until a vehicle reaches its destination. The carriers usually estimate about 10 days on coast to coast trips, but they frequently arrive earlier.

  • Can I Put Stuff In My Car When I Ship It?

    Yes and no. The strict interpretation is no, you can’t ship items inside your vehicle. The reality is that almost all carriers look the other way on items that weigh less than 100 pounds, roughly the equivalent of 2 suitcases. We recommend placing any additional items in the trunk and out of sight. The U.S. Transportation Law states that a carrier can be fined $10,000 for hauling household items in the vehicle, but it’s rarely enforced. However, the drivers do estimate the weight of each vehicle that they carry and don’t want problems at weight scales. So they must keep the personal items to a minimum. Some drivers will accept a tip ($50-$250) for hauling extra stuff, but some won’t. Rule of thumb, don’t take advantage.

Related Articles

  • Open vs Enclosed Car Transport Service

    Read more

Continue reading

photo of sunset cliffs San Diego ship a car

The Best Time To Ship A Car To San Diego

Written by Mike Rupers on . Posted in Auto Transport Quote Calculator, Auto Transport Services, Auto Transport Tips, Best Seasons To Ship A Car Advice, Car Shipping Advice, Car Transport Service, Rush Tier Car Shipping, Seasonal Fluctuations.

The Best Time To Ship A Car To San Diego

Get Your Car Shipping Quote!

photo of sunset cliffs San Diego ship a car

When To Ship A Car To CITY/STATE

Get Your Car Shipping Quote!

Related Topic Resources

Seasonality affects San Diego car shipping quotes, total cost, and service. When is the best time to ship a car to San Diego? When to avoid it? Depending on the season, your approach to shipping a vehicle to San Diego should change.

We include in this blog, savvy tips and strategies that will help you have a successful experience. We have learned the best time to ship a car to San Diego, California in all four seasons and share that with you here in this article.

OUR METHODOLOGY:

Direct Express Auto Transport has over twenty years of expertise in car shipping to San Diego, California. Every day, we log the number of single-vehicle Sedans, SUVs, Pickup Trucks, and Vans system-wide (not just our orders) that are available to ship on the most widely used car transport load board. 

To compare apples to apples, in our research, we do not include multiple vehicle orders, which are anywhere from 2 to 10 vehicles on a car transport trailer, because we are better able to assess market volume changes. Direct Express Auto Transport has been doing this kind of market analysis for the better part of twenty years. The data is rich and tells a story of car shipping to San Diego, CA.

Key Takeaways: 

  • Car shipping to San Diego is affected greatly by the seasons.
  • The highest vehicle shipping cost to San Diego is during the Christmas & New Year’s holidays, and the Autumn Season months of October and early November.
  • The cheapest auto transport quotes to San Diego are from May through August. The Summer Season.
  • Conversely, the most expensive car shipping quotes from San Diego are also from May through August. The Summer Season.
  • The late Winter Season and early Spring reach a level of pricing parity and are an ideal time to ship a car to San Diego.

In This Blog Article:

Ship A Car To San Diego, CA In The Autumn Season

Almost year round more vehicles are being shipped from San Diego than to it. Rarely is it the opposite. That reverses, however, in the Autumn Season when there are significantly more cars being shipped to San Diego, which drives up the car shipping rates to San Diego. 

It would be a good idea to steer clear of shipping a car to San Diego in the months of October and November if your goal is to save money. 

A Tough Time Of Year To Ship Your Car To San Diego

Other than the New Year’s holiday, the most prolonged and toughest time of year for vehicle transport pricing to San Diego, California occurs in the Autumn Season. 

In Autumn, more vehicles are shipping to San Diego, and fewer leaving. October and November are the only two months in the year when it is harder and more expensive to ship a car to San Diego.

Automobile Transport Delays To San Diego During Thanksgiving

Toward the end of November comes Thanksgiving. Many vehicle transport drivers manipulate their route schedules to make it home for Thanksgiving. 

Thanksgiving falls every year on the fourth Thursday in November, and drivers are usually home by Tuesday or Wednesday before. They don’t get back on the road until usually the Monday after Thanksgiving. That provides a five-day break.

Autumn Season Auto Transport To California Avg. Daily Single Vehicles Avail. To CA Ratio Of Vehicles Shipping To/From CA Comments About Autumn Season Car Shipping To California
1st Week of September 1938 1:1.4 The last of the summer exodus from CA
2nd Week of September 1984 1:1.1 Business returns to near calm & parity
3rd Week of September 1605 1:1 September slowness
4th Week of September 1748 1:1.1 And it stays that way though November
1st Week of October 1590 1.4:1 The only time all year there are far …
2nd Week of October 1530 1.4:1 … more cars shipping to Los Angeles
3rd Week of October 1674 1.4:1 October and November are the only …
4th Week of October 1815 1.5:1 … months that happens
1st Week of November 1762 1.3:1 So avoid shipping your car to Los Angeles
2nd Week of November 1592 1.2:1 … in October and early November
3rd Week of November 1256 1:1.1 Auto transport quotes are lower in late …
4th Week of November 1557 1:1.1 … November and early December
End of November / Begin December 1476 1:1 A better time to ship a car to Los Angeles

Vehicle Shipping To San Diego In The Winter Season

When we talk about the effect of seasonality on the auto transport industry, it is late December and early January that we most allude. It is chaotic, costly, and stressful during the holidays to ship a car to San Diego. 

Once Christmas arrives, the vehicle shipping cost rises incrementally almost daily for four weeks. If a customer booked too early, he will likely have too low a price when the time comes to ship his car. He will have to wait. Or add money to rectify the dilemma. 

When Is The Best Time To Ship A Car To San Diego In The Winter?

If at all possible, you should avoid the last two weeks of December and the first three weeks of January. It is chaotic for brokers, carriers, and customers alike.

Other than the holiday blip, the Winter Season tends to be relatively tame when it comes to shipping a car to San Diego. The same applies when transporting a vehicle from San Diego in the Winter as well.

Winter Season Auto Transport To California Avg. Daily Single Vehicles Avail. To CA Ratio Of Vehicles Shipping To/From CA Comments About Winter Season Car Shipping To California
1st Week of December 1502 1:1 Early December is considered a slow time
2nd Week of December 1652 1:1.2 Still slow
3rd Week of December 1864 1:1 Not much different
4th Week of December 2354 1:1 Christmas time will cause shipping delays
1st Week of January 3094 1:1.1 Orders backlog because of New Years
2nd Week of January 2747 1:1.1 It takes a couple weeks to flush out
3rd Week of January 1928 1:1.1 A slow period starts to emerge
4th Week of January 1709 1:1.2 Post holiday – mid-winter slow
1st Week of February 1607 1:1.2 Pricing remains stable in February
2nd Week of February 1624 1:1.1 Slightly more vehicles leaving CA
3rd Week of February 1463 1:1.2 It has a marginal affect
4th Week of February 1556 1:1.1 The winter slowness continues
End of February / Begin March 1805 1:1.1 And March begins that way

Auto Transport To San Diego In The Spring Season

The early Spring months in March are very manageable for car shipping to or from San Diego. But starting in late April, and throughout all of May, significantly more vehicles are shipping from San Diego than to it. That serves to drive down the auto transport cost to San Diego in the Spring Season. It is a great time to ship a car to San Diego.

Do Not Book A Car Shipment To San Diego Too Early

In the car shipping industry, as far as the carriers are concerned, it does not matter to them when an order is booked. In other words, it is not first come … first served. So nobody has reserved a spot, a space, on a transport trailer simply by booking their order weeks or even months in advance. 

What matters to auto transport carriers are their profits. To that end, they choose orders, which they call loads, that are the highest paying, or logistically make the most sense with an eye always on the bottom line. The carriers seek to maximize their profit, like everybody else.

Do not book a car shipment to San Diego too early. You might be priced too low, in which case, your vehicle will likely be rejected by the carriers and won’t ship. Or if it does ship, it will be the last to do so, and probably far later than you had hoped. 

Conversely, booking too early might also mean you unwittingly committed to a higher-than-necessary price to ship your car in a timely fashion. The high price might have been the market rate at the time of booking, but in the interim, car shipping rates may have come down and you won’t enjoy the savings. 

It is always best to have the current market pricing, which guards against both too low and too high a transport price.

Book Your Vehicle Shipment To San Diego About One Week Before Availability

Direct Express Auto Transport has been in the car shipping business for a long time. Over twenty years. We say a good rule of thumb is to book your vehicle shipment to San Diego about 7 days before availability. 

Most car transport carriers will not commit to a vehicle shipment more than three days in advance of availability. What has anyone gained, therefore, from booking weeks in advance? The answer is nothing, of course. 

So why book much earlier than one week before availability?

Spring Season Auto Transport To California Avg. Daily Single Vehicles Avail. To CA Ratio Of Vehicles Shipping To/From CA Comments About Spring Season Car Shipping To California
1st Week of March 1802 1:1 Complete parity coming and going to CA
2nd Week of March 1829 1:1 It stays that way for awhile
3rd Week of March 1877 1:1.1 It is still slow around St. Patrick’s Day
4th Week of March 2390 1.1:1 Ratios of 1:1 or 1:1.1 don’t mean much
1st Week of April 2450 1:1 They don’t move the pricing needle
2nd Week of April 2396 1:1.1 It stays that way thru mid April
3rd Week of April 2132 1:1.2 Things start to heat up shipping from CA
4th Week of April 2312 1:1.3 And car shipping costs go down to CA
1st Week of May 2859 1:1.5 May is a wonderful time to ship to CA
2nd Week of May 3297 1:1.4 But a tough time shipping from CA
3rd Week of May 3602 1:1.3 It stays that way from May and thru …
4th Week of May 3384 1:1.4 the Summer Season
End of May / Begin June 3228 1:1.5 Memorial Day

Car Transport To San Diego In The Summer Season

Auto transport to San Diego in the Summer Season is far busier than in the Spring Season. The ratios can be deceiving relative to the volume of activity. The reason there appear to be fewer cars on any given day being shipped to San Diego in the Summer is only because what becomes available doesn’t stay on the load board very long. 

Because there are often two or three times more cars shipping from San Diego in the Summer, it creates a high demand for vehicles shipping there. Rest assured that there are still plenty of orders being placed every day in the Summer to San Diego and gobbled up quickly. 

Auto transport costs to San Diego in the Summer Season are less than from San Diego. It occasionally costs about 20-30% more to ship from San Diego in the Summer Season than it does going there.

Avoid Shipping A Vehicle Around The 4th of July

Car transport carrier drivers enjoy being home as much as you do for the 4th of July festivities. The hometown parade. The barbecue with family and friends. A mid-summer rest with the people you love. 

The 4th of July holiday creates a backlog of car shipping orders. It gets worse if the 4th falls on a Wednesday, as drivers are divided on whether to enjoy a five-day holiday before or after the 4th of July. Ugh. 

If the 4th of July falls on a Tuesday or Thursday, the mini-vacation weekend becomes more clear. But the holiday is slightly prolonged and orders are still backed up in the freight system. 

When the carriers get back to work in early July, the highest-paying vehicle shipping orders get assigned first. For about two weeks thereafter, many customers find it both more expensive and frustrating.

The thing to do, and here is your tip, is to avoid vehicle shipping to San Diego the last week of June and the first week of July.

College Students Cause Havoc In Auto Shipping Every August

There is a very discernible car shipping spike every year in the late Summer Season shipping from California. While California has many popular universities and colleges that attract students from all over America, still there are far more California college students leaving the state for universities out-of-state.

That helps make car shipping to California in late August both cheaper and faster. 

Summer Season Auto Transport To California Avg. Daily Single Vehicles Avail. To CA Ratio Of Vehicles Shipping To/From CA Comments About Summer Season Car Shipping To California
1st Week of June 3238 1:1.5 Summer is the busiest season in CA
2nd Week of June 2710 1:1.8 The ratios in June shoot upward from CA
3rd Week of June 2580 1:2 Which causes prices to CA to dive
4th Week of June 2777 1:2 And overall makes the Summer the best
1st Week of July 2174 1:2.3 … time to ship a car to CA
2nd Week of July 2097 1:2.1 There is an inverse relationship from CA
3rd Week of July 1701 1:2.6 Where the volume and ratio cause prices
4th Week of July 1727 1:2.7 … from CA to skyrocket
1st Week of August 1898 1:2.9 More CA college students leave the state
2nd Week of August 1903 1:3 … than come to CA for college
3rd Week of August 1951 1:2.7 It drives car shipping to CA down
4th Week of August 1996 1:2.1 And stays that way all the way to …
End of August / Begin September 1807 1:2 Labor Day

Bottom Line: The Best Time To Ship A Car To San Diego, CA

When is the best time to ship a car to San Diego? Probably the Spring and Summer seasons. Car shipping quotes tend to be lower and service faster. The Autumn and Winter Seasons are more costly. 

As far as car shipping to San Diego goes, some seasons are much easier than others. 

The Autumn Season is steady for car shipping to San Diego at the beginning (in September) and at the end (November), but is more expensive in October and most of November (until Thanksgiving).

The Winter season is the hardest and most expensive around the Christmas and New Year’s Day holidays. 

The Spring Season is a good time for vehicle shipping to San Diego. 

The Summer Season is a difficult time shipping from San Diego, but that makes it ideal for transport to San Diego. 

The Original Car Shipping Quote Calculator To San Diego, California

Direct Express Auto Transport originated the instant car shipping quote calculator in 2004. It is still the best, most sophisticated, reliable tool available online. We offer three options that we call tiers of car shipping quote estimates to San Diego, CA.

The Standard rate is the cheapest car shipping quote. Use the Standard rate if you can be patient. 

The Expedited rate, or tier as we call them, is the most recommended and best auto transport quote. We have countless satisfied Expedited rate customers because the vehicle shipping process tends to go quicker. 

The Rush rate is our highest level of car transport quotes and service, and many customers are glad they went with that method too. If in a hurry, go Rush rate. 

Direct Express Auto Transport Changed The Car Shipping Industry

Direct Express Auto Transport started doing business in 2004. We came into the car shipping industry with a novel idea. Before us, no company had an instant quote calculator on their website. It simply did not exist. 

Further, no car shipping company would even provide an auto shipping quote without first knowing the caller’s personal information, such as name, telephone number, email, and physical address. We were astounded by that. So we threw a monkey wrench of sorts into the industry. 

Direct Express Auto Transport installed on our website the car shipping industry’s first instant quote calculator. We did not ask then and do not ask now, for any personal information before giving a quote. 

Car Transport Cost: FAQ

  • Should You Ship Your Car Open or Enclosed?

    About 97% of all vehicle shipments are shipped on an Open Trailer. It’s proven to be a very safe method with statistically very few problems. You may notice new cars being delivered to dealerships in an open trailer, and that’s because it’s safe. If you have a collector car or really expensive automobile, say around $75,000 or more, then we recommend shipping it in an Enclosed Trailer. Expect to pay about 33-50% more for an Enclosed transport. Our auto shipping costs calculator automatically adds the extra enclosed car transport estimate to your quote, so you can experiment with the quotes if you like.

  • How Long Will It Take To Pick Up My Vehicle?

    Over 90% of our orders ship inside of one week. That could be anywhere from 1 to 7 days. Most of the U.S. population lives in a major metropolitan area and is shipping to another well populated area, and that makes a big difference. Cars usually ship in a very regular manner, almost half within just a few days.

    If either your origination or destination locations are away from population centers, in other words, in a remote area, then you might consider meeting a driver in a nearby big city or town to increase your chances of shipping timely. Or adding money to the carrier fee may entice a carrier. Remember, anyone you choose can serve as your point of contact, which takes the stress out of shipping your vehicle.

  • How Do I Prepare My Vehicle For Shipment?

    Clean out your vehicle of all loose items as much as possible. Leave nothing of value in the vehicle. It’s very rare that any items are stolen during transport, but we recommend extra caution to prevent loss.

    Keep extra items as previously discussed to a minimum and place in the trunk or out of sight. Have only about a quarter tank of gasoline. Give the auto transport carrier a set of keys and advise them of any special instructions for your vehicle, like difficulty starting, steering, braking, etc.

    Driver Consideration: Being a truck driver can be a thankless job. They work long hours and are away from their families for weeks at a time. Please be friendly and considerate to our drivers, and they will treat you in the same manner.

  • How Are Car Shipping Quotes Calculated?

    The first factor used to calculate car shipping cost is the transport distance. Next are the length, height and weight of the vehicle, followed by running condition and type of trailer (Open or Enclosed). Finally, seasonal fluctuations may impact the overall cost.

  • Non-Running Vehicles Cost More

    Maneuvering non-operational vehicles on and off a car transport trailer is a big challenge. Car shipping companies much prefer operational (running) vehicles because it gives them an easier option to reposition their entire load. Non-running vehicles take considerably more time to get on and off the trailer. So the car shipping quote must reflect the higher cost. Many auto transporters don’t have a winch and cannot accommodate non-running vehicles. That is one reason it takes longer on average to ship non-operational vehicles. Fewer do it. If at all possible, fixing your vehicle before trying to ship it will save on the non-running car transport cost, and make the process go faster.

  • How Long Does It Take To Deliver My Vehicle?

    Delivering is final step in the process, and also the simplest part. Once your vehicle has been assigned and picked up, not too much can go wrong. Once the vehicle is picked up, you can estimate that it will take roughly 1 day of transit time for every 500 miles distance. Delivery Time Estimate Guide 100-500 miles takes 1 or 2 days 500-1000 miles takes 2 or 3 days 1000-1500 miles takes 3 or 4 days 1500-2000 miles takes 4 or 5 days 2000-2500 miles takes 5 or 6 days 2500-3000 miles takes 6 or 7 days Depending on the distance, weather conditions and population centers it could be a few days or weeks until a vehicle reaches its destination. The carriers usually estimate about 10 days on coast to coast trips, but they frequently arrive earlier.

  • Can I Put Stuff In My Car When I Ship It?

    Yes and no. The strict interpretation is no, you can’t ship items inside your vehicle. The reality is that almost all carriers look the other way on items that weigh less than 100 pounds, roughly the equivalent of 2 suitcases. We recommend placing any additional items in the trunk and out of sight. The U.S. Transportation Law states that a carrier can be fined $10,000 for hauling household items in the vehicle, but it’s rarely enforced. However, the drivers do estimate the weight of each vehicle that they carry and don’t want problems at weight scales. So they must keep the personal items to a minimum. Some drivers will accept a tip ($50-$250) for hauling extra stuff, but some won’t. Rule of thumb, don’t take advantage.

Related Articles

  • Open vs Enclosed Car Transport Service

    Read more

Continue reading

aerial photo of Tampa Bay ship a car

When Best To Ship A Car To Tampa Bay, FL

Written by Mike Rupers on . Posted in Auto Transport Quote Calculator, Auto Transport Tips, Best Seasons To Ship A Car Advice, Car Shipping Advice, Car Shipping Quotes Calculator, Car Shipping Service, Expedited Rate Auto Transport, Rush Tier Car Shipping, Seasonal Fluctuations, Vehicle Shipping.

When Best To Ship A Car To Tampa Bay, FL

Get Your Car Shipping Quote!

aerial photo of Tampa Bay ship a car

When Best To Ship A Car To Tampa Bay, FL

Get Your Car Shipping Quote!

Related Topic Resources

Seasonality greatly affects Tampa Bay car shipping quotes, overall cost, and level of service. Here is when best to ship a car to Tampa Bay, FL. Depending on the season, your approach to shipping your vehicle to Tampa Bay should change.

We include in this blog tried and true tips and strategies that will help you have a successful experience. We know when best to ship a car to Tampa Bay, Florida in all four seasons.

OUR METHODOLOGY:

Direct Express Auto Transport has over twenty years of experience shipping cars to Tampa, Florida. We track daily the number of single-vehicle Sedans, SUVs, Pickup Trucks, and Vans system-wide that are available to ship on a popular auto transport load board. 

We omit in our study multiple vehicle orders, those that are anywhere from 2 to 10 vehicles on the car transport trailer because we are better able to assess market volume changes. The numbers tell a story and we share the past year in this blog. 

Key Takeaways: 

  • Car shipping to Tampa Bay is affected by the seasons.
  • The highest vehicle shipping cost to Tampa Bay is around the Christmas and New Year holidays during the snowbird Winter season.
  • The cheapest auto transport quotes to Tampa Bay happen just four months later in the Spring season.
  • The late Summer season collides with college student auto shipping, and for a while, costs rise.
  • The Autumn season is an ideal time to ship your car to Tampa Bay.

In This Blog Article:

Shipping A Car To Tampa Bay In The Winter Season

Shipping a car to Tampa Bay in the winter season is extremely difficult. Specifically, over the Christmas and New Year’s Day holidays. 

When we talk about seasonality in the vehicle transport industry, late December and early January are the big reasons. No other time is as hectic and stressful as that period. 

Here is what typically happens to the sheer number of vehicles shipping to Florida on any given day in the Winter Season from December to February. It is often called Snowbird season as well.

Do Not Book A Vehicle Shipment To Tampa Bay Too Soon

The auto shipping industry is not first come, first served. Once Christmas arrives, the vehicle shipping cost rises incrementally almost daily for four weeks. If a customer booked too early, he will likely have too low a price when the time comes to ship his car. He will have to wait.

The carriers are not concerned with when any particular order was booked. They are only concerned with maximizing their profit, as anyone would be. The carriers quite naturally choose to haul the highest-paying vehicles available. For them, it is a feeding frenzy.

The car shipping carriers have a dilemma to contend with once in Tampa Bay. There is very little freight leaving Tampa Bay. Because there are so many competing car transport carriers swarming to Tampa Bay, and elsewhere in Florida, in late December and all of January, chances are high that a carrier returns home with a half-empty trailer. That means he must make money on the trip to Tampa Bay. He doesn’t have the luxury of transporting cheap orders. 

Book Your Car Shipment Order To Tampa Bay About One Week Prior

A good rule of thumb is to book your vehicle shipment to Tampa Bay about 7 days before availability. The overwhelming majority of auto transport carriers will not commit to picking up a car shipment more than three days in advance of the vehicle availability. 

So why book much earlier than that? It is almost always best to have current vehicle transport market pricing. If it’s high, then there’s no way around it, you will likely pay more. Because otherwise your car won’t ship and others will.

When Is The Best Time To Ship A Car To Tampa Bay In The Winter?

If at all possible, you should avoid the last two weeks of December and the first two weeks of January. It is hectic for everybody. Just look at the chart and see how the number of vehicles available to ship skyrockets fourfold around the holidays. It is more than the car transportation system can handle. 

During the Christmas and New Year’s Day holidays, the vehicle transport carriers and brokers, and most of all – the customers, are stressed.

Winter Season Auto Transport To Florida Avg. Daily Single Vehicles Avail. To FL Ratio Of Vehicles Shipping To/From FL Comments About Winter Season Car Shipping To Florida
1st Week of December 3288 1.3:1 Thanksgiving causes a mini-backlog
2nd Week of December 2056 1.6:1 Early December mirrors November volume
3rd Week of December 3306 1.5:1 The snowbird rush to FL begins in earnest
4th Week of December 4085 1.8:1 Carriers want to be home for Xmas too
1st Week of January 6785 2.1:1 And New Year’s … busiest week of the year
2nd Week of January 5400 2.2:1 Highest priced orders ship first
3rd Week of January 3770 1.6:1 2nd highest priced orders ship next
4th Week of January 3417 1.6:1 Eventually all the snowbirds ship a vehicle
1st Week of February 2153 1.3:1 It took a month for a return to normalcy
2nd Week of February 2311 1:1 February is so calm compared to January
3rd Week of February 1711 1:1 Crickets … nothing but crickets
4th Week of February 1627 1:1.3 Late February is a very good time to ship
End of February / Begin March 1791 1:1.5 An ideal time to ship a car to Florida

Transporting A Vehicle To Tampa Bay In The Spring Season

When the Tampa Bay snowbirds return home in the Spring season, starting in late April, throughout all of May, and into early June, the above scenario works in reverse. 

The Spring Season is a fantastic time to ship a car to Tampa Bay, Florida. There are far more vehicles leaving Tampa Bay than are arriving. The tilted ratio effect of that pushes car shipping quotes down, while at the same time speeding up the timeframes for delivery. It is the best possible scenario imaginable if you are shipping a car to Tampa Bay, FL.

Why May Is The Cheapest Time Of Year To Ship Your Car To Tampa Bay

And then there is May, which is ridiculously advantageous for shipping a vehicle to Florida. The cheapest Vehicle Transport pricing of the year to Tampa Bay occurs in May. Why is that, you ask? In May, there are tens of thousands of snowbirds (retirees, college students, and many others) who hibernated in Tampa Bay for the winter and are returning home to the north. With so many leaving Tampa Bay, and so few coming, the reverse route to Tampa Bay becomes incredibly cheap. Enjoy it while you can. 

In May, auto shipping quotes from Tampa Bay usually skyrocket as demand for car transport carrier space is very high. Available carrier space is in short supply. The inverse is true. There is an overabundance of auto transport carrier space available to Tampa Bay, which drives down the price. Therefore, May is the cheapest time of year to ship a car to Tampa Bay.

Spring Season Auto Transport To Florida Avg. Daily Single Vehicles Avail. To FL Ratio Of Vehicles Shipping To/From FL Comments About Spring Season Car Shipping To Florida
1st Week of March 3593 1:1.3 March is generally calm
2nd Week of March 3708 1:1.4 Normal low activity in March to FL
3rd Week of March 3102 1:1.6 A great time to ship to Florida
4th Week of March 2226 1:2 Snowbirds leaving
1st Week of April 2716 1:2 Snowbirds leaving Florida
2nd Week of April 2228 1:2.5 The best time to ship a car to Florida
3rd Week of April 1950 1:3 Cheap car shipping period to Florida
4th Week of April 2659 1:2.7 Snowbirds leaving is great for the reverse
1st Week of May 3230 1:2.9 May is ideal for shipping to FL
2nd Week of May 2181 1:4.3 Vehicles ship to Florida quickly because …
3rd Week of May 2262 1:3.7 There are fourfold cars leaving Florida
4th Week of May 1886 1:3.4 May is cheapest month to ship to Florida
End of May / Begin June 3166 1:2.1 Memorial Day

Auto Transport To Tampa Bay In The Summer Season

Auto transport to Tampa Bay in the Summer Season is busier than the Spring or Autumn seasons, but not nearly as hectic as the Winter season. Vehicle Transport quotes are fairly stable throughout the summer but rise significantly in August. 

The snowbirds have finally returned home by the end of May, with a few stragglers in early June. 

Like the rest of the country in the Summer Season, auto shipping traffic tends to be families and individuals relocating from and to other states. There are more vehicle shipments than in the slower months of February, March, and April. And considerably more than September, October, and November. 

Avoid Shipping Your Vehicle Around The 4th of July

Car transport carrier drivers enjoy being home as much as you do for the 4th of July festivities. The hometown parade. The barbecue with family and friends. A mid-summer rest with the people you love. 

That means fewer vehicles are getting shipped right in the middle of the busy Summer Season. Orders get backlogged. When the carriers get back to work in early July, they transport to Tampa Bay the highest-paying freight first with no regard to how long a customer has been waiting. For about two weeks thereafter, many customers find it both more expensive and frustrating.

The thing to do, and here is your tip, is to avoid vehicle shipping to Tampa Bay the last week of June and the first two weeks of July. That is not a good time to ship a car.

College Students Create A Spike In Car Shipping Every August

There is a very discernible automobile shipping spike every year in the late Summer Season. Florida has many popular universities and colleges that attract students from all over America. For many, it is an ideal place to go to college. 

Those Florida colleges on the semester system create a mid-August boost in auto transport to Tampa Bay that lasts until the end of the month. Of the nearly 800,000 Florida college students, roughly 17% are from out-of-state, which means tens of thousands suddenly require vehicle shipping services. 

Summer Season Auto Transport To Florida Avg. Daily Single Vehicles Avail. To FL Ratio Of Vehicles Shipping To/From FL Comments About Summer Season Car Shipping To Florida
1st Week of June 3228 1:1.9 Snowbird season FROM FL continues
2nd Week of June 2973 1:1.6 Early June is ideal car shipping TO FL
3rd Week of June 2483 1:1.5 It is cheap auto transport to Florida
4th Week of June 2834 1:1.2 A transition starts to happen in Florida
1st Week of July 2440 1:1.3 The 4th of July creates a mini backlog
2nd Week of July 3328 1:1.1 A week of parity shipping TO and FRO
3rd Week of July 2331 1.3:1 Suddenly it is more costly car shipping to FL
4th Week of July 2075 1.2:1 But only slightly more expensive TO Florida
1st Week of August 3287 1.4:1 August is not a good month shipping TO FL
2nd Week of August 3419 2.1:1 College kids shipping cars to Florida
3rd Week of August 3062 2.1:1 Families relocating to Florida before school
4th Week of August 2901 2.1:1 A horrible time to ship a car to Florida
End of August / Begin September 2610 2:1 Because more than twice the vehicles are shipping TO Florida than FROM Florida

Vehicle Shipping To Tampa Bay In The Autumn Season

Vehicle shipping to Tampa Bay in the Autumn Season is easy. It is considered a slow time of year in the car shipping industry. Automobile shipping costs remain stable and affordable throughout most of the Fall or Autumn Season. 

Hurricanes and Thanksgiving Create Shipping Backlogs

The only blips on the screen when it comes to vehicle shipping to Tampa Bay in the Autumn Season are hurricanes and Thanksgiving. And both are momentary. 

National weather forecasters can see hurricanes forming in the Caribbean or Gulf of Mexico days in advance. Car transport carriers know how long they have to get out of Florida, and they avoid entirely any route there. They wait it out, which usually takes but a few days, a week at most. 

September and October are the two most susceptible months for hurricanes, but of course, there are exceptions. Hurricanes create a backlog of vehicle shipments to Tampa Bay that are usually overcome within a week after the event. 

At the end of November comes Thanksgiving. Like everybody else, Vehicle Transport carriers like to be home for Turkey Day too. Because Thanksgiving is always the fourth Thursday in November, drivers are usually home by the Wednesday before and don’t return to the road until the Monday after Thanksgiving. Essentially a five-day break for many. It takes about a week for the vehicle shipping freight system to recover and return to stable. 

Autumn Season Auto Transport To Florida Avg. Daily Single Vehicles Avail. To FL Ratio Of Vehicles Shipping To/From FL Comments About Autumn Season Car Shipping To Florida
1st Week of September 2302 1.9:1 Extremely high ratio of 2-1 car shipping to FL
2nd Week of September 2295 1.6:1 Shipping to FL is very high cost early Sept
3rd Week of September 3601 1.4:1 Higher than normal throughout September
4th Week of September 4005 1.4:1 The high ratio to FL continues
1st Week of October 2139 1.8:1 Pricing remains high due to the imbalance
2nd Week of October 3254 1.5:1 Car shipping cost to FL is still very high
3rd Week of October 2700 2.7:1 Ratios are way out of whack to Florida
4th Week of October 2568 2.9:1 Car shipping costs to Florida skyrocket
1st Week of November 2622 2.5:1 Pricing remains high due to the imbalance
2nd Week of November 2008 2.1:1 Early November is a bad time to ship to FL
3rd Week of November 1518 1.4:1 mid-November starts to calm down
4th Week of November 2243 1.3:1 Vehicle shipping interrupted by Turkey Day
End of November / Begin December 2422 1.7:1 Thanksgiving causes car shipment backlogs to Florida for a week or more

Bottom Line: When Best To Ship A Car To Tampa Bay, FL

When is the best time to ship a car to Tampa Bay? Probably the Spring, Summer, and Autumn Seasons. Car shipping quotes tend to be lower and service faster. The Winter Season is far more costly.

As far as car shipping to Tampa Bay goes, some seasons are much easier than others. The Winter season is by far the toughest, especially around the auto transport snowbird migration to Tampa Bay in late December and January, as shipping costs soar. 

The Spring season is a good time to ship a car to Tampa Bay, especially in May when snowbird backhaul prices plummet to Tampa Bay. The Summer season is relatively fine. The Autumn season is ideal weather, and car transport quotes tend to be lower than average. 

The Original Car Shipping Quote Calculator To Tampa Bay, Florida

Direct Express Auto Transport originated the instant car shipping quote calculator in 2004. It is still the best, most sophisticated, reliable tool available online. We offer three options that we call tiers of car shipping quote estimates to Tampa Bay, FL.

The Standard rate is the cheapest car shipping quote. Use the Standard rate if you can be patient. 

The Expedited rate, or tier as we call them, is the most recommended and best auto transport quote. We have countless satisfied Expedited rate customers because the vehicle shipping process tends to go quicker. 

The Rush rate is our highest level of car transport quotes and service, and many customers are glad they went with that method too. If in a hurry, go Rush rate.

How To Select The Best Car Shipping Rate To Tampa Bay

Direct Express Auto Transport uniquely has three levels of service on every route, including shipping a car to Tampa Bay. The customers who choose the highest Rush rate are typically happiest with the service. 

The customers who choose the Expedited rate are often satisfied with the results. 

Those who book the Standard rate to Tampa Bay during the busy snowbird season are frustrated while waiting their turn. 

We are writing this blog to give good advice to unaware customers. The smartest thing to do if you are in a hurry to ship a car is to go with the higher Rush or Expedited rates.

Car Transport Cost: FAQ

  • Should You Ship Your Car Open or Enclosed?

    About 97% of all vehicle shipments are shipped on an Open Trailer. It’s proven to be a very safe method with statistically very few problems. You may notice new cars being delivered to dealerships in an open trailer, and that’s because it’s safe. If you have a collector car or really expensive automobile, say around $75,000 or more, then we recommend shipping it in an Enclosed Trailer. Expect to pay about 33-50% more for an Enclosed transport. Our auto shipping costs calculator automatically adds the extra enclosed car transport estimate to your quote, so you can experiment with the quotes if you like.

  • How Long Will It Take To Pick Up My Vehicle?

    Over 90% of our orders ship inside of one week. That could be anywhere from 1 to 7 days. Most of the U.S. population lives in a major metropolitan area and is shipping to another well populated area, and that makes a big difference. Cars usually ship in a very regular manner, almost half within just a few days.

    If either your origination or destination locations are away from population centers, in other words, in a remote area, then you might consider meeting a driver in a nearby big city or town to increase your chances of shipping timely. Or adding money to the carrier fee may entice a carrier. Remember, anyone you choose can serve as your point of contact, which takes the stress out of shipping your vehicle.

  • How Do I Prepare My Vehicle For Shipment?

    Clean out your vehicle of all loose items as much as possible. Leave nothing of value in the vehicle. It’s very rare that any items are stolen during transport, but we recommend extra caution to prevent loss.

    Keep extra items as previously discussed to a minimum and place in the trunk or out of sight. Have only about a quarter tank of gasoline. Give the auto transport carrier a set of keys and advise them of any special instructions for your vehicle, like difficulty starting, steering, braking, etc.

    Driver Consideration: Being a truck driver can be a thankless job. They work long hours and are away from their families for weeks at a time. Please be friendly and considerate to our drivers, and they will treat you in the same manner.

  • How Are Car Shipping Quotes Calculated?

    The first factor used to calculate car shipping cost is the transport distance. Next are the length, height and weight of the vehicle, followed by running condition and type of trailer (Open or Enclosed). Finally, seasonal fluctuations may impact the overall cost.

  • Non-Running Vehicles Cost More

    Maneuvering non-operational vehicles on and off a car transport trailer is a big challenge. Car shipping companies much prefer operational (running) vehicles because it gives them an easier option to reposition their entire load. Non-running vehicles take considerably more time to get on and off the trailer. So the car shipping quote must reflect the higher cost. Many auto transporters don’t have a winch and cannot accommodate non-running vehicles. That is one reason it takes longer on average to ship non-operational vehicles. Fewer do it. If at all possible, fixing your vehicle before trying to ship it will save on the non-running car transport cost, and make the process go faster.

  • How Long Does It Take To Deliver My Vehicle?

    Delivering is final step in the process, and also the simplest part. Once your vehicle has been assigned and picked up, not too much can go wrong. Once the vehicle is picked up, you can estimate that it will take roughly 1 day of transit time for every 500 miles distance. Delivery Time Estimate Guide 100-500 miles takes 1 or 2 days 500-1000 miles takes 2 or 3 days 1000-1500 miles takes 3 or 4 days 1500-2000 miles takes 4 or 5 days 2000-2500 miles takes 5 or 6 days 2500-3000 miles takes 6 or 7 days Depending on the distance, weather conditions and population centers it could be a few days or weeks until a vehicle reaches its destination. The carriers usually estimate about 10 days on coast to coast trips, but they frequently arrive earlier.

  • Can I Put Stuff In My Car When I Ship It?

    Yes and no. The strict interpretation is no, you can’t ship items inside your vehicle. The reality is that almost all carriers look the other way on items that weigh less than 100 pounds, roughly the equivalent of 2 suitcases. We recommend placing any additional items in the trunk and out of sight. The U.S. Transportation Law states that a carrier can be fined $10,000 for hauling household items in the vehicle, but it’s rarely enforced. However, the drivers do estimate the weight of each vehicle that they carry and don’t want problems at weight scales. So they must keep the personal items to a minimum. Some drivers will accept a tip ($50-$250) for hauling extra stuff, but some won’t. Rule of thumb, don’t take advantage.

Related Articles

  • Open vs Enclosed Car Transport Service

    Read more

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photo of downtown Houston view from park to ship a car

The Ideal Time To Ship A Car To Houston, TX

Written by Mike Rupers on . Posted in Auto Transport Quote Calculator, Auto Transport Tips, Best Seasons To Ship A Car Advice, Car Shipping Advice, Car Shipping Cost Calculator, Car Shipping Service, Expedited Rate Auto Transport, Rush Tier Car Shipping, Seasonal Fluctuations, Vehicle Shipping.

The Ideal Time To Ship A Car To Houston, TX

Get Your Car Shipping Quote!

photo of downtown Houston view from park to ship a car

The Ideal Time To Ship A Car To Houston, TX

Get Your Car Shipping Quote!

Related Topic Resources

The change in seasons affects Houston car shipping quotes, carrier fees, and timeframes. When is it most ideal to ship a car to Houston? Depending on the season, your approach to transporting a vehicle to Houston should also change.

We include in this blog, great advice on what you should do to have a successful experience. We have learned the ideal time to ship a car to Houston, Texas in all the seasons and share our wisdom with you here in this article.

OUR RESEARCH METHODOLOGY:

Direct Express Auto Transport has over 20 years of expert experience in car shipping to Houston, Texas. For many years, we have logged the number of single-vehicle Sedans, SUVs, Pickup Trucks, and Vans system-wide (not just our orders) that are available to ship on the most widely used auto transport load board. 

To make it more informative in our study, we do not include multiple vehicle orders, which are anywhere from 2 to 10 vehicles on a vehicle transport trailer, because we are better able to assess market volume changes. Direct Express Auto Transport has been doing this kind of market analysis for the better part of twenty years. Our saved data is exhaustive and reveals a story of what to expect when shipping a car to Houston.

Key Takeaways: 

  • Car shipping to Houston is affected by the seasons.
  • The highest vehicle shipping cost to Houston is around the Christmas and New Year holidays during the Winter season.
  • The cheapest auto transport quotes to Houston are in the Autumn season, particularly in November and early December.
  • The car shipping cost to Houston is elevated, higher than most routes, for the Winter, Spring, and Summer seasons.
  • Year-round, vehicle shipping to Houston normally costs more than the reverse.

In This Blog Article:

Do Not Book A Car Shipment To Houston Too Early

In the auto transport industry, as far as the carriers are concerned, it does not matter to them when an order is booked. In other words, it is not first come … first served. So nobody has reserved a spot, a space, on a transport trailer simply by booking their order weeks or even months in advance. 

What matters to vehicle transport carriers are their profits. To that end, they choose orders, which they call loads, that are the highest paying, or logistically make the most sense with an eye always on the bottom line. The carriers seek to maximize their profit, like everybody else.

Do not book an automobile shipment to Houston, TX too early. You might be priced too low, in which case, your car will likely be rejected by the carriers and won’t ship. Or if it does ship, it will be the last to do so, and probably far later than you had hoped. 

Conversely, booking too early might also mean you unwittingly committed to a higher-than-necessary price to ship your car in a timely fashion. The high price might have been the market rate at the time of booking, but in the interim, auto shipping rates may have come down and you won’t enjoy the savings. 

It is always best to have the current market pricing, which guards against both too low and too high a transport price. 

Book Your Vehicle Shipment To Houston About One Week Before Availability

Direct Express Auto Transport has been in the car shipping industry for a long time. Over twenty years. We say a good rule of thumb is to book your car shipment to Houston, TX about 7 days before availability. 

Most auto transport carriers will not commit to a vehicle shipment more than three days in advance of availability. What has anyone gained, therefore, from booking weeks in advance? The answer is nothing, of course. 

So why book much earlier than one week before availability?

Transporting A Vehicle To Houston, TX In The Spring Season

In the Spring Season, the volume of orders to Houston is higher than normal. The Spring Season in Texas is nothing like the Spring Season in Florida. The ratios stay elevated car shipping to Houston, TX throughout the Spring. It is close to 2 to 1 the entire season.

The Toughest Time Of Year To Ship Your Car To Houston

Other than the New Year’s holiday, the most prolonged and toughest time of year for auto transport pricing to Houston, Texas occurs in the Spring and Summer Seasons. 

With so many vehicles shipping to Houston, and so few leaving, the reverse route from Houston, TX becomes incredibly cheap. Enjoy it while you can. 

Spring Season Auto Transport To Texas Avg. Daily Single Vehicles Avail. To TX Ratio Of Vehicles Shipping To/From TX Comments About Spring Season Car Shipping To Texas
1st Week of March 3289 1.6:1 The ratio is nearly 2-1 cars shipping to TX
2nd Week of March 3730 1.6:1 It stays that way for several weeks
3rd Week of March 3339 1.6:1 College Spring Break in Texas
4th Week of March 4212 1.9:1 Spring Break to Texas creates demand
1st Week of April 4462 1.8:1 More Spring Break shipments
2nd Week of April 4117 1.9:1 The 2-1 ratio to TX elevates quote prices
3rd Week of April 3914 1.8:1 It is more expensive car shipping to TX …
4th Week of April 4213 1.7:1 Than shipping from Texas in the Spring
1st Week of May 4027 1.9:1 Car shipping is nearly twice as costly to TX
2nd Week of May 4193 1.5:1 There is not much let up in May
3rd Week of May 4513 1.3:1 There is also a spike in cars leaving TX
4th Week of May 4086 1.4:1 But there are still more coming than leaving
End of May / Begin June 4254 1.4:1 Memorial Day creates more backlog

Auto Transport To Houston, TX In The Summer Season

Auto transport prices to Houston in the Summer Season are just as busy as in the Spring. The auto shipping ratio of vehicles available to ship to Houston, TX is still much higher. Which keeps vehicle shipping costs higher. 

The month of August becomes extremely busy shipping to Houston, as both the timeframe and cost rise significantly. If at all possible, avoid auto transport to Houston, TX in August. 

Conversely, you will win in August shipping from Houston.

Avoid Shipping Your Vehicle To Houston Around The 4th of July

Car transport carrier drivers enjoy being home as much as you do for the 4th of July festivities. The hometown parade. The barbecue with family and friends. A mid-summer rest with the people you love. 

That means fewer vehicles are getting shipped right in the middle of the busy Summer Season. Orders get backlogged. When the carriers get back to work in early July, they transport to Houston, TX the highest-paying freight first with no regard to how long a customer has been waiting. For about two weeks thereafter, many customers find it both more expensive and frustrating.

The thing to do, and here is your tip, is to avoid vehicle shipping to Houston the last week of June and the first two weeks of July. That is not a good time to ship a car.

College Students Create A Spike In Auto Shipping Every August

There is a very discernible car shipping spike every year in the late Summer Season. Texas has many popular universities and colleges that attract students from all over America. For many, it is an ideal place to go to college. 

Texas colleges on the semester system create a mid-August boost in auto transport to Houston that lasts until the end of the month.

Summer Season Auto Transport To Texas Avg. Daily Single Vehicles Avail. To TX Ratio Of Vehicles Shipping To/From TX Comments About Summer Season Car Shipping To Texas
1st Week of June 4296 1.4:1 Summer is a busy time shipping to Texas
2nd Week of June 3384 1.4:1 Pricing stays stable & high in May, June, July
3rd Week of June 3629 1.3:1 It is much cheaper shipping FROM Texas
4th Week of June 3676 1.4:1 Because more are shipping cars to Texas …
1st Week of July 3193 1.5:1 Auto transport quotes remain higher to TX
2nd Week of July 3091 1.5:1 The 4th of July holiday created more pressure
3rd Week of July 2630 1.4:1 No break in pricing shipping to Texas
4th Week of July 2389 1.7:1 The imbalance shipping to TX gets worse
1st Week of August 3408 2:1 There are twice the cars shipping to TX
2nd Week of August 3751 1.9:1 College kids shipping cars to Texas
3rd Week of August 3378 2.2:1 Families relocating to Texas before school
4th Week of August 3402 2.4:1 A horrible time to ship a car to Texas
End of August / Begin September 3164 2.2:1 Because more than twice the vehicles are shipping TO Texas than FROM Texas

Vehicle Shipping To Houston, TX In The Autumn Season

Vehicle shipping to Houston in the Autumn Season is easy. It is considered a slower time of year in the car shipping industry. Auto transport costs remain stable and more affordable throughout most of the Autumn Season. It is the cheapest and most ideal time of year to ship your car to Houston, TX. 

Hurricanes & Thanksgiving Can Cause Shipping Delays

National weather forecasters can see hurricanes forming in the Gulf of Mexico days in advance. Car transport carriers know how long they have to get out of Texas, and they avoid entirely any route there. They wait it out, which usually takes but a few days, a week at most. Those of us in the auto transport industry can tell you that climate change is real. 

September and October are the two most susceptible months for hurricanes, but of course, there are exceptions. Hurricanes create a backlog of vehicle shipments to Houston, TX that are usually overcome within a week after the event. 

At the end of November comes Thanksgiving. Like everybody else, auto transport carriers like to be home for Turkey Day too. 

Because Thanksgiving is always the fourth Thursday in November, drivers are usually home by the Wednesday before and don’t return to the road until the Monday after Thanksgiving. Essentially a five-day break for many. It takes about a week for the vehicle shipping freight system to recover and return to normal. 

Autumn Season Auto Transport To Texas Avg. Daily Single Vehicles Avail. To TX Ratio Of Vehicles Shipping To/From TX Comments About Autumn Season Car Shipping To Texas
1st Week of September 3165 2:1 Extremely high ratio of 2-1 car shipping to TX
2nd Week of September 2720 2.3:1 Shipping to TX is very high cost early Sept
3rd Week of September 2308 2:1 Higher than normal throughout September
4th Week of September 2260 1.7:1 The almost 2-1 ratio to Texas continues
1st Week of October 1817 1.8:1 Pricing remains high due to the imbalance
2nd Week of October 2372 1.4:1 Ratios are a big deal to car shipping quotes
3rd Week of October 2294 1.3:1 Car Shipping Quotes start to come down
4th Week of October 2593 1.2:1 There is almost parity in the market
1st Week of November 2461 1:1 Best time to ship a car to Texas is now
2nd Week of November 1893 1:1 Early November is a great time to ship a car
3rd Week of November 1565 1.2:1 November is okay for car shipping to Texas
4th Week of November 2514 1.1:1 Vehicle shipping interrupted by Turkey Day
End of November / Begin December 2832 1.1:1 Thanksgiving causes a minor backlog

Shipping A Car To Houston, TX In The Winter Season

When we talk about seasonality in the vehicle transport industry, late December and early January are the big reasons. It becomes hectic, expensive, and stressful during that period shipping a car to Houston, TX.

When Is The Ideal Time To Ship A Car To Houston In The Winter?

If at all possible, you should avoid shipping a car to Houston, TX in the last week of December and the first two weeks of January.

During the Christmas and New Year’s Day holidays, the auto transport carriers and brokers, and most of all the customers, are stressed.

But not all customers understand the auto transport industry, and why the order they placed weeks ago might still be waiting to ship.

Winter Season Auto Transport To Texas Avg. Daily Single Vehicles Avail. To TX Ratio Of Vehicles Shipping To/From TX Comments About Winter Season Car Shipping To Texas
1st Week of December 1890 1.1:1 The lull from November continues
2nd Week of December 1883 1.1:1 Early December is ideal to ship a car
3rd Week of December 2679 1.4:1 The snowbird rush to TX begins in earnest
4th Week of December 4189 1.2:1 Carriers want to be home for Xmas too
1st Week of January 4822 1.1:1 The busiest week of the year is New Year’s
2nd Week of January 3234 1.2:1 Highest priced orders ship first
3rd Week of January 3071 1.3:1 2nd highest priced orders ship next
4th Week of January 2232 1.3:1 The number winnows down
1st Week of February 1923 1.4:1 A period of stability takes over
2nd Week of February 2411 1.5:1 Car transport prices remain elevated …
3rd Week of February 2357 1.4:1 Because there are more car shipping to TX
4th Week of February 2946 1:4.1 It stays that way until October
End of February / Begin March 2901 1.8:1 Twice as many vehicles are shipping to TX

Bottom Line: When Is The Ideal Time To Ship A Car To Houston, TX

When is the ideal time to ship a car to Houston, TX? Probably only in November, and early December. The Winter, all of Spring, and as well the Summer months are far more expensive shipping to Houston. Which makes the reverse route in each season the exact opposite. 

The Winter season is by far the toughest for car shipping to Houston, especially around the auto transport snowbird migration in late December and January, as shipping costs soar. 

The Autumn season is ideal weather, and car transport quotes tend to be lower than average. 

The Original Car Shipping Quote Calculator To Houston, Texas

Direct Express Auto Transport originated the instant car shipping quote calculator in 2004. It is still the best, most sophisticated, reliable tool available online. We offer three options that we call tiers of car shipping quote estimates to Houston, TX.

The Standard rate is the cheapest car shipping quote. Use the Standard rate if you can be patient. 

The Expedited rate, or tier as we call them, is the most recommended and best auto transport quote. We have countless satisfied Expedited rate customers because the vehicle shipping process tends to go quicker. 

The Rush rate is our highest level of car transport quotes and service, and many customers are glad they went with that method too. If in a hurry, go Rush rate.

How To Select The Ideal Car Shipping Rate To Houston, TX

Direct Express Auto Transport uniquely has three levels of service on every route, including shipping a car to Houston. The customers who choose the highest Rush rate are typically happiest with the service. 

The customers who choose the Expedited rate are often satisfied with the results. 

Those who book the Standard rate to Houston, TX during the busy snowbird season are frustrated while waiting their turn. 

We are writing this blog to give good advice to unaware customers. The smartest thing to do if you are in a hurry to ship a car is to go with the higher Rush or Expedited rates. 

Car Transport Cost: FAQ

  • Should You Ship Your Car Open or Enclosed?

    About 97% of all vehicle shipments are shipped on an Open Trailer. It’s proven to be a very safe method with statistically very few problems. You may notice new cars being delivered to dealerships in an open trailer, and that’s because it’s safe. If you have a collector car or really expensive automobile, say around $75,000 or more, then we recommend shipping it in an Enclosed Trailer. Expect to pay about 33-50% more for an Enclosed transport. Our auto shipping costs calculator automatically adds the extra enclosed car transport estimate to your quote, so you can experiment with the quotes if you like.

  • How Long Will It Take To Pick Up My Vehicle?

    Over 90% of our orders ship inside of one week. That could be anywhere from 1 to 7 days. Most of the U.S. population lives in a major metropolitan area and is shipping to another well populated area, and that makes a big difference. Cars usually ship in a very regular manner, almost half within just a few days.

    If either your origination or destination locations are away from population centers, in other words, in a remote area, then you might consider meeting a driver in a nearby big city or town to increase your chances of shipping timely. Or adding money to the carrier fee may entice a carrier. Remember, anyone you choose can serve as your point of contact, which takes the stress out of shipping your vehicle.

  • How Do I Prepare My Vehicle For Shipment?

    Clean out your vehicle of all loose items as much as possible. Leave nothing of value in the vehicle. It’s very rare that any items are stolen during transport, but we recommend extra caution to prevent loss.

    Keep extra items as previously discussed to a minimum and place in the trunk or out of sight. Have only about a quarter tank of gasoline. Give the auto transport carrier a set of keys and advise them of any special instructions for your vehicle, like difficulty starting, steering, braking, etc.

    Driver Consideration: Being a truck driver can be a thankless job. They work long hours and are away from their families for weeks at a time. Please be friendly and considerate to our drivers, and they will treat you in the same manner.

  • How Are Car Shipping Quotes Calculated?

    The first factor used to calculate car shipping cost is the transport distance. Next are the length, height and weight of the vehicle, followed by running condition and type of trailer (Open or Enclosed). Finally, seasonal fluctuations may impact the overall cost.

  • Non-Running Vehicles Cost More

    Maneuvering non-operational vehicles on and off a car transport trailer is a big challenge. Car shipping companies much prefer operational (running) vehicles because it gives them an easier option to reposition their entire load. Non-running vehicles take considerably more time to get on and off the trailer. So the car shipping quote must reflect the higher cost. Many auto transporters don’t have a winch and cannot accommodate non-running vehicles. That is one reason it takes longer on average to ship non-operational vehicles. Fewer do it. If at all possible, fixing your vehicle before trying to ship it will save on the non-running car transport cost, and make the process go faster.

  • How Long Does It Take To Deliver My Vehicle?

    Delivering is final step in the process, and also the simplest part. Once your vehicle has been assigned and picked up, not too much can go wrong. Once the vehicle is picked up, you can estimate that it will take roughly 1 day of transit time for every 500 miles distance. Delivery Time Estimate Guide 100-500 miles takes 1 or 2 days 500-1000 miles takes 2 or 3 days 1000-1500 miles takes 3 or 4 days 1500-2000 miles takes 4 or 5 days 2000-2500 miles takes 5 or 6 days 2500-3000 miles takes 6 or 7 days Depending on the distance, weather conditions and population centers it could be a few days or weeks until a vehicle reaches its destination. The carriers usually estimate about 10 days on coast to coast trips, but they frequently arrive earlier.

  • Can I Put Stuff In My Car When I Ship It?

    Yes and no. The strict interpretation is no, you can’t ship items inside your vehicle. The reality is that almost all carriers look the other way on items that weigh less than 100 pounds, roughly the equivalent of 2 suitcases. We recommend placing any additional items in the trunk and out of sight. The U.S. Transportation Law states that a carrier can be fined $10,000 for hauling household items in the vehicle, but it’s rarely enforced. However, the drivers do estimate the weight of each vehicle that they carry and don’t want problems at weight scales. So they must keep the personal items to a minimum. Some drivers will accept a tip ($50-$250) for hauling extra stuff, but some won’t. Rule of thumb, don’t take advantage.

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photo of Golden Gate Bridge when best to ship a car to San Francisco

When Best To Ship A Car To San Francisco

Written by Mike Rupers on . Posted in Auto Transport Quote Calculator, Auto Transport Tips, Best Seasons To Ship A Car Advice, Car Shipping Advice, Car Shipping Quotes Calculator, College Student Car Shipping Tips, Expedited Rate Auto Transport, Rush Tier Car Shipping, Seasonal Fluctuations, Vehicle Shipping Cost.

When Best To Ship A Car To San Francisco

Get Your Car Shipping Quote!

photo of Golden Gate Bridge when best to ship a car to San Francisco

When Best To Ship A Car To San Francisco

Get Your Car Shipping Quote!

Related Topic Resources

Seasonality affects San Francisco car shipping quotes, total cost, and service. When is best to ship a car to San Francisco? When to avoid it? Depending on the season, your approach to shipping a vehicle to San Francisco should change.

We include in this blog, savvy tips and strategies that will help you have a successful experience. We have learned the best time to ship a car to San Francisco, California in all four seasons and share that with you here in this article.

OUR METHODOLOGY:

Direct Express Auto Transport has over twenty years of expertise in car shipping to San Francisco, California. Every day, we log the number of single-vehicle Sedans, SUVs, Pickup Trucks, and Vans system-wide (not just our orders) that are available to ship on the most widely used car transport load board. 

To compare apples to apples, in our research, we do not include multiple vehicle orders, which are anywhere from 2 to 10 vehicles on a car transport trailer, because we are better able to assess market volume changes. Direct Express Auto Transport has been doing this kind of market analysis for the better part of twenty years. The data is rich and tells a story of car shipping to San Francisco.

Key Takeaways: 

  • Car shipping to San Francisco is affected greatly by the seasons.
  • The highest vehicle shipping cost to San Francisco is during the Christmas & New Year’s holidays, and the Autumn Season months of October and early November.
  • The cheapest auto transport quotes TO San Francisco are from May through August. The Summer Season.
  • Conversely, the most expensive car shipping quotes FROM San Francisco are also from May through August. The Summer Season.
  • The late Winter Season and early Spring reach a level of pricing parity and are a good time to ship a car to San Francisco.

In This Blog Article:

Do Not Book A Car Shipment To San Francisco Too Early

In the car shipping industry, as far as the carriers are concerned, it does not matter to them when an order is booked. In other words, it is not first come … first served. So nobody has reserved a spot, a space, on a transport trailer simply by booking their order weeks or even months in advance. 

What matters to auto transport carriers are their profits. To that end, they choose orders, which they call loads, that are the highest paying, or logistically make the most sense with an eye always on the bottom line. The carriers seek to maximize their profit, like everybody else.

Do not book a car shipment to San Francisco too early. You might be priced too low, in which case, your vehicle will likely be rejected by the carriers and won’t ship. Or if it does ship, it will be the last to do so, and probably far later than you had hoped. 

Conversely, booking too early might also mean you unwittingly committed to a higher-than-necessary price to ship your car in a timely fashion. The high price might have been the market rate at the time of booking, but in the interim, car shipping rates may have come down and you won’t enjoy the savings. 

It is always best to have the current market pricing, which guards against both too low and too high a transport price. 

Book Your Vehicle Shipment To San Francisco About One Week Before Availability

Direct Express Auto Transport has been in the car shipping business for a long time. Over twenty years. We say a good rule of thumb is to book your vehicle shipment to San Francisco about 7 days before availability. 

Most car transport carriers will not commit to a vehicle shipment more than three days in advance of availability. What has anyone gained, therefore, from booking weeks in advance? The answer is nothing, of course. 

So why book much earlier than one week before availability?

Car Shipping To San Francisco, CA In The Autumn Season

Almost year round more vehicles are being shipped from San Francisco than to it. Rarely is it the opposite. That reverses, however, in the Autumn Season when there are significantly more cars being shipped to San Francisco, which drives up the car shipping rates to San Francisco. 

It would be a good idea to steer clear of shipping a car to San Francisco in the months of October and November if your goal is to save money. 

Automobile Transport Delays To San Francisco During Thanksgiving

Toward the end of November comes Thanksgiving. Many vehicle transport drivers manipulate their route schedules to make it home for Thanksgiving. 

Thanksgiving falls every year on the fourth Thursday in November, and drivers are usually home by Tuesday or Wednesday before. They don’t get back on the road until usually the Monday after Thanksgiving. That provides a five-day break.

Autumn Season Auto Transport To California Avg. Daily Single Vehicles Avail. To CA Ratio Of Vehicles Shipping To/From CA Comments About Autumn Season Car Shipping To California
1st Week of September 1938 1:1.4 The last of the summer exodus from CA
2nd Week of September 1984 1:1.1 Business returns to near calm & parity
3rd Week of September 1605 1:1 September slowness
4th Week of September 1748 1:1.1 And it stays that way though November
1st Week of October 1590 1.4:1 The only time all year there are far …
2nd Week of October 1530 1.4:1 … more cars shipping to Los Angeles
3rd Week of October 1674 1.4:1 October and November are the only …
4th Week of October 1815 1.5:1 … months that happens
1st Week of November 1762 1.3:1 So avoid shipping your car to Los Angeles
2nd Week of November 1592 1.2:1 … in October and early November
3rd Week of November 1256 1:1.1 Auto transport quotes are lower in late …
4th Week of November 1557 1:1.1 … November and early December
End of November / Begin December 1476 1:1 A better time to ship a car to Los Angeles

A Tough Time Of Year To Ship Your Car To San Francisco

Other than the New Year’s holiday, the most prolonged and toughest time of year for vehicle transport pricing to San Francisco, California occurs in the Autumn Season. 

In Autumn, more vehicles are shipping to San Francisco, and fewer leaving. October and November are the only two months in the year when it is harder and more expensive to ship a car to San Francisco.

Vehicle Shipping To San Francisco In The Winter Season

One of the hardest things to do is ship a car to San Francisco in the winter season. Especially during the Christmas and New Year’s Day holidays. 

When we talk about the effect of seasonality on the auto transport industry, it is late December and early January that we most allude. It is chaotic, costly, and stressful during the holidays to ship a car to San Francisco. 

Once Christmas arrives, the vehicle shipping cost rises incrementally almost daily for four weeks. If a customer booked too early, he will likely have too low a price when the time comes to ship his car. He will have to wait. Or add money to rectify the dilemma. 

Here is what typically happens to the sheer number of vehicles shipping to California on any given day in the Winter Season from December through February.

Winter Season Auto Transport To California Avg. Daily Single Vehicles Avail. To CA Ratio Of Vehicles Shipping To/From CA Comments About Winter Season Car Shipping To California
1st Week of December 1502 1:1 Early December is considered a slow time
2nd Week of December 1652 1:1.2 Still slow
3rd Week of December 1864 1:1 Not much different
4th Week of December 2354 1:1 Christmas time will cause shipping delays
1st Week of January 3094 1:1.1 Orders backlog because of New Years
2nd Week of January 2747 1:1.1 It takes a couple weeks to flush out
3rd Week of January 1928 1:1.1 A slow period starts to emerge
4th Week of January 1709 1:1.2 Post holiday – mid-winter slow
1st Week of February 1607 1:1.2 Pricing remains stable in February
2nd Week of February 1624 1:1.1 Slightly more vehicles leaving CA
3rd Week of February 1463 1:1.2 It has a marginal affect
4th Week of February 1556 1:1.1 The winter slowness continues
End of February / Begin March 1805 1:1.1 And March begins that way

When Is The Best Time To Ship A Car To San Francisco In The Winter?

If at all possible, you should avoid the last two weeks of December and the first three weeks of January. It is chaotic for brokers, carriers, and customers alike.

Auto Transport To San Francisco In The Spring Season

The early Spring months in March are very manageable for car shipping to or from San Francisco. But starting in late April, and throughout all of May, significantly more vehicles are shipping from San Francisco than to it. That serves to drive down the auto transport cost to San Francisco in the Spring Season. It is a great time to ship a car to San Francisco.

Spring Season Auto Transport To California Avg. Daily Single Vehicles Avail. To CA Ratio Of Vehicles Shipping To/From CA Comments About Spring Season Car Shipping To California
1st Week of March 1802 1:1 Complete parity coming and going to CA
2nd Week of March 1829 1:1 It stays that way for awhile
3rd Week of March 1877 1:1.1 It is still slow around St. Patrick’s Day
4th Week of March 2390 1.1:1 Ratios of 1:1 or 1:1.1 don’t mean much
1st Week of April 2450 1:1 They don’t move the pricing needle
2nd Week of April 2396 1:1.1 It stays that way thru mid April
3rd Week of April 2132 1:1.2 Things start to heat up shipping from CA
4th Week of April 2312 1:1.3 And car shipping costs go down to CA
1st Week of May 2859 1:1.5 May is a wonderful time to ship to CA
2nd Week of May 3297 1:1.4 But a tough time shipping from CA
3rd Week of May 3602 1:1.3 It stays that way from May and thru …
4th Week of May 3384 1:1.4 the Summer Season
End of May / Begin June 3228 1:1.5 Memorial Day

Car Transport To San Francisco In The Summer Season

Auto transport to San Francisco in the Summer Season is far busier than in the Spring Season. The ratios can be deceiving relative to the volume of activity. The reason there appear to be fewer cars on any given day being shipped to San Francisco in the Summer is only because what becomes available doesn’t stay on the load board very long. 

Because there are often two or three times more cars shipping from San Francisco in the Summer, it creates a high demand for vehicles shipping there. Rest assured that there are still plenty of orders being placed every day in the Summer to San Francisco and gobbled up quickly. 

Auto transport costs to San Francisco in the Summer Season are less than from San Francisco. It occasionally costs about 20-30% more to ship from San Francisco in the Summer Season than it does going there.

Avoid Shipping A Vehicle Around The 4th of July

Car transport carrier drivers enjoy being home as much as you do for the 4th of July festivities. The hometown parade. The barbecue with family and friends. A mid-summer rest with the people you love. 

The 4th of July holiday creates a backlog of car shipping orders. It gets worse if the 4th falls on a Wednesday, as drivers are divided on whether to enjoy a five-day holiday before or after the 4th of July. Ugh. 

If the 4th of July falls on a Tuesday or Thursday, the mini-vacation weekend becomes more clear. But the holiday is slightly prolonged and orders are still backed up in the freight system. 

When the carriers get back to work in early July, the highest-paying vehicle shipping orders get assigned first. For about two weeks thereafter, many customers find it both more expensive and frustrating.

The thing to do, and here is your tip, is to avoid vehicle shipping to San Francisco the last week of June and the first week of July.

College Students Cause Havoc In Auto Shipping Every August

There is a very discernible car shipping spike every year in the late Summer Season shipping from California. While California has many popular universities and colleges that attract students from all over America, still there are far more California college students leaving the state for universities out-of-state.

That helps make car shipping to California in late August both cheaper and faster. 

Summer Season Auto Transport To California Avg. Daily Single Vehicles Avail. To CA Ratio Of Vehicles Shipping To/From CA Comments About Summer Season Car Shipping To California
1st Week of June 3238 1:1.5 Summer is the busiest season in CA
2nd Week of June 2710 1:1.8 The ratios in June shoot upward from CA
3rd Week of June 2580 1:2 Which causes prices to CA to dive
4th Week of June 2777 1:2 And overall makes the Summer the best
1st Week of July 2174 1:2.3 … time to ship a car to CA
2nd Week of July 2097 1:2.1 There is an inverse relationship from CA
3rd Week of July 1701 1:2.6 Where the volume and ratio cause prices
4th Week of July 1727 1:2.7 … from CA to skyrocket
1st Week of August 1898 1:2.9 More CA college students leave the state
2nd Week of August 1903 1:3 … than come to CA for college
3rd Week of August 1951 1:2.7 It drives car shipping to CA down
4th Week of August 1996 1:2.1 And stays that way all the way to …
End of August / Begin September 1807 1:2 Labor Day

Bottom Line: When Best To Ship A Car To San Francisco

When is the best time to ship a car to San Francisco? Probably the Spring and Summer seasons. Car shipping quotes tend to be lower and service faster. The Autumn and Winter Seasons are more costly. 

As far as car shipping to San Francisco goes, some seasons are much easier than others. 

The Autumn Season is steady for car shipping to San Francisco at the beginning (in September) and at the end (November), but is more expensive in October and most of November (until Thanksgiving).

The Winter season is the hardest and most expensive around the Christmas and New Year’s Day holidays. 

The Spring Season is a good time for vehicle shipping to San Francisco. 

The Summer Season is a difficult time shipping from San Francisco, but that makes it ideal for transport to San Francisco. 

The Original Car Shipping Quote Calculator To San Francisco, California

Direct Express Auto Transport originated the instant car shipping quote calculator in 2004. It is still the best, most sophisticated, reliable tool available online. We offer three options that we call tiers of car shipping quote estimates to San Francisco, CA.

The Standard rate is the cheapest car shipping quote. Use the Standard rate if you can be patient. 

The Expedited rate, or tier as we call them, is the most recommended and best auto transport quote. We have countless satisfied Expedited rate customers because the vehicle shipping process tends to go quicker. 

The Rush rate is our highest level of car transport quotes and service, and many customers are glad they went with that method too. If in a hurry, go Rush rate. 

How To Choose The Best Auto Transport Rate To San Francisco, CA

Direct Express Auto Transport uniquely has three levels of service on every route, including shipping a car to San Francisco. The customers who choose the highest Rush rate are typically happiest with the service. 

The customers who choose the Expedited rate are often satisfied with the results. 

Those who book the Standard rate to San Francisco during the busy season are sometimes frustrated waiting their turn. 

Regardless of the season, the smartest thing to do if you are in a hurry is to ship your car with the higher Rush or Expedited rates.

Car Transport Cost: FAQ

  • Should You Ship Your Car Open or Enclosed?

    About 97% of all vehicle shipments are shipped on an Open Trailer. It’s proven to be a very safe method with statistically very few problems. You may notice new cars being delivered to dealerships in an open trailer, and that’s because it’s safe. If you have a collector car or really expensive automobile, say around $75,000 or more, then we recommend shipping it in an Enclosed Trailer. Expect to pay about 33-50% more for an Enclosed transport. Our auto shipping costs calculator automatically adds the extra enclosed car transport estimate to your quote, so you can experiment with the quotes if you like.

  • How Long Will It Take To Pick Up My Vehicle?

    Over 90% of our orders ship inside of one week. That could be anywhere from 1 to 7 days. Most of the U.S. population lives in a major metropolitan area and is shipping to another well populated area, and that makes a big difference. Cars usually ship in a very regular manner, almost half within just a few days.

    If either your origination or destination locations are away from population centers, in other words, in a remote area, then you might consider meeting a driver in a nearby big city or town to increase your chances of shipping timely. Or adding money to the carrier fee may entice a carrier. Remember, anyone you choose can serve as your point of contact, which takes the stress out of shipping your vehicle.

  • How Do I Prepare My Vehicle For Shipment?

    Clean out your vehicle of all loose items as much as possible. Leave nothing of value in the vehicle. It’s very rare that any items are stolen during transport, but we recommend extra caution to prevent loss.

    Keep extra items as previously discussed to a minimum and place in the trunk or out of sight. Have only about a quarter tank of gasoline. Give the auto transport carrier a set of keys and advise them of any special instructions for your vehicle, like difficulty starting, steering, braking, etc.

    Driver Consideration: Being a truck driver can be a thankless job. They work long hours and are away from their families for weeks at a time. Please be friendly and considerate to our drivers, and they will treat you in the same manner.

  • How Are Car Shipping Quotes Calculated?

    The first factor used to calculate car shipping cost is the transport distance. Next are the length, height and weight of the vehicle, followed by running condition and type of trailer (Open or Enclosed). Finally, seasonal fluctuations may impact the overall cost.

  • Non-Running Vehicles Cost More

    Maneuvering non-operational vehicles on and off a car transport trailer is a big challenge. Car shipping companies much prefer operational (running) vehicles because it gives them an easier option to reposition their entire load. Non-running vehicles take considerably more time to get on and off the trailer. So the car shipping quote must reflect the higher cost. Many auto transporters don’t have a winch and cannot accommodate non-running vehicles. That is one reason it takes longer on average to ship non-operational vehicles. Fewer do it. If at all possible, fixing your vehicle before trying to ship it will save on the non-running car transport cost, and make the process go faster.

  • How Long Does It Take To Deliver My Vehicle?

    Delivering is final step in the process, and also the simplest part. Once your vehicle has been assigned and picked up, not too much can go wrong. Once the vehicle is picked up, you can estimate that it will take roughly 1 day of transit time for every 500 miles distance. Delivery Time Estimate Guide 100-500 miles takes 1 or 2 days 500-1000 miles takes 2 or 3 days 1000-1500 miles takes 3 or 4 days 1500-2000 miles takes 4 or 5 days 2000-2500 miles takes 5 or 6 days 2500-3000 miles takes 6 or 7 days Depending on the distance, weather conditions and population centers it could be a few days or weeks until a vehicle reaches its destination. The carriers usually estimate about 10 days on coast to coast trips, but they frequently arrive earlier.

  • Can I Put Stuff In My Car When I Ship It?

    Yes and no. The strict interpretation is no, you can’t ship items inside your vehicle. The reality is that almost all carriers look the other way on items that weigh less than 100 pounds, roughly the equivalent of 2 suitcases. We recommend placing any additional items in the trunk and out of sight. The U.S. Transportation Law states that a carrier can be fined $10,000 for hauling household items in the vehicle, but it’s rarely enforced. However, the drivers do estimate the weight of each vehicle that they carry and don’t want problems at weight scales. So they must keep the personal items to a minimum. Some drivers will accept a tip ($50-$250) for hauling extra stuff, but some won’t. Rule of thumb, don’t take advantage.

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  • Open vs Enclosed Car Transport Service

    Read more

Continue reading

ship a car fort-lauderdale photo of homes

When To Ship A Car To Fort Lauderdale

Written by Mike Rupers on . Posted in Auto Transport Quote Calculator, Auto Transport Tips, Best Seasons To Ship A Car Advice, Car Shipping Advice, Car Shipping Cost Calculator, Car Shipping Service, Seasonal Fluctuations, Vehicle Shipping.

When To Ship A Car To Fort Lauderdale

Get Your Car Shipping Quote!

ship a car fort-lauderdale photo of homes

When To Ship A Car To Fort Lauderdale

Get Your Car Shipping Quote!

Related Topic Resources

Seasonality greatly affects Fort Lauderdale car shipping quotes, overall cost, and level of service. Here is when to ship a car to Fort Lauderdale. Depending on the season, your approach to shipping your vehicle to Fort Lauderdale should change.

We include in this blog tried and true tips and strategies that will help you have a successful experience. We think we know the best way to ship a car to Fort Lauderdale, Florida in all four seasons.

OUR METHODOLOGY:

Direct Express Auto Transport has over twenty years of experience shipping cars to Fort Lauderdale, Florida. We track daily the number of single-vehicle Sedans, SUVs, Pickup Trucks, and Vans system-wide that are available to ship on an auto transport load board. 

We omit here in our study multiple vehicle orders, those that are anywhere from 2 to 10 vehicles on the car transport trailer because we are better able to assess market volume changes. The numbers tell the story of car shipping to Fort Lauderdale, and we share the past year’s results in this blog.

Key Takeaways: 

  • Car shipping to Fort Lauderdale is affected by the seasons.
  • The highest vehicle shipping cost to Fort Lauderdale is around the Christmas and New Year holidays during the snowbird Winter season.
  • The cheapest auto transport quotes to Fort Lauderdale happen just four months later in the Spring season.
  • The late Summer season collides with college student auto shipping, and for a while, costs rise.
  • The Autumn season is an ideal time to ship your car to Fort Lauderdale.

In This Blog Article:

Shipping A Car To Fort Lauderdale In The Winter Season

We start with the hard part first, shipping a car to Fort Lauderdale in the winter season. Specifically, over the Christmas and New Year’s Day holidays. 

When we talk about seasonality in the vehicle transport industry, late December and early January are the big reasons. No other time is as hectic and stressful as that period. 

Direct Express Auto Transport has over twenty years of experience shipping cars to Fort Lauderdale, Florida. We track daily the number of single-vehicle Sedans, SUVs, Pickup Trucks, and Vans system-wide that are available to ship on a popular auto transport load board. 

We omit in our study multiple vehicle orders, those that are anywhere from 2 to 10 vehicles on the car transport trailer because we are better able to assess market volume changes. The numbers tell a story and we share the past year in this blog. 

Here is what typically happens to the sheer number of vehicles shipping to Florida on any given day in the Winter Season from December to February. It is often called Snowbird season as well. 

Winter Season Auto Transport To Florida Avg. Daily Single Vehicles Avail. To FL Ratio Of Vehicles Shipping To/From FL Comments About Winter Season Car Shipping To Florida
1st Week of December 3288 1.3:1 Thanksgiving causes a mini-backlog
2nd Week of December 2056 1.6:1 Early December mirrors November volume
3rd Week of December 3306 1.5:1 The snowbird rush to FL begins in earnest
4th Week of December 4085 1.8:1 Carriers want to be home for Xmas too
1st Week of January 6785 2.1:1 And New Year’s … busiest week of the year
2nd Week of January 5400 2.2:1 Highest priced orders ship first
3rd Week of January 3770 1.6:1 2nd highest priced orders ship next
4th Week of January 3417 1.6:1 Eventually all the snowbirds ship a vehicle
1st Week of February 2153 1.3:1 It took a month for a return to normalcy
2nd Week of February 2311 1:1 February is so calm compared to January
3rd Week of February 1711 1:1 Crickets … nothing but crickets
4th Week of February 1627 1:1.3 Late February is a very good time to ship
End of February / Begin March 1791 1:1.5 An ideal time to ship a car to Florida

When Is The Best Time To Ship A Car To Fort Lauderdale In The Winter?

If at all possible, you should avoid the last two weeks of December and the first two weeks of January. It is hectic for everybody. Just look at the chart and see how the number of vehicles available to ship skyrockets fourfold around the holidays. It is more than the car transportation system can handle. 

During the Christmas and New Year’s Day holidays, the vehicle transport carriers and brokers, and most of all the customers, are stressed. The carriers and brokers understand what is happening … why some orders ship and others that are priced too cheap – don’t. 

But not all customers understand the auto transport industry, and why the order they placed weeks ago is still languishing in their cold driveway.

Do Not Book A Vehicle Shipment To Fort Lauderdale Too Soon

The auto shipping industry is not first come, first served. Once Christmas arrives, the vehicle shipping cost rises incrementally almost daily for four weeks. If a customer booked too early, he will likely have too low a price when the time comes to ship his car. He will have to wait. Or add money to rectify the dilemma. 

The carriers are not concerned with when any particular order was booked. They are only concerned with maximizing their profit, as anyone would be. The carriers quite naturally choose to haul the highest-paying vehicles available. For them, it is a feeding frenzy. Kind of like Piranha. 

The car shipping carriers have a dilemma to contend with once in Fort Lauderdale. There is very little freight leaving Fort Lauderdale. Because there are so many competing car transport carriers swarming to Fort Lauderdale, and elsewhere in Florida, in late December and all of January, chances are high that a carrier returns home with a half-empty trailer. That means he must make money on the trip to Fort Lauderdale. He doesn’t have the luxury of transporting cheap orders. 

Book Your Car Shipment Order To Fort Lauderdale About One Week Prior

A good rule of thumb is to book your vehicle shipment to Fort Lauderdale about 7 days before availability. The overwhelming majority of auto transport carriers will not commit to picking up a car shipment more than three days in advance of the vehicle availability. 

So why book much earlier than that? It is almost always best to have current vehicle transport market pricing. If it’s high, then there’s no way around it, you gotta pay. Because other cars will ship and yours won’t.

How To Select The Best Car Shipping Rate To Fort Lauderdale

Direct Express Auto Transport uniquely has three levels of service on every route, including shipping a car to Fort Lauderdale. The customers who choose the highest Rush rate are typically happiest with the service. 

The customers who choose the Expedited rate are often satisfied with the results. 

Those who book the Standard rate to Fort Lauderdale during the busy snowbird season are frustrated while waiting their turn. 

We are writing this blog to give good advice to unaware customers. The smartest thing to do if you are in a hurry to ship a car is to go with the higher Rush or Expedited rates. 

Transporting A Vehicle To Fort Lauderdale In The Spring Season

When the Fort Lauderdale snowbirds return home in the Spring season, starting in late April, throughout all of May, and into early June, the above scenario repeats itself in reverse.

This blog, however, is about shipping a vehicle to Fort Lauderdale during the four seasons. We are advising you on the best strategy during each season. 

In the Spring Season shipping a vehicle to Fort Lauderdale, the volume of orders returns to normal. The Spring Season is nothing like the Winter Season. 

Spring Season Auto Transport To Florida Avg. Daily Single Vehicles Avail. To FL Ratio Of Vehicles Shipping To/From FL Comments About Spring Season Car Shipping To Florida
1st Week of March 3593 1:1.3 March is generally calm
2nd Week of March 3708 1:1.4 Normal low activity in March to FL
3rd Week of March 3102 1:1.6 A great time to ship to Florida
4th Week of March 2226 1:2 Snowbirds leaving
1st Week of April 2716 1:2 Snowbirds leaving Florida
2nd Week of April 2228 1:2.5 The best time to ship a car to Florida
3rd Week of April 1950 1:3 Cheap car shipping period to Florida
4th Week of April 2659 1:2.7 Snowbirds leaving is great for the reverse
1st Week of May 3230 1:2.9 May is ideal for shipping to FL
2nd Week of May 2181 1:4.3 Vehicles ship to Florida quickly because …
3rd Week of May 2262 1:3.7 There are fourfold cars leaving Florida
4th Week of May 1886 1:3.4 May is cheapest month to ship to Florida
End of May / Begin June 3166 1:2.1 Memorial Day

After the Winter Season, there are a couple of months of relatively normal vehicle shipping activity to Fort Lauderdale and the rest of Florida.

Why May Is The Cheapest Time Of Year To Ship Your Car To Fort Lauderdale

And then there is May, which is ridiculously advantageous for shipping a vehicle to Florida. The cheapest Vehicle Transport pricing of the year to Fort Lauderdale occurs in May. Why is that, you ask? In May, there are tens of thousands of snowbirds (retirees, college students, and many others) who hibernated in Fort Lauderdale for the winter and are returning home to the north. With so many leaving Fort Lauderdale, and so few coming, the reverse route to Fort Lauderdale becomes incredibly cheap. Enjoy it while you can. 

In May, auto shipping quotes from Fort Lauderdale usually skyrocket as demand for car transport carrier space is very high. Available carrier space is in short supply. The inverse is true. There is an overabundance of auto transport carrier space available to Fort Lauderdale, which drives down the price. Therefore, May is the cheapest time of year to ship a car to Fort Lauderdale. 

Auto Transport To Fort Lauderdale In The Summer Season

Auto transport to Fort Lauderdale in the Summer Season is busier than the Spring or Autumn seasons, but not nearly as hectic as the Winter season. Vehicle Transport quotes are fairly stable throughout the summer but rise significantly in August. 

The snowbirds finally return home at the end of May, with a few stragglers in early June. 

Like the rest of the country in the Summer Season, auto shipping traffic tends to be families and individuals relocating from and to other states. There are more vehicle shipments than in the slower months of February, March, and April. And considerably more than September, October, and November. 

Avoid Shipping Your Vehicle Around The 4th of July

Car transport carrier drivers enjoy being home as much as you do for the 4th of July festivities. The hometown parade. The barbecue with family and friends. A mid-summer rest with the people you love. 

That means fewer vehicles are getting shipped right in the middle of the busy Summer Season. Orders get backlogged. When the carriers get back to work in early July, they transport to Fort Lauderdale the highest-paying freight first with no regard to how long a customer has been waiting. For about two weeks thereafter, many customers find it both more expensive and frustrating.

The thing to do, and here is your tip, is to avoid vehicle shipping to Fort Lauderdale the last week of June and the first two weeks of July. That is not a good time to ship a car.

Summer Season Auto Transport To Florida Avg. Daily Single Vehicles Avail. To FL Ratio Of Vehicles Shipping To/From FL Comments About Summer Season Car Shipping To Florida
1st Week of June 3228 1:1.9 Snowbird season FROM FL continues
2nd Week of June 2973 1:1.6 Early June is ideal car shipping TO FL
3rd Week of June 2483 1:1.5 It is cheap auto transport to Florida
4th Week of June 2834 1:1.2 A transition starts to happen in Florida
1st Week of July 2440 1:1.3 The 4th of July creates a mini backlog
2nd Week of July 3328 1:1.1 A week of parity shipping TO and FRO
3rd Week of July 2331 1.3:1 Suddenly it is more costly car shipping to FL
4th Week of July 2075 1.2:1 But only slightly more expensive TO Florida
1st Week of August 3287 1.4:1 August is not a good month shipping TO FL
2nd Week of August 3419 2.1:1 College kids shipping cars to Florida
3rd Week of August 3062 2.1:1 Families relocating to Florida before school
4th Week of August 2901 2.1:1 A horrible time to ship a car to Florida
End of August / Begin September 2610 2:1 Because more than twice the vehicles are shipping TO Florida than FROM Florida
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College Students Create A Spike In Car Shipping Every August

There is a very discernible automobile shipping spike every year in the late Summer Season. Florida has many popular universities and colleges that attract students from all over America. For many, it is an ideal place to go to college. 

Those Florida colleges on the semester system create a mid-August boost in auto transport to Fort Lauderdale that lasts until the end of the month. Of the nearly 800,000 Florida college students, roughly 17% are from out-of-state, which means tens of thousands suddenly require vehicle shipping services. 

Vehicle Shipping To Fort Lauderdale In The Autumn Season

Vehicle shipping to Fort Lauderdale in the Autumn Season is easy. It is considered a slow time of year in the car shipping industry. Automobile shipping costs remain stable and affordable throughout most of the Fall or Autumn Season. 

Autumn Season Auto Transport To Florida Avg. Daily Single Vehicles Avail. To FL Ratio Of Vehicles Shipping To/From FL Comments About Autumn Season Car Shipping To Florida
1st Week of September 2302 1.9:1 Extremely high ratio of 2-1 car shipping to FL
2nd Week of September 2295 1.6:1 Shipping to FL is very high cost early Sept
3rd Week of September 3601 1.4:1 Higher than normal throughout September
4th Week of September 4005 1.4:1 The high ratio to FL continues
1st Week of October 2139 1.8:1 Pricing remains high due to the imbalance
2nd Week of October 3254 1.5:1 Car shipping cost to FL is still very high
3rd Week of October 2700 2.7:1 Ratios are way out of whack to Florida
4th Week of October 2568 2.9:1 Car shipping costs to Florida skyrocket
1st Week of November 2622 2.5:1 Pricing remains high due to the imbalance
2nd Week of November 2008 2.1:1 Early November is a bad time to ship to FL
3rd Week of November 1518 1.4:1 mid-November starts to calm down
4th Week of November 2243 1.3:1 Vehicle shipping interrupted by Turkey Day
End of November / Begin December 2422 1.7:1 Thanksgiving causes car shipment backlogs to Florida for a week or more
[INSERT CONTENT]

Hurricanes and Thanksgiving Create Minor Backlogs

The only blips on the screen when it comes to vehicle shipping to Fort Lauderdale in the Autumn Season are hurricanes and Thanksgiving. And both are momentary. 

National weather forecasters can see hurricanes forming in the Caribbean or Gulf of Mexico days in advance. Car transport carriers know how long they have to get out of Florida, and they avoid entirely any route there. They wait it out, which usually takes but a few days, a week at most. 

September and October are the two most susceptible months for hurricanes, but of course, there are exceptions. Hurricanes create a backlog of vehicle shipments to Fort Lauderdale that are usually overcome within a week after the event. 

At the end of November comes Thanksgiving. Like everybody else, Vehicle Transport carriers like to be home for Turkey Day too. Because Thanksgiving is always the fourth Thursday in November, drivers are usually home by the Wednesday before and don’t return to the road until the Monday after Thanksgiving. Essentially a five-day break for many. It takes about a week for the vehicle shipping freight system to recover and return to equilibrium. 

Bottom Line: When To Ship A Car To Fort Lauderdale

When is the best time to ship a car to Fort Lauderdale? Probably the Spring,  Summer, and Autumn Seasons. Car shipping quotes tend to be lower and service faster. The Winter Season is far more costly.

As far as car shipping to Fort Lauderdale goes, some seasons are much easier than others. The Winter season is by far the toughest, especially around the auto transport snowbird migration to Fort Lauderdale in late December and January, as shipping costs soar. 

The Spring season is a good time to ship a car to Fort Lauderdale, especially in May when snowbird backhaul prices plummet to Fort Lauderdale. The Summer season is relatively fine. The Autumn season is ideal weather, and car transport quotes tend to be lower than average. 

The Original Car Shipping Quote Calculator To Fort Lauderdale, Florida

Direct Express Auto Transport originated the instant car shipping quote calculator in 2004. It is still the best, most sophisticated, reliable tool available online. We offer three options that we call tiers of car shipping quote estimates to Fort Lauderdale, FL.

The Standard rate is the cheapest car shipping quote. Use the Standard rate if you can be patient. 

The Expedited rate, or tier as we call them, is the most recommended and best auto transport quote. We have countless satisfied Expedited rate customers because the vehicle shipping process tends to go quicker. 

The Rush rate is our highest level of car transport quotes and service, and many customers are glad they went with that method too. If in a hurry, go Rush rate.

Car Transport Cost: FAQ

  • Should You Ship Your Car Open or Enclosed?

    About 97% of all vehicle shipments are shipped on an Open Trailer. It’s proven to be a very safe method with statistically very few problems. You may notice new cars being delivered to dealerships in an open trailer, and that’s because it’s safe. If you have a collector car or really expensive automobile, say around $75,000 or more, then we recommend shipping it in an Enclosed Trailer. Expect to pay about 33-50% more for an Enclosed transport. Our auto shipping costs calculator automatically adds the extra enclosed car transport estimate to your quote, so you can experiment with the quotes if you like.

  • How Long Will It Take To Pick Up My Vehicle?

    Over 90% of our orders ship inside of one week. That could be anywhere from 1 to 7 days. Most of the U.S. population lives in a major metropolitan area and is shipping to another well populated area, and that makes a big difference. Cars usually ship in a very regular manner, almost half within just a few days.

    If either your origination or destination locations are away from population centers, in other words, in a remote area, then you might consider meeting a driver in a nearby big city or town to increase your chances of shipping timely. Or adding money to the carrier fee may entice a carrier. Remember, anyone you choose can serve as your point of contact, which takes the stress out of shipping your vehicle.

  • How Do I Prepare My Vehicle For Shipment?

    Clean out your vehicle of all loose items as much as possible. Leave nothing of value in the vehicle. It’s very rare that any items are stolen during transport, but we recommend extra caution to prevent loss.

    Keep extra items as previously discussed to a minimum and place in the trunk or out of sight. Have only about a quarter tank of gasoline. Give the auto transport carrier a set of keys and advise them of any special instructions for your vehicle, like difficulty starting, steering, braking, etc.

    Driver Consideration: Being a truck driver can be a thankless job. They work long hours and are away from their families for weeks at a time. Please be friendly and considerate to our drivers, and they will treat you in the same manner.

  • How Are Car Shipping Quotes Calculated?

    The first factor used to calculate car shipping cost is the transport distance. Next are the length, height and weight of the vehicle, followed by running condition and type of trailer (Open or Enclosed). Finally, seasonal fluctuations may impact the overall cost.

  • Non-Running Vehicles Cost More

    Maneuvering non-operational vehicles on and off a car transport trailer is a big challenge. Car shipping companies much prefer operational (running) vehicles because it gives them an easier option to reposition their entire load. Non-running vehicles take considerably more time to get on and off the trailer. So the car shipping quote must reflect the higher cost. Many auto transporters don’t have a winch and cannot accommodate non-running vehicles. That is one reason it takes longer on average to ship non-operational vehicles. Fewer do it. If at all possible, fixing your vehicle before trying to ship it will save on the non-running car transport cost, and make the process go faster.

  • How Long Does It Take To Deliver My Vehicle?

    Delivering is final step in the process, and also the simplest part. Once your vehicle has been assigned and picked up, not too much can go wrong. Once the vehicle is picked up, you can estimate that it will take roughly 1 day of transit time for every 500 miles distance. Delivery Time Estimate Guide 100-500 miles takes 1 or 2 days 500-1000 miles takes 2 or 3 days 1000-1500 miles takes 3 or 4 days 1500-2000 miles takes 4 or 5 days 2000-2500 miles takes 5 or 6 days 2500-3000 miles takes 6 or 7 days Depending on the distance, weather conditions and population centers it could be a few days or weeks until a vehicle reaches its destination. The carriers usually estimate about 10 days on coast to coast trips, but they frequently arrive earlier.

  • Can I Put Stuff In My Car When I Ship It?

    Yes and no. The strict interpretation is no, you can’t ship items inside your vehicle. The reality is that almost all carriers look the other way on items that weigh less than 100 pounds, roughly the equivalent of 2 suitcases. We recommend placing any additional items in the trunk and out of sight. The U.S. Transportation Law states that a carrier can be fined $10,000 for hauling household items in the vehicle, but it’s rarely enforced. However, the drivers do estimate the weight of each vehicle that they carry and don’t want problems at weight scales. So they must keep the personal items to a minimum. Some drivers will accept a tip ($50-$250) for hauling extra stuff, but some won’t. Rule of thumb, don’t take advantage.

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  • Open vs Enclosed Car Transport Service

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Photo of sunset downtown Los Angeles when to ship a car

When To Ship A Car To Los Angeles

Written by Mike Rupers on . Posted in Auto Transport Quote Calculator, Auto Transport Services, Auto Transport Tips, Car Shipping Advice, Car Shipping Cost Calculator, Car Shipping Quotes Calculator, Car Shipping Service, Car Transport Cost per Mile, Door To Door Auto Transport, Expedited Rate Auto Transport, Rush Tier Car Shipping, Seasonal Fluctuations, Vehicle Shipping Cost.

When To Ship A Car To Los Angeles

Get Your Car Shipping Quote!

Photo of sunset downtown Los Angeles when to ship a car

When To Ship A Car To Los Angeles

Get Your Car Shipping Quote!

Related Topic Resources

The four seasons greatly affect Los Angeles car shipping quotes, overall cost, and level of service. Here is when to ship a car to Los Angeles. Depending on the season, your approach to shipping a vehicle to Los Angeles should change.

We include in this blog savvy tips and strategies that will help you have a successful experience. We have learned the best time to ship a car to Los Angeles, California in all four seasons.

OUR METHODOLOGY:

Direct Express Auto Transport has over twenty years of experience shipping cars to Los Angeles, California. We track daily the number of single-vehicle Sedans, SUVs, Pickup Trucks, and Vans system-wide that are available to ship on an auto transport load board. 

We omit here in our study multiple vehicle orders, those that are anywhere from 2 to 10 vehicles on the car transport trailer because we are better able to assess market volume changes. The numbers tell the story of car shipping to Los Angeles, and we share the past year’s results in this blog.

Key Takeaways: 

  • Car shipping to Los Angeles is affected greatly by the seasons.
  • The highest vehicle shipping cost to Los Angeles is during the Christmas & New Year’s holidays, and the Autumn Season months of October and early November.
  • The cheapest auto transport quotes TO Los Angeles are from May through August. The Summer Season.
  • Conversely, the most expensive car shipping quotes FROM Los Angeles are also from May through August. The Summer Season.
  • The late Winter Season and early Spring reach a level of pricing parity and are a good time to ship a car to Los Angeles.

In This Blog Article:

Shipping A Car To Los Angeles In The Winter Season

We start with the hard part first, shipping a car to Los Angeles in the winter season. Specifically, over the Christmas and New Year’s Day holidays. 

When we talk about seasonality in the vehicle transport industry, late December and early January are big reasons. It is hectic, expensive, and stressful during the holidays shipping a car to Los Angeles. 

Direct Express Auto Transport has over twenty years of experience shipping cars to Los Angeles, California. We track daily the number of single-vehicle Sedans, SUVs, Pickup Trucks, and Vans system-wide that are available to ship on the auto transport load board. 

We omit here in our study multiple vehicle orders, those that are anywhere from 2 to 10 vehicles on the car transport trailer because we are better able to assess market volume changes. 

The numbers tell the story of car shipping to Los Angeles, and we share the past year’s California results in this blog. 

Here is what typically happens to the sheer number of vehicles car shipping to California on any given day in the Winter Season from December to February.

Winter Season Auto Transport To Florida Avg. Daily Single Vehicles Avail. To FL Ratio Of Vehicles Shipping To/From FL Comments About Winter Season Car Shipping To Florida
1st Week of December 3288 1.3:1 Thanksgiving causes a mini-backlog
2nd Week of December 2056 1.6:1 Early December mirrors November volume
3rd Week of December 3306 1.5:1 The snowbird rush to FL begins in earnest
4th Week of December 4085 1.8:1 Carriers want to be home for Xmas too
1st Week of January 6785 2.1:1 And New Year’s … busiest week of the year
2nd Week of January 5400 2.2:1 Highest priced orders ship first
3rd Week of January 3770 1.6:1 2nd highest priced orders ship next
4th Week of January 3417 1.6:1 Eventually all the snowbirds ship a vehicle
1st Week of February 2153 1.3:1 It took a month for a return to normalcy
2nd Week of February 2311 1:1 February is so calm compared to January
3rd Week of February 1711 1:1 Crickets … nothing but crickets
4th Week of February 1627 1:1.3 Late February is a very good time to ship
End of February / Begin March 1791 1:1.5 An ideal time to ship a car to Florida

When Is The Best Time To Ship A Car To Los Angeles In The Winter?

If at all possible, you should avoid the last two weeks of December and the first two weeks of January to ship a car to Los Angeles. It is hectic for everybody. Just look at the chart and see how the number of vehicles available to ship skyrockets fourfold around the holidays. It is more than the car transportation system can handle. 

During the Christmas and New Year’s Day holidays, the vehicle transport carriers and brokers, and most of all the customers, are stressed. The carriers and brokers understand what is happening … why some orders ship and others that are priced too cheap – don’t. 

But not all customers understand the auto transport industry, and why the order they placed weeks ago is still languishing in their cold driveway.

Do Not Book A Vehicle Shipment To Los Angeles Too Soon

The car shipping industry is not first come, first served. Once Christmas arrives, the vehicle shipping cost rises incrementally almost daily for four weeks. If a customer booked too early, he will likely have too low a price when the time comes to ship his car. He will have to wait. Or add money to rectify the dilemma. 

The carriers are not concerned with when any particular order was booked. What matters to them is maximizing their profit, as anyone would be. The carriers quite naturally choose to haul the highest-paying vehicles available. For them, it is a feeding frenzy. Kind of like Piranha. 

Fortunately, as you may observe from the ratios in the Winter Season table, there is near parity with the number of vehicles coming and going in California. That helps keep pricing and timeframes stable in Los Angeles.

Book Your Car Shipment Order To Los Angeles About One Week Prior

A good rule of thumb is to book your vehicle shipment to Los Angeles about 7 days before availability. The overwhelming majority of auto transport carriers will not commit to picking up a car shipment more than three days in advance of the vehicle availability. 

So why book much earlier than that? It is almost always best to have current auto transport market pricing. If it’s high, then there’s no way around it, you gotta pay it to get your car shipped. Because other cars will ship and yours won’t.

How To Select The Best Car Shipping Rate To Los Angeles, CA

Direct Express Auto Transport uniquely has three levels of service on every route, including shipping a car to Los Angeles. The customers who choose the highest Rush rate are typically happiest with the service. 

The customers who choose the Expedited rate are often satisfied with the results. 

Those who book the Standard rate to Los Angeles during the busy season are sometimes frustrated waiting their turn. 

We are writing this blog to give good advice to unaware customers. The smartest thing to do if you are in a hurry is to ship your car with the higher Rush or Expedited rates. 

Transporting A Vehicle To Los Angeles In The Spring Season

Almost all of March is kind of slow shipping either to or from Los Angeles. But starting in late April, and throughout all of May, significantly more vehicles are shipping from Los Angeles than to it. Well then, the auto transport cost becomes lower to Los Angeles in the Spring Season and it is a great time to ship there. You picked a good time to ship a car to the City of Angels.

Spring Season Auto Transport To Florida Avg. Daily Single Vehicles Avail. To FL Ratio Of Vehicles Shipping To/From FL Comments About Spring Season Car Shipping To Florida
1st Week of March 3593 1:1.3 March is generally calm
2nd Week of March 3708 1:1.4 Normal low activity in March to FL
3rd Week of March 3102 1:1.6 A great time to ship to Florida
4th Week of March 2226 1:2 Snowbirds leaving
1st Week of April 2716 1:2 Snowbirds leaving Florida
2nd Week of April 2228 1:2.5 The best time to ship a car to Florida
3rd Week of April 1950 1:3 Cheap car shipping period to Florida
4th Week of April 2659 1:2.7 Snowbirds leaving is great for the reverse
1st Week of May 3230 1:2.9 May is ideal for shipping to FL
2nd Week of May 2181 1:4.3 Vehicles ship to Florida quickly because …
3rd Week of May 2262 1:3.7 There are fourfold cars leaving Florida
4th Week of May 1886 1:3.4 May is cheapest month to ship to Florida
End of May / Begin June 3166 1:2.1 Memorial Day

After the Winter Season, there are a couple of months of relatively normal vehicle shipping activity to Fort Lauderdale and the rest of Florida.

Auto Transport To Los Angeles In The Summer Season

Auto transport to Los Angeles in the Summer Season is far busier than in the Spring Season. The ratios can be deceiving relative to the volume of activity. The reason there appear to be fewer cars on any given day being shipped to Los Angeles in the Summer is only because what becomes available doesn’t stay on the load board very long. 

Because there are often two or three times more cars shipping from Los Angeles in the Summer, it creates a high demand for vehicles shipping there. Rest assured that there are still plenty of orders being placed every day in the Summer to Los Angeles and gobbled up quickly. 

Avoid Shipping Your Vehicle Around The 4th of July

Car transport carrier drivers enjoy being home as much as you do for the 4th of July festivities. The hometown parade. The barbecue with family and friends. A mid-summer rest with the people you love. 

That means fewer vehicles are getting shipped right in the middle of the busy Summer Season. Orders get backlogged. When the carriers get back to work in early July, they transport to Los Angeles the highest-paying freight first with no regard to how long a customer has been waiting. For about two weeks thereafter, many customers find it both more expensive and frustrating.

The thing to do, and here is your tip, is to avoid vehicle shipping to Los Angeles the last week of June and the first two weeks of July. That is not a good time to ship a car. 

College Students Create A Spike In Car Shipping Every August

There is a very discernible car shipping spike every year in the late Summer Season shipping from California. While California has many popular universities and colleges that attract students from all over America, still there are far more California college students leaving the state for universities out-of-state.

That helps make car shipping to California in late August both cheaper and faster.

Auto transport costs to Los Angeles in the Summer Season are less than from Los Angeles. It occasionally costs about 20-30% more to ship from the entire state of California in the Summer Season than it does going there. 

Vehicle Shipping To Los Angeles, CA In The Autumn Season

Vehicle shipping to Los Angeles in the Autumn Season is the only time of year when slightly more cars are being shipped to there than from there. In every other season, it is either the opposite or at minimum, parity. 

Autumn is generally considered a slow time of year in the car shipping industry. Auto transport costs remain relatively stable and more affordable throughout most of the Autumn Season. It is a good time of year to ship your car to Los Angeles. 

Summer Season Auto Transport To Florida Avg. Daily Single Vehicles Avail. To FL Ratio Of Vehicles Shipping To/From FL Comments About Summer Season Car Shipping To Florida
1st Week of June 3228 1:1.9 Snowbird season FROM FL continues
2nd Week of June 2973 1:1.6 Early June is ideal car shipping TO FL
3rd Week of June 2483 1:1.5 It is cheap auto transport to Florida
4th Week of June 2834 1:1.2 A transition starts to happen in Florida
1st Week of July 2440 1:1.3 The 4th of July creates a mini backlog
2nd Week of July 3328 1:1.1 A week of parity shipping TO and FRO
3rd Week of July 2331 1.3:1 Suddenly it is more costly car shipping to FL
4th Week of July 2075 1.2:1 But only slightly more expensive TO Florida
1st Week of August 3287 1.4:1 August is not a good month shipping TO FL
2nd Week of August 3419 2.1:1 College kids shipping cars to Florida
3rd Week of August 3062 2.1:1 Families relocating to Florida before school
4th Week of August 2901 2.1:1 A horrible time to ship a car to Florida
End of August / Begin September 2610 2:1 Because more than twice the vehicles are shipping TO Florida than FROM Florida

Thanksgiving Can Cause Transport Delays To Los Angeles

September, October, and the first half of November are fairly tranquil months for car shipping services just about anywhere in the country. That certainly holds for Los Angeles.

However, toward the end of November comes Thanksgiving. Like everybody else, auto transport carrier drivers would like to be home for Turkey Day too. 

Because Thanksgiving is always the fourth Thursday in November, drivers are usually home by the Wednesday before and don’t return to the road until the Monday after Thanksgiving. Essentially a five-day break for many. It takes about one week afterward for the vehicle shipping system to recover and return to equilibrium.

The Toughest Time Of Year To Ship Your Car To Los Angeles

Other than the New Year’s holiday, the most prolonged and toughest time of year for auto transport pricing to Los Angeles, California occurs in the Autumn Season. 

In Autumn, more vehicles are shipping to Los Angeles, and fewer leaving. October and November are the only two months in the year when it is harder and more expensive to ship a car to Los Angeles.

Autumn Season Auto Transport To Florida Avg. Daily Single Vehicles Avail. To FL Ratio Of Vehicles Shipping To/From FL Comments About Autumn Season Car Shipping To Florida
1st Week of September 2302 1.9:1 Extremely high ratio of 2-1 car shipping to FL
2nd Week of September 2295 1.6:1 Shipping to FL is very high cost early Sept
3rd Week of September 3601 1.4:1 Higher than normal throughout September
4th Week of September 4005 1.4:1 The high ratio to FL continues
1st Week of October 2139 1.8:1 Pricing remains high due to the imbalance
2nd Week of October 3254 1.5:1 Car shipping cost to FL is still very high
3rd Week of October 2700 2.7:1 Ratios are way out of whack to Florida
4th Week of October 2568 2.9:1 Car shipping costs to Florida skyrocket
1st Week of November 2622 2.5:1 Pricing remains high due to the imbalance
2nd Week of November 2008 2.1:1 Early November is a bad time to ship to FL
3rd Week of November 1518 1.4:1 mid-November starts to calm down
4th Week of November 2243 1.3:1 Vehicle shipping interrupted by Turkey Day
End of November / Begin December 2422 1.7:1 Thanksgiving causes car shipment backlogs to Florida for a week or more

Bottom Line: When To Ship A Car To Los Angeles

When is the best time to ship a car to Los Angeles? Probably the Spring and Summer seasons. Car shipping quotes tend to be lower and service faster. The Autumn and Winter Seasons are more costly. 

As far as car shipping to Los Angeles goes, some seasons are much easier than others. The Winter season is the hardest and most expensive around the Christmas and New Year’s Day holidays. The Spring Season is an ideal time for vehicle shipping to L.A. 

The Summer Season is a difficult time shipping from Los Angeles, but that makes it ideal for transport to Los Angeles. Finally, the Autumn Season is good for car shipping to Los Angeles at the beginning (in September) and at the end (November), but is more expensive in October.

The Original Car Shipping Quote Calculator To Los Angeles, California

Direct Express Auto Transport originated the instant car shipping quote calculator in 2004. It is still the best, most sophisticated, reliable tool available online. We offer three options that we call tiers of car shipping quote estimates to Los Angeles, CA.

The Standard rate is the cheapest car shipping quote. Use the Standard rate if you can be patient. 

The Expedited rate, or tier as we call them, is the most recommended and best auto transport quote. We have countless satisfied Expedited rate customers because the vehicle shipping process tends to go quicker. 

The Rush rate is our highest level of car transport quotes and service, and many customers are glad they went with that method too. If in a hurry, go Rush rate. 

Car Transport Cost: FAQ

  • Should You Ship Your Car Open or Enclosed?

    About 97% of all vehicle shipments are shipped on an Open Trailer. It’s proven to be a very safe method with statistically very few problems. You may notice new cars being delivered to dealerships in an open trailer, and that’s because it’s safe. If you have a collector car or really expensive automobile, say around $75,000 or more, then we recommend shipping it in an Enclosed Trailer. Expect to pay about 33-50% more for an Enclosed transport. Our auto shipping costs calculator automatically adds the extra enclosed car transport estimate to your quote, so you can experiment with the quotes if you like.

  • How Long Will It Take To Pick Up My Vehicle?

    Over 90% of our orders ship inside of one week. That could be anywhere from 1 to 7 days. Most of the U.S. population lives in a major metropolitan area and is shipping to another well populated area, and that makes a big difference. Cars usually ship in a very regular manner, almost half within just a few days.

    If either your origination or destination locations are away from population centers, in other words, in a remote area, then you might consider meeting a driver in a nearby big city or town to increase your chances of shipping timely. Or adding money to the carrier fee may entice a carrier. Remember, anyone you choose can serve as your point of contact, which takes the stress out of shipping your vehicle.

  • How Do I Prepare My Vehicle For Shipment?

    Clean out your vehicle of all loose items as much as possible. Leave nothing of value in the vehicle. It’s very rare that any items are stolen during transport, but we recommend extra caution to prevent loss.

    Keep extra items as previously discussed to a minimum and place in the trunk or out of sight. Have only about a quarter tank of gasoline. Give the auto transport carrier a set of keys and advise them of any special instructions for your vehicle, like difficulty starting, steering, braking, etc.

    Driver Consideration: Being a truck driver can be a thankless job. They work long hours and are away from their families for weeks at a time. Please be friendly and considerate to our drivers, and they will treat you in the same manner.

  • How Are Car Shipping Quotes Calculated?

    The first factor used to calculate car shipping cost is the transport distance. Next are the length, height and weight of the vehicle, followed by running condition and type of trailer (Open or Enclosed). Finally, seasonal fluctuations may impact the overall cost.

  • Non-Running Vehicles Cost More

    Maneuvering non-operational vehicles on and off a car transport trailer is a big challenge. Car shipping companies much prefer operational (running) vehicles because it gives them an easier option to reposition their entire load. Non-running vehicles take considerably more time to get on and off the trailer. So the car shipping quote must reflect the higher cost. Many auto transporters don’t have a winch and cannot accommodate non-running vehicles. That is one reason it takes longer on average to ship non-operational vehicles. Fewer do it. If at all possible, fixing your vehicle before trying to ship it will save on the non-running car transport cost, and make the process go faster.

  • How Long Does It Take To Deliver My Vehicle?

    Delivering is final step in the process, and also the simplest part. Once your vehicle has been assigned and picked up, not too much can go wrong. Once the vehicle is picked up, you can estimate that it will take roughly 1 day of transit time for every 500 miles distance. Delivery Time Estimate Guide 100-500 miles takes 1 or 2 days 500-1000 miles takes 2 or 3 days 1000-1500 miles takes 3 or 4 days 1500-2000 miles takes 4 or 5 days 2000-2500 miles takes 5 or 6 days 2500-3000 miles takes 6 or 7 days Depending on the distance, weather conditions and population centers it could be a few days or weeks until a vehicle reaches its destination. The carriers usually estimate about 10 days on coast to coast trips, but they frequently arrive earlier.

  • Can I Put Stuff In My Car When I Ship It?

    Yes and no. The strict interpretation is no, you can’t ship items inside your vehicle. The reality is that almost all carriers look the other way on items that weigh less than 100 pounds, roughly the equivalent of 2 suitcases. We recommend placing any additional items in the trunk and out of sight. The U.S. Transportation Law states that a carrier can be fined $10,000 for hauling household items in the vehicle, but it’s rarely enforced. However, the drivers do estimate the weight of each vehicle that they carry and don’t want problems at weight scales. So they must keep the personal items to a minimum. Some drivers will accept a tip ($50-$250) for hauling extra stuff, but some won’t. Rule of thumb, don’t take advantage.

Related Articles

  • Open vs Enclosed Car Transport Service

    Read more

Continue reading

boston auto transport fenway park photo

Atlanta to Boston Auto Transport Quotes

Written by Mike Rupers on . Posted in Auto Shipping, auto transport by city, Auto Transport Quote Calculator, Auto Transport Services, Car Shipping Cost Calculator, College Student Car Shipping Tips, Snowbird Auto Transport, Uncategorized.

Atlanta, GA to Boston, MA Auto Transport

You have arrived at the right place for Atlanta to Boston auto transport quotes and services. Direct Express Auto Transport originated the instant quote calculator for Atlanta, GA to Boston, MA auto transport. For two decades, we have established ourselves as the top rated authority on what it takes to ship a car from Atlanta, Georgia to Boston, Massachusetts safely, reliably, and competitively.

Choose Between Three Auto Transport Rates For The Best Atlanta to Boston Service For You

Direct Express Auto Transport uniquely offers three levels of auto transport service. Our Standard Tier or rate, is the most basic market car shipping price that a carrier might be expected to accept. Unless that particular route has more competition. In that case, we highly recommend our Expedited Tier or rate, which usually separates our customers’ vehicles from the pack, making it stand out and ship first, or quicker. We have a high customer satisfaction rating for Expedited Tier.

Then there are some customers who want their car shipped right away, or as soon as possible. To do that, we offer the Rush Tier or rate, which goes up and over the Expedited rate, and carriers often jump to pick up that customer vehicle. The nice thing is that all three tiers are laid out nicely on our car shipping calculator and you can easily decide which one to choose.

Atlanta to Boston Auto Transport carrier on the road

How Much Does It Cost To Ship My Car From Atlanta, GA to Boston, MA

These auto shipping rates were generated on the date this blog was published, which is good for estimating and gives you a fairly good idea. Check for updated pricing.


Estimated Atlanta to Boston Auto Transport Quotes

Approximate Miles: 1,085Standard RateExpedited RateRush Rate
Type of Vehicle: Sedan / Open Transport$699$859$944
Usually Assigned A Carrier In …1-8 days1-4 days1-2 days
Normal Transit Time
On The Road Is 2-3 days
Once Picked Up		     

Direct Express Auto Transport Services

Top Reasons To Ship My Car

There may be any number of reasons why you are shipping your car from Atlanta to Boston. Here is what we see most often.

I’m Moving To Boston And Need To Ship My Car

The average American will move 12 times in their life. About 53% of the time, it is less than 50 miles away. So no need for them to ship a car. Another 12% move 50-300 miles away. Again, very few of them will need to transport a vehicle, but it may occasionally happen. That leaves 35%, or roughly one third of all Americans, who will move to a new city over 300 miles away. That would be approximately four (4) significant long distance relocations for the average American in their lifetime. It is those people who find us by word of mouth or online, and request an auto transport quote and service. In this case, to ship a car from Atlanta to Boston.

Atlanta to Boston Auto Transport auctions, dealerships

Atlanta, GA Auction House, Dealership or Individual Car Purchase

Nationwide in 2018, there were 9.9 million vehicles sold at auction houses. Add to that hefty figure, automobile dealerships also selling to out of state buyers and there are likely over one million vehicles sold every month between them. The over-whelming majority of those vehicles require professional car shipping services and they call us at 800-600-3750.

But wait … there’s more. The internet is teaming with online car buying sites that have vehicles listed for sale by individual owners and dealerships. Our customers find and purchase vehicles listed on KBB, Edmunds, Car.com, CarsDirect.com, Autolist, Carvana, CarGurus, AutoTrader, Vroom, eBay Motors, and more. They contact Direct Express Auto Transport to ship cars across the country.

I’m Shipping My Vehicle To A Family Member In Boston

We often talk to customers who are shipping a vehicle out of state to a family member. Sometimes it is a parent transporting a car to a son or daughter. Sometimes it is a grandmother or grandfather who has passed away and a family member is inheriting their vehicle. Whatever the reason, we are here to help get it done.

There Is A Car Show In Boston

Seems like every few days, there is a car show somewhere in America. Especially in the good weather months and warmer winter climates. It is actually a high stress situation for anyone trying to get a collector or sports car to a car show on time. Reputable auto transport brokers cannot and should not guarantee delivery dates, and that doesn’t sit well with folks who absolutely must have their vehicle delivered by a certain date.

Seasonal Atlanta to Boston Auto Transport

As the seasons change, there are fluctuations in the auto transport industry. The peak car shipping season is April through September. There is nearly 50% more car shipments during that warm weather period than there are in October through March. Call that a huge seasonal fluctuation, which creates interesting changes in auto transport pricing too. Sometimes it is higher in one direction than the reverse. It is always good to periodically check our car shipping rates from Atlanta to Boston.

Snowbird Auto Transport beach scene

Snowbird Auto Transport

The most popular form of seasonal car shipping is called Snowbird Auto Transport. A “snowbird” auto shipping customer is usually from a colder northern state, who then heads south for the winter. Renting a car for months is too expensive. So the snowbird customer will ship a car instead. Smart.

Most people escaping the winters head to a state that enjoys year-round summer weather, like Florida, which is by far the most popular snowbird destination. However, other popular snowbird states are California, Arizona, New Mexico, Texas. Gulf coast Louisiana and Alabama are also favored snowbird destinations.

College Student Atlanta to Boston Auto Transport

For the most part, we see a flurry of college student auto shipping every August and September, and then again in May and June. Maybe it was always dangerous for a college student to drive across country alone in the 60’s and 70’s, and we just didn’t realize it, but we get it now. The safest and smartest thing to do is to ship a car to your college student and fly them there.

Here are some of the more notable colleges and universities in the Atlanta, GA to Boston, MA areas:

Atlanta, GA Colleges & Universities

Georgia Institute of TechnologyGeorgia State UniversityEmory University
Oglethorpe UniversityClark Atlanta UniversityKennesaw State University
Spelman CollegeClayton State UniversityMorehouse College

Boston, MA Colleges & Universities

Harvard UniversityMassachusetts Institute of TechnologyTufts University
Boston CollegeEmerson CollegeBoston University
Suffolk UniversityNortheastern UniversityBrandeis University

University of Massachusetts-Boston
Bentley University
Berklee College of Music
Wellesley College
Babson College
Bridgewater State University
Salem State University
Stonehill College
Endicott College
Lesley University
Merrimack College
Wentworth Institute of Technology
Regis College
Dean College
Simmons University
Cambridge College
Curry College 

Military Personnel Atlanta to Boston Auto Transport

The thing that military personnel know is that auto transport carriers are not allowed on base because of the potential for terrorism. The driver and military shipper must meet outside the base gates or someplace else nearby. Communication is key in those situations. We are honored to assist military personnel shipping a vehicle from Atlanta to Boston.

Here are some military bases in the Atlanta, GA to Boston, MA areas:

Military Bases Near Atlanta For Auto Transport Services

  • Albany – Marine Corps Logistics Base.
  • Dobbins – Air Reserve Base.
  • Fort Benning.
  • Fort Gordon.
  • Fort Stewart.
  • Hunter Army Airfield.
  • Kings Bay Naval Submarine Bay.
  • Moody Air Force Base.

Military Bases Near Boston For Car Transport Services

  • Soldier Systems Center Army Base in Natick, MA
  • Fort Devens Army Base in Devens, MA
  • Hanscom Air Force Base in Bedford, MA
  • Westover Air Force Base in Westover, MA
  • Sector SE New England Coast Guard in Woods Hole, MA
  • Air Station Cape Cod Coast Guard

Corporate Relocation Atlanta to Boston Auto Transport

Coworkers relocating office staff

We are experts in Corporate Relocation, and as well, other large organizations. Whether the company is picking up the car shipping tab, or you are footing the bill yourself, we are a wealth of information and competitive pricing. The Atlanta to Boston route for business corporate relocations is popular.

Here are some of the more notable businesses in the Atlanta and Boston areas:

Notable Atlanta Companies

  • Coca-Cola Company
  • Home Depot
  • UPS
  • Delta Airlines
  • AT&T
  • Newell Brands
  • NCR
  • Chik-fil-A

Notable Boston Companies

  • Boston Scientific
  • Boston Consulting Group
  • Bain & Company
  • Fidelity Investments
  • HubSpot
  • State Street Corporation
  • Vertex Pharmaceuticals 
  • General Electric Company
  • Liberty Mutual Insurance
  • Deloitte 

Major Sports Teams Player Trades & Car Shipping from Atlanta to Boston

Very few athletes stay with one team their entire career. Often times without warning, the team General Manager calls a player to inform him or her that they have been traded. And now that player needs to ship a car, usually an SUV, from Atlanta to Boston. That’s when Direct Express Auto Transport steps in to make that as quick and stress free as possible.

Here are some of the major sports franchises in the Atlanta, GA to Boston, MA areas:

Notable Atlanta Sports Teams

 Atlanta Braves (MLB) Atlanta Falcons (NFL) 
 Atlanta Hawks (NBA) Atlanta Dream (WNBA) 
 Atlanta United FC (MLS)  

Notable Boston Sports Teams

Boston Red Sox (MLB) New England Patriots (NFL) 
Boston Celtics (NBA) Boston Bruins (NHL) 
New England Revolution (MLS) 

Why Choose Our Atlanta to Boston Auto Transport Company?

The Original Car Shipping Quote Calculator

Direct Express Auto Transport originated the instant car shipping quote calculator in 2004. It is still the best, most sophisticated and reliable auto shipping calculator available anywhere. We offer three unique options that we call tiers of car shipping estimates from Atlanta to Boston. The standard rate is the cheapest car transport quote, but it may take longer. Use it if you are patient. The expedited vehicle shipping rate is most recommended, and we have countless satisfied customers because the process tends to go quicker. The rush rate is our highest level of car shipping service, and many customers are glad they went with that method.

Top Auto Transport FAQ’s from Atlanta to Boston

Houston to Atlanta Auto Transport FAQ

How Far In Advance Should You Set Up Your Atlanta to Boston Auto Transport Order?

We recommend scheduling your auto transport anywhere from two days to two weeks in advance. We are often able to ship your car on the very same day, but providing us with a longer lead time allows us to schedule your vehicle transport better. You want the most current pricing, and you get that by staying within two weeks of your first available date to ship.

Should I Ship My Car Open or Enclosed from Atlanta to Boston?

About 97% of all vehicle shipments are shipped on an Open Trailer. It’s proven to be a very safe method with statistically very few problems. You may notice new cars being delivered to dealerships in an open trailer, and that’s because it’s safe. If you have a collector car or really expensive automobile, say around $100,000 or more, then we recommend shipping it in an Enclosed Trailer. But it is up to the customer to decide what is best for him or her. Direct Express Auto Transport is an industry authority and can guide you on that decision.

Is It Better To Pay An Auto Transport Deposit?

Making a nominal partial payment is preferred by carriers but not essential. Carriers like getting paid with Cash or Money Order upon delivery for services rendered, and who doesn’t? A partial credit card payment and balance due upon delivery accomplishes that. But a full credit card payment upfront also works if the carrier trusts the broker. Carriers have known Direct Express Auto Transport for nearly twenty years and the trust is there. So either method works with us.

Should I Insure My Vehicle While In Transit from Atlanta to Boston?

All auto transportation carriers are required by the US Department of Transportation to have a current and valid insurance policy. Direct Express Auto Transport double checks the insurance policy prior to assigning the customer vehicle to any carrier. That said, we do recommend that a customer not depend entirely on the car shipping carrier’s insurance policy because sometimes acts of God, such as hail, sleet, snowstorms, hurricanes, tornadoes and more might damage your vehicle. Those things are not covered by the carrier’s policy, but they would be by your personal policy. Car transport service drivers are only responsible for negligence.

When I Ship My Car, Can I Put Stuff In It?

The strict D.O.T. interpretation is no, you cannot ship items inside your vehicle. However, the reality is that almost all carriers allow items that weigh less than 100 pounds, roughly the equivalent of 2 suitcases. We recommend placing any additional items in the trunk and out of sight. The U.S. Transportation Law states that a carrier can be fined $10,000 for hauling household items in the vehicle, but it’s rarely enforced. However, the auto transport drivers do estimate the weight of each vehicle and don’t want problems at weight scales. So they must keep the personal items to a minimum.

Some drivers will accept a tip ($50-$300) for hauling extra stuff, but some won’t, or simply can’t, due to the overall weight. Rule of thumb, don’t take advantage. The driver is there to ship your car, not move your personal belongings.

An Atlanta to Boston Auto Transport driver prepares a vehicle for shipment

How Long Will It Take To Pick Up My Vehicle In Atlanta?

Over 90% of our orders ship inside of one week. That could be anywhere from 1 to 7 days. Most of the U.S. population lives in a major metropolitan area and is shipping to another well populated area, and that makes a big difference. Cars usually ship in a very regular manner, almost half within just a few days. Atlanta is a large metropolitan area, so we would expect a timely carrier assignment and pick up.

If either your origination or destination locations are away from population centers, in other words, in a remote area, then you might consider meeting a driver in a nearby big city or town to increase your chances of shipping timely. Or adding money to the carrier fee may entice a carrier. Remember, anyone you choose can serve as your point of contact, which takes the stress out of shipping your vehicle.

How Long Does It Take To Deliver My Vehicle To Boston?

Delivering your car to Boston is the final step in the process, and also the simplest part. Once your vehicle has been assigned and picked up, not too much can go wrong. After your vehicle is picked up, you can estimate that it will take roughly one day of transit time for every 500 miles distance.

Delivery Time Estimate Guide

100-500 miles takes 1 or 2 days
500-1000 miles takes 2 or 3 days
1000-1500 miles takes 3 or 4 days
1500-2000 miles takes 4 or 5 days
2000-2500 miles takes 5 or 6 days
2500-3000 miles takes 6 or 7 days

Depending on the distance, weather conditions and population centers it could be a few days or weeks until a vehicle reaches its destination. The carriers will usually estimate about 10 days on coast to coast trips, but they frequently arrive earlier.

How Do I Prepare My Vehicle For Shipment?

In Atlanta, clean out your vehicle of all loose items as much as possible. Leave nothing of value in the vehicle. It’s very rare that any items are stolen during transport, but we recommend extra caution to prevent loss.

Keep extra items as previously discussed to a minimum and place in the trunk or out of sight. Have only about a quarter tank of gasoline. Give the auto transport carrier a set of keys and advise them of any special instructions for your vehicle, like difficulty starting, steering, braking, etc..

Driver Consideration: Being a truck driver can be a thankless job. They work long hours and are away from their families for weeks at a time. Please be friendly and considerate to our drivers once they arrive in Boston, and they will treat you in the same manner. Most people tip them $50 to $100 for a job well done.

Arizona car shipping quotes photo of horseshoe river

Philadelphia to Phoenix Car Shipping Quotes

Written by Mike Rupers on . Posted in Auto Shipping, auto transport by city, Auto Transport Quote Calculator, Auto Transport Services, Car Shipping Cost Calculator, College Student Car Shipping Tips, Snowbird Auto Transport.

Philadelphia, PA to Phoenix, AZ Car Shipping

You have arrived at the right place for Philadelphia to Phoenix car shipping quotes and services. Direct Express Auto Transport originated the instant quote calculator for Philadelphia, PA to Phoenix, AZ car shipping. For two decades, we have established ourselves as the top rated authority on what it takes to ship a car from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania to Phoenix, Arizona safely, reliably, and competitively.

Choose Between Three Auto Transport Rates For The Best Philadelphia, PA to Phoenix, AZ Service For You

Direct Express Auto Transport uniquely offers three levels of auto transport service. Our Standard Tier or rate, is the most basic market car shipping price that a carrier might be expected to accept. Unless that particular route has more competition. In that case, we highly recommend our Expedited Tier or rate, which usually separates our customers’ vehicles from the pack, making it stand out and ship first, or quicker. We have a high customer satisfaction rating for Expedited Tier.

Then there are some customers who want their car shipped right away, or as soon as possible. To do that, we offer the Rush Tier or rate, which goes up and over the Expedited rate, and carriers often jump to pick up that customer vehicle. The nice thing is that all three tiers are laid out nicely on our car shipping calculator and you can easily decide which one to choose.

car shipping carrier Philadelphia to Phoenix

How Much Does It Cost To Ship My Car From Philadelphia to Phoenix

These auto shipping rates were generated on the date this blog was published, which is good for estimating and gives you a fairly good idea. Check for updated pricing.


Estimated Philadelphia to Phoenix Auto Transport Quotes

Approximate Miles: 2,350Standard RateExpedited RateRush Rate
Type of Vehicle: Sedan / Open Transport$1104$1339$1494
Usually Assigned A Carrier In …1-8 days1-4 days1-2 days
Normal Transit Time
On The Road Is 5-7 days
Once Picked Up		     

Direct Express Auto Transport Services

Top Reasons To Ship My Car

There may be any number of reasons why you are shipping your car from Philadelphia to Phoenix. Here is what we see most often.

I’m Moving To Phoenix And Need To Ship My Car

The average American will move 12 times in their life. About 53% of the time, it is less than 50 miles away. So no need for them to ship a car. Another 12% move 50-300 miles away. Again, very few of them will need to transport a vehicle, but it may occasionally happen. That leaves 35%, or roughly one third of all Americans, who will move to a new city over 300 miles away. That would be approximately four (4) significant long distance relocations for the average American in their lifetime. It is those people who find us by word of mouth or online, and request an auto transport quote and service. In this case, to ship a car from Philadelphia to Phoenix.

car shipping carrier Philadelphia to Phoenix car shipping auctions, dealerships

Philadelphia Auction House, Dealership or Individual Car Purchase

Nationwide in 2018, there were 9.9 million vehicles sold at auction houses. Add to that hefty figure, automobile dealerships also selling to out of state buyers and there are likely over one million vehicles sold every month between them. The over-whelming majority of those vehicles require professional car shipping services and they call us at 800-600-3750.

But wait … there’s more. The internet is teaming with online car buying sites that have vehicles listed for sale by individual owners and dealerships. Our customers find and purchase vehicles listed on KBB, Edmunds, Car.com, CarsDirect.com, Autolist, Carvana, CarGurus, AutoTrader, Vroom, eBay Motors, and more. They contact Direct Express Auto Transport to ship cars across the country.

I’m Shipping My Vehicle To A Family Member In Phoenix

We often talk to customers who are shipping a vehicle out of state to a family member. Sometimes it is a parent transporting a car to a son or daughter. Sometimes it is a grandmother or grandfather who has passed away and a family member is inheriting their vehicle. Whatever the reason, we are here to help get it done.

There Is A Car Show In Phoenix

Seems like every few days, there is a car show somewhere in America. Especially in the good weather months and warmer winter climates. It is actually a high stress situation for anyone trying to get a collector or sports car to a car show on time. Reputable auto transport brokers cannot and should not guarantee delivery dates, and that doesn’t sit well with folks who absolutely must have their vehicle delivered by a certain date.

Seasonal Car Shipping

As the seasons change, there are fluctuations in the auto transport industry. The peak car shipping season is April through September. There is nearly 50% more car shipments during that warm weather period than there are in October through March. Call that a huge seasonal fluctuation, which creates interesting changes in auto transport pricing too. Sometimes it is higher in one direction than the reverse. It is always good to periodically check our car shipping rates from Philadelphia to Phoenix.

Snowbird Car Shipping and the Beach

Snowbird Auto Transport

The most popular form of seasonal car shipping is called Snowbird Auto Transport. A “snowbird” auto shipping customer is usually from a colder northern state, who then heads south for the winter. Renting a car for months is too expensive. So the snowbird customer will ship a car instead. Smart.

Most people escaping the winters head to a state that enjoys year-round summer weather, like Florida, which is by far the most popular snowbird destination. However, other popular snowbird states are California, Arizona, New Mexico, Texas. Gulf coast Louisiana and Alabama are also favored snowbird destinations.

College Student Auto Shipping From Philadelphia to Phoenix

For the most part, we see a flurry of college student auto shipping every August and September, and then again in May and June. Maybe it was always dangerous for a college student to drive across country alone in the 60’s and 70’s, and we just didn’t realize it, but we get it now. The safest and smartest thing to do is to ship a car to your college student and fly them there.

Here are some of the more notable colleges and universities in the Philadelphia and Phoenix areas:

Philadelphia, PA Colleges & Universities

University of PennsylvaniaTemple UniversityThomas Jefferson University
Villanova UniversityDrexel UniversitySwarthmore College
Widener UniversityRowan UniversitySaint Joseph’s University

Phoenix, AZ Colleges & Universities

Arizona State UniversityGrand Canyon UniversityUniversity of Phoenix-Arizona
Mesa Community CollegePhoenix CollegeEstrella Mountain Community College
Glendale Community CollegeChandler-Gilbert Community CollegeAmerican InterContinental University

Military Personnel Auto Transportation

The thing that military personnel know is that auto transport carriers are not allowed on base because of the potential for terrorism. The driver and military shipper must meet outside the base gates or someplace else nearby. Communication is key in those situations. We are honored to assist military personnel shipping a vehicle from Philadelphia to Phoenix.

Here are some military bases in the Philadelphia and Phoenix areas:

Military Bases Near Philadelphia, PA

  • Carlisle Barracks Army Base in Carlisle, PA
  • Tobyhanna Army Depot Base in Tobyhanna, PA
  • Letterkenny Army Depot Army Base in Chambersburg, PA
  • New Cumberland Army Depot Army Base in Fairview, PA
  • JRB Willow Grove Navy Base in Horsham Twp, PA
  • NSA Mechanicsburg Navy Base in Mechanicsburg, PA
  • Naval Support Activity In Northeast Philadelphia, PA

Military Bases Near Phoenix, AZ

  • Fort Huachuca Army Base in Cochise, AZ
  • Camp Navajo Army Base in Flagstaff, AZ
  • Yuma Proving Ground Army Base in Yuma County, AZ
  • MCAS Yuma Marine Corps Base in Yuma, AZ
  • Davis Monthan Air Force Base in Tucson, AZ
  • Luke Air Force Base in Glendale, AZ

Corporate Relocation Auto Shipping

car shipping carrier Philadelphia to Phoenix car shipping coworkers relocating office staff

We are experts in Corporate Relocation, and as well, other large organizations. Whether the company is picking up the car shipping tab, or you are footing the bill yourself, we are a wealth of information and competitive pricing. The Philadelphia, PA to Phoenix, AZ route for business corporate relocations is popular.

Here are some of the more notable businesses in the Philadelphia and Phoenix areas:

Notable Philadelphia, Pennsylvania Companies

  • Aramark
  • Comcast
  • COFCO
  • Glaxosmithkline
  • Day & Zimmerman
  • Crown Holdings
  • URBN
  • Kraft Heinz
  • Vanguard
  • IBM
  • Giant Food Stores

Notable Phoenix, Arizona Companies

  • Avnet
  • Freeport-McMoran
  • Reliance Steel & Aluminum
  • Opendoor Technologies
  • Carvana
  • Republic Services
  • Insight Enterprises
  • On Semiconductor
  • Taylor Morrison Home
  • Knight-Swift Transportation

Major Sports Teams Player Trades & Car Shipping from Philadelphia to Phoenix

Very few athletes stay with one team their entire career. Often times without warning, the team General Manager calls a player to inform him or her that they have been traded. And now that player needs to ship a car, usually an SUV, from Philadelphia to Phoenix. That’s when Direct Express Auto Transport steps in to make that as quick and stress free as possible.

Here are some of the major sports franchises in the Philadelphia and Phoenix areas:

Notable Philadelphia, Pennsylvania Sports Teams

Philadelphia Phillies (MLB)Philadelphia Eagles (NFL) 
Philadelphia 76ers (NBA)Philadelphia Union (MLS) 
Philadelphia Flyers (NHL)  

Notable Phoenix, Arizona Sports Teams

Arizona Diamondbacks (MLB)Arizona Cardinals (NFL) 
Phoenix Suns (NBA)Phoenix Mercury (WNBA) 
Arizona Coyotes (NHL)  

Why Choose Our Philadelphia to Phoenix Car Shipping Company?

The Original Car Shipping Quote Calculator

Direct Express Auto Transport originated the instant car shipping quote calculator in 2004. It is still the best, most sophisticated and reliable auto shipping calculator available anywhere. We offer three unique options that we call tiers of car shipping estimates from Philadelphia to Phoenix. The standard rate is the cheapest car transport quote, but it may take longer. Use it if you are patient. The expedited vehicle shipping rate is most recommended, and we have countless satisfied customers because the process tends to go quicker. The rush rate is our highest level of car shipping service, and many customers are glad they went with that method.

Top Auto Transport FAQ’s from Philadelphia to Phoenix

Houston to Atlanta Auto Transport FAQ

How Far In Advance Should You Set Up Your Philadelphia to Phoenix Car Shipping Order?

We recommend scheduling your auto transport anywhere from two days to two weeks in advance. We are often able to ship your car on the very same day, but providing us with a longer lead time allows us to schedule your vehicle transport better. You want the most current pricing, and you get that by staying within two weeks of your first available date to ship.

Should I Ship My Car Open or Enclosed from Philadelphia to Phoenix?

About 97% of all vehicle shipments are shipped on an Open Trailer. It’s proven to be a very safe method with statistically very few problems. You may notice new cars being delivered to dealerships in an open trailer, and that’s because it’s safe. If you have a collector car or really expensive automobile, say around $100,000 or more, then we recommend shipping it in an Enclosed Trailer. But it is up to the customer to decide what is best for him or her. Direct Express Auto Transport is an industry authority and can guide you on that decision.

Is It Better To Pay An Auto Transport Deposit?

Making a nominal partial payment is preferred by carriers but not essential. Carriers like getting paid with Cash or Money Order upon delivery for services rendered, and who doesn’t? A partial credit card payment and balance due upon delivery accomplishes that. But a full credit card payment upfront also works if the carrier trusts the broker. Carriers have known Direct Express Auto Transport for nearly twenty years and the trust is there. So either method works with us.

Should I Insure My Vehicle While In Transit from Philadelphia to Phoenix?

All auto transportation carriers are required by the US Department of Transportation to have a current and valid insurance policy. Direct Express Auto Transport double checks the insurance policy prior to assigning the customer vehicle to any carrier. That said, we do recommend that a customer not depend entirely on the car shipping carrier’s insurance policy because sometimes acts of God, such as hail, sleet, snowstorms, hurricanes, tornadoes and more might damage your vehicle. Those things are not covered by the carrier’s policy, but they would be by your personal policy. Car transport service drivers are only responsible for negligence.

When I Ship My Car, Can I Put Stuff In It?

The strict D.O.T. interpretation is no, you cannot ship items inside your vehicle. However, the reality is that almost all carriers allow items that weigh less than 100 pounds, roughly the equivalent of 2 suitcases. We recommend placing any additional items in the trunk and out of sight. The U.S. Transportation Law states that a carrier can be fined $10,000 for hauling household items in the vehicle, but it’s rarely enforced. However, the auto transport drivers do estimate the weight of each vehicle and don’t want problems at weight scales. So they must keep the personal items to a minimum.

Some drivers will accept a tip ($50-$300) for hauling extra stuff, but some won’t, or simply can’t, due to the overall weight. Rule of thumb, don’t take advantage. The driver is there to ship your car, not move your personal belongings.

A car shipping carrier Philadelphia to Phoenix Car Shipping driver prepares a vehicle for shipment

How Long Will It Take To Pick Up My Vehicle In Philadelphia?

Over 90% of our orders ship inside of one week. That could be anywhere from 1 to 7 days. Most of the U.S. population lives in a major metropolitan area and is shipping to another well populated area, and that makes a big difference. Cars usually ship in a very regular manner, almost half within just a few days. Philadelphia is a large metropolitan area, so we would expect a timely carrier assignment and pick up.

If either your origination or destination locations are away from population centers, in other words, in a remote area, then you might consider meeting a driver in a nearby big city or town to increase your chances of shipping timely. Or adding money to the carrier fee may entice a carrier. Remember, anyone you choose can serve as your point of contact, which takes the stress out of shipping your vehicle.

How Long Does It Take To Deliver My Vehicle To Phoenix?

Delivering your car to Phoenix is the final step in the process, and also the simplest part. Once your vehicle has been assigned and picked up, not too much can go wrong. After your vehicle is picked up, you can estimate that it will take roughly one day of transit time for every 500 miles distance.

Delivery Time Estimate Guide

100-500 miles takes 1 or 2 days
500-1000 miles takes 2 or 3 days
1000-1500 miles takes 3 or 4 days
1500-2000 miles takes 4 or 5 days
2000-2500 miles takes 5 or 6 days
2500-3000 miles takes 6 or 7 days

Depending on the distance, weather conditions and population centers it could be a few days or weeks until a vehicle reaches its destination. The carriers will usually estimate about 10 days on coast to coast trips, but they frequently arrive earlier.

How Do I Prepare My Vehicle For Shipment?

In Philadelphia, PA, clean out your vehicle of all loose items as much as possible. Leave nothing of value in the vehicle. It’s very rare that any items are stolen during transport, but we recommend extra caution to prevent loss.

Keep extra items as previously discussed to a minimum and place in the trunk or out of sight. Have only about a quarter tank of gasoline. Give the auto transport carrier a set of keys and advise them of any special instructions for your vehicle, like difficulty starting, steering, braking, etc..

Driver Consideration: Being a truck driver can be a thankless job. They work long hours and are away from their families for weeks at a time. Please be friendly and considerate to our drivers once they arrive in Phoenix, and they will treat you in the same manner. Most people tip them $50 to $100 for a job well done.

Washington, DC to Miami, FL car shipping aerial view

Washington, DC to Miami, FL Auto Transport Quotes

Written by Mike Rupers on . Posted in Auto Shipping, auto transport by city, Auto Transport Quote Calculator, Auto Transport Services, Car Shipping Cost Calculator, College Student Car Shipping Tips, Snowbird Auto Transport, Uncategorized.

Washington, DC to Miami, FL Auto Transport

You have arrived at the right place for Washington, DC to Miami, FL auto transport quotes and services. Direct Express Auto Transport originated the instant quote calculator for Washington, DC to Miami, FL auto transport. For two decades, we have established ourselves as the top rated authority on what it takes to ship a car from Washington, DC to Miami, Florida safely, reliably, and competitively.

Choose Between Three Auto Transport Rates For The Best Washington, DC to Miami, FL Service For You

Direct Express Auto Transport uniquely offers three levels of auto transport service. Our Standard Tier or rate, is the most basic market car shipping price that a carrier might be expected to accept. Unless that particular route has more competition. In that case, we highly recommend our Expedited Tier or rate, which usually separates our customers’ vehicles from the pack, making it stand out and ship first, or quicker. We have a high customer satisfaction rating for Expedited Tier.

Then there are some customers who want their car shipped right away, or as soon as possible. To do that, we offer the Rush Tier or rate, which goes up and over the Expedited rate, and carriers often jump to pick up that customer vehicle. The nice thing is that all three tiers are laid out nicely on our car shipping calculator and you can easily decide which one to choose.

car shipping carrier DC to Miami

How Much Does It Cost To Ship My Car From Washington, DC to Miami, FL

These auto shipping rates were generated on the date this blog was published, which is good for estimating and gives you a fairly good idea. Check for updated pricing.


Estimated Washington, DC to Miami, FL Auto Transport Quotes

Approximate Miles: 1,050Standard RateExpedited RateRush Rate
Type of Vehicle: Sedan / Open Transport$614$749$834
Usually Assigned A Carrier In …1-8 days1-4 days1-2 days
Normal Transit Time
On The Road Is 2-3 days
Once Picked Up		     

Direct Express Auto Transport Services

Top Reasons To Ship My Car

There may be any number of reasons why you are shipping your car from Washington, DC to Miami, FL. Here is what we see most often.

I’m Moving To Miami, FL And Need To Ship My Car

The average American will move 12 times in their life. About 53% of the time, it is less than 50 miles away. So no need for them to ship a car. Another 12% move 50-300 miles away. Again, very few of them will need to transport a vehicle, but it may occasionally happen. That leaves 35%, or roughly one third of all Americans, who will move to a new city over 300 miles away. That would be approximately four (4) significant long distance relocations for the average American in their lifetime. It is those people who find us by word of mouth or online, and request an auto transport quote and service. In this case, to ship a car from Washington, DC to Miami, FL.

Washington, DC to Miami, FL car shipping auctions, dealerships

Washington, DC Auction House, Dealership or Individual Car Purchase

Nationwide in 2018, there were 9.9 million vehicles sold at auction houses. Add to that hefty figure, automobile dealerships also selling to out of state buyers and there are likely over one million vehicles sold every month between them. The over-whelming majority of those vehicles require professional car shipping services and they call us at 800-600-3750.

But wait … there’s more. The internet is teaming with online car buying sites that have vehicles listed for sale by individual owners and dealerships. Our customers find and purchase vehicles listed on KBB, Edmunds, Car.com, CarsDirect.com, Autolist, Carvana, CarGurus, AutoTrader, Vroom, eBay Motors, and more. They contact Direct Express Auto Transport to ship cars across the country.

I’m Shipping My Vehicle To A Family Member In Miami, FL

We often talk to customers who are shipping a vehicle out of state to a family member. Sometimes it is a parent transporting a car to a son or daughter. Sometimes it is a grandmother or grandfather who has passed away and a family member is inheriting their vehicle. Whatever the reason, we are here to help get it done.

There Is A Car Show In Miami, FL

Seems like every few days, there is a car show somewhere in America. Especially in the good weather months and warmer winter climates. It is actually a high stress situation for anyone trying to get a collector or sports car to a car show on time. Reputable auto transport brokers cannot and should not guarantee delivery dates, and that doesn’t sit well with folks who absolutely must have their vehicle delivered by a certain date.

Seasonal Car Shipping

As the seasons change, there are fluctuations in the auto transport industry. The peak car shipping season is April through September. There is nearly 50% more car shipments during that warm weather period than there are in October through March. Call that a huge seasonal fluctuation, which creates interesting changes in auto transport pricing too. Sometimes it is higher in one direction than the reverse. It is always good to periodically check our car shipping rates from Washington, DC to Miami, FL.

Snowbird Car Shipping and the Beach

Snowbird Auto Transport

The most popular form of seasonal car shipping is called Snowbird Auto Transport. A “snowbird” auto shipping customer is usually from a colder northern state, who then heads south for the winter. Renting a car for months is too expensive. So the snowbird customer will ship a car instead. Smart.

Most people escaping the winters head to a state that enjoys year-round summer weather, like Florida, which is by far the most popular snowbird destination. However, other popular snowbird states are California, Arizona, New Mexico, Texas. Gulf coast Louisiana and Alabama are also favored snowbird destinations.

College Student Auto Shipping From Washington, DC to Miami, FL

For the most part, we see a flurry of college student auto shipping every August and September, and then again in May and June. Maybe it was always dangerous for a college student to drive across country alone in the 60’s and 70’s, and we just didn’t realize it, but we get it now. The safest and smartest thing to do is to ship a car to your college student and fly them there.

Here are some of the more notable colleges and universities in the Washington, DC and Miami, FL areas:

Washington, DC Colleges & Universities

Georgetown UniversityHoward UniversityUniversity of Maryland-College Park
George Mason UniversityAmerican UniversityGeorge Washington University
Bowie State UniversityMarymount UniversityThe Catholic University of America

Miami, FL Colleges & Universities

University of MiamiFlorida International UniversitySt. Thomas University
Miami Dade CollegeNova Southeastern UniversityBarry University
Broward CollegeFlorida Memorial UniversityKeiser University-Ft Lauderdale

Military Personnel Auto Transportation

The thing that military personnel know is that auto transport carriers are not allowed on base because of the potential for terrorism. The driver and military shipper must meet outside the base gates or someplace else nearby. Communication is key in those situations. We are honored to assist military personnel shipping a vehicle from Washington, DC to Miami, FL.

Here are some military bases in the Washington, DC and Miami, FL areas:

Military Bases Near Washington, DC

  • Joint Base Anacostia-Bolling
  • Marine Corps Base Quantico
  • Joint Base Myer
  • Fort Belvoir
  • Aberdeen Proving Ground
  • Andrews Air Force Base
  • Fort George G. Meade 

Military Bases Near Miami, FL

  • Eglin Air Force Base
  • Hurlburt Field
  • MacDill Air Force Base
  • Patrick Air Force Base
  • Pensacola Florida Military Bases
  • Tyndall Air Force Base
  • United States Southern Command

Corporate Relocation Auto Shipping

Washington, DC to Miami, FL car shipping coworkers relocating office staff

We are experts in Corporate Relocation, and as well, other large organizations. Whether the company is picking up the car shipping tab, or you are footing the bill yourself, we are a wealth of information and competitive pricing. The Washington, DC to Miami, FL route for business corporate relocations is popular.

Here are some of the more notable businesses in the Washington, DC and Miami, FL areas:

Notable Washington, DC Companies

  • Fannie Mae
  • Lockheed Martin
  • Freddie Mac
  • General Dynamics
  • CACI International
  • Verizon
  • Capital One Financial
  • Northrop Grumman

Notable Miami, Florida Companies

  • AIG
  • American Airlines
  • Cisco
  • Disney
  • Exxon
  • Kraft Foods
  • Microsoft
  • SBC Communications
  • Sony
  • Oracle
  • Visa International
  • Walmart

Major Sports Teams Player Trades & Car Shipping from Washington, DC to Miami, FL

Very few athletes stay with one team their entire career. Often times without warning, the team General Manager calls a player to inform him or her that they have been traded. And now that player needs to ship a car, usually an SUV, from Washington, DC to Miami, FL. That’s when Direct Express Auto Transport steps in to make that as quick and stress free as possible.

Here are some of the major sports franchises in the Washington, DC and Miami, FL areas:

Notable Washington, DC Sports Teams

 Washington Nationals (MLB) Washington Commanders (NFL) 
 Washington Wizards (NBA) D.C. United (MLS) 
 Washington Mystics (WNBA) Washington Capitals (NHL) 

Notable Miami, Florida Sports Teams

Miami Marlins (MLB) Miami Dolphins (NFL) 
Miami Heat (NBA) Florida Panthers (NHL) 
Inter Miami CF (MLS) 

Why Choose Our Washington, DC to Miami, FL Car Shipping Company?

The Original Car Shipping Quote Calculator

Direct Express Auto Transport originated the instant car shipping quote calculator in 2004. It is still the best, most sophisticated and reliable auto shipping calculator available anywhere. We offer three unique options that we call tiers of car shipping estimates from Washington, DC to Miami, FL. The standard rate is the cheapest car transport quote, but it may take longer. Use it if you are patient. The expedited vehicle shipping rate is most recommended, and we have countless satisfied customers because the process tends to go quicker. The rush rate is our highest level of car shipping service, and many customers are glad they went with that method.

Top Auto Transport FAQ’s from Washington, DC to Miami, FL

Houston to Atlanta Auto Transport FAQ

How Far In Advance Should You Set Up Your Washington, DC to Miami, FL Car Shipping Order?

We recommend scheduling your auto transport anywhere from two days to two weeks in advance. We are often able to ship your car on the very same day, but providing us with a longer lead time allows us to schedule your vehicle transport better. You want the most current pricing, and you get that by staying within two weeks of your first available date to ship.

Should I Ship My Car Open or Enclosed from Washington, DC to Miami, FL?

About 97% of all vehicle shipments are shipped on an Open Trailer. It’s proven to be a very safe method with statistically very few problems. You may notice new cars being delivered to dealerships in an open trailer, and that’s because it’s safe. If you have a collector car or really expensive automobile, say around $100,000 or more, then we recommend shipping it in an Enclosed Trailer. But it is up to the customer to decide what is best for him or her. Direct Express Auto Transport is an industry authority and can guide you on that decision.

Is It Better To Pay An Auto Transport Deposit?

Making a nominal partial payment is preferred by carriers but not essential. Carriers like getting paid with Cash or Money Order upon delivery for services rendered, and who doesn’t? A partial credit card payment and balance due upon delivery accomplishes that. But a full credit card payment upfront also works if the carrier trusts the broker. Carriers have known Direct Express Auto Transport for nearly twenty years and the trust is there. So either method works with us.

Should I Insure My Vehicle While In Transit from Washington, DC to Miami, FL?

All auto transportation carriers are required by the US Department of Transportation to have a current and valid insurance policy. Direct Express Auto Transport double checks the insurance policy prior to assigning the customer vehicle to any carrier. That said, we do recommend that a customer not depend entirely on the car shipping carrier’s insurance policy because sometimes acts of God, such as hail, sleet, snowstorms, hurricanes, tornadoes and more might damage your vehicle. Those things are not covered by the carrier’s policy, but they would be by your personal policy. Car transport service drivers are only responsible for negligence.

When I Ship My Car, Can I Put Stuff In It?

The strict D.O.T. interpretation is no, you cannot ship items inside your vehicle. However, the reality is that almost all carriers allow items that weigh less than 100 pounds, roughly the equivalent of 2 suitcases. We recommend placing any additional items in the trunk and out of sight. The U.S. Transportation Law states that a carrier can be fined $10,000 for hauling household items in the vehicle, but it’s rarely enforced. However, the auto transport drivers do estimate the weight of each vehicle and don’t want problems at weight scales. So they must keep the personal items to a minimum.

Some drivers will accept a tip ($50-$300) for hauling extra stuff, but some won’t, or simply can’t, due to the overall weight. Rule of thumb, don’t take advantage. The driver is there to ship your car, not move your personal belongings.

A Washington, DC to Miami, FL Car Shipping driver prepares a vehicle for shipment

How Long Will It Take To Pick Up My Vehicle In Washington, DC?

Over 90% of our orders ship inside of one week. That could be anywhere from 1 to 7 days. Most of the U.S. population lives in a major metropolitan area and is shipping to another well populated area, and that makes a big difference. Cars usually ship in a very regular manner, almost half within just a few days. Washington, DC is a large metropolitan area, so we would expect a timely carrier assignment and pick up.

If either your origination or destination locations are away from population centers, in other words, in a remote area, then you might consider meeting a driver in a nearby big city or town to increase your chances of shipping timely. Or adding money to the carrier fee may entice a carrier. Remember, anyone you choose can serve as your point of contact, which takes the stress out of shipping your vehicle.

How Long Does It Take To Deliver My Vehicle To Miami, FL?

Delivering your car to Miami, FL is the final step in the process, and also the simplest part. Once your vehicle has been assigned and picked up, not too much can go wrong. After your vehicle is picked up, you can estimate that it will take roughly one day of transit time for every 500 miles distance.

Delivery Time Estimate Guide

100-500 miles takes 1 or 2 days
500-1000 miles takes 2 or 3 days
1000-1500 miles takes 3 or 4 days
1500-2000 miles takes 4 or 5 days
2000-2500 miles takes 5 or 6 days
2500-3000 miles takes 6 or 7 days

Depending on the distance, weather conditions and population centers it could be a few days or weeks until a vehicle reaches its destination. The carriers will usually estimate about 10 days on coast to coast trips, but they frequently arrive earlier.

How Do I Prepare My Vehicle For Shipment?

In Washington, DC, clean out your vehicle of all loose items as much as possible. Leave nothing of value in the vehicle. It’s very rare that any items are stolen during transport, but we recommend extra caution to prevent loss.

Keep extra items as previously discussed to a minimum and place in the trunk or out of sight. Have only about a quarter tank of gasoline. Give the auto transport carrier a set of keys and advise them of any special instructions for your vehicle, like difficulty starting, steering, braking, etc..

Driver Consideration: Being a truck driver can be a thankless job. They work long hours and are away from their families for weeks at a time. Please be friendly and considerate to our drivers once they arrive in Miami, FL, and they will treat you in the same manner. Most people tip them $50 to $100 for a job well done.

atlanta Car Shipping City

Houston, TX to Atlanta, GA Car Shipping Quotes

Written by Mike Rupers on . Posted in Auto Shipping, auto transport by city, Auto Transport Quote Calculator, Auto Transport Services, Car Shipping Cost Calculator, College Student Car Shipping Tips, Snowbird Auto Transport, Uncategorized.

Houston to Atlanta Car Shipping

You have arrived at the right place for Houston to Atlanta car shipping quotes and services. Direct Express Auto Transport originated the instant quote calculator for Houston, TX to Atlanta, GA car shipping. For two decades, we have established ourselves as the top rated authority on what it takes to ship a car from Houston, Texas to Atlanta, Georgia safely, reliably, and competitively.

Choose Between Three Auto Transport Rates For The Best Houston, TX to Atlanta, GA Service For You

Direct Express Auto Transport uniquely offers three levels of auto transport service. Our Standard Tier or rate, is the most basic market car shipping price that a carrier might be expected to accept. Unless that particular route has more competition. In that case, we highly recommend our Expedited Tier or rate, which usually separates our customers’ vehicles from the pack, making it stand out and ship first, or quicker. We have a high customer satisfaction rating for Expedited Tier.

Then there are some customers who want their car shipped right away, or as soon as possible. To do that, we offer the Rush Tier or rate, which goes up and over the Expedited rate, and carriers often jump to pick up that customer vehicle. The nice thing is that all three tiers are laid out nicely on our car shipping calculator and you can easily decide which one to choose.

car shipping carrier Houston to Miami

How Much Does It Cost To Ship My Car From Houston to Atlanta

These auto shipping rates were generated on the date this blog was published, which is good for estimating and gives you a fairly good idea. Check for updated pricing.


Estimated Houston to Atlanta Auto Transport Quotes

Approximate Miles: 800Standard RateExpedited RateRush Rate
Type of Vehicle: Sedan / Open Transport$639$774$859
Usually Assigned A Carrier In …1-8 days1-4 days1-2 days
Normal Transit Time
On The Road Is 2-3 days
Once Picked Up		     

Direct Express Auto Transport Services

Top Reasons To Ship My Car

There may be any number of reasons why you are shipping your car from Houston to Atlanta. Here is what we see most often.

I’m Moving To Atlanta And Need To Ship My Car

The average American will move 12 times in their life. About 53% of the time, it is less than 50 miles away. So no need for them to ship a car. Another 12% move 50-300 miles away. Again, very few of them will need to transport a vehicle, but it may occasionally happen. That leaves 35%, or roughly one third of all Americans, who will move to a new city over 300 miles away. That would be approximately four (4) significant long distance relocations for the average American in their lifetime. It is those people who find us by word of mouth or online, and request an auto transport quote and service. In this case, to ship a car from Houston to Atlanta.

Houston to Atlanta car shipping auctions, dealerships

Houston Auction House, Dealership or Individual Car Purchase

Nationwide in 2018, there were 9.9 million vehicles sold at auction houses. Add to that hefty figure, automobile dealerships also selling to out of state buyers and there are likely over one million vehicles sold every month between them. The over-whelming majority of those vehicles require professional car shipping services and they call us at 800-600-3750.

But wait … there’s more. The internet is teaming with online car buying sites that have vehicles listed for sale by individual owners and dealerships. Our customers find and purchase vehicles listed on KBB, Edmunds, Car.com, CarsDirect.com, Autolist, Carvana, CarGurus, AutoTrader, Vroom, eBay Motors, and more. They contact Direct Express Auto Transport to ship cars across the country.

I’m Shipping My Vehicle To A Family Member In Atlanta

We often talk to customers who are shipping a vehicle out of state to a family member. Sometimes it is a parent transporting a car to a son or daughter. Sometimes it is a grandmother or grandfather who has passed away and a family member is inheriting their vehicle. Whatever the reason, we are here to help get it done.

There Is A Car Show In Atlanta

Seems like every few days, there is a car show somewhere in America. Especially in the good weather months and warmer winter climates. It is actually a high stress situation for anyone trying to get a collector or sports car to a car show on time. Reputable auto transport brokers cannot and should not guarantee delivery dates, and that doesn’t sit well with folks who absolutely must have their vehicle delivered by a certain date.

Seasonal Car Shipping

As the seasons change, there are fluctuations in the auto transport industry. The peak car shipping season is April through September. There is nearly 50% more car shipments during that warm weather period than there are in October through March. Call that a huge seasonal fluctuation, which creates interesting changes in auto transport pricing too. Sometimes it is higher in one direction than the reverse. It is always good to periodically check our car shipping rates from Houston to Atlanta.

Snowbird Car Shipping and the Beach

Snowbird Auto Transport

The most popular form of seasonal car shipping is called Snowbird Auto Transport. A “snowbird” auto shipping customer is usually from a colder northern state, who then heads south for the winter. Renting a car for months is too expensive. So the snowbird customer will ship a car instead. Smart.

Most people escaping the winters head to a state that enjoys year-round summer weather, like Florida, which is by far the most popular snowbird destination. However, other popular snowbird states are California, Arizona, New Mexico, Texas. Gulf coast Louisiana and Alabama are also favored snowbird destinations.

College Student Auto Shipping From Houston to Atlanta

For the most part, we see a flurry of college student auto shipping every August and September, and then again in May and June. Maybe it was always dangerous for a college student to drive across country alone in the 60’s and 70’s, and we just didn’t realize it, but we get it now. The safest and smartest thing to do is to ship a car to your college student and fly them there.

Here are some of the more notable colleges and universities in the Houston and Atlanta areas:

Houston, TX Colleges & Universities

 University of Houston Rice University Texas Southern University
 University of St Thomas Lee College Houston Community College
 Houston Christian University North American Univ. Baylor College of Medicine

Atlanta, GA Colleges & Universities

 Georgia Institute of Technology Georgia State University Emory University
 Oglethorpe University Clark Atlanta University Kennesaw State University
 Spelman College Clayton State University Morehouse College

Military Personnel Auto Transportation

The thing that military personnel know is that auto transport carriers are not allowed on base because of the potential for terrorism. The driver and military shipper must meet outside the base gates or someplace else nearby. Communication is key in those situations. We are honored to assist military personnel shipping a vehicle from Houston to Atlanta.

Here are some military bases in the Houston and Atlanta areas:

Military Bases Near Houston, TX

  • Joint Base San Antonio.
  • Fort Sam Houston.
  • Randolph Air Force Base.
  • Lackland Air Force Base.
  • Camp Bullis.

Military Bases Near Atlanta, GA

  • Albany – Marine Corps Logistics Base.
  • Dobbins – Air Reserve Base.
  • Fort Benning.
  • Fort Gordon.
  • Fort Stewart.
  • Hunter Army Airfield.
  • Kings Bay Naval Submarine Bay.
  • Moody Air Force Base.

Corporate Relocation Auto Shipping

Houston to Atlanta car shipping coworkers relocating office staff

We are experts in Corporate Relocation, and as well, other large organizations. Whether the company is picking up the car shipping tab, or you are footing the bill yourself, we are a wealth of information and competitive pricing. The Houston, TX to Atlanta, GA route for business corporate relocations is popular.

Here are some of the more notable businesses in the Houston and Atlanta areas:

Notable Houston, Texas Companies

  • ENGIE North America
  • Data
  • Denali
  • Schlumberger
  • Ge Packaged Power Inc.
  • Shell Trading
  • National Lending Corporation
  • Sysco

Notable Atlanta, Georgia Companies

  • Coca-Cola Company
  • Home Depot
  • UPS
  • Delta Airlines
  • AT&T
  • Newell Brands
  • NCR
  • Chik-fil-A

Major Sports Teams Player Trades & Car Shipping from Houston to Atlanta

Very few athletes stay with one team their entire career. Often times without warning, the team General Manager calls a player to inform him or her that they have been traded. And now that player needs to ship a car, usually an SUV, from Houston to Atlanta. That’s when Direct Express Auto Transport steps in to make that as quick and stress free as possible.

Here are some of the major sports franchises in the Houston and Atlanta areas:

Notable Houston, Texas Sports Teams

 Houston Astros (MLB) Houston Texans (NFL) 
 Houston Rockets (NBA) Houston Dynamo FC (MLS) 
 Houston Dash (NWSL)  

Notable Atlanta, Georgia Sports Teams

 Atlanta Braves (MLB) Atlanta Falcons (NFL) 
 Atlanta Hawks (NBA) Atlanta Dream (WNBA) 
 Atlanta United FC (MLS)  

Why Choose Our Houston to Atlanta Car Shipping Company?

The Original Car Shipping Quote Calculator

Direct Express Auto Transport originated the instant car shipping quote calculator in 2004. It is still the best, most sophisticated and reliable auto shipping calculator available anywhere. We offer three unique options that we call tiers of car shipping estimates from Houston to Atlanta. The standard rate is the cheapest car transport quote, but it may take longer. Use it if you are patient. The expedited vehicle shipping rate is most recommended, and we have countless satisfied customers because the process tends to go quicker. The rush rate is our highest level of car shipping service, and many customers are glad they went with that method.

Top Auto Transport FAQ’s from Houston to Atlanta

Houston to Atlanta Auto Transport FAQ

How Far In Advance Should You Set Up Your Houston to Atlanta Car Shipping Order?

We recommend scheduling your auto transport anywhere from two days to two weeks in advance. We are often able to ship your car on the very same day, but providing us with a longer lead time allows us to schedule your vehicle transport better. You want the most current pricing, and you get that by staying within two weeks of your first available date to ship.

Should I Ship My Car Open or Enclosed from Houston to Atlanta?

About 97% of all vehicle shipments are shipped on an Open Trailer. It’s proven to be a very safe method with statistically very few problems. You may notice new cars being delivered to dealerships in an open trailer, and that’s because it’s safe. If you have a collector car or really expensive automobile, say around $100,000 or more, then we recommend shipping it in an Enclosed Trailer. But it is up to the customer to decide what is best for him or her. Direct Express Auto Transport is an industry authority and can guide you on that decision.

Is It Better To Pay An Auto Transport Deposit?

Making a nominal partial payment is preferred by carriers but not essential. Carriers like getting paid with Cash or Money Order upon delivery for services rendered, and who doesn’t? A partial credit card payment and balance due upon delivery accomplishes that. But a full credit card payment upfront also works if the carrier trusts the broker. Carriers have known Direct Express Auto Transport for nearly twenty years and the trust is there. So either method works with us.

Should I Insure My Vehicle While In Transit from Houston to Atlanta?

All auto transportation carriers are required by the US Department of Transportation to have a current and valid insurance policy. Direct Express Auto Transport double checks the insurance policy prior to assigning the customer vehicle to any carrier. That said, we do recommend that a customer not depend entirely on the car shipping carrier’s insurance policy because sometimes acts of God, such as hail, sleet, snowstorms, hurricanes, tornadoes and more might damage your vehicle. Those things are not covered by the carrier’s policy, but they would be by your personal policy. Car transport service drivers are only responsible for negligence.

When I Ship My Car, Can I Put Stuff In It?

The strict D.O.T. interpretation is no, you cannot ship items inside your vehicle. However, the reality is that almost all carriers allow items that weigh less than 100 pounds, roughly the equivalent of 2 suitcases. We recommend placing any additional items in the trunk and out of sight. The U.S. Transportation Law states that a carrier can be fined $10,000 for hauling household items in the vehicle, but it’s rarely enforced. However, the auto transport drivers do estimate the weight of each vehicle and don’t want problems at weight scales. So they must keep the personal items to a minimum.

Some drivers will accept a tip ($50-$300) for hauling extra stuff, but some won’t, or simply can’t, due to the overall weight. Rule of thumb, don’t take advantage. The driver is there to ship your car, not move your personal belongings.

A Houston to Atlanta Car Shipping driver prepares a vehicle for shipment

How Long Will It Take To Pick Up My Vehicle In Houston?

Over 90% of our orders ship inside of one week. That could be anywhere from 1 to 7 days. Most of the U.S. population lives in a major metropolitan area and is shipping to another well populated area, and that makes a big difference. Cars usually ship in a very regular manner, almost half within just a few days. Houston is a large metropolitan area, so we would expect a timely carrier assignment and pick up.

If either your origination or destination locations are away from population centers, in other words, in a remote area, then you might consider meeting a driver in a nearby big city or town to increase your chances of shipping timely. Or adding money to the carrier fee may entice a carrier. Remember, anyone you choose can serve as your point of contact, which takes the stress out of shipping your vehicle.

How Long Does It Take To Deliver My Vehicle To Atlanta?

Delivering your car to Atlanta is the final step in the process, and also the simplest part. Once your vehicle has been assigned and picked up, not too much can go wrong. After your vehicle is picked up, you can estimate that it will take roughly one day of transit time for every 500 miles distance.

Delivery Time Estimate Guide

100-500 miles takes 1 or 2 days
500-1000 miles takes 2 or 3 days
1000-1500 miles takes 3 or 4 days
1500-2000 miles takes 4 or 5 days
2000-2500 miles takes 5 or 6 days
2500-3000 miles takes 6 or 7 days

Depending on the distance, weather conditions and population centers it could be a few days or weeks until a vehicle reaches its destination. The carriers will usually estimate about 10 days on coast to coast trips, but they frequently arrive earlier.

How Do I Prepare My Vehicle For Shipment?

In Houston, TX, clean out your vehicle of all loose items as much as possible. Leave nothing of value in the vehicle. It’s very rare that any items are stolen during transport, but we recommend extra caution to prevent loss.

Keep extra items as previously discussed to a minimum and place in the trunk or out of sight. Have only about a quarter tank of gasoline. Give the auto transport carrier a set of keys and advise them of any special instructions for your vehicle, like difficulty starting, steering, braking, etc..

Driver Consideration: Being a truck driver can be a thankless job. They work long hours and are away from their families for weeks at a time. Please be friendly and considerate to our drivers once they arrive in Atlanta, and they will treat you in the same manner. Most people tip them $50 to $100 for a job well done.