How does vehicle shipping work?

Nowadays, it’s simple to buy anything from anyone and get it delivered anywhere. People use international and domestic shipping services for almost any physical item they can buy online, both tiny and massive.

Cars and other vehicles are far from being an exception, however, shipping these items across the globe can become a real challenge. 

Sometimes you can drive the car you’ve bought by yourself, but what if you need to transport it, for example, from Pennsylvania to Nevada or outside the US? That’s when shipping services come to the rescue, and in this article, we are going to discuss how shipping actually works. 

Placing an order

After you’ve bought a car from an auction or elsewhere, it’s time to order shipping. EasyHaul offers options to place your shipping order online, via email, or over the phone. 

You’ll be asked for some additional information to get a quote. This includes:

• The type and size of the vehicle
• The pick-up location
• The lot number, buyer number, or the last six digits of the VIN
• Available hours for pick-up
• Delivery location
• Contact information for the vehicle’s recipient
• If loading/unloading assistance is available

As soon as your quote is calculated, you can pay for shipping services. And if you’re shipping internationally, your car will be transported to a warehouse moved to a vessel for loading. Keep in mind that a transportation company needs all the required ownership documents before the shipping process starts.

Tip: With EasyHaul, you can track your shipping order and stay up to date on the status of your vehicle. If shipping is delayed because of weather conditions or any other occurrence, you’ll get an SMS or email alert.

Vehicle preparation

If your vehicle will be picked up from an auction or dealer, make sure you paid for all the required services. Make sure everything is complete so your vehicle will be released at the pick-up point, such as auction and storage fees, and indicate where you’d like the vehicle delivered.

Also, make sure that your car doesn’t contain any additional parts during transportation. If there are auto parts or other items inside, make sure that the transportation company knows about them and the driver can write down their description at a pick-up. Often, a vehicle cannot be shipped with items in it because it affects the weight of the shipment.

Shipping companies are not responsible for any lost, stolen, missing, or misplaced items, so be attentive when setting everything up. 

Tip: You will receive the driver’s phone number once EasyHaul schedules a pick-up. The driver will contact you before delivery to confirm the shipping details.

Transportation methods

Before placing a shipping order for your vehicle, think about the transport method. There are open and closed trailers to transport your car, and both have pros and cons. 

An open trailer is a fast and inexpensive way to ship your car, and it’s used more frequently than an enclosed trailer. There are a lot of fleets available and it’s quick and easy to schedule shipping with an open trailer. 

Saving money and time sounds good, but there are disadvantages for those choosing open-trailer shipping. Because your vehicle will be transported on a flatbed exposing it to the elements, its appearance and condition can be impacted.

Even being picked up in great condition, accidents happen and a vehicle can be damaged along the way if a trailer runs into an obstacle. Also, the weather conditions along the transport route can be truly awful and your car can arrive dirty or even damaged. The latter, however, can be prevented by covering a vehicle with a protective film before shipping. 

If you choose an enclosed trailer, your car will be protected from any external impact. This type of carrying is truly safe and involves fewer risks, however, it is more expensive. An enclosed trailer is a good solution for expensive cars or specific cases when you can’t take a risk. In addition, the estimated delivery time may increase because there aren’t as many transporters available and it may take more time to schedule shipping. 

Tip: EasyHaul uses only bonded and insured transporters, and if any damage occurs to your vehicle during transport we can help you file a claim. We strongly recommend buying additional maritime insurance either through EasyHaul, especially if you ship an expensive vehicle internationally.

Roll-On/Roll-Off shipping

If you ship your car internationally with Roll-On/Roll-Off, known as RORO, it won’t be placed in a container. Instead, the vehicle is driven on to the vessel and parked in line with other cars that are being shipped this way, and it is secured to the vessel’s deck for transport. As soon as your vehicle is ready to sail, you’ll get an update by email with a booking number for your shipment. RORO shipping requires that your vehicle drives by its own power, has all windows and tires intact, that all doors and the trunk and hood close safely, and it has no biohazards or leaks present.

Tip: EasyHaul offers Roll-On/Roll-Off shipping to international ports that are equipped for RORO.

Delivery

The delivery time directly depends on the location, distance, route, weather conditions and other factors. Estimated dates are not guaranteed, however, if everything goes smoothly you can expect to get your car in about 1-2 days within the same state and up to 10 days from coast to coast. 

Tip: You can assign a family member or agent to sign for your vehicle when arranging shipping services in case you’re not available.