Car Transport USA
If you need to transport a vehicle, like an auto, RV, motorcycle, truck or boat across the USA and can't or don't want to drive it, you'll need to consider your auto transport options. You could:
- Hire a driveaway service – you run the risk of the vehicle never finding its way to its destination or getting involved in an accident. You also put additional mileage on the odometer, which you may not want to do if you are transporting a specialty vehicle.
- Use a moving company – If you're moving your entire household and need to move one or move vehicles, most moving companies will accommodate you. But, they may be more expensive than a car transport service and the car transport insurance may not match that of a USA car transport service.
- Use a USA car transport company – Vehicle transport specialists are located across the USA. Most are licensed, reliable and highly experienced. If an auto transport company wants to stay in business it knows it has to do a good job for its customers.
Popular USA Car Transport Areas
Some states in the USA have a higher concentration of car transport companies than others. This is based largely on demand for the USA car transport company's services, which includes population and proximity to common vehicle ports of entry and to areas that are busy with residents moving into the state or city. Popular car transport cities in the USA include New York City, Florida, San Francisco, Seattle and Los Angeles. States like California, Alaska and Hawaii are also popular because of their distance from other areas of the continental US and because of the ocean barrier presented by car transport to Hawaii.
Some USA Car Transport Basics
Here are a few basics for transporting your vehicle, whether you shipping from New York to Florida or California, Texas to Hawaii or Alaska or anywhere from one USA location to another:
- USA car transport companies are licensed and regulated by the US Department of Transportation (DOT). You should request and check the car transport company's DOT license number. The Interstate Commerce Commission (ICC), which used to regulate interstate trucing was abolished in 1995. Its regulatory functions were assumed in part by DOT and in part the National Surface Transportation Board.
- If you're moving, but have decided you don't want the moving company to handle transporting your vehicle, you might ask the moving company for a referral to a reputable USA car transport service with which they've had positive experiences. Sometimes you may even be able to get a discount from a moving company's preferred car transport service.
- Don't be too concerned if you can't locate a car transport service in your area. Contract carriers may be available to car transport companies in other parts of the USA or the car transport company may be able to locate an affiliated terminal you can use to drop off or pick up your vehicle in place of door to door service. If you end up using an agent or brokered car transport service, be sure to check the third party's certfiicate of insurance before agreeing to ship your vehicle.
- Selecting a USA car transport company is not only about the price. While you can get free estimates from multiple USA car transport companies, you also need to consder service and reputation along with insurance coverage and experience. Additionally, some USA car transport services may offer more convenient payment options than others.
- An inspection will be conducted at both your origin (before shipping) and destination (after shipping) and you or a designated representative need to be present when the inspection is conducted. These inspections set out what damage existed on your vehicle before it was shipped and what damage was noted when your vehcile arrived at its destination. Take your time and be thorough before siging the inspection report as both inspections are important for documenting your claims for any damage that might arise during transit.
- Your vehicle should be in good running order so the car transport driver can drive it on and off the carrying vehicle. If the vehicle is not operational you'll pay extra for winching services and some car transport companies may not be able to accept your shipment.
- Enclosed car transport costs more but may be well worth the expense, even when you're transporting your car within the USA. This is especially true of transporting specialty vehicles because enclosed car transport protects the car from weather elements and provides an added measure of security against potential theft.
- Don't forget to disable or remove your vehicle's alarm system if it has one so the alarm won't go off in transit.
Getting Estimates for USA Car Transport
GoAutoTransport makes getting estimates for shipping your car within the USA quite simple and you can take care of everything within just a few minutes online. Whenever you need to transport a car, truck, boat, RV or motorcycle cross country to or from Florida, New York, California, Alaska, Hawaii or just about anywhere, use our online form to request
free auto transport estimates and let multiple USA car transport companies compete for your business!
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