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When you get your quotes, from the three companies you selected to move your car, you may wonder what you’re really paying for. The quotes all seem to be in the same general range, so what are the real car shipping costs?

There are actually a number of factors that each shipper will use in formatting the bid to move your automobile. Understanding what expenses a trucking company must deal with will help you to better understand your quotes. With that said, let’s take a look at the main cost factors that will be included in your quote.

General Car Shipping Costs

1. Fuel: One obvious expense that will be factored into your quote is the cost of fuel. Each company may use a slightly different factor based on their truck and their carrying capabilities (ie. how many cars they can haul at once).
2. Insurance: Another factor in car shipping costs, is insurance. Trucking companies in general have to pay a large amount for insurance. When it comes to transporting cars, additional insurance is required for the value of the cargo they are carrying. Damage insurance to cover 7-10 vehicles is a large factor in the cost of shipping cars.
3. Driver(s): Simply having a truck and car hauler isn’t enough. Obviously the driver’s time, for that coast-to-coast trip, will be factored into the costs of shipping a load of cars.
4. Equipment Costs: Mechanical equipment wears out. To keep a truck and trailer in top condition requires regular maintenance. The mileage put on the equipment will also be factored into each load.

Factors that Affect Your Quote Directly

1. Weight of your Vehicle: One factor that will affect your quote directly is the weight of your vehicle. Even if a car transport trailer can carry 10 cars, the trucker must still be within the weight limits for any given route (and for the truck itself). Generally it will cost you more to ship a 1-ton truck than it would to ship a small car.
2. Value of your Vehicle: The next thing that affects your car shipping costs directly is the value of your vehicle. If the automobile you want shipped carries a price tag of $60,000 additional insurance may be required to cover your vehicle. This will be factored into your quote.
3. Operating Condition: Finally the operating condition affects the cost of shipping your vehicle. It takes more time to haul a vehicle that has to be winched on and off of the trailer. More than that, it may also prevent the company from taking a full load of vehicles. A car that doesn’t run may cost a lot more to have shipped.